This may sound weird to some, but hopefully wonderful to a few. Emily and I are obsessed with fungus, slime molds, and lichen (we're members of our local chapters dedicated to their appreciation); it's a recent hobby…no…make that an obsession…to chase after mushrooms and their ilk after a storm to document/photograph. Admittedly a nerdy endeavor, but one born out of a love of the inspiring colors and shapes that of course find their way into the arts and design. So how could we not but adore these crochet pieces offered by ELIN Art over at Etsy.
Elin Thomas personally crochets these in an attempt "to copy nature", but we think her handiwork honours it, with astute detail, choice in colours and layout that give these woolen pieces a tactile-inviting presence.
As someone who hikes and photographs lichen regularly, we can attest these decorative pieces truly capture the essence of the fungus and alga collaboration of design, form and texture. They would look great as intended decorative "growths" on the walls for those nature and science minded and we plan to perhaps gift ourselves one or two pieces to enjoy ourselves when we can't get out to hike.
Peruse Elin's complete collection of lichen inspired pieces at her Etsy store.
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Comments (10)
How creative. Gorgeous colors and fun felted rocks to set the stage! My grandma won all kinds of crochet awards at Country fairs ... this is not my Grandma's crochet (love the photo of the lichen, btw).
These rock! The big pieces are beautiful. I was really put off, though, by the first pic, which looks like moldy turds... but at the same time I love the idea of "handmade art turds." It's sort of a Marcel Duchamp/Joseph Beuys/Judy Chicago brand of unexpected.
Lichen is very beautiful! I love your interpretations. See my Lichen-inspired rug from my "Maine" collection here: http://bit.ly/99y8sV
I like these! I'm a lichen lover myself, and have lots of photos too, the most beautiful found at Quetico Wilderness in Ontario. Fish Girl, your rugs are gorgeous!
Not strange to me. Mushrooms are amazing. We've had some just in our backyard that have had me amazed. The ones in your photographs are ever better.
Lovely!
I'm "lichen" these!
These are amusing, but here's my problem with them (and a lot of crafty things like them.) How long will you love them? I'm opposed to owning things we like on a whim that become junk in a year or five years or ten years when the novelty wears off.
Too many "recycled" projects are this kind of thing. It just postpones when they become garbage, and sometimes interferes with reclamation. (Aluminum cans converted to knick-knacks with glue and other stuff added cannot be melted down for the metal...)
Just my opinion, of course.
They're cute, but I'd rather see larger pieces that have some sort of pillow-like function, I guess.
Really lovely post. I'm a nature lover, and a child of the 70's, so I think anything that is a decor-woodsy should be coated in awesome sauce.