Susan Elnora helps you embrace your demons.

I first discovered Susan Elnora’s Embrace Your Demons collection when the designer posted this image on her IG with the following quote:

Don’t fight your demons. Your demons are here to teach you lessons. Sit down with your demons and have a drink and a chat and learn their names and talk about the burns on their fingers and scratches on their ankles. Some of them are very nice.”

— Charles Bukowski

I’ve always had a weird fascination with/love for gargoyles and these cute little articulated Susan Elnora demons give me the exact same ugly/cute dangerous fiercely protective vibe. I loved the designs at first sight – but then I read the Bukowski quote and I felt it all the way in the depths of my heart.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 34 years of life, it’s that everyone has certain demons that they’ll have to battle with again and again over the years.

You know about some of mine (like my chronic pain), but, like pretty much everyone, I also have other more secret struggles that I don’t share with most people. I don’t necessarily accept the idea that the hard things in life are meant to be lessons, but I do believe that our ongoing demons are something that we need to learn to live with, whatever that means for us.

As much as I loved Susan Elnora’s demons when I first saw them, I forgot about the collection until I happened across Susan Elnora at the Baltimore American Craft Council Show in February. I always love visiting Susan at this show; her designs are so much fun and she always has something new to love!

The demons are SO CUTE in person! Fully irresistible. I can’t get enough of their charismatic little faces, their asymmetrical shapes, their unique wings. Each Susan Elnora demon starts as a freehand sketch drawn by the designer and then individually made by hand, and it shows.

I’m ashamed to say this year I took almost no pictures at Susan’s booth because I was too busy playing with her Embrace Your Demons collection (these pictures all come from Susan’s Instagram.)

The Susan Elnora Embrace Your Demons collection has expanded since its inception to include pet demons, which can even be custom ordered to match your pet! I particularly love the kitty cat demons. (I’m very allergic to cats, though, so maybe I just see them as slightly sinister.)

Don’t fall in love with the demon on the left, because he’s mine!

I’m not just calling dibs – I’m wearing him right now, with my pajamas. He came home with me from the February show. I’m passionately in love with him, from his flashing orange sapphire eyes to the tips of his pointy ears. He’s my little buddy and he hangs out on my neck to protect me and remind me that I’m strong. I’ve already taken to wearing him for extra strength I have to do something particularly nerve wracking.

I’m also no stranger to Susan Elnora’s darkly adorable mythical designs – I’m already the proud owner of one of her unicorn skull necklaces. I’ve also shared a few other of her creations on IG, including this other unicorn and this narwhal.

What do you think of Susan’s demons, my darlings? Is this collection resonating with you too?

All photos c/o Susan Elnora’s Instagram.