Leaf/Katie Project Mixed Media artwork

Mixed media is interesting to do, so open ended and tho you may have a plan, it builds itself spontaneously as well. The media interact in ways the artist may not control, but she/he ultimately decides when the work is finished. The layers of "stuff" feel like something beyond the mere visual, something about the bits peeking out from under I find very appealing. I also like using words and my handmade paper and incorporating a drawing or painting into the work--makes it seem like more than one moment, a culmination of my art work, a little "herstory". Katie is my daughter who died of leukemia in 1999 when she was 15. She was a wonderful artist, we did a lot of art and craft projects together.
I don't know how well the dried leaves will hold up, most were dried in the microwave, and both applied and covered with acrylic medium. I attempted to paint with thread and gold paint on top, it did not work well, probably should've used string or maybe wire curled into a shape.
Materials include: modeling paste, acrylic paint, packaging, gold leaf, dried leaves, rose petals, paper, handmade paper, a poem, a drawing, a flower catalog page. All on a wrapped linen canvas, 11x14". This is now hanging on the wall, and I really love the personal statement it makes. So much more than a photo or even a painted portrait, it's something like a scapbook memory page that is hanging up for visual enjoyment, rather than stuck in a book on a shelf. I am calling this "Art Flotsam" making art from trash, recycled materials, keepsakes, and what-have-you. An economical way to create art.