Category Archives: Uncategorized
The tiniest interiors…
I am obsessed with miniature worlds. I think it can be attributed to a combination of factors, the charm and orderliness of the tiny, that small spaces can be extremely ornate without appearing ostentatious, and that themes look totally plausible when they are small enough. I also adore the fact that small spaces are almost impossible to “mess up”, a battle that is constantly being fought in my home between my daughter, husband, and I. Here are some of the rooms I spent painstaking hours on. I hope their appearance soothes your soul in the same way the do to mine:)
Party like a three year old…
So, I’ve briefly touched on the fact that someone I love is very ill. And while it is slowly breaking my heart, life actually, maddeningly goes on. And I find myself looking for sparks of inspiration and light in the darkness, a way to reframe everything that is happening and assign meaning rather than blame. So we are holding a birthday party for her, an combo last-blast/swan-song. Except my three year old is helping plan it. So it looks something like this…
There will be a huge bouncy house, and not just a plain non-descript bouncer that pretty much would ensure hours of shenanigans, but a Frozen themed bouncy house. With Frozen party favors, hats, and an ice blue three-tiered cake. And a water table, and a miniature swimming pool. And catered sandwiches, and snacks, and juice, and balloons! Lots of balloons. And plenty of booze as well, for the adults, of course. It is an open house, come as you are, free for all, and friends and family will hopefully surround us.
It sounds strange, but as we proposed the idea to sicky she became extremely excited. Gleeful almost, and this has become a huge event in her life to look forward to. So I got to wondering, why the hell do we play down our birthdays as we get older? Why does it suddenly become gauche to have themed, huge celebrations of our life? Because our journey is short and precious. So we’re going to party like three year olds.
My fairy cup of tea…
I have become a little obsessed with vintage teacups, their daintiness, fragility, and beauty. I like how I feel when I hold them in my hand, a little more delicate, more whimsical, perhaps more mysterious. I’ve discovered the most charming antique store in my town, Carriage House Antiques, with the most amazing selection of vintage garden art, porcelain shoes, and… teacups. There is a ton of inspiration in that shop, and the chatty owners are some of the nicest ladies I’ve met. Here is and example of how vintage, mismatched or lonely teacups can be up cycled into fairy art:)
I think these would make charming housewarming or thank-you gifts. But more importantly, they breathe new life into an old cup of tea!
Fairy Disability…
A friend of mine write books in his rarely found spare time at his new gig, Mr. Mom. They are all children’s books, and I imagine they are the kind of humorous fare he wishes was readily available to his two gorgeous girls. Recently, he asked me to participate in the creation of one of these gems, using pictures of my fairy homes as illustrations.
The book is about a young fairy girl with a bum wing, a subtle disability with a difficult side effect. She is a fairy that just can’t fly. Throughout the book this fairy girl is teased and excluded, until one of her fairy “friends” walks a mile in her shoes. Literally. Then things change dramatically for her.
I’m very excited to possibly become part of this project, but also a bit nervous because I’ve never been involved in anything like this. And although heavy, the subject matter is important and I’d want the book to be engaging visually as well as through the storyline. Here is one of the fairy houses that may be featured. Critiques are welcome!
the front
the side view
the loft
Grief through my fingers…
Watching someone you love decline from an incurable disease is one of the most soul sucking experiences unique to the human race. Wild animals are luckier, lacking doctors and medicines to prolong the suffering, both for the patient and their loved ones. If I didn’t have an artistic hobby, the compulsion and the desire to create, I really don’t know how I would deal with what I am seeing. Bad day, bad doctors appointment, make a fairy/gypsy caravan, and imagine running away to travel the world. Achieve a state of flow, and let the fear slide though my fingers. Noticing a mental decline in my loved one, hoping she hasn’t caught on, and glue moss for hours, letting the sadness slide through my fingers. Watching someone struggle for every breath they take, build a fairy sailboat to imagine sailing the seas, and slowly allow grief to slide though my fingers…
There is so much beauty and pain in life, and they inevitably go hand in hand. When my emotions become so insurmountable and overwhelming, miniature beauty creates order out of chaos. I am so very grateful for the outlet.
fairy/gypsy caravan
Things have gotten intense enough I had to make two.
come sail away with me…
Tiny, tiny fairy furniture and a tiny, tiny dictator…
I’ve been planting this year’s fairy garden with the help of the most instructional, demanding, and opinionated partner you could imagine, one so particular that almost no decision regarding the space has been mine. Placement, color, flow, are all very important to her, and must be done exactly her way. I concede because my partner is my daughter and because, well, she is… three. So, right now planning our garden is not the most relaxing thing. My solace has been in creating a new line of garden doo dads, tiny stuff that I took great pleasure in crafting and would place perfectly if, in fact, my garden were actually my own:)
fairy wheelbarrow, bark, twig, and acorn
fairy stroller, black walnut and acorn
fairy swing
fairy bench, bark, twig, moss
fairy mailbox. mossy
fairy hammock, milkweed pod
Items I Covet…
Since I’ve begun crafting, I’ve been fortunate enough to be introduced to the work of others who are also utterly compelled to express themselves, in whatever media that works for them. I have seen some of the most beautiful, most unusual pieces on Etsy, and have to share them because they blow my mind. I now fancy myself somewhat of an artisan expert, and below, are my current favorites:)
Fairy coat by amberstudios. https://www.etsy.com/listing/196613158
Felted necklace by WhispersintheGlen. https://www.etsy.com/listing/198998076
24×30 Fantasy art by StacysArtStudio. https://www.etsy.com/listing/189462512
Nymph/pixie belt by frixiegirl. https://www.etsy.com/listing/214199749
Driftwood chair by JKDriftwood. https://www.etsy.com/listing/176666819
Completely handmade art journal by MAIDENSKINS. https://www.etsy.com/listing/225783739
Gallery 3…
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- spooky fairy house
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- bedroom with hidden portal
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- the sitting room
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- woodsy fairy house
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- fairy cabana
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- the loft
Three new dwellings…
I’m preparing for the busy (hopefully) Christmas season, and circumstances aligned in a way that I was able to create these three beauties…
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- another apothecary
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- the secret doors!
TinkerWhims 