{Sponsor Spotlight} Rebecca of Athenianaire

I am so happy to introduce to you my very first sponsor! Rebecca is the shop owner of Athenianaire, a beautiful shop full of real butterfly wing jewelry & displays. I'd love to share some info about Rebecca and her shop.

Real Ornithoptera Croesus Lydius, Female in 8 x 8 Framed Shadowbox

Philosophy:
My Philosophy is simple; everyone should have access to inspiration. Butterflies are a source of inspiration, a symbol of hope, change, or a memory for so many people. Be it a simple single framed specimen to inspire you or comfort you (or a loved one) on a wall or a jewelry piece that allows the wearer to carry that inspiration or strength with them, everyone should have access to inspiration. Many times sales come with a personal message about the reason why the piece is being purchased, a memory, a remembrance, a moment… Those messages sent to me are motivation and inspiration to me and for that I have to thank YOU.
 

Experience and about me:
I relax mount and spread ALL the specimens myself.
I studied Entomology and Botany at Michigan State University (after obtaining a degree in horticulture from State University of New York), where I created insect displays for education and museum displays. I worked at the Bug House, a university outreach center to teach children and young minds about insects. I lived and worked in Costa Rica for 2 years studying the insects, biodiversity, and ecology.

I have been working with insects for over 12 years and care deeply about nature and the insect world, which is why I donate to conservation. I have a toddler who is my heart, world, and inspiration. I work full time with Greenhouse soil media as a consultant. 

I use my artist eye to create displays, jewelry and one of a kind Winged Art (from abstracts to dresses made from wings), Custom Orders are always welcome, and often they act as fuel for my creative engine. Can I work with other insects? YES! Butterflies just seem to speak to people the most but I have the ability to work with many other species, contact me if you have a vision!

About the Butterflies:
The Butterflies used to create these pieces are bred on farms all over the world; I legally purchase them creating revenue for the farms and protecting the ecology by only using clean specimens. The specimens are exported in a preserved manner to generate some of the financial resources required to maintain and protect conserved land. I receive them un-spread and un-mounted, I do that work myself. Relaxing, spreading, and mounting the insects takes days.

Not all of the butterflies bred on these farms are sold as specimens many are released into the wild to mate and maintain healthy species populations

Rebecca also does lots of good for her community and organizations. Currently, she is donating 10%  of August & September sales to a local organization that is out of funding to build a community Butterfly Garden. Not only that, but $5.00 for every "pillar" necklace sold will be donated to this organization as well! 

Real Monarch Butterfly Limited Edition Necklace Jewelry

Rebecca is also creating jewelry for a silent auction of a local Children's Center in NH.She participates in 4 auctions annually at this time. 

Here are some other organizations she has donated to in the past:

xerces society (protection of invertebrates)
darkness to light (child protection advocacy)
Sophia's Hearth
Breast Cancer Research
2 fund raisers for Cancer patients who could not afford treatment

Doesn't she sound amazing?! Stop on over to her Etsy shop {Athenianaire} and take a look around. You will be amazed at how beautiful her pieces are!