A little about Bug & Moss...
I create jewellery and accessories inspired by nature - animals, plants, fungi, habitats, landscapes, and anything else that catches my eye, but my heart is always happiest in the forest or by the sea, so this is where I draw the most inspiration.
Most of my pieces are made from lightweight polymer clay, wood, and sea glass (mainly from the Isle of Wight, Suffolk, or Cornwall), but I also use real plants, lichen, and fungi, foraged from the forest floor over the colder months. My other art works include paintings, ink prints, and framed botanical presses using flowers, ferns, or seaweed foraged from the strandline.
Care instructions
Due to the nature of the materials used to make my pieces, is it best if the items do not get wet, are handled with care, and are stored away from prolonged periods of direct sunlight.
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Any products with foraged materials can be gently dusted using a soft makeup brush.
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Wool products can have debris carefully removed using a lint roller, and wiped with a damp cloth to remove any other marks.
Make sure the product is then fully dry before storing in an enclosed space.
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Dried plants/fungi can naturally deteriorate over time if exposed to a humid environment or household "pest" species. For this reason, it is recommended that any items made from natural materials are stored in a dry place - preferably with a silica gel packet or pot of salt nearby to absorb any moisture.
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As with anything else you own, frequently check items for signs of clothes moths, carpet beetles, or other wildlife that are attracted to natural materials. Disturbing the area frequently helps to deter your things from being munched!
Ethics & Ethos
Why be ethical?
Ethics are important to me (and the planet!), so I take great care when collecting the items used for my pieces, and try to make as small an impact as possible.
How much is taken?
I only take a small portion of what I find, and living things such as plants, lichen, and fungi, will only be collected if the species I wish to collect is abundant in the area that I am foraging in.
Foraged materials are mostly taken from fallen pieces of dead wood, but occasionally direct from the forest floor, hanging branches, or stones.
On occasion, I will also take plants from my own or other's private gardens (with the owners permission).
Any products or collections with foraged materials will be limited in number, as finds are mostly seasonal, and I do not want to deplete natural resources.
What about the bugs?
To ensure there is enough food for pollinators and specialist species, if foraging for fresh materials like flowers, I will only take the flowers/leaves as needed (leaving the rest of the plant intact), and never take from the same area twice in one year.
Anything I find outside will naturally have small invertebrates living on it, so will be thoroughly inspected, and then stored in a warm space for 48 hours so they can move on before the preservation process.
Are animals used?
All cord used for my products are synthetic faux suede (not from an animal), and any animal bones are stored separately to non-animal products in my workspace.
Most of the animal bones included in my pieces have either been found naturally on the ground during walks or in raptor pellets, collected over the years by myself or friends/family.
Recently, I have also accepted a small donation of bones left over from a dissection workshop held at a nearby educational facility.
For clarity, ethical integrity, and for you to make a informed decision, all items containing animal products will be stated in the description, and will specify whether the bones were from a pellet, a find, or a donation.
