Yes, they are real insects! 

And other answers to frequently asked questions I love:

 

Where do you get your bugs?

I occasionally find them in nature after they have passed away, but usually I buy them! I purchase them from sustainable sources like insect farmers; the Butterfly Company being my favorite. They have a wonderful "About" section on their website that explains more about their sustainability.

 

Where do you get your bones/skulls?

My friends and family find and gift them to me, a lot of the time! But I also purchase from taxidermists online and folks who gather roadkill and process/clean the bones for creative re-use.

 

How long does this take you?

It really varies! Insect pinning is a multi-step process in itself, and I often forget about the hours I spend thrifting and antique hunting for the frames and containers "behind the scenes". My best guess is always a few hours, but the truth is that it's probably longer.

Let's take a look at the step-by-step bug prepping process:

1. I take my time to shop for insects I think will be pretty and well-liked - they come shipped in triangular envelopes with their wings folded shut.
   
2. I have to rehydrate the insects in a sealed container with damp paper towels, usually overnight or over the course of a few days, depending on the size of the insect.
3. After the insects are flexible enough, I must pin them into the shape I desire them to stay in. (Depending on how many bugs I am pinning, this can take hours at a time)
4. We let them re-dry, usually over the span of a few days to a week.
5. Once the insects are dry and stiff, they are ready to be un-pinned and ready to go!

Now, that is a lot of work over the span of many days into prepping just one insect! Then I have to take into account the cleaning and prepping of frames and other containers before I can start even thinking about glueing fabric, moss, flowers and bugs down into their forever homes. 

So, I'm always going to answer with my best guess of a few hours, because I have no clue! 

What got you into this?

Honestly, I wanted to try bug pinning once-upon-a-time after seeing a video online of the process. And after I had a pinned monarch I found in the yard, I wondered "now what do I do with her?" and it kind of evolved from there! 

A passion project turned lifestyle.