The Moonlit Monarch
Handmade Oddities and Treasures
crafted with love and respect for the specimens used to capture natures beauty
Always ethically sourced.
in memory of Natalie Krohn
09- 17- 1969 to 09- 10- 2014
I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I have always appreciated my ability to see the beauty in all things around me and capture them in my work. I have been exploring insect taxidermy and flower preservation for about two years now. What started as a passion project to create something to remember my late mother by, has absolutely changed my whole scope of art and life itself. Butterflies especially have always been a spiritual thing that connected me back to my mom, and now every piece immortalizes the beautiful yet short life of her and the insects included in the frame. Thank you for being part of it all.
Explore
Frames
This very large bubble frame is dated to be from the 1910s. The flawless specimens inside include the Giant Blue morpho, the Morpho Blue Sapphire, and a sky-blue hairstreak butterfly. These butterflies are so shiny they almost don’t look real!
Some of the florals include daffodils, false sunflowers, salvia, lavender, statice, and more. All set on a beautiful orange velvet background.
Gold antique frame housing a beautiful chinese moon moth. Florals include hydrangeas, gerber daisy, dahlias, zinnias, lavender, and black-eyed susans
Beautiful cicada sourced ethically from eastern China. Florals include hydrangeas, lavender, roses, zinnias, statice, false sunflowers, and more. Arranged with dried orange slices. All florals are grown and dried by me!
frame is an antique bubble frame made in Italy
Antique bubble glass frame, brass and made in italy. Resting on olive green velvet are specimens Julia Heliconian longwing butterfly and the Flamingo Leafwing Butterfly.
Florals include false sunflowers, lavender, statice, garden phlox, dried orange slices with little gold stars.
I love this frame and I can’t wait to see it find a new home
Two black and white butterflies on a pink background. Florals include purple morning glory, strawflowers, roses, zinnia, purple minnesota thistle, gardenia, and more! in a vintage gold frame
King swallowtail on purple velvet. Black eyed susans, zinnias, snap dragons, calendula, roses, and more
Beautiful mountain blue swallowtail on a blue silver background. Florals include strawflowers, marigolds, madagascar jasmine, blue thistle, ferns, dahlias, eucalyptus pods.
Beautiful green and blue toned Madagascan sunset moth, housed in an antique silver frame. Florals include nasturtium, daisy, celosia, salvia, roses, and more.
yellow and white common butterfly arranged with a floral mandala beneath it. other florals include strawflower, roses, and marigolds. 5×7 vintage gold frame
Domes
Mini dome housing two Graphium sarpedon, otherwise known as the common bluebottle butterfly. This dome is comprised of dried snapdragons, black-eyed susans, strawflower, zinnias, and more.
This little cutie dome features a large piece of celestite, purple emperor butterfly, tiny hedge blue butterfly with a gold crescent moon
Florals include Roses, salvia, blue thistle, eucalyptus pods, purple garden phlox, daisy
Beautiful IO moth resting on a pinecone. Surrounded by roses, zinnias, black eyed Susan, and more. Dome is 4 inches tall.
two meliboeus swordtail butterflies resting on a rose quartz, surrounded by pink zinnias, strawflowers, and more
Gorgeous little 5 inch dome featuring a purple-spotted swallowtail butterfly. This specimen rests on a high quality piece of amethyst showing blue banding. Florals include roses, zinnias, blue thistle, and bachelors button.
This large dome features a beautiful floral teacup with two male clearwing butterflies. These butterflies have a gorgeous bright pink hindwing.
Florals include hydrangea, hollyhock, purple hosta, strawflower, statice, zinnia and more
Large dome featuring a massive piece of amethyst, forest mother of pearl butterfly, turkey tail mushrooms, roses, blue thistle, hydrangea, zinnia, and wild garlic flower. These pictures don’t do it justice!! So beautiful
2 painted lady butterflies perched on a piece of honey calcite. Flowers include daisies, bachelors button, salvia, black eyed Susan’s, eucalyptus pods, and dried oranges
scarlett mormom butterfly hindwings. Preserved and hanging from sterling silver hooks
common black and white swallowtail wing inclusions, earrings feature a “front and back” view of the wings- with the lighter side being the underside. Gold is 14k plated
Our gold earrings are created with 14K gold plated metal. This pair of earrings features real orange butterfly wing inclusions
Earrings + Necklaces
Pressed Rose flower incased in a vintage-look pendant necklace. Topped with gold flake.
Two amber-colored butterfly wings hanging between a beautiful green fastener. Gold Chains are 14k plated and ready to wear!
Naturally deceased stingy little guy in a glass dome. He rests on purple german statice. He would really love to hangout on your purse and be a little good luck charm for you!
Gold crescent moon overlapping a charm with common orange and black butterfly incased behind glass. Gold is 14k plated with adjustable chain
The smallest, yet coolest little spicy fly in a mini dome. He is ready to rock on any purse, bag, or keys!
Meet the Artist
The Moonlit Monarch is owned and operated by Lauren Cauwels. I couldn’t do it without the help of my wife and our sweet two-year-old. We are huge animal lovers and reside in Minnesota with two huge dogs and two kitties.
I have loved and practiced art my entire life. My favorite traditional mediums are pencil- and gauche paint. I also have/had a career as a tattoo artist and am very well versed in all things ink.
Fun Facts about me:
-Im a pisces
-My favorite color is purple
-I freakin love tiramisu
-My favorite bug is probably a Luna moth or painted lady butterfly
-mini golf pisses me off
I was a barista for 4 years and I love all things coffee
I LOVE plants
Custom Art Commission Inquiry
Please list what you would like created in as much detail as possible. Please include the size and style of frame/dome. Example, you would like a large gold bubble frame, brass. Be sure to mention if there are any specific specimens or florals that you would like included- as well as anything extra. Reach out if you have any questions about this form!
Commission Policy
Any submitted request is not a guaranteed commission slot. Custom commission art pieces are subject to the approval of the artist. Approved commissions will require a 50% non-refundable deposit before I will begin working on your piece. I will be sure to send you updates throughout the creation of your art. After final approval of the completion of your art piece, I will get it ready to be shipped. Once a completion email is sent to you, final payment including the rest of the purchase price and the price of shipping cost is due within 24 hours. If payment is not received, you will lose your deposit, and the piece will be listed on my website for sale. Shipping is paid for by the buyer- all packages will be insured. I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages. If any issues arrive with your package, please reach out to me and I will open an insurance claim. Please let me know within 24 hours if any damage has occurred. Keep all original packaging and provide photos. Thank you!
Please type “I understand commission policy” at the end of your request once you have read this.
Every art piece is created and packed with love and careful attention to detail. However, once UPS and USPS are in possession of your package it is no longer the responsibility of The Moonlit Monarch. The Moonlit Monarch is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged packages. Orders over $1000 will require a signature at delivery. If packages arrived damaged, please reach out to me within 24 hours and I will submit an insurance claim, but a refund is NOT guaranteed. If the shipping company denies the claim, it is out of my hands. By purchasing a work of art from this website, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.