Area Artist Will Bring Leaf-Print Note Cards Workshop to Pardee-Morris House

New Haven, Conn. (April 21, 2025) – Hamden artist/educator Denise Smith will bring her colorful craft presentation, “Leaf-Print Note Cards Workshop,” to the Pardee-Morris House on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. Register for this free event for adults (ages 15+) here For weather updates check FB/IG or call 203-562-4183.

Smith will work with visitors to create personalized note cards using a leaf-printed technique inspired by nature. Each participant can design up to five cards using a variety of leaves and then embellish the cards using ink stamps with words of inspiration for a finishing touch.

“My workshops connect people to nature and give them a different perspective on the beauty of nature,” Smith says. “People with all skill levels can create one-of-a-kind artwork with a little inspiration and guidance, and when I see the happy faces of participants, I know they’ve had a good time and are proud of the results.”

A lifelong creative, Smith worked in the photography industry for 35 years, operating her own portrait studio till 2014. She shifted to a career creating and facilitating art programs for adults with disabilities until her retirement.

In the meantime, she was inspired to pursue nature-based art while camping in Vermont. Noticing fallen birch branches on the ground, she was enthralled with their beauty and knew she wanted to create with them. She has since become a passionate forager of all that the hiking trails offer—bark, pinecones, moss, stones and branches—using her finds to create unique artwork. She now brings a range of nature-art workshops to libraries and organizations throughout Connecticut and is a member of the Connecticut Library Consortium.