What is preserved moss?

All the moss and greenery in my work are real, but preserved plants. They are no longer alive, but have been preserved to maintain their soft living feel and green color. They are preserved to remain looking and feeling alive for many years without any of the care required for living plants.

Does the moss need water or sunlight?

Because all my work is created with preserved plants it requires absolutely NO water or sunlight. In fact, it should never be exposed to any moisture at all meaning the pieces are only created for indoor display and should not be hung in very humid environments such as a steamy bathroom. As far as sunlight, prolonged UV rays can cause the color to fade over time (again - only indoors!) so it is best to avoid hanging your piece in a spot that is exposed to very intense direct sun.

How long will it last?

There are many people who say preserved moss and plants last FOREVER - does anything truly last forever? The industry standards typically say preserved mosses last 7-10 years with no maintenance, however everyone’s spaces are different so depending on your situation (if you have kids, pets, humidity, too much sun) you may need some repair/replacements before that time comes.

Do you have anything for sale right now?

The majority of the year I am working solely on custom commissions, but occasionally I create Sale Collections that I list here on my website store for purchase. Typically my sale collections consist of small and medium sized pieces in a variety of styles priced somewhere between $150 to $800.

How do I order a custom commission?

To submit an inquiry for a commissioned piece please fill out this inquiry form and I will get back with you via email.

How does the commission process work?

After review of your initial inquiry and requested information, we will discuss the design until I feel I have a clear direction of what you’d like. Some clients have a great deal of input, others are very open as far as the design goes – both positions are fine and lead to beautiful creations! I will do a hand drawn project concept sketch and continue that exercise until you are ready to commit to a design. Once we have a solidified design, I will coordinate with all necessary parties to determine the total pricing quote. Other parties may include woodworkers, shipping companies or collaborating artists. Once the pricing quote is approved, I will provide you with my standard contract for custom commissions that will include information specific to your project. Once the contract is signed, I require a 50% deposit to commence work and add you to my schedule - the remaining 50% is due upon completion of the piece.

How long will it take to receive my commission?

Timing for each project depends on the scale and complexity of the piece as well as my current schedule at the time your contract is signed. I am typically booked with commissions a few months out so it is possible your work will not begin for a few weeks, or sometimes months, even at the time of your contract signing. That being said, each project is different and I do my best to schedule new commissions as soon as possible. Typically, once a project is officially scheduled it takes several weeks between frame building, ordering materials and the actual creation of the piece.

It is important to note that a project is not officially added to my schedule until a contract is signed. Although it may be in the design and pricing phase, no work will actually begin until a contract has been signed and a deposit is paid.

How is your work priced?

Unfortunately, I am unable offer any generic pricing for commissions. Each piece I create is unique and thus, each have different pricing parameters. My commissions range from a few hundred dollars for smaller pieces to several thousand so there is no average price. My prices are determined by the materials used, labor and design hours (for me as well as any collaborating woodworkers or artists), sales tax and shipping costs or delivery and installation.

Do you offer installation services?

Yes! I do offer installation services. Sometimes I am able to install the work, but for larger projects I will bring in professional art installation teams. If you choose this route I will include all costs for the delivery and installation services in the pricing of your commission.

Can I request a replica of another KTE piece?

Unfortunately, no. I do not recreate past pieces as I like to keep each client’s creation special and unique to them. At the time of designing, that piece was made for that client for specific reasons and I do not feel it is right to make it again for someone else. However, I am happy to use a past creation as inspiration for something new! If there is a piece in my portfolio that you love please include that in your inquiry and I am happy to use that in our discussion.

On that note: All designs, sketches and drawings created and provided by me and Kate the Earthling LLC are confidential, proprietary information and protected by copyright law. Taking my designs or sketches and providing them to another artist or company for them to make is a violation of this and will result in legal action.