Mom's Silk Bonsai

Mom's Silk Bonsai

I promised to show some of mom's silk bonsai work. I apologize because the pictures are crappy. I will get better pictures at a later date. I will also get some pictures of her bigger pieces. They don't photograph well and are much more impressive in person. The camera takes away the realism. The room is her sewing, painting, poetry etc room.

Mom claimed that she was 1 of 2 silk bonsai masters in North America and the other being her teacher. I have no idea if that claim is true, as I don't know anyone else that does silk bonsai.

So what are we looking at? The pots are special bonsai pots and very expensive. The base of the plant has real dried moss glued on and driftwood. Every piece of moss is placed strategically to replicate a living plant. Everything else is silk and wire. Every pine needle you see is made by her. Hundreds of hours making these pieces. She would sit and listen to the TV and make thousands of parts and pieces.

You will notice in the one picture the realistic looking dead flower at the base of the plant, as if one had fallen off with a ripe seed inside and bloomed again.

Mom did not make these for profit, although she did sell a few for north of $5000. She did it as a way to challenge herself and a form of meditation(I assume). She mostly gave them away as gifts to friends and family. I have a small orange tree she made for me. At one time a friend asked me if it was real, stating he once had a real tree just like it.

More to come soon...