Here’s one of the more unconventional use of materials you’ll ever see. Sculptor and installation artist Jenine Shereos creates these delicate, near weightless tree leaves by tying together individual strands of human hair. Via her website:

In this series, the intricacies of a leaf’s veining are recreated by wrapping, stitching, and knotting together strands of human hair. Inspired by the delicate and detailed venation of a leaf, I began stitching individual strands of hair by hand into a water- soluble backing material. At each point where one strand of hair intersected another, I stitched a tiny knot, so that when the backing was dissolved, the entire piece was able to hold its form. Creating this work was a very meditative process for me, as I found myself lost in the detail of the small, organic microcosms that began taking shape.

You can see much more of her sculptural and installation work in her portfolio. Photos above courtesy Robert Diamante.