The Pieces We Couldn't Throw Away: The Story Behind Our "Bone Bits" Collection
- Michele Moore
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
The Artist's Dilemma: Holding onto the Imperfect
If you’ve followed Bone Boutique for a while, you know my journey began with a simple compulsion: I couldn’t throw anything away.
From the very first specimens Phillip and I collected on the roads of North Port, Florida, I had trays and buckets full of bones that were cleaned and curated, yet imperfect. They were stained by natural patina, damaged by road-strike, or simply too fragmented for my A-grade jewelry designs.
Logically, I should have discarded them. But deep down, I always felt the answer would reveal itself. I knew that the more I immersed myself in this material, the more the universe would show me the purpose of every last fragment.
The Revelation: Conservation Meets Community
The answer, as it turns out, wasn’t about me at all—it was about community and conservation.
My work has been generously blessed over the years, giving me access to a steady supply of ethically salvaged specimens. I realized that many talented osteo-artists and natural history collectors don’t have that same resource. They might be looking for a unique turtle carapace for a centerpiece, or a handful of python vertebrae for intricate detailing, but they face high prices or unreliable sourcing.
That’s where the boxes of "imperfect" bones found their purpose.
Wearable Conservation: Leaving Nothing Behind
Our "Bone Bits" collection is the ultimate expression of our Wearable Conservation mission. We believe that honoring an animal means utilizing every single possible part, even the pieces that have sustained damage in their passing.
Instead of discarding these valuable fragments, we meticulously clean and prepare them, retaining their natural patina and unique story. We then offer them at a fraction of the cost you would pay for pristine, A-grade material.
These are not flaws; they are the battle scars and history of the road.
For example, our Softshell Turtle Artist Kits feature beautiful carapace and plastron sections that are separated or damaged—perfect for collage or mosaic work. Our B-Grade Everglades Python Lots provide full skeletons of vertebrae and ribs from a single, invasive snake (ethically sourced through the Python Elimination Program!) at an incredible value, allowing other artists to turn a conservation effort into stunning art.
By choosing "Bone Bits," you are not just buying material; you are:
Supporting No-Waste Ethics: Ensuring every fragment is honored.
Celebrating Natural Patina: Working with bones that have a raw, authentic story built in.
Empowering Other Artists: Getting quality material affordably to fuel your own creative journey.
The pieces I couldn't bear to throw away have now found their true calling: inspiring the next generation of osteo-artists.
We are so excited to see what you create. Shop the new Bone Bits collection today!
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