Weta

I discovered recently that wetas belong to the cricket family. I don't mind crickets, so I just keep telling myself that a weta is just a large cricket.

He loves searching for wetas in the woodshed, especially in the pinecones, which he calls "Weta houses".

I couldn't find anything specific about Wetas, this is what I found about Crickets and their symbolism. I have learnt to appreciate this insect a little more, after doing some research. A symbol of Intuition, Sensitivity, Ingenuity, Resourcefulness, Faith, Trust, and Transformation. All great things I want for my boy.

Crickets are active at night, ancient myth associates the cricket with the lunar energies of intuition and sensitivity.

In Africa the tree cricket uses leaves growing on plants to make a megaphone. The cricket chews a pear shaped hole in the leaf and sticks his head through the hold, the leaf bends around his head in a bowl shape like a speaker baffle. Then the cricket presses his sound making wings against the leaf and chirps. These leaf amplifiers increase their sound by up to 10 decibels. How resouceful is that.

The crickets hind legs are modified for jumping. They leap over difficult situations effortlessly always choosing to land in a more pleasing environment and can teach us how to do the same. A powerful ally that embodies the qualities of faith and trust the cricket serves us well. All we need to do is follow its lead.

Cricket will attune to new vibrations and will aid in heightening intuition, sensitivity and awareness. Crickets can teach effective communication techniques and subconsciousness communication cues to obtain what is needed or wanted. Crickets are about resurrection and transformation from stages as in the molting process. Is it time to shed old ideas to make way for the new? Are you singing your song to be heard at this time? Is it time to rest in contemplation or jump toward your intended target whether it be at work, in relationships, or personal goal and dream?

Weevil

I think of all the beetles, he is most fascinated by the weevils. There are so many, so I hope to capture a few onto fabric.

A symbol of Intuition, Acceptance
Creation, Transformation, and Change.

Accept the changes in our lives as casually as the beetle does.

Beetles aid in transformation, metamorphosis, resurrection and rebirth - rebirth of the soul to a new spiritual ideal and renewed devotion. This animal teaches harmony in the coming changes by utilizing your intuitive abilities and teaches discernment where you need it the most.. Can you identify which stage of development are you in egg/larva/pupa/adult?. Is it time to "fly" or walk in life?

Spiders Web

Here is a small group of spiders. I intend to sew metallic silver thread over the web, to give it a dew look.

Snail

He loves snails. He pops them on his hands and arms and watches them crawl about him.

The snail, a symbol of Perseverance,
Determination, Continuity, and Eternity.

Appearing mostly at night, snails are a lunar symbol, therefore a symbol of feminine energy and the cycle of death/rebirth, ending/beginning, continuity, and fertility. Because of its shell, it is linked to the symbolism of the spiral and to self-sufficiency...... represents slow and steady progress made in the journey 'home'(towards enlightenment)
The Egyptians used the snail to symbolize eternity and the vastness of the universe. Also the tendency of life to start off broad and grand and to eventually spiral down to it's basics as we get older.

Leaf Hopper

I couldn't find anything symbolic specifically for the Leaf Hopper, but it is a winged insect, that has undergone transformation from a lavae stage.

So it is a symbol of Transition, Celebration , Transformation / Change, Acceptance. In other words, Don't sweat the small stuff, be joyful and thankful for your blessings

Accept the changes in our lives as casually as a winged insect does. The unwavering acceptance of the metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith. Here we need to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in our lives. The insect understands that our toiling, fretting and anger are useless against the turning tides of nature – she asks us to recognize the same.

Blue lady bug / ladybird

We found some blue ladybugs on thelemon tree, so of course I had to draw them.
A symbol of Luckiness.
The ladybird is probably the only insect to have been consistently viewed as an omen of good luck throughout the ages.

The word 'ladybird' itself is an evolution of 'lady beetle', which was so called because of its traditional connection with the Virgin Mary. A popular legend recalls that during the Middle Ages when invasive insects were destroying food crops, the farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary and were blessed with thousands of ladybirds who quickly ate the pests and saved the harvest. From then on, the ladybird was known as 'Our Lady's Beetle', which evolved through ladybeetle, ladybug and finally to the presently known ladybird. This religious connection is also found in the ladybirds' names around the world:
· Nyckelpiga - Our Lady's Key-Maid (Scandinavian)
· Marienkafer - Mary's Beetle (German)
· Bozhia Korovka - God's Little Cow (Russian)
· Vaquilla de Dios - Cow of God (Spanish)
(‘cow’ most likely given because of the ladybirds’ markings).
· Bete a bon Dieu - literally Animal of the Good God (France)


In Northern Europe, tradition says that one's wish granted if a ladybird lands on oneself (this tradition lives on in North America, where children capture a ladybird, make a wish, and then "blow it away" back home to make the wish come true). In Italy, it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into one's bedroom, it is considered good luck.

Katipo spider

I wanted NZ natives where possible, so a large Katipo will be a great addition to the quilt.

Spider, a symbol of Mystery,Power Growth, Cunning, Progressive, Resourceful, and Creation

When we see our decisions, choices and actions as far-reaching, effective tools in life - we can see how we weave a web that can either serve us or enslave us. The Spider symbol meaning beckons us to be mindful of our behaviours - be smart about the life we weave for ourselves.

We can derive more Spider symbol meaning when we consider certain subtle characteristics that represent ancient symbols of infinity. The infinity symbol meanings occur when we consider most Spiders have eight eyes and all have eight legs. The number eight is also a symbol of infinity or lemniscate (an eight turned on its side). Also, the vibrational frequency indicates the meaning of with Maya brings about the understanding that not all things are as they appear to be.

The Spider symbol meaning in Egypt, is akin to Neith, a complex deity usually depicted with arrows as she is associated with hunting. Along with hunting, she is also associated with the creation, specifically the process of recreation in the dawning and dusking of each day. Neith is also a weaver, and is often shown with a shuttle in her hand (a tool used for weaving). It is this activity that gains her association with the Spider.

The Greek myth of Arachne, a mortal (although of noble stature) who was a spectacular weaver. Acclaim for her luscious lively looms spread over hill and dale and ultimately reached the immortal ears of Athena. Arachne claimed she was the best weaver, and thus prompted a challenge from Athena. And so, they played a round of “dueling looms,” but no one could confirm the victor. However, Arachne was quite smug about the whole process. So much so, that Athena smote her with a mighty blow of conscience and a dose of guilt. Arachne took the dosage hard, and could not live with the intense feelings of guilt and sorrow so she killed herself. Athena felt awful over the whole mess and decided to resurrect Arachne in the form of a spider so that she and all her offspring would forever be the best weavers of the universe.