Crocheting seems to have become a hot topic during this pandemic, considering most of us are stuck home with not much to do. And that’s totally understandable since focusing on crocheting ideas not only gives us something to focus on, but also can yield very satisfying results!

The Italian artist behind Lindadi Creations recently shared a stunning, colorful fish tank that she made entirely out of crochet yarn. The glass container is filled with beautifully detailed sea animals and plants that the artist crocheted.

Throughout the month of April, Linda posted numerous updates showing how she slowly filled the tank with crochet pieces, one at a time. The artist not only showed her progress, but she also attached the crochet patterns she used so anyone who wants to try their hand at making any of the pieces can do so. And if you’re not that handy or find crochet patterns confusing, fear not! Linda sells some of her art online here. Linda’s store mostly features items she made before the aquarium project, like an adorable Frida Kahlo keychain and crocheted plant compositions.

Bored Panda has reached out to Linda for additional comment and she kindly provided some information. “My name is Linda Di Martino, I live in Abruzzo, Italy,” the artist promptly introduced herself. “I am a simple 59-year-old housewife who has always been passionate about crochet [and] lace,” she explained.

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Linda slowly filled the aquarium over time, making sure every piece was meticulously done

“About 10 years [ago], I have entered the world of internet and [Facebook],” the artist discussed her online beginnings, “I met many crochet enthusiasts and shared many [works] and ideas”.
The woman also added that around 2012 she joined a group that would make various handicrafts as a hobby and would sell them at markets. She proudly told us about a project she’s been involved in a year ago where she and a group of crocheters “covered the garbage pails of the driveway of [their] country”. The group behind the project is “L’ Accademia di Aracne” (The Academy of Arachne).

The artist explained that it was last year when she started approaching the concept of crochet aquariums. “For the hobby markets last summer I created small aquariums,” Linda added, “at that point, the marine world was whipping in my head”. And since she had an empty aquarium at home, it only seemed like a matter of time since she filled it with beautiful crocheted animals. 

“For 25 years we have always had an aquarium with fish at home … very demanding to clean and maintain,” Linda told us. “Unfortunately, in the spring I lost my husband,” the artist shared personal details, “So during the last summer the aquarium remained so, like my life, meaningless”. “The aquarium fishes started to die, so one day looking at him I said “when the last fish dies, I will do it all in crochet, I will leave a nice memory of me to the children, not a commitment to stay behind,” she explained.

“On Christmas days the last fish was dead,” the woman told Bored Panda, “I started to empty it and clean everything, gravel, amphorae, stones, etc.”

That was when the crocheting for the aquarium started. “Having a supply of [leftover] yarn from other previous works, I was spoiled for choice,” Linda revealed. The woman used the internet to look for patterns for various sea animals, colorful fishes, and plants and if she couldn’t find something, she’d make a pattern herself. As she added more and more pieces, the aquarium came alive with colors. “Everything seemed real,” the artist explained.

When asked if she has a favorite piece in the mix, Linda was adamant. “There are no favorite pieces, they are all beautiful, colorful,” she said. “I am always amazed when I look at it, what I managed to achieve”. 

The artist also revealed that her relatives very really impressed with her work and can’t wait to come to see it once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Turns out, many people also want to buy the piece of art, however, Linda is very clear about that notion: “everyone on the internet wants it, but the aquarium is not for sale, has no price and cannot be reproduced. “I’m sorry,” she said but encouraged people to try and put their own twist on her work. She shared the videos and patterns she used to create the many beautiful pieces in her aquarium.

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The humble beginnings of Linda’s masterpiece, before gravel and additional pieces

The artist featuring her work at the handicraft market

The piece she created for the group project where they made covers for trash cans, the beginnings of the aquatic themes in her work

You can see just how detailed the aquarium is in the video below

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