Irah|@bloomedgallery

Introduction

In the heart of Seattle, Irah has cultivated a unique passion as a flower preservation artist, turning fleeting beauty into lasting memories. Her journey began in 2021 with a personal quest to preserve her wedding bouquet, which led her down a path of self-discovery and creativity after she found a lack of local options for floral preservation. Since then, Irah has mastered various techniques, from flower pressing to utilizing silica gel, transforming her love for flowers—nurtured since childhood—into a thriving business founded in the summer of 2022. With a deep commitment to capturing the essence of cherished moments, Irah not only creates stunning floral art but also infuses her work with emotional significance, as she pays homage to life and love through her craft. In this interview, we delve into Irah’s inspiring journey, her creative process, and the profound impact her art has on the lives of those she serves.

Irah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomedgallery/

Irah’s website: https://www.bloomedgallery.com/

Interview

Great! Irah, can you do a little bit of an introduction of yourself first?

I’m a flower preservation artist based in the Seattle area. I started my floral preservation journey in 2021 after I married my husband and wanted to find a local artist to preserve my wedding bouquet. Unfortunately there were no artist local to my area, and so I began my journey of learning different methods to dry and preserve flowers. I started with learning flower pressing, but eventually expanded into drying flowers using different methods, including utilizing silica gel. However, I have always loved flowers, ever since I was a child. I remember always looking around for any flowers or greenery I could find and sometimes make flower crowns out of them.

I founded my business in summer of 2022 after over a year of experience pressing and drying flowers. I hope to be able to help others preserve their most cherished memories and moments in life through the art of floral preservation.

Wonderful. Nice to meet you Irah! During the years of flower preservation, you must try many brands of silica gel crystals. Why do you choose us at the end?

Honestly, I started with Wisedry as my first and only Silica Gel after doing some research and reading reviews. I have loved the quality of the product and the results, and have not really ventured with other products. Perhaps one day I will, but for now I’m happy with Wisedry brand.

Thank you so much for your trust! Glad that our products can help you preserve better flowers. After preserving memories for many people. Is there a story that leaves you a strong impression?

I have loved preserving florals for all my clients and seeing the joy my artwork brings in their lives fills me with so much gratitude and pride. However, one of my most memorable preserved floral art piece I created was for my friend Emily’s memorial florals who passed away in 2023 after years of bravery and grace battling brain cancer. Emily loved flowers and one of her last wishes for her celebration of life was to have many flowers during her memorial. As a way to honor and remember her, I decided to preserve and frame her florals and gifted them to her husband and parents.

Awww, it’s so deep and meaningful. I bet Emily would be so happy to see the work from heaven. She would be proud of you. Do you have some pictures of the flower pieces?

Thank you so much. I never really pictured / posted her floral art frames as for me it was truly a gift and I did not want to associate the final product very much to my followers for my business. However, I did post an Instagram reel of some behind-the-scenes of me working in my studio that features her art piece.

It’s so beautiful. You have really done a great job! If you could sum it up in one sentence, what does this job, flower preservation mean to you?

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Floral preservation is a way for me to help bring joy into people’s lives by preserving their most cherished moments in life or honoring their loved ones, through the beauty of floral art.

It’s amazing. Thank you so much.

Writer: Mingzhu Wu

26.07.2024