In 1978, Ellen opened her own home-studio producing mostly functional ceramics on her wheel. She had always had a deep regard for the environment and wanted to incorporate this into her craft. Porcelain wind-chimes with leaf impressions were the first attempt. Hand-building with stoneware slabs soon replaced wheel-throwing, as it afforded more organic, free-form shapes. Finding a process to imprint such slabs with leaves while retaining the leaf impressions during the shaping, coloring and firing stages evolved next. Enthusiastic reaction of local customers to the look of her leaf-imprinted wind-chimes and tall vases convinced her of the commercial viability of this line of products. Over the next couple of years through research and experimentation, Ellen perfected the look into a reliable, reproducible method of leaf imprinting. In the spring of 1983, Ellen founded Freeman Ceramics, a company specializing in handcrafted leaf-imprinted porcelain and stoneware products. Over the years many new products have been added to the original chimes and vases. Currently, it includes folded bowls, hand-formed platters, tiled tables, coasters, birdfeeders, clocks, frames, trivets, and cachepots. In 1991 the color green was introduced and in 1994 the first floral imprints were added to the line. Actual green leaves (herbs, or fresh flowers) are pressed into porcelain or stoneware clay to create the imprints. After bisque firing the items are colored and glazed. A second firing at high temperature permanently sets the color. Since no two leaves are the same, each design is unique. Most of the leaves are specially grown in her own garden . All of her products are handcrafted in her California studio. Her leaf-imprinted ceramics are nationally known and sold across the USA in museum stores, upscale resort gift shops, national parks, nature stores, galleries, garden centers and department stores. Her work is functional in design and yet transmits the tranquility of nature.