Strange Creatures - 2008 LE magnets

Looking for a quirky, unique gift? Or maybe just a little something for yourself...

Strange Creatures - 2008 LE Magnets

These creatures are all based on different motifs I love to draw or figure strongly in my personal mythology of stories and art I love. Some have metallics, some have glitter, many have jewels and one even glows in the dark.


*sold* Bee - A tiny queen bee perched on a blossom that reminds me of the flowering trees in my neighborhood. Her wings shimmer and her tiny crown is metallic gold. When my son saw her he said, "That's you Mom!."


Butterfly - This Orange Sulfur butterfly is not what is seems. Look closely and you see that rather than an insect it is a tiny brown sprite.


*sold* Crow - Quite possibly my favorite story book animal this clever fellow had metallic feathers and a double set of wings like a butterfly. In his mouth he carries a fine gold chain with a topaz crystal pendant.


Flamingo - Flamingos remind me of Alice and our local zoo where watching the flamingos being chased by a pelican. He and his spiny hedgehog friend are ready for a game of croquet.



*sold* Frog - This frog princess is based on a story illustration for a fairy tale I once did. I gave away the original and often try to replicate it but each frog ends up with a different expression. This princess is a haughty little thing. Her crown is metallic gold with a diamond crystal and she is surrounded by paper butterflies.


Jellyfish - A nearly transparent undersea moon the jellyfish glows in silver and pearl with just a whisper of pink. It is embellished with a diamond crystal.


Moon - The man in the moon is done in metallic silver and surrounded by star shaped jewels. He and his companion the sun are based on some Italian plates I used to have.


Mouse - This smiling mouse has a loooooong tail. The idea came to me from thinking about the Dormouse's Long, Sad Tale but this fellow is not sad at all peeking out from behind cut paper flowers.


Octopus - My favorite creature under the sea, this wise octopus holds a three dimensional pearl as a treasure.


Serpent - This sky born fellow is another ouborous based on a drawing in my high school yearbook. He has bronze metallic scales and emerald crystal eyes.


Spider - This talented spider on her star-shaped web must be related to Charlotte and the many spider's my son has had picnics with. Her web is spun from silver threads and the heart on her back will glow in the dark. Between her front legs she holds an iolite crystal.



Sun - The moon's stunning companion she is embellished with bronze and gold and two blazing topaz crystal eyes. She is based on an Italian china plate.

All magnets are hand painted one of a kind works of art. As such, the are available on a first come first served basis. E-mail me at Marie.de.Carabas@gmail.com to request a magnet or for more details. Feel free to list a second or third choice if you like. All are approx. 3" x 3" and come in a lavender organza pouch with an enclosure card. The backs have a complimentary paper (they are similar to the magnet that was the Fairy Day 2007 prize).

They are priced at $20 each. S&H will be $3 for up to 2 magnets and an additional $1 for each additional 2. Please e-mail me for payment details.

Sand Devil Jack

This was an anniversary gift for my husband based on a stamp he carved for letterboxing. The top image is his drawing with my color interpretation and our wedding date added.

The outside is a contrasting combination of lacquered black and a cinnabar red brushed with bronze and gold. Inside the box is fully lined with a trompe l'oeil image of a pirates treasure. Inside the lid that is further enhanced with the addition of three dimensional pearls and jewels.





This is one of my little helpers, Angus.

Semper Fi

Something a little different than my usual. This was commissioned as a gift for a retired marine.

The black lacquer finish is so shiny that you see some odd reflections from the light fixture in my office. There is a dark red shadow around the outside of the crest that barely registers unless you see it in person.

The paper inside is a patchwork of marine slogans. My husband, who is also ex-military, loved it so hopefully the recipient will too.

Gilded Autumn

This little American beauty is based on Charles Dana Gibson's illustrations. Her auburn hair has metallic copper highlights swirled into her Gibson style pompadour. Her wings are bases on the Queen butterfly and are glazed in the same metallic copper. A tiny rhinestone glitters from the band around her neck.

Her companion is based on a cat belonging to the recipient but I have to admit that his facial expression reminds me more of my furry little helper, Angus, who is a brown tabby instead of a golden Bengal. In the foreground of their resting place are cut paper leaves that echoes the autumnal paper inside.

The box's sides are sponged with layers of copper and several metallic golds then wrapped with real black lace accented with more rhinestones.





In other news - This is the first batch of pictures from my new camera. I can already see some improvement in detail and I'm sure as I figure out the ins and outs of how it works I'll be able to offer better images of my work for your viewing.

The Sailing Moon

This indigo haired mermaid has come up to the surface to get a better view of what appears to be the silvery crescent moon in her world, only to find a shimmering fairy sailboat with metallic silver sides and a mast made of a giant black narwhale horn.

Much of this box is pearlized when you see it in person. The sandy sides are layered with pearl and both the tiny boat and the mermaid's flesh and scales are accented in pearl. Her hair and the inside of the box are a deep indigo created with layers of midnight blue and royal purple. In her hair it is swirled with a metallic black.

My inspirations for this were my favorite fairy tale, The Little Mermaid (the old sad version), a print of John William Waterhouse's Miranda that hangs in my bedroom and the eventual recipient's love of sailing. She was originally intended to be a redhead like Miranda but at the last second she changed my mind.

Keep your eyes peeled for a very different companion piece to this one:)

Fairy Faces

As a little update I went through and added detail pictures of the faces of most of the fairies. A few were not crisp enough to see but most turned out better than I expected. It was a fun walk down memory lane for me to see some of those tiny faces in detail. I also got to get a real appreciation for how much more sophisticated the more recent faces are.

Be sure to look back and get a fresh view of some of your favorites!

Also of note - Mermaid's Treasure, Tiny Sailor and Winged Serpent were pieces I was inspired to do that do not have owners. If you are interested in purchasing one of them please send me an e-mail.

Damsel Fairy

This little lady is going to house a long treasured collection of baby teeth for giving back to a grown daughter. I think that is such a special idea. At some point I need to make a second tooth fairy box for my son to hold the teeth after his fairy takes them away.

The day I did her sketch I saw a bunch of electric blue damselflies darting around my garden. They were my inspiration for this windblown little fairy with her transparent wings.

Here face turned out particularly lovely IMO. I'm not sure why I haven't tried to include a detail of the faces before but here she is up close.