About
This teeny tiny worlds curator is a daydreamer and bookworm who just simply refuses to grow up (but in a good way). Serious nerd in the day time (required at work) but free spirit in my free time, I like to dabble in photography, sculpture, and just about any craft I can use for my bell jars.
Life in a Bell Jar 
Neeraj
April 24, 2011 at 1:26 am
Hi i am a 3d artist and I found my motivation in the stuff that u do..it always makes me feel like a kid when i see ur stuff. UR work is really so amazing..its not just work u r like a wizard to me,,or mayb some kind of a toymaker who can create worlds..
Life in a Bell Jar
April 25, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Hi Neeraj. Thank you for loving my work. Nope, not a wizard but I wish I am. Would make cleaning the house a lot easier. There really is no process in what I do I just create whatever inspires me at the moment. It does help that I was a serious daydreamer when I was a kid so creating fantastic worlds is not new to me. I also grew up surrounded with books so a lot of my creations are sometimes based from childhood memories. I also love cartoons as well. So I guess I never really grew up. 🙂
Neeraj
April 24, 2011 at 1:40 am
I will be very eagerly waiting to hear from you..Please do contact me when u find time..Id like to know how u do all this stuff and see the process..this is superb!! just luv it…
Kim Waite
October 21, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Your bell jars are really beautiful! I am starting a project based around cabinets of curiosities and the act of collecting from the natural world. I have been searching around online for bell jars and apothecary jars and found them to be kind of pricey. Do you have any suggestions on where to look? I was also wondering if you made the bases yourself, it seems that bases are often sold separately. If you have any hints or suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to seeing more of your lovely creations!
Life in a Bell Jar
October 22, 2011 at 12:43 am
Hi Kim! Thanks for dropping by my blog. I’m glad you like my bell jars. When I started I purchased a few bell jars from Provincial Living, a shop here in Melbourne. But they are pricey so I realised that I have to find alternatives. I do a regular search in flea markets and opportunity shops and find old clock domes at $5 a piece. The sellers never understand why I just buy the dome and leave the clock behind. At least you know why. The best alternative is find a cheap vase with a wide mouth, turn it over and glue a nice lamp finial/door knob/ anything that looks nice on top. Instant bell jar! And unique too! By the way, if you’re looking for bases, drop by your local garden centre and get pot bases. They are just the perfect thing to use.
Good luck with your project!
Kim Waite
October 22, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thank you so much for your help!
Sue Brown
November 8, 2011 at 12:14 am
Do you sell your beautiful little friends anywhere? Well, I guess adoption would be more appropriate. It would be so rude to sell them! I looked thru your entire website. I am enchanted and mesmerized. What amazing work you do. I have a little thing for bell jars right now – mostly just collecting so far. I found you thru pinterest. Thank you for a grand time browsing and peaking into your world. sue
Life in a Bell Jar
November 8, 2011 at 1:44 am
Hi Sue! Thanks for dropping by. Wow! You just read my whole blog. It’s been an interesting 10 months. Believe it or not, I only started this year and it was completely by accident. I never even heard of needle felting until a few months ago. But now I totally fell in love with the craft I just feel the need to create everyday.
I’m planning to set up an adoption home for my mice and gnomes in Etsy early next year. So if you’re keen to adopt, watch out for an announcement in my blog soon. 🙂
Cath Flynn
December 6, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Hi, your work is just amazing. I am so inspired! I usually create 3d objects using crochet but am just beginning to look into trying out needle felting. Could you tell me what needles you use? I saw in one photo that there was a needle that was actually two needles. Is that the main one you use? I just want to get going and create some little creatures like you – you are an amazingly talented person! I come from Bristol, UK by the way. My little two year old would love your little mice!
Life in a Bell Jar
December 9, 2011 at 6:17 am
Hi there soon to be fellow needle felter! Thanks for liking my work! Very soon there will be mice looking for good homes so your two year old might get a chance to adopt. Yay!
I am admittedly a newbie in the world of needle felting (almost 11 months) so I honestly don’t know what type/size the needles are because I just grabbed whatever was available in the craft store. I used to put 2 needles in a wooden holder but I don’t anymore since I find it easier to do finer details without it. If you make large holes, don’t fret! Just lightly pull the wool on all sides and the holes should disappear. Keep on experimenting! My mice always comes out different because of this and I think it’s great because they each have their own personality. Hope you fall in love with needle felting as I do!
Andy
June 18, 2012 at 3:12 am
Found your website completely by accident. Love the stuff.. especially the hot air balloon rides.
Keep it coming… I am also an artist and i dabble in 3d illustration as well. I know full well how much work goes into 3d stuff. So good work!
Life in a Bell Jar
June 18, 2012 at 9:24 am
Hi Andy. I’m glad you like the hot air balloon! It was a real challenge to create! But I will keep on creating. I kind of lost my groove for a while back but I think I’m slowly getting it back so do check my blog once in a while. You might be pleasantly surprised. 🙂
le viet yen chi
August 14, 2012 at 1:06 pm
It so cute.Are you sell?
Life in a Bell Jar
August 15, 2012 at 10:03 am
Hi there! I do have a shop at
The shop is empty at the moment but I will be creating new mice and gnomes soon so if you are interested, do check my shop! I’m happy you read the Princess magazine. 🙂
le viet yen chi
August 14, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Mrs.Larisa ,i’m read princess commic you make lost of cute mouse and gnome be needle-felting.You so light-hands.
le viet yen chi
August 15, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I’m in Viet Nam.I’m 10 ten year old.I’m to young but i verry like you.A!I’m read you have a shop i so happy .Every one chilrens verry like you .Cô hãy làm thêm những chú chuột và những chú lùn nữa nhé.You de code dis one you or thesant.
Life in a Bell Jar
August 17, 2012 at 5:31 am
I tried to decode it but couldn’t! Any hints? Thank you for liking the mice and gnomes!
Kathryn
October 31, 2012 at 1:55 am
I would love to adopt one of your lovely mice. I miss my pet that died last year and your little mouse looks so much like her.
Life in a Bell Jar
October 31, 2012 at 10:58 am
Hi Kathryn. Sorry for your loss. It is hard to lose a pet. Which one of my mice looked like her? If you want I can create a mouse for you at the adoption agency. My Etsy shop has been closed for a while now because I’ve been trying hard to find inspiration but I’m happy to do a commission for you if you would consider it. Cheers!
Lisa
January 4, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Just discovered your blog and LOVE your work. The microlights you used with your reindeer mouse are adorable too… https://lifeinabelljar.wordpress.com/category/bell-jars/ Is it Dept 56 or another company?
The lights look longer than Dept 56 lights and bulb shaped too. Are they an Australian product or are they available perhaps in other countries too? I live in the US. Looking forward to exploring your blog more in the coming days!
Life in a Bell Jar
January 4, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Hi Lisa. Thanks for liking my work! I plan to make more bell jars in the coming months so do drop by my blog once in a while. 🙂 About the fairy lights, I’m not sure which company made it. I’m kind of jealous because there’s so much craft stuff in the US that I can never find here. It’s a challenge to find miniature lights in Australia and the ones available here are expensive so I source it online directly from different suppliers. Cheers!
Alison
July 27, 2013 at 8:11 pm
What a quirky, creative blog! Its refreshing to see something so original.
Life in a Bell Jar
July 31, 2013 at 12:13 am
Thank you! You have just inspired me to create more.
Tricia
January 9, 2014 at 11:23 pm
Hello. I also found you through Pinterest and find your creations absolutely charming. I cannot find anything more recent than your reply above (July 31, 2013). Are you continuing with your craft? I too am very interested in “adoption” :-).
Life in a Bell Jar
January 23, 2014 at 6:37 am
Hi Patricia, yes I haven’t been making new mice and gnomes for quite sometime. I’m happy people like you like my work. 2013 was a rollercoaster ride for me and somewhere along the way, the magic left me. I’m trying to get my creativity back. Hopefully I do get it back. 😦
Jens Carl Klitgaard
January 24, 2014 at 5:26 pm
I was seching google for som inspiration, and saw i little mouse i a cup with straberries. I had to take a closer look at this artist. Now I’ve been surfing your site for an hour, witj a big smile on my face, What creativity. What fantasy. Absolutely great work! I sincerely hope you find the magic touch again because your work is great ;o)
Tricia
January 27, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Your magic will come back! It’s just hiding inside of you for now. After seeing your work, I know that there is no way it is completely gone. It sounds like your down time is a necessity but it will definitely facilitate the return of your magic :-). Hang in there…2013 is a year I never want to repeat either!
Neeraj Ubhayakar
May 14, 2014 at 4:21 am
Hi Lara
How are u doing? Its been a while since ive visited ur blog and now that i just visited it i saw a whole lotta beautiful stuff that uve added in. Really nice and will go thru em 🙂
Life in a Bell Jar
May 14, 2014 at 11:52 pm
Hi Neeraj. I’m doing good. I’m glad you dropped by again and read my other posts. If you notice the last entry stops in 2013. I lost my magic that year and am still looking for it. Maybe one day I’ll find it. 🙂
Neeraj Ubhayakar
June 2, 2014 at 11:11 am
Yes you will.. ur work is a great inspiration to me.. I too am going thru a similar rollercoaster ride in life currently..so I can understand what u hav been or going thru.. But no matter what I just know that ur work s awesome as always 🙂
Neeraj Ubhayakar
May 14, 2014 at 4:22 am
Ur work continues to inspire me even after all this time 🙂