Fossils are solid evidence of organisms from the past, whether ancient animals or plants, that record a moment of its life when it was still alive. And no other ancient living forms have sparked fascination and intrigue in paleontology more than dinosaurs. Artist, photographer, and tour guide Rachel Crisp documents these amazing discoveries in thread with her series of fossil embroidery art. Each of her tactile hoop pieces features stitched dinosaur bones visually situated in a mossy ground. It’s like looking at an actual paleontology photo of a newly-excavated dinosaur skeleton, only the images are rendered in highly textured stitches.
This North Carolina-based self-taught artist uses various knots and stitching techniques to capture the beauty of the natural world on fabric. Fascinated by the preserved remnants of prehistoric life, Crisp puts her needlework to unearth the remains of dinosaurs surrounded by green threads representing plant life, which gives the illusion that the dinosaur skulls are being unearthed.
Fossil Embroidery Art Featuring Dinosaur Bones
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“Animal bones and fossils are something that have always interested me, so it seemed right to use that as inspiration,” the artist says. “Mostly I like to imagine each piece I make as its own little miniature world whether it’s relaxing by the ocean, walking in the forest, or staring up at the clouds.”
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As a nature lover herself, Crisp also finds inspiration from animals, woodlands, plants, mountains, and other nature-inspired scenery. You can find her fossil embroidery art and her other creations on Instagram. Also check out her Etsy shop to browse her available hand embroidery pieces for sale.
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