My two hand painted lepidoptera hair clips.
Now with a fancy "aesthetic" background as I had some banana leaves handy.
I had to cut some banana leaves down at work yesterday as they were threatening to grow through the greenhouse roof. So I took some pictures before putting the leaves in the avary so the birds could have a nibble.
I made the hair clips out of an old pair of jeans, acrylic paint, hot glue and French barrette hair clips.
I cover the process of making them in a previous post. If you fancy giving it a go, I would love to see what you make.
If you can access this on Netflix please, please watch Scavengers Reign. I can't describe how amazing it is. Stunning visuals, immaculate and fun world building with a spectacular array of alien fauna and flora, beautiful character driven storytelling.
I am going to start rewatching it as I can't get it out of my head. I really need a second series. Please watch this.
It can be a bit gory in places (but most of it isn't) and does deal with some heavy topics but these were handled in such a careful way so please don't let it put you off if you think you can handle it.
Scavengers Reign 1.02 "The Storm"
I wanted to enter an embroidery competition that was run by Domestika. And this is what I ended up coming up with. It is a lichen themed French barrett hair clip.
Prior to planning and making my embroidery I went on some walks and took some photos for inspiration.
I really love lichen it's such a strange thing. The physical structure of lichen is a fungi that clings to tree branches, rocks, and other solid surfaces. The fungi provides a home for a colony of tiny algae or cyanobacteria. The algae or cyanobacteria photosynthesize producing sugars and other molecules that they share with the fungi. These are what give the lichen its colours. So lichen isn't really one thing. It is a living collaboration of two completely unrelated organisms. It can survive desiccation and bounces right back with a little rain.
It looks a bit like coral and can be used to indicate air quality. Overall a fascinating and splendid amalgam.
Today I visited the Ossuary in Hythe, Kent, UK with my parents. It was absolutely fascinating and well worth the visit if you are interested in local history (£3 adult entry).
You find yourself wondering about the lives they all lead and who they might have been. Hopefully they are all in a better place regardless.
It is no doubt due to angle and lighting but they all look like they have distinctive personalities and expressions if that makes sense.
I made a little dragon head out of polymer clay my brother thinks it look more like a chicken Dino hybrid and now I keep imagining it scratching around in a corn field making nervous chicken noises.
A short clip from the safari at Port Lympne zoo as well as some pretty little common twayblade orchids that were growing there
Backgrounds and geographical structures are things I, currently can't, but would really like to be able to draw/depict. and these are rendered so beautifully that I am saving it for inspirational purposes
Art by Gui Yuan
Just found some old pictures of the wands my mum and I made for a Fantastic Beasts event at the college LRC (library) where I used to work.
We made them out of newspaper, toilet roll, PVA glue, acrylic paint, beads and plastic gems, and a glue gun.
These were hidden around the LRC and students would hunt for them every day for about two weeks until they found them all. Those that found them got to take them home and we also had some other activities to promote some of our Harry Potter audiobooks, ebooks and physical books and movies.
Bonus points to whoever spots the atrocious spelling mistake I made on the promotional material. Had to remember where we hid them all so I could break out the tipex
Edit: I Would like to mention as an afterthought, I am in no way in support of She Who Must Not Be Named (aka JK Rowling's) personal opinions regarding trans people. In my opinion she has turned into a vial and loathsome individual who has thoroughly tarnished my love of the fictional world she created. Her actions are pointlessly decisive, and harmful to cis and trans women alike.
Though the fanfic + fanart and the diverse community which created it and enriched that world is still incredibly dear to me. Even though I was never an active member (beyond, reading, giving kudos where it was due and occasionally commenting) I still felt like I was part of a friendly welcoming community full of talented (& not so talented), inspiring individuals.
If you are trans then please know that I support you. What is going down at the moment is utter bull. It might not feel like it sometimes, but people are on your side.
Some wonderfully vibrant rainbow corn that we grew at work. They are like little gems and almost look photoshopped.
Some wild fungi photos that I have taken this autumn. It always amazes me how quickly the fruiting bodies develop and the immense diversity of forms and colors that they can take.
I will probably be using this account to store photos that I have taken so I can use them later on, for work or in my art. Hopefully others will find them interesting or useful as well. I will avoid posting my art and other unrelated posts here.
The top one is the cap of a fly-agaric (a fairytale toadstool). I don’t know what species the others are but they were all photographed in the southeast of the UK.
Hello, I love plants, animals (particularly insects), art, craft, animation and other random stuff like creature design and sci-fi. My pronouns are she/her and I am aro/ace.
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