When The Muse hits, she sometimes brings stuff you can't easily explain.
I guess the natural question is "what IS that?". Well, I don't really know. I think it's some sort of prehistoric ground sloth. Inspiration came from a few sources; there's a solid dose of Jim Henson/Brian Froud in there.
The beast is made of polymer clay on wire and foil, on a base of styrofoam and a lot of craft moss. Typical stuff. The fuzzy stuff on its hide is actually cinnamon, so the workroom now smells like cookies. And it'll keep the ants away.
I've had that cloche in my basement for years, and it's just been waiting for an appropriate project to hold it.