.png)
A fairy catch-up blog post with lots of pictures, fairy tale artwork, and whimsical wishes for a magical midsummer...
With the midpoint of the year just passed, and the summer solstice a few days ago, it's been wonderful to have the chance to spend more time outside, soaking up light, warmth, and all the radiant and vibrant greens, that are always so soothing and uplifting. The artwork above is inspired by a treasured family photo taken several years ago in Wales, on a family outing, where our daughter was looking for fairies under a beautiful old oak tree... I hope it captures the something of the spirit of being outside, playing in nature, at this time of year.
It's been a busy time for fairy-making too - and this summery pair of flower fairies below will be fluttering off out into the world this week...
The custom fairy below was a gift for a special occasion, with the blue hues being favourite colours of the recipient. I really enjoyed exploring different techniques for embellishing this little fairy's outfit; I played around with cutting shapes into the hand-felted garments that I'd made, and then sewing different textures and fabrics into the spaces or over the top... this turned out really well, adding depth, layering and decorative detail in places where different coloured materials would usually add some contrast. I added some beads, buttons, and bows, and needle felted the little moon companion to accompany her and add to her dreamy atmosphere :-)
The two little fairies below will be flying off soon too; both inspired by the dreamy pastel vibes of the custom fairy above...
And, some more sweet little strawberry fairies for this summer - the needle felted strawberries are handmade, as well as the felt for the skirts. I always add a bit of sparkle to my handmade felt, so the fairies will shimmer in the sunshine, or catch the light if they are hanging in a window.
Earlier in the year I enjoyed making a collection of cute brooches that made their way to the Museum in The Park in the spring. They were very fun to make and still make me smile when I look back at the pictures of them :-)
Last year I shared a craft tutorial on making your own miniature books... although they could be made on any theme, I chose a fairy theme for mine, and I really loved the way they turned out. I really felt that I wanted to make some more, and that there are some little book-loving fairies waiting in the wings to be made and adorned with these sweet little books. The fairies are yet to make their way into being but here's a sneaky-peak of the little fairy books waiting for their fairy friends...
And just after I'd finished my little fairy door project (shared here), I spotted this gorgeous natural fairy door at the base of a tree at Westonbirt Arboretum... I didn't stop to look at the name of the tree, and I wish I had, but love this picture and Westonbirt is such a magical place, it's easy to wonder if fairies might live there too...
Finally, I'll leave you with this poem - one of my favourite poems when I was little, collected from my childhood copy of 'A Childs Garden of Verses' by Robert Lewis Stevenson (which I still have here and treasure). It captured my feeling so precisely of wanting to be outside on a summer evening, and laying awake listening to the playful outdoor neighbourhood sounds whilst I had to go to bed. I'm so very grateful now as an adult for my nourishing evening walks in summer - one of my favourite times of day, especially at magical midsummer.
Bed In Summer
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
Robert Louis Stevenson, 1885
However this post finds you, I'm wishing you plenty of warmth and outside play, walks in nature, and the simple joys of summer. Oh, and Happy International Fairy Day!! ♥
#midsummer #internationalfairyday2024 #magical #fairyupdate #whimsical #playoutside #fairyupdate #handmadefairies #fairyart #imagination #wonderandwhimsy #fairieslovebooks #sneakypeak #naturalfairydoor
Comments