Meet bug mortician Elise Stultz
Once you hear Elise Stultz’s views on insects, bugs and their importance to our environment and indeed life on our planet you are sure to think a little differently about the bugs and insects you encounter on your travels.
Elise Stultz preserves bugs of all varieties creating unique jewellery pieces which she sells through her Etsy shop. “Growing up I was never one for dolls, and I always had a strong interest in nature,” Elise admits. “So when I would go out to play, I’d come across different insects and I thought they were so interesting. I’d watch them live their little lives, or save them from drowning in a pool of water. You know, I’ve noticed that children are often much freer from the prejudices we have about bugs. So if we take the time to teach them the roles they play in our environment and how important they are, they easily express a compassion towards insects that can be hard for us to develop as adults. I know that learning about them and spending time with them at a young age is what helped me not to be afraid of them when I got older, and instead have respect for them as living creatures.”
Her husband who, knowing how interested she was in insects, bought her a starter kit for pining and spreading butterflies and beetles, sparked Elise’s interest in preserving insects. “I was so over the moon to be able to work with insects and see them up close!” Elise says excitedly. “I started by just framing them, but then I came to find that there were people who made jewellery out of insects! How cool I thought to be able to wear the wings of a butterfly! Eventually I set out on the journey of learning to create my own unique jewellery.”
A self-taught artist, Elise spent hours researching and watching online tutorials learning how to pin insects before she attempted her first project – a little honeybee she found dead on her walk. While Elise found plenty of material on how to pin insects, learning how to make them into jewellery proved much more difficult. “I couldn’t find any tutorials. So I had to learn by trial and error and there were a lot of those!” Elise admits. “Artists who make jewellery from butterflies in particular, keep their methods to themselves like a secret family recipe. I have no idea how other artists make their jewellery, but I eventually found a way that works for me. Out of respect for their feelings, I choose not to divulge my methods on the creation process.”
So without giving away all her secrets, Elise says that once the insects and bugs are rehydrated and manipulated they’re either finished in resin or glass depending on the jewellery type or design.
The spectacular insects Elise works with come from around the world – but nothing is killed to be preserved! “Some of them originate from butterfly sanctuaries, or farms that provide a sustainable source for insects while also educating people on their importance,” Elise explains. “I also receive many specimens more locally. Since I don’t kill anything for my art, I’m often contacted by friends and customers I’ve connected with through social media that come across butterflies and other insects already dead. Some even raise and release butterflies, and get in touch when one fails to thrive. You’d be surprised how many butterflies you’ll find in a parking lot, or on the side of a rural road that unfortunately get hit by cars. People send me their finds either to donate, or request something custom. As a result, I don’t have to spend much time searching for myself at all! Most of what I find I happen upon by chance at nearby parks and trails.”
Presently Elise is enjoying working with moths. “They’re easier to work with than butterflies, and many people seem to be unaware how beautiful they can be,” she explains. “We tend to think of moths as very plain, but many of them are far more beautiful than butterflies. So it’s very exciting to show someone a moth I’m working with, and not only are they blown away by how gorgeous it is, but you can see some of the preconceived ideas they hold onto changing right before your eyes.”
Any one who has spent time in nature, looked through a book on insects or watched a David Attenborough program will know that there are in fact many beautiful species of insects on our planet. “There are so many spectacular insects!” Elise exclaims. “It’s really tough to choose one or two. Since we were just talking about moths, I might say the Madagascan Sunset Moth because it’s basically a flying rainbow. One of my personal favourites though is the Brahmin Moth – and the caterpillar is just as spectacular as the moth is. There are a variety of Chrysina beetles that look as though they’re made of solid gold and silver, it’s amazing. Orchid mantises are a dream! I could go on and on, there are so many surprising and fantastic creatures that we share our planet with, you’d think they only existed in fairy tales.”
Many specimens can lose colour over time so they must be cared for. “Some insects naturally lose their colour after death, like lady bugs. Others will last for decades if properly cared for,” Elise explains. But Elise has a few tips. “Keep them in an area in the house with low humidity. Never display a framed specimen in your bathroom, or store them in a damp basement. The sun can bleach the colours out of specimens over time, so you want them stored in a place out of direct sunlight. There are also little bugs that love to eat dead insects that are common in many households called carpet beetles; if you have framed specimens you’ll want to check on them regularly and avoid storing them on the floor or in an attic/basement. When it comes to the jewellery, you’ll want to keep it from getting wet or you could damage the wings inside. Like the frames, you’ll also want to store them out of direct sunlight to avoid sun bleaching.”
During her time working with insects, Elise has found that there are lots of other people out there just as passionate about little creatures. “Once I got to work with a client who wanted to preserve their boyfriend’s pet scorpions that had died as a gift to him. The scorpions were so amazing to work with, and I loved being able to create such a unique gift while also preserving something dear to them,” Elise explains. “I’ve also been able to create a number of pieces for different clients where a certain type of butterfly or insect represents/reminds them of someone they’ve lost in life. Whenever I get those requests, I feel very honoured and touched to be asked to make these mementos. It feels really wonderful to be able to provide someone with something so special and full of meaning.”
Finally, Elise says, “I know that many people are put off by insects and might find what I do strange, however I urge you to keep an open mind. Our planet is in a dangerous state, and insects all over are disappearing as a result of climate change and insecticides. Relatively few insects are harmful to humans, while the majority of them are necessary for life on earth and even prevent disease from becoming rampant. If I can start to change just one person’s mind about insects and help them to feel less afraid, I get so much more satisfaction out of that than anything I create. By changing the way we think about insects, it’s a small step in the right direction regarding treating our planet and ALL its inhabitants respectfully.”
Have you had your mind opened to think about insects a little differently?
You can visit Elise’s Etsy shop Pins and Beetles at:
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/PinsNBeetles or follow her on Instagram: @pinsandbeetles