Medicinal Marvel and Artistry of Wild Mushrooms.

Have you ever glanced at something, dismissed it because it didn't attract you, but then learned a little about it and found it intriguing? Your curiosity led you to take on the challenge of discovering its mystery.

Well, one such example is this mushroom—the Artist Conk, a polypore and my new favorite.

Years back, I had been seeing loads of this, as it looks just like an old scruffy piece of tree bark, and I ignored it. Last Monday, I encountered a bunch of this humble mushroom that forced me to look into it. This was only because there aren't striking mushrooms growing around this frosty time, and this one is perennial and grows all year. The more I look into this mushroom, the more mysterious it becomes, and the more creative thoughts it ignites. Hence, I'm posting again about it.

After I etched on it's underside using tip of scissors (from my previous post), I made more!

As I was chopping these mushrooms for a tincture, its spongy, smooth texture attracted me, with a layer of different shades of brown, especially the ones near its base.

This mushroom is a crafter's dream. I got tempted to carve it.

Then I saved a few pieces so I could create something else.

I ground some to make a mushroomy spice.

I made a medicinal tincture—some people currently use it for the following purposes: to help them adapt to stressors and maintain balance, to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and immune system booster.

It reignited my old hobby, so I pulled out my old jewelry crafting kit given by my little brother 20 years ago! (I could not believe it's been that long!)

I picked a few gemstones—amethyst, ruby, and pink quartz chippings.

Then I picked a couple of similar mushroom cubes.

I put them together.

and created into unique and earthy earrings.

Then I added a bracelet! I love how light it feels.

and a carved heart pendant!

Wearing them makes me closer to nature, a celebration of its beauty.

In our busy lives, we tend to look for the obvious, and some things are overlooked. It's a wonderful reminder that there's beauty in the less obvious, and sometimes, we need a pause to appreciate the subtle wonders. It just takes a closer look or a bit of curiosity to uncover something truly special and appreciate the beauty that exists beyond the surface.

Thank you for reading.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Mariah 😊

This is my entry for #FungiFriday initiated by @ewkaw