"In brief, the velvet flower is a craft that uses mulberry silk to make the surface details with wire as the framework," Cai explains. "The skill can be used to make many things besides figures including birds, flowers, insects and landscapes."
The skill of making velvet flowers originated in Jiangsu province's Yangzhou city and spread to Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Cai says that one theory about the origin of the art is that people in ancient times loved beauty, and they would wear real flowers in their hair in the summer and in winter, decorated with colorful ribbons.
"Some smart maid found a way to make handmade flowers for their mistress," Cai says, adding that an early form of velvet flowers can be found in Tang Dynasty murals.
Cai grew up in the former Chongwen district which merged into Dongcheng in 2010. "Chongwen district was known as a hotbed of craft skills. It was home to many handicraft workshops and each family made things," Cai recalls.
