Thank you, Brad!
Now see? I knew y'all would have good tips for me- I like the idea of cutting the shapes out; I was trying to figure out how to fold something like angle iron and unfold for the main stem vein, then shape by grinding (!), then add detail...yikes. This will be such a learning process for me; I'm really looking forward to it. (I make folded steel bracelets from angle iron, which is why I thought of that in the first place, in case you were wondering.)