"The Process"
A few years ago we met and became friends with a Japanese Couple that was kind enough to teach us our current process of vacuum sealing our framed gardens! While there certainly was a learning curve, with patience we have mastered our "Art" and are very proud of our work.
All plant material (flowers and greens) are grown here in our South China, Maine gardens. The butterflies and moths we use are also very real and are purchased from a breeder. Some are indigenous to the USA, while others are not.
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We begin by harvesting our flowers.........after which the following carefully orchestrated steps take place! |
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All flowers are carefully pressed and dried, using special drying pads from Japan. Our room is kept at a relative humidity of 20% or less. Flowers are pressed and dried in less than 5 days. |
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After drying all plant material is then stored in vacuum sealed special containers until they are needed. |
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When the time is appropriate, we start to create an art garden. Using from 1-4 layers of felt we begin our creation. Some gardens also use special hand made art paper as a background. Using tweezers, flowers ... leaves.... butterflies and other plant material .. they are blended together to create "our masterpiece"! Patience is a virtue! |
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After the creation has been formed, a coordinating mat and frame is chosen. Glass is then placed on the art project and bonded with a special (very expensive) resin to a backing of foil. Foil and resin is obtained through a special flower club in Japan. After which all the air (O2) is withdrawn from the sealed project. |
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We now have a sealed art project |
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Placing the mat and art into its new home (frame) we have created a lasting artistic masterpiece that should keep it's color and brightness for many years of enjoyment! |
