One of our most popular lines here at Frisco Fun & Formal, the Rocky Mountain Leaf Company makes jewelry, ornaments and night lights from real leaves. Sometimes customers will walk in the door and immediately ask if we have "those earrings made from aspen leaves."

The Rocky Mountain Leaf Company started in Aspen, Colorado in 1974 as a small, family-run enterprise. Over the years they have grown and expanded, but they still carefully hand-pick each leaf. Sometimes when I call them in the autumn months to discuss an order, they are out collecting leaves!

The care they take with each individual creation results in high quality, durable, one-of-a kind pieces. Each leaf is dried, then dipped into a solution that removes the tissue and retains only the vein structure. Every leaf is then coated in a layer of copper using an electroplating process. This creates a durable foundation and protects the shape and veining patterns to create a superior and longer lasting product. Next the leaves are finished in either 24K gold, fine silver or iridescent copper, and silver items are coated with an anti-tarnish solution.

It seems like a painstaking process, making me glad that all I have to do is unpack my orders, put them on display and sell them to happy customers!

At Frisco Fun & Formal, we love great products that are made right here in Colorado. Besides the gift shop here on Main Street, we are beginning our foray into online sales, and we now sell Rocky Mountain Leaf jewelry and ornaments on our website.

There's nothing like being in the Rocky Mountains in the fall, when the sun is shining and the aspen leaves paint everything in a vibrant gold. But you can take a small piece of nature home with you any time of year with these beautiful handcrafted products!