Photographed by Doug Young

Cetti constructs each artificial bloom—from foxglove to geranium to hollyhock—primarily from pieces of matte tissue paper. Three- to four-inch-long strips are rotary-cut, hand-dipped in a diluted bleach solution, and then hung to dry above an oversize sink. Next she employs an arsenal of fringing and crimping tools to articulate petals; each leaf is cut (and often painted) by hand. Finally, she twists all the parts together on floral wire and adheres them with floral tape, then affixes an old-world botanical-style label with the name of her firm, the Green Vase.