My amazing resident artist

         

Each year a group of kids from each state and territory is asked to design a Christmas tree ornament for the National tree and State tree in Washington DC.  This year the Idaho Falls Youth Council was chosen and they asked Brett to design and spear head the project.  It was fun for me to sit and bounce ideas with him and then watch him create these amazing ideas.  Many of the designs are based off of the different symbols of Idaho such as the white pine, Syringa, Mountain Bluebird, Cutthroat Trout, baked potato, and the Star Garnet.  He also incorporated some of the fun things to do in Idaho such as skiing and white water rafting as well as the beauties and history of Idaho like the Tetons, farming, and Chief Joseph.  He made 30 ornaments which were encased in a 5 inch plastic ball.  15 of the ornaments had 4.5 inch mirrors that he had the students etch different scenes on, the other 15 were wooden boxes that had different shapes cut out of and then he placed a watercolor picture scene inside the cut out shape.  He had each of the wooden boxes and mirrors suspended in the center of the ball, they were absolutely beautiful.