Butterfly Garden

Nine hours, layer by layer

This one took the longest of any cap we have made so far. Not because it was harder — because it kept asking for one more flower. A sunflower here, a zinnia there, a marigold-orange gerbera to warm up the corner. The composition grew as it was being made, the way a real garden grows.

Every cap we make begins as a burn, not a paint stroke. Before any color goes on the suede, the design is drawn into the fabric with a fine wood-burning tip. The burn stays under the paint as texture you can feel with your fingers. It is what keeps a hand-painted piece from looking like a sticker.

Why navy suede

Navy is quiet. The bouquet on top is not. Setting bright florals against a deep navy background makes every color read cleaner — the sunflower yellow stays yellow, the pink stays pink, and the blue butterfly disappears into and reappears out of the suede depending on the light.

Suede also holds the burned line work differently than fabric. You can feel the drawing under the paint if you run your thumb across it.

Who this piece is for

Someone who feels most themselves outside. Someone whose favorite afternoon is bold and colorful and a little bit loud, and who does not need a hat to whisper. That is who Butterfly Garden was made for.

The details

• Navy suede trucker cap, adjustable strapback
• Hand-burned line drawing under hand-painted acrylic
• Full bouquet on the crown: sunflowers, zinnias, dahlia, gerbera daisy
• Blue butterfly as the centerpiece, wings in cobalt, cream, and gold
• Second garden row of sunflowers along the brim
• Approximately 9 hours of studio time
• One of one — never repeated

Care: spot clean only. Suede does not like water — keep out of direct water and prolonged sunlight to preserve color.