Tuesday, February 27, 2018

The Stuff of Little Fairy Tales

I put together this cute little trio of wee things.

Miniature book of Fairy Tales, vial of Pixie Dust and wand charm - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

A handmade book (recycled from the pages of discarded a book), a wee wand charm and a tiny vial of pixie dust.

Miniature book of Fairy Tales, vial of Pixie Dust and wand charm - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

I woke up one morning to find a wee trio like this on my bedside. It must have been one of the newer house fairies... soooo forgetful!

Miniature book of Fairy Tales, vial of Pixie Dust and wand charm - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

I thought it would be a nice surprise for others too! If you have someone who needs a sweet treat from the little folk you can buy this little trio HERE.

Miniature book of Fairy Tales, vial of Pixie Dust and wand charm - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

On that note... some of the items in my shop will no longer be available to some areas of Canada. Shipping to British Columbia costs twice as much as sending the same package to Australia, and almost 3 times as much as sending to the USA. It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm pretty sure there are some bad pooka running that place.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Little Fortunes - Tarot cards and crystal balls

I've been fiddling with tiny tarot cards all week. I wanted to get them just right but it turns out the size I had guestimated for scale wasn't far off from an accurate 1:12 scale version. I'm not hugely worried about accuracy... I mean I appreciate it, but I'm not a stickler for it.

Crystal ball, Tarot cards, Fortune Telling books miniatures - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

One of the things about scale is that when creating a 1:12 scale tarot deck on card stock the thickness of the card becomes an issue. 78 layers of card stock is thick! So, for this little set I've only included the 22 Major Arcana. This gives a nice little pile, thick little cards and still allows for an actual reading if you are so inclined to squint your way through some fortune telling.

Tarot cards miniatures - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Anywho, I've made a few sets including the Major Arcana cards, wee crystal ball and a fortune telling book. They are available HERE.

Crystal ball, Tarot cards, Fortune Telling books miniatures - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

While fiddling with the wee tarot cards I was doing some research and came across this really cool boxed set that was the original Waite Rider Smith deck from 1909. The deck is known as the "Roses and Lilies" deck because of the back pattern on the cards.
"Roses and Lilies" Waite Rider Smith miniature tarot - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Anyway, I thought it would be nifty to recreate that set in miniature. I know the scaling of the book and box aren't perfect... but I'm pleased with the set none the less.

"Roses and Lilies" Waite Rider Smith miniature tarot - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

There are in fact 78 cards included in this set. I've printed on regular paper and, although it still makes for a very thick stack, it's not nearly as ridiculous as when printed on card. Plus... they look pretty great if-i-d0-say-so-myself.

"Roses and Lilies" Waite Rider Smith miniature tarot - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

I've had a request for a tarot collage sheet and I'll finish that up as soon as I can. Until then, if you'd like to buy a completed set, there are a few mini "Roses and Lilies" boxed sets available in the etsy shop.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

A Fortune Tellers Wagon

This piece has been sitting on my work table, unfinished, wheelless, for about a year. And while I misplaced the original wheels and the door, it's a small miracle more bits didn't disappear!

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

The base of the piece is the Bathing Machine from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts (also available from Alpha Stamps if you're outside of the US). It's nice thick chipboard and the kit is pretty easy to assemble. 

(Note: the original wheels are larger than the replacement ones I've used)

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

Because I'm slightly more interested in fortune telling than Victorian changing habits at the beach, I've made my wagon into a tiny 'seer' caravan.

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

I've used Graphic 45's Couture to embellish this beauty. Doweling, dresden and window boxes have been added.

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

The roof has been covered with natural bark, with a sprinkling of miniature terrain moss and a pink of Flower Soft.

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

The little poster is a graphic from thegraphicsfairy.com

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

And there is an inside! I've left the roof removable for easy viewing.

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

A fortune tellers delight! Tea leaves, a marble crystal ball, and tiny tarot cards!

Fortune Teller's Wagon - pixiehill.com

Here is the list of most of the bits I've used on this piece. It's really just a hodge podge of stash so some of the supplies might no longer be available.

Bathing Machine
Gypsy poster graphic from thegraphicsfairy.com
Couture papers from Graphic 45
Small Antique 3D Gold Crowns
Miniature candlestick
Simple Cups & Saucers Set
Wire Chair
Wooden Stir Sticks
Drinking Straw
Bark
Lace
Miniature Terrain Moss
Moss
Flower Soft
Wooden doweling
Bead caps
3mm Brass Flat-Back Studs
Half Scale Cocktail Shaker
Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25
Baroque Dresden Borders - Black
Thin Looped Dresden Borders - Black
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Black
Carpet Runner Bookmark (used for rug inside)

I do have a few sets of miniature tarot cards available HERE. These are slightly larger than the ones I used in this piece, but take a gander if you're in a pinch.

And if you just want to buy the whole thing... the wagon is available HERE.




Friday, February 09, 2018

Sentimental Matchboxes, A Lovers Memento Revisited

A number of years ago I posted about the creative process. I used a tiny project chocked full of creative ideas and inspiration. It remains one of my favourite projects and posts. You can visit the original post here: A Lovers Memento: A Romantic How To 

I decided to revisit the project. It sort of niggles at my mind every year as Valentines Day approaches, and I wanted to create a video version for YouTube.


They're special little things because they hold a lot within a small space. They're full of creative thinking and spirit, they're sentimental and thoughtful, and although they require a bit of heart and time, they don't require a lot of money or materials.

They are basically tiny boxed treasures that tell a story. This box for example...


Those matches ensure that the fire always burns. Buttons, as nearly everyone knows, are brimming with magic... and this is especially true when they're from a lover! And I am certain that bark was tucked into a pocket after carving initials upon a tree trunk (which you should not do, but people didn't always know better.)


Perhaps your love is to the moon and back! It requires golden wings to fly to the stars. That love might be so strong is that the hands of time stand still for it.


Maybe your love is bound by magic, secured with a length of red thread. Kept safe with a vial of passion, devotion and sweetness. And just to make sure it's never lost, a compass ensures you'll always find your way back home.


Perhaps it's not romantic love at all that fills your matchbox, but a spirit of stardust, the wonder of a snail shell, and a heart that is as strong and fragile as an eggshell.

All at once fairy tales and truths. Funny how that happens.

I'm still a little unwell. I'm hoping to sleep straight through Valentines Day and wake up on the side of it with a box of discounted chocolate that will ruin my diet. Diets are meant to be ruined occasionally.

Go make something wonderful for yourself.
xo

Thursday, February 08, 2018

Little Acorn Houses

I have been dramatically unwell this past week, spending most of my time sleeping, or trying to sleep. At one point I reclined, eyes stinging and watering, with flowers upon my chest in a mock interment upon the couch. 

Don't worry. I have survived and well on the mend.


In fact, yesterday I was feeling so positively spiffy that I managed to make a bunch of little acorn capped houses.


IN FACT, yesterday I was feeling so well that I made a 'how-to' video so that you too can make acorn capped houses!

Hop over HERE for the viddy and my sickly voice.


What will you need to make these doo dads?

Creative Paperclay (or modeling medium of choice)
Matchstick
Acorn caps

Acrylic paint
Glue