As a child, I spent a lot of time wandering through the Northwoods of Wisconsin picking up leaves, sticks, acorns, rocks, and anything else I could find to add to my little collection. Nature has always fascinated me from the largest trees to the smallest pebbles. So, when Wreck This Journal gave directions to “press leaves and other found things,” I was ecstatic!
From the woods of Northern Wisconsin and the beaches of South Carolina
To complete this page, I went straight to my craft closet where, I have a drawer dedicated to “naturals” that has everything from rocks, pressed leaves, twigs and a slew of other things I’ve picked up over the years.
I paid homage to the Northwoods by representing Oak, Maple, Birch, and Popple trees with a pressed leaf for each. Seeing as red maple leaves are my favorite, I made sure to include one on my page. I ironed the leaves in between two sheets of wax paper to keep them safe, but to also relive a favorite childhood memory of making leaf “sun catchers” with the same technique. I pasted it to the page and then set about adding a few more pieces of nature. I glued some birch bark along the upper left corner and then attached a bag of little keepsakes from a place other than the woods. The seashells and shark tooth are from the beaches of South Carolina, which always make me think of time I spent with my Dad. He’s the one who taught me how to find shark teeth in the sand and that’s always been one of my favorite memories of him.
Once again, Wreck This Journal has conjured wonderful memories and returned me to a frame of mind where leaves rustle, trees sway, and waves crash against the shore. Perhaps, I am drawn to natural beauty because it anchors me to the things that matter most.
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c.b. 2012
C.B. Wentworth 