Inspiration from a spoon elephant

I enjoy reading about how one is inspired to create their works of art, especially when it’s not the usual, “I was inspired by the colors of nature….”.    I had an unusual inspiration myself.  For my son’s birthday, I wanted to make a little something for him – a piece of jewelry he could wear around for fun.  I know he may not want to wear it out and about,  but the other day I did catch him playing with a bangle as if the bracelet were a person living amidst a fort of blocks that he had built.  In the picture above, the bangle that went “live” is the one you see on the left.  Quite a while ago he made that bangle with a little help from me, and now it’s too small for him.  The one on the right is the new one I made.   I even included my own (rather unattractive)  lampwork beads.  

Now getting to the inspiration….see the silly little doodle below?  I’ve been making “spoon elephants” since I was little.  I’m not sure how or when I learned, but it was an easy way to draw an elephant.  Did you ever draw one of these guys?  You start with a spoon and add the ears and legs…easy!  My husband and I now draw this friendly elephant on notes for the kids all of the time.  There is the inspiration for using the Thai silver elephant in this whimsical birthday bangle.  🙂