Gorgeous Spring Nights...

I've been out walking my dog after dark and the nights are so wonderful! I am often inspired by the silhouettes of the trees and the gradient of the colors in the sky. One of my favorite night animals is the bat. It could be its association with vampires and magic but they are also fascinating creatures besides all the mythology. I was particularly impressed when I learned more about the lives of bat colonies. For example, some bats help each other give birth to their pups, acting as midwives! I've also read that they nurse each others babies even though they know they are not their own. On the other hand, they also carry rabies and, yes, three species of bat drink blood from animals. I think us humans have a natural aversion to night hunters like the bat. They have heightened senses that to us seem supernatural. If we can overcome this aversion, we can see that they are necessary for the environment and can be a source of awe and inspiration. Above is my design "Goddess of the Night." The art is reminiscent of a text book diagram but the swirls and purple are pure whimsy. You can find this design on maternity wear, plus size clothing, women's apparel and gifts at my cafepress shop, Crafty Curios. Enjoy these magical spring nights!
Allison

Fairies and Toys

I've been wanting to post some pics for some time! The first project is an altered jar that was inspired by so many adorable things I found online. I want to give credit where credit is due! I didn't come up with the ideas all on my own, I reached into the internet and found a huge community of fellow crafters! Here are a few of my favorite inspiration pics! Click to go to the creators' pages :) Thank you to Cedar Junction and Fireflygirl Inspirations at Etsy.com!

When a little jelly jar became available in the kitchen, I went to work on my own wee fairy. I wish you could see the tiny wand I made for her. Only the end of it is visible in her right hand. Also, most artists tend to use butterfly wings for their fairies. I went a different direction and made my own. They are a little rough but I'm proud of the finished product!

Here is another project that was directly influenced by the creative mind of another crafter. Don't they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? I wanted to see what this form, a child's block and vintage photos would elicit from my creative subconscious. Unfortunately I can't find where I originally got this image! If anyone knows who the artist is (or if you are the artist) please email me. I would love to credit you for the idea :)

I embellished the block with ink, paper, flowers, bling and some eyelash ribbon on top. The block is vintage too! Fresh from the antique stores in Niles! The little girl is a vintage photo that is visible from both sides. She has the sweetest expression on her little face, very playful. It goes perfectly with a child's toy like a block :) Well, I enjoyed checking in and hope to do so again very soon!