Description
Inspiration for my Pipistrelle Bat Cuff
I have always wanted to model a bat pendant. But it wasn’t until we found temporarily roosting in our upstairs corridor, shortly followed by a customer asking if I would make her one, that I finally realised the time was right. My original commission piece was of a pipistrelle sitting with it’s wings tucked in (see my pipistrelle bat pendant). I was itching to model one with the wings out but struggled with the design of one in full flight which would also work as a necklace. That was until I spotted Gav Sidey‘s photo of one poised for flight, with its wings in a lovely loose W shape. Then emerged my large pipistrelle pendant.
But then came the slightly over-the-top bladderwrack cuff – and a bat cuff was inevitable. I did consider making the bat the whole cuff. But then realised that you lose sight of the wings when you wear it. And I want to see the whole bat if I’m wearing one. So instead, I created a night creatures-type design for the back of the cuff – ending in a pair of Emperor Moths to round off the ends of the cuff in style.
I do still have a bat on my To Do list. The one that set up home in my upstairs corridor was a brown long-eared bat. And did you know that, when they sleep, they curl their ears up? He was absolutely adorable. And the experience of sitting on the floor of my daughter’s bedroom at dusk, watching it fly around seeking the open window (which it sadly found all too quickly), was truly magical.
