Netalia Zerina gathering flowers for her craft. Photos: The Star/Kamarul Ariffin
Seven years ago, Netalia Zerina Galea was diagnosed with thyroid cancer while working as a lawyer for a construction company in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The diagnosis was a harsh wake-up call for the 37-year-old, who was then spending about 10 hours a day at work.
"No one expects cancer, and the diagnosis hit me hard. It made me realise how fragile life was and how caught up I was in the corporate rat race," says Netalia Zerina during an interview in Bandar Menjalara, Kuala Lumpur.
'When you do what you love, it brings you joy,' says Netalia Zerina.
After undergoing surgery and several rounds of radiotherapy, Netalia Zerina took a break from her career to focus on her passions, one of which was crafting. Among her favourite activities was pressed flower art.
"I lived in Leicester, Britain from the age of six to 10 while my mother was pursuing her PhD. As a child, I remembered how my school friends and I would exchange seeds and spend hours making collages, cards and decorative items, including pressed flowers. That's how I developed a love for arts, crafts and plants," she recalls.
As she grew older, however, Netalia Zerina drifted away from these childhood passions. But her cancer diagnosis reminded her that life is too short to ignore what truly matters. It was then that she decided to make a conscious effort to reconnect with her creative side.
"After work hours, I explored many creative outlets, including painting on canvas, shells and stones, taking cross-stitch classes, and experimenting with pressed flowers. It was very fulfilling," explains Netalia Zerina, who turned to social media to improve her crafting skills.
She enjoyed her artistic ventures so much that in 2023, she made the bold decision to resign from her corporate job and dedicate herself fully to selling pressed flower items. Operating under the handle @PressPlayFlower on Instagram, Netalia Zerina offers a variety of creations, including pressed flower wall plates, frames, bookmarks and cards.
Working with pressed flowers has helped Netalia Zerina stay calm and connected with nature. Photo: Netalia Zerina Galea
Leaving her job without financial security was a daunting move, but Netalia Zerina took the leap, believing it was essential to pursue her passion and find a more fulfilling path.
"When you do what you love, it brings you joy. I was stuck in a rut – work, home, repeat. Life as an artpreneur isn't easy, but it's profoundly rewarding. Thankfully, my parents were surprisingly supportive of my decision to quit my full-time job.
"Art has been incredibly healing, and perhaps this is the universe's way of nudging me toward the right path. It wasn't planned, but it unfolded when I stepped out of my comfort zone and followed what brought me happiness. Pursuing my passion for creating with pressed flowers has opened many doors," says Netalia Zerina, who holds a diploma in clinical hypnotherapy, which she pursued in 2018 after her cancer scare.
Reflecting on her career change, Netalia Zerina said, "Working in an organisation was fine, but handling different personalities was stressful. Pressed flower work, on the other hand, is rewarding and fun. If I'd stayed in the corporate sector, I wouldn't have had time for any of this."
Her advice to others?
"Take on the challenge and just do it. The opportunities will come if your heart is in it. The income isn’t fixed, but I can manage and, most importantly, it brings me contentment," says Netalia Zerina who sells her creations at bazaars in the Klang Valley and also conducts workshops on pressed flower art.
A creative outlet
The art of pressed flowers has a long history, with its origins believed to trace back to 16th-century Japan. There, preserved flowers were used to create intricate designs for scrolls, stationery and home decor. Today, pressed flowers are celebrated for their versatility in art, decor and jewellery. On platforms like Instagram, you can find many videos showcasing creative ways to use pressed flowers, such as in stickers, lanterns and suncatchers.
Netalia preserves nature's beauty through pressed flower art, creating timeless pieces after a cancer diagnosis.
Netalia Zerina runs her mini studio from her former bedroom at her parents' home in Bandar Menjalara. After moving to Subang Jaya, Selangor with her husband, lawyer Iman Isyak, 36, the room transformed into her creative sanctuary.
Though modest in size, the studio is filled with boxes of pressed flowers, stationery, paintbrushes, varnish and acrylic paints. Adorning the walls are her pressed flowers in oval frames, showcasing favourites like violas, poppies, delphiniums and hibiscus. Ceramic plates decorated with pressed flowers hang nearby.
"My father is from Malta, and I was inspired by the Mediterranean people to create ceramic plates with pressed flowers. I wanted those for my own home but couldn’t find them here, so I started making them myself – they look so cute! In Malta, every home has pressed flowers and ceramic plates, and I've always loved that concept."
When asked about the challenges of making pressed flowers, Netalia Zerina explained, "The biggest challenges are unpredictability and weather. Some flowers come out beautifully, while others may turn brown. Sometimes an entire batch fails, but other days, the flowers turn out perfect. Light, humidity and heat all play a role, and daily care and attention are essential.
"It is always about trial and error, and that’s the exciting part before opening the flower press, though it can also be disappointing at times. Experimenting with different flowers helps me identify which ones work well and which ones don't," she added.
'Each piece is a delicate fusion of art deco and natural beauty,' says Netalia Zerina. Photo: Netalia Zerina Galea
What Netalia Zerina enjoys most about working with pressed flowers is transforming nature's gifts into unique works of art.
"Each piece is a delicate fusion of art deco influence and natural beauty, handcrafted with care and imagination. My mission is to preserve fleeting moments of nature's splendour and reimagine them as one-of-a-kind creations."
Netalia Zerina forages for flowers from her surroundings and travels, and she also purchases flowers from florists and farmers locally and globally. She prefers working with flowers that have lower moisture content, such as those with thin petals, as they tend to press well. Vibrant flowers are also ideal, as they maintain their colour longer.
"Not all flowers work well in the flower press. For example, orchids contain a high moisture content, making them difficult to press with the basic method I use. I have developed my own method for pressing thicker flowers, which involves dissecting and drying them first before placing them in the press."
A delicate art
Netalia Zerina begins by collecting fresh flowers or leaves, ensuring they are free of any brown or soggy bits. She then prepares them by cutting them to the desired shape and keeping them dry. The flowers are placed between layers of absorbent paper in a flower press or heavy books.
The press is then stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Netalia Zerina checks the press daily, changing the papers to prevent moisture build-up. After about a month, she stores the pressed flowers in airtight containers to preserve their colours.
With steady hands and a keen eye for detail, Netalia Zerina patiently glues the delicate flowers before attaching them to paper.
To make her creations, she carefully uses craft glue to affix the dried flowers onto cardstock (300g) or ceramic plates. Each piece takes about two to three hours to complete, requiring great patience.
"I use different types of paintbrushes to carefully attach the dried flowers to paper or ceramic. Since the flowers are delicate, a lot of care is needed. The application must be neat, ensuring the glue doesn’t show. Once the flowers are in place, I add a metal piece to hold them down until the work is finished."
She also varnishes the pressed flowers on ceramic plates to preserve them.
Pressed flowers tend to fade over time due to light exposure. The natural oils and chemicals in the flowers can react with air and moisture, leading to discolouration.
"I work with the natural colours of the flowers. I haven't experimented with colour fixing yet. However, the plates have a protective layer that creates a sculptural effect while ensuring the flowers are sealed. I prefer to work with vibrant flowers that retain their colour for a long time when cared for properly."
Netalia Zerina turns simple materials into a beautiful piece of art.
To care for pressed flower art, she recommends keeping it away from direct sunlight and placing it in a cool, dry area.
"Faded pressed flowers seem to retain their charm and beauty, and to me, they look even more rustic with the passage of time," says Netalia Zerina, whose handcrafted items sell between RM15 and RM200 each.
Pressed flower art may seem daunting, but Netalia Zerina offers some tips for beginners: "Start with what you have. You don't need a professional flower press – stacks of heavy books or simply placing flowers between the pages of a book can work."
She encourages beginners to experiment with flowers in their surroundings.
"Look for thin flowers with vibrant colours. Once you get the hang of it, try other types of flowers and see what works. Most importantly, have fun and explore. The possibilities with pressed flowers are endless, and it's a sustainable craft for all ages."
