Irma-Jean Cusack Striepe

My childhood, spent in gardens, fields and around our hobby farm, greatly influences my artistic expressions. Years of imagination, fairy stories and forest adventures have stuck with me into my early twenties, resulting in nostalgic and whimsical creations.

I make miniature fairy houses and furniture out of locally foraged natural materials. These vary in size and complexity, often including easels, chairs, tables and household materials out of shells and acorns. I rarely make the fairies themselves, leaving my pieces to be more based on imagination and observation.

Honouring the environment and practicing sustainable art is important to me. I strive to use the most natural and biodegradable materials. This means the majority of my materials are wood, wool, moss, dried flowers and shells. While I do add little man made nick-nacks, these are found or inherited, therefore not sourced solely for my art. My inspiration comes from nature, using what it has to offer, I try to capture a glimpse of a mystical fairy world.