Cynipid
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cynipid.bsky.social
Cynipid
@cynipid.bsky.social
420 followers 1.1K following 150 posts
Crystal aka Fairy Gall-Mother
Entomologist, artist, and cat lover
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cynipid.bsky.social
Look at this stupid face! Stupidest face ever. So cute, it hurts...

I hope this shared pain has improved your day.
An adorable gray and white cat face poking out between some fake leaves inside of a basket.
October 30, 2025 at 1:15 AM
cynipid.bsky.social
Inigo: 💭 bugs...👀
4 photos of a gray and white cat looking at bugs on the ceiling. The cat has a lowercase "i" on its chest and matching spots on his inner front ankles.
October 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
I have a new addition to my collection of earrings based on the forms of insect antennae. I started with serrate; then I did pectinate. The latter were my favorite and recently broke so I am recarving them and also did this lamellate set (bottom pair). Loving them!
Three sets of wooden earrings carved from oak. The top set are hoop-shaped with the bottom outer edge with projecting teeth like a serrated knife. The middle set has extensions hanging downwards that give it a comb-like appearance. The bottom has overlapping rounded plates hanging downwards.
October 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Thank you! The other side has more mines. I tend to get distracted from reading and end up staring at the leafmines instead.
October 8, 2025 at 3:26 AM
cynipid.bsky.social
Trying out an alternative to the usual black tassel that I attach to my bookmarks. I love the color contrast compared to my leafminer bookmark. I absolutely adore this bookmark and I hope to eventually make more. Good, serpentine leaf mines are sometimes hard to find in high concentrations.
A hand holding a bookmark. The bookmark is mostly green since it is made using leaves that have leaf mines from insects. There is a thin leather cord attached to the top of the bookmark and it holds a teardrop-shaped piece of jasper.
October 8, 2025 at 3:07 AM
cynipid.bsky.social
Finished a gold version of the chrysomelid beetle. I need to make the back covers but otherwise I'm done with these two. Tortoise beetles will be next.
Two small embroidery hoops with colorful embroidered beetles on black fabric. The left one is gold with yellow, orange, and red. The one on the right is silver with three shades of teal.
October 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Much better! Kept the leaves, got rid of distracting ribbons and twigs.
A collage of 4 photos with a buff-colored cat sitting in a basket with pink pumpkins in the foreground and fake oak leaves in the background. The cat is looking at the photographer in the top left and bottom right photos. The to right shows the cat chewing on the background. Bottom left shows the cat looking anywhere except at the camera.
October 2, 2025 at 3:17 AM
cynipid.bsky.social
He despises the pumpkins that we grew in his honor so I need the wreath to keep him sitting amongst them. However, he refuses to NOT chew on the wreath so I give up for now on trying to get a cute photo for the vet clinic's annual calendar. We will do this every year for the rest of his life.
A buff-colored kitty crouched behind a wreath that is surrounded by pink pumpkins. The background is a work wall and trim with wood floors. The wreath is made of oak leaves in autumn colors and is adorned with things like brass-colored acorns, pine cones, and ribbons. The naughty little kitty is chewing on one of the ribbons and is therefore making an odd face.
September 30, 2025 at 8:35 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
I'm loving the aesthetics of cats and Entomology-themed blankets. Makes me want to curl up with a warm cup of tea and cuddle with this wee-beasty.
A gray and white cat lounging on a beige recliner that has a woven blanket draped over the back. The cat looks entirely way too satisfied with himself as he leans against the arm of the chair under the warm glow of a lamp on the side table. The blanket has illustrations of the posterior spiracles of the main groups of forensically important flies (Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae).
September 27, 2025 at 3:37 AM
cynipid.bsky.social
I completed a little embroidered chrysomelid. It turned out so cute! I created a tortoise beetle design that I will try out later.

Fall always makes me want to do fiber arts. I still have a new king-sized quilt in the works so there's hefty competition for my creative energy this year.
An embroidery hoop with a black piece of fabric that has a beetle embroidered with patterns in silver, black, and various shades of teal.
September 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
My stained glass storage just upped its game. The sheets are stored in old insect cabinets that are turned on their sides. My newest addition are the retired specimen boxes for housing Odonata specimens that I use for my scrap glass pieces. #stainedglass
The bottom of the photo shows wood cabinets with tall but thin openings filled with sheets of glass standing upright. Above the wood cabinets is a black metal shelf with 3 rows of brown boxes. The boxes are 4x5x16 inches deep and have a small black label on the front indicating the color of scrap glass inside.
July 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
A very cool wooden yoke. I have many ideas for this piece.
A wood pole with metal on one side and the metal forms loops with hooks at either end. There are picture frames all around it.
July 13, 2025 at 10:27 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
HIS COMING WAS FORETOLD!!!
Found this petroglyph-like cat etching in stone and also received this photo of my cat from my husband.
A slab of red stone with most of the face etched away leaving a shape that looks like a fat cat. My gray and white cat laying on a desk-top, belly-up with his hind legs stretched out behind him. Part of his chest is in the sunlight shining in through the window.
July 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
I have a winner here. It was a tough choice. The one on the right was too short so I would have had to make a base for it. The green metal one is actually perfect. I'm going to go with that.
On the front of the white table is a green/black metal candle holder and to the right of that a gray metal candle holder that is bars bent into ornate shapes. Behind them is a collection of brass, black wire, yellow, and teal containers.
July 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
🫢...😯...😍😍😍😍. I love that someone felt that they needed to put a bible next to it.
A piece of driftwood leaning against a fur coat. The piece of driftwood has an unhappy face carved into it. There is a bible placed near the base of the driftwood. A close-up of the unhappy face that is carved into the driftwood.
July 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Another possibility! Maybe too plain though?
Wood spools shaped like dumbbells stacked on top of each other. There are some small dishes below.
July 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Another spool...
Another wood spool; this one is lighter colored than the last one. There are many things in the background and next to the spool (deer head, wood carvings, metal "things")
July 13, 2025 at 10:02 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
I love old wood boxes. This might be the same seller for the dynamite box that I bought in highschool and used as a box sculpture.
Shelves filled with wood boxes for old glass bottles of soda, beer, and many other items. There is also a "stop" sign and a "no parking" sign on the wall above them.
July 13, 2025 at 10:02 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Might have a use for some of those soon...
Glass balls wrapped with rope inside of a large metal tub. Each ball is about 5 inches wide.
July 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Possibility #2. Closer... Not quite right.
A candle holder with a black base shaped almost like a come and it has notches missing. There is a silver plate at the top with a brown candle on it.
July 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
A possibility for my second item. I need something shaped like a candle stick or vase that I can use to build a miniature table. It needs to be 12-13 inches tall.
A wood rod labeled spool. The base is wider and ridged. There is also a welcome sign hanging to the left and a clear glass oil lamp to the right.
July 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Found item number 1 that I needed. Beetle-kill, blue-stained wood plank with bark.
A piece of wood that is a light tan with a blue-gray streaking. The lower edge had bark on it.
July 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Lungs? A friend suggested lettuce but no. It's obviously lungs.
Red and cream serving dishes. The center dish is round and surrounded by dishes shaded similar to lungs and with what appear to be branching veins across their surfaces.
July 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
Visiting the flea markets today in search of a couple things. (🧵Thread below if you need a/an mental/emotional break)
A gray carpet isle stretching before you set between shelves on either side, filled with miscellaneous items. The exposed rafters show that the building is a tall metal warehouse. A tight path between cluttered shelves. The back wall has old wooden boxes and signs. The surrounding shelves are filled with ceramic jugs, old metal lamps, antlers, leather suitcases, and many other items.
July 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
cynipid.bsky.social
I am glad I found you here! Update on Moss and Aria: I got them books! They're studying our world; knowledge is power! Their current discussions are about interesting insect morphologies. They'll learn about nudibranches in the next volume. Thank you @saimihanma.bsky.social for the beautiful books!
Two mushroom-headed tooth fairies (with very toothy-grins). The green one on the right is holding up a tiny book with insect illustrations. The orange one to the left seems very excited! There's a tiny deer skull hanging on the wall behind them with moss hanging from the ceiling and copper-embroidered dead leaves all around them. A cozy environment for their studies... Two mushroom-headed tooth fairies (with very toothy-grins). The green one on the right is holding up a tiny book with insect illustrations. The orange one to the left seems very excited! There's a tiny deer skull hanging on the wall behind them with moss and mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. Copper-embroidered dead leaves surround them. A cozy environment for their studies...
June 27, 2025 at 2:17 AM