~ ARE THE INSECTS REAL?
YES!!
I HAVE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLIERS THAT I SOURCE MY INSECTS FROM. AFTER THEIR DEATH, THEY ARE COLLECTED, PACKAGED AND SOLD!
~ IS THIS LEGAL?
YES, I'VE HAD TO OBTAIN A U.S FISH & WILDLIFE LICENSE TO BECOME A LEGAL IMPORTER IN WHICH I FILE DECLARATION FORMS FOR EACH ORDER OF INSECTS I PLACE.
~ WHAT'S THE PROCESS LIKE ONCE YOU GET THE INSECTS?
ALL OF THE INSECTS ARE ALREADY DEAD AND DRIED. THE BUTTERFLY'S WINGS ARE CLOSED (FOLDED IN HALF), THE SPIDER'S LEGS ARE SCRUNCHED TOGETHER, ETC... THE FIRST STEP IS REHYDRATING THEM FOR 2-5 DAYS.
AFTER THIS CRUCIAL PHASE, I WILL SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY SPREADING, PINNING AND MOUNTING THEM BACK INTO THEIR NATURAL POSITION. THEY THEN NEED TO DRY BACK OUT FOR ANOTHER 48 - 72 HOURS.
AFTER THIS, I'M ABLE TO DISPLAY THEM IN THEIR FOREVER CASINGS!
~ HOW SHOULD I CARE FOR MY NEW TREASURE?
YOUR DISPLAY WILL LAST YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. THE ONLY SUGGESTION I HAVE IS TO KEEP YOUR DISPLAY OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT AS CONDENSATION CAN SOMETIMES FORM ON THE GLASS AND ALSO FADE THE COLORING OF SOME INSECTS.
~ HOW COME SOME INSECTS ARE MISSING ANTENNAS OR THE ENDS OF THEIR LEGS?
INSECTS ARE SOME OF THE MOST FRAGILE LIFE FORMS. DURING DEATH, COLLECTION, SHIPPING OR PINNING, SOMETIMES THEIR TINIEST PARTS CAN ALREADY BE BROKEN OR BREAK OFF EASILY. I DO MY BEST TO REATTACH BROKEN LEGS OR PIECES AS SEAMLESSLY AS POSSIBLE BUT IN SOME CASES THEY ARE TOO DAMAGED TO DISPLAY OR ARE BETTER OFF ONLY HAVING ONE ANTENNA TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE OF THE INSECT. BUT! I DON'T HAVE THE HEART TO THROW AWAY A DAMAGED BUG BABE SO I KEEP A BOX OF THEM IN MY STUDIO.
~ WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
I LIVE IN SOUTHERN MAINE WITH MY HUSBAND AND OUR CAT STRAWBERT. I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ATTIC STUDIO WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS!
~ I'M INTERESTED IN A PIECE AND ALSO LIVE IN MAINE, DO YOU DO LOCAL PICK UPS?
ABSOLUTELY! SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH THE PIECE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AND WE CAN COORDINATE A TIME AND PLACE TO MEET UP. THIS IS A GREAT OPTION IF YOU NEED SOMETHING QUICK OR WANT TO AVOID SHIPPING ALL TOGETHER.