Leaves for your Tea Leaves

The leaf-shaped pottery pieces made by the mother-son team of Susan and Eric Scotti, as Kelley Kreations, vary in size and design, but they are all a similar soothing shade of green. Susan (with help from husband Paul) rolls out the clay and presses a garden leaf—hollyhock, lady’s mantle, hosta, hydrangea, horseradish or even chard—into the clay to imprint the veins of the leaf. Then they cut around its shape and save the natural leaf for the next piece before firing the clay leaves. They ruffle the edges to resemble a leaf but take into account its intended use, as platter, bowl or saucer.

Many customers use the small ones to hold tea bags; others as a spoon rest, a receptacle for paper clips, under votive candles, as soap dishes or even as small butter plates down a holiday table. The tiny frogs that perch on some leaves are handsculpted—” I roll out each little leg and each little eyeball,” says Susan. Other natural designs for the bowls and mugs include beach and garden themes. There’s even a clam-shaped chowder bowl.

They’re set up every Saturday at the South Kingstown Farmers’ Market. KellKreate57@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.