Pressed Leaf Jewelry by Forest Flower Jewelry

Forest Flower Jewelry is actually based in Ohio, but anyone who loves autumn in New England will be delighted to discover their affordable pressed leaf jewelry made from real maple, birch, aspen, oak and other colorful autumn leaves.

Believe it or not, I occasionally do leave New England. Wherever I travel, though, I often find reminders of "home" in surprising places. In March of 2004, while vacationing on Florida's Anna Maria Island, I visited an art show with my mother. Amid the booths displaying watercolors of beach scenes, coconut planters and glassware handpainted with tropical fish, we discovered one item that didn't quite fit in.

A crowd was gathered around the Forest Flower Jewelry booth, and we joined the other avid jewelry shoppers in perusing the selection of pendants featuring real pressed leaves and flowers. I, of course, was drawn to the vivid green, gold and rose hues of the leaves and spent a full 20 minutes selecting the two I loved best, which are pictured in the photo above. Each pendant came with a free 18" or 24" chain, so I chose one of each so that I could wear my leaves in a variety of combinations. Because the pendants are reversible, with the back side showing the softer shades of each leaf's underbelly, I'll be able to create many looks with just these two jewelry pieces.

All of Forest Flower Jewelry's pendants, pins and earrings start with real pressed blossoms, rosebuds or leaves. To protect the natural beauty of the flora and foliage, each petal or leaf is handpainted with a clear lacquer and edged in 24k gold or sterling silver.

If you love the colors of autumn or need the perfect gift for your favorite fan of fall in New England, these unique, one-of-a-kind pendants are affordably priced at $20-$35 including the chain and can be ordered online at the Forest Flower Jewelry Web site. The images on the Web site are a bit dark—in person, the colors are much more vibrant, closer to my image above of the leaves I purchased.

For questions about ordering or special requests, email Forest Flower Jewelry at forstflwr9@aol.com.