Kikimora is a legendary creature, a female house spirit in Slavic mythology. When she inhabits a house, she lives behind the stove or in the cellar. There are two different kinds of Kikimoras. The one that comes from the forest is married to the Domovoi. The other one comes from the swamp, and she is married to Leshy. You can tell she's around by her wet footprints. When home builders wanted to do something harmful to the person buying the house, they would bring in Kikimora. Once inside, it is difficult to get her to leave. When the house is in order, Kikimora looks after the chickens and housework. If not, she whistles, breaks dishes, and makes noises at night. She also comes out at night to spin. Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (August 16, 1876 - February 7, 1942) was a Russian illustrator and stage designer who was inspired by Slavic folklore. He gained renown in 1899, when he released his illustrations of Russian fairy tales. He died in 1942 during the Siege of Leningrad at the age of 65.