My ceramics are inspired by the beauty of the Creator, and I often find that inspiration while walking my dog Ladybug around Jackson, MI. A few days ago I discovered a Catalpa tree, and I was especially excited because I love using Catalpa leaves in my hand built ceramics. Since I just moved to Jackson, MI I was not sure if Catalpa trees grow here. Before I left Lexington, I preserved several leaves and brought them with me just in case. It's nice to know that I have a source to use on my ceramic pieces!

The texture from a Catalpa leaf creates beautiful impressions in clay, and their large shape covers a lot of surface area. I also enjoy the flowers of this tree that remind me of orchids. 

Here is an example of my large bowl I have made by pressing Catalpa leaves into clay to get the amazing texture. The first image is a close up and you can see where the glaze pooled in the deep texture during firing. The second image as a great case in point of the texture left by the Caltalpa leaf I used for this peice.

These bowls look great as a table center piece, on the counter as a fruit bowl or you can create a candle or potpourri display. 

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