Tag Archives: felt artist

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton (2014).

 

Who knew a book about the tiniest organisms on earth could be so beautiful and fascinating? Nicola Davies did.

Get out your microscope because the illustrations are just as wondrous as the subject matter.

 

 

 

(click image(s) to enlarge)

Aren’t they wild and beautiful? Just seeing these images might make a future scientist out of a reader. (Or an artist.)

This picture book opens up a whole new world, one we never see but is always there. Yeah, microbes are small. So small “millions could fit on [an] ant’s antenna.” And on our own skin? Billions. More than all the people on Earth.

While this could have a major yuck factor, not with how it’s done here. The only factor I felt (and I’m kind of a germaphobe) was fascination. Plus, while some stuff microbes do is damaging (e.g. making us sick) most of their work described in this book is crucial and key.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Walker Books for images!

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I love it when I randomly come across something that fits perfectly with a picture book I admire. Enter the work of felt artist, Hiné Mizushima.

Get this: she’s created a series of giant felt microbes. It’s true! And they’re for sale in her etsy shop as wearable brooches! What better gift for the scientist in your life (or yourself)?! Complete with their own little petri dishes!! They. Are. Cute.

Mizushuima’s felted giant Daphnia remind me of adorned birds and reindeer all at once.

 

 

 

What first got you interested in microbes?

I’m not sure but the beautiful transparent models of microbes at American Museum of Natural History in New York in 1980s might have been the first things to get me interested.

—Hiné Mizushima

What draws you to microbes as subjects?

They are pretty and look weird! I am always fascinated by old educational scientific stuff, so I wanted to make my own twisted little guys. I also just wanted to use petri dishes and specimen labels for my work!

—Hiné Mizushima

 

And if you want a giant paramecium, she’s got that as a beautiful brooch too! It’s just like the one pictured in the book except this one’s got sweet button eyes and looks a bit like a raincloud.

 

So remember, bacteria aren’t always bad! This book and these brooches say so.

 

To microbes! Show your appreciation by wearing one on your sweater!