Mashed up update post

I have not fallen off the face of the earth.

I've been napping, and relaxing and clearing away the Christmas hub-bub. I've been tidying my studio (ha!) and basically farting around and taking it easy. Totally unlike me but I think it has de-stressed me so much that I might actually avoid my usual post-Christmas 'oh-my-god-kill-me-now' sickness!

Anyway... today is Mr. Pixie's birthday and marks the last of the holiday celebrations in our house. Feeling fine and dandy (knock on wood) I'll be back to being a crafting machine next week.

Two little side notes:

This guy showed up on my deck yesterday.

He was pretty bold and watched me watching him from just a few feet away through the kitchen window. I admired him for a few minutes before running to grab my camera. He stayed put, just fluttering from spot to spot, and let me get a few shots in before taking off. He's a Sharp Shinned Hawk if you're interested in that sort of thing. 

He doesn't seem to have scared off the Dark-Eyed Juncos that hang around here every winter. They were still flying about, getting their fill of seed and bossing one another around. I'll have to keep my eye out though. As beautiful as that hawk is, I don't want to make those wee songbirds easy pickin's for him.

Lastly, my January kit from Tresors de Luxe arrived yesterday and I have a video reveal of the kit and review of the projects I created for them last month (see very bottom of this post for embedded vid). Tresors de Luxe is now selling the same Design Team Kits they provide their designers with if you want to play along. They have also introduced a monthly mood/inspiration board challenge with three prizes up for grabs. Here is this months board...

That's all for now. Hope 2016 is being kind to you!

Fairy Godmother Travelling Sales Wagon

There's a special place in my heart for fairy godmothers. Those fluttery, frilly, silly ladies make me positively giddy. I've often wondered where they get their godmotherly supplies from. Is there a shop? A fancy boutique? A traveling salesman!

And so this month I've created a tiny traveling sales wagon for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts with magical and glittery godmother paraphernalia.

The base is a square shrine shadowbox to which I have added 1 inch Fancy Wheels Wheels. I've also added Floral and Lace border sticks for some flourish. A small chipboard crest heralds potential customers to the godmotherly goods.

The wee sign reads "Préciosites", a term I came across when doing some godmotherly research. *It is a French literary style born from the lively conversations and playful word games of witty and educated intellectual ladies from 17th century France... they also happened to retell fairy tales. *according to the Wiki page anywho

Inside the wagon, all manner of items required for godmotherly duties. Fairy dust, candy, pumpkins to turn into carriages.

Absinthe and stout to whet the pallet, magical books, tiny sparkly shoes, wooden wands and wishing stars (and a few butterflies for good measure).

If you'd like to create your own version of this wee travelling sales-fairy wagon, you can check out the video walk-through for this project HERE.

Don't limit yourself to Fairy Godmothers! If goblins are more up your ally, go for it! What about baby bits and bobs for a sweet shower gift? Really, you could pick any theme and make your very own unique version of this project.

Here are a list of supplies I used:

Square Shrine Shadowbox
1 inch Fancy Wheels
Floral and Lace border sticks
Mini Crest Sign

Scrapbook paper (I used Forget-Me-Not from Lemoncraft)
Misc Fairy Godmother Goods such as:
stars, bottles, flowers, pumpkins, wings, fairy dust, wee books or whatever you can dream up!

Psst, here's a graphic you can use in your own piece.

For personal use only or I'll turn you into a toad ;)

Safety First!

I've had this idea bandying about my head since I created "The Infirmary" this past summer. With all the mischief that wee folk get in to I am certain that a fairy first aid kit would be quite practical.

And what would one find inside such a kit? This one has the bare essentials. Sterile bandage, pixie dust, wing tonic, sticky bandages and gauze. I'm sure that would do in a pinch and it packs neatly in these little tins.

If your fairies are in need of their own first aid kit, I've included the labels used in a collage sheet chocked full of miniature labels: Little Household Goods.

Above is just a sample of the labels included. The sheet includes all sorts of 'around the house' type labels including First Aid, Absinthe, chocolate, cookies, crackers, jam, a variety of fairy sized beer labels, soap, spices, food stuff, motor oil, tea, coffee and canned fruit, veg, treacle and more.

The Little Household Goods collage sheet includes labels that will fit the following wee things:
Old Fashioned Grocery Cans
Old Fashioned Grocery Rectangular Tins
Miniature Square Cookie Tins
Miniature Round Cookie Tins

Set of Unlabelled Jars, Bottles & Tins
Amber Resin Potions Bottle
Miniature Wine Bottles
Mini Clear Resin Whiskey Bottle 

Here's hoping you enjoy making your own fairy sized first aid kit... and that you never have cause to use it. Safety first!

Boxing Day Treat Boxes for Tresors de Luxe

I'm writing this post on Christmas eve day. It's the calm before the storm, before the food, the gifts, the drinks and merry making. By the time you read this it'll be Boxing Day. I thought it might be appropriate to make some little take-away boxes. A frilly little vessel to tuck left over Christmas cookies in and send holiday guests on their merry way.

I've simply covered some small kraft boxes in music paper and lined them with tissue as my base. A top that,  White Lace Trim and White French Lace are added. Finally, some paper butterflies, baubles and a large satin flower finish them off.

Now fill those wee boxes with small treats made with love, to enjoy and make the season linger just a little longer.

White Lace Trim
White French Lace
Satin flower

Kraft paper boxes
Music paper
Embellishments
Tissue paper

In case of emergency...

I'm fairy certain I'm on the verge of a panic attack. 

It's been a week of small disasters and mischief. I am grateful there haven't been any huge mishaps around this wonky place... but those little missteps, combined with holiday craziness, have me on edge. 

I might have to call upon these two emergency fairies to help out.

You might ask why I don't keep these helper fairies out all the time if they are so great at lending a hand. The truth is that while they are mostly helpful... they are still fairies and therefore still mischievous. 

Don't worry, they can free themselves whenever they like (being magical and all that) but stay for the cake and jam they are regularly offered.

Shabby Winter Canvas for Tresors de Luxe

Today, a shabby altered canvas featuring Tresors de Luxe laces.

This piece is created on a canvas measuring 11" x 14". A layer of vintage papers and tea stained burlap was applied as a base and then a wide 4.75" White Lace Trim is added then a band of White Lace Trim with lovely dangly bits applied to the bottom.

The fabric flowers I've applied pair really well with the vintage image and provide a nice contrast to the texture of the lace and burlap. Plus, a little extra sparkle never did any harm.

A bit of extra glitter and some clear acrylic snowflakes finish off the canvas, while a bough of faux red berries adds a splash of colour and life.

Supplies:
White Lace Trim
White Lace Trim
fabric flowers
canvas
glue
glitter
white acrylic paint
tea
acrylic snowflakes
vintage image
faux berry bough

Cherry Launds, Mr Pixie's Favourite Cookie

Mr. Pixie loves Christmas treats. There is talk of 'the cookie list' months in advance. One year was ridiculous and I made something like 20 different kinds of treats. One year I didn't make one of the 'staples' and I didn't hear the end of it until the following Christmas.

Mr. Pixie's very favourite are these thumb print cookies. In his granny's recipe book they were called Cherry Launds. Being given permission to copy from her handwritten recipe book was a big deal. She was known for omitting key ingredients when relaying recipes, ensuring that her version was superior.

Below you'll find Nonna's recipe. I'm sure at some point they were topped with a cherry (hence the name) but we've always filled them with homemade jam.

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg separated
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
chopped nuts
jam

Cream together butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Stir in flour. Chill for 1/2 hour.

Shape dough into 1" balls.

Lightly whisk the egg white and dip the balls, then roll them in the chopped nuts. Place on a cookie sheet and press a dent in the middle with your thumb.

Bake at 350 for about 12 - 15 minutes.

Put jam in the dent. I wait until they are cooled to do this. The heat from the cookies may liquefy the jam and it can become runny/messy. Use whatever jam you like. The ones above have blueberry/strawberry and
raspberry, but I've used apricot too and it was totally delicious.

Now just gobble them up!

A Merry Little Christmas

The Yuletide baking has begun. So far I've made peanut brittle (twice because the first time it was meh), a double batch of thumbprint cookies (because Mr. Pixie always asks for more), sponge toffee (aka cinder toffee), and M&M cookies (because the kid asked nicely). 

I started filling up our treat table and noticed a little addition.

Can you see it? Look a little closer to that top tier of the cookie plate.

A tiny tin with Father Christmas and 'Christmas Cookies' on the label!

Seems our fairies are getting in the Yuletide spirit too! What a nice contribution to our sweet buffet. If they aren't entirely gobbled, I am certain that Santa's elves will nibble them on Christmas eve.

I hope that your holidays are chugging along swimmingly :)

Frosty Winter Fairy Dress for Tresors de Luxe

I'm excited to share a lacy project for Tresors de Luxe with you. Today, a frosty winter fairy dress.

I drafted a simple dress form from paper for this piece and added sheer fabrics and lace. Tucked beneath the front layer the edging is trimmed with this 1" Ivory Lace Trim, and the top layer of organza is edged with this 3" Ivory Lace Trim. 

The bodice was created with pieces from this White Lace Trim and Gold Lace Applique. The parts of the deconstructed gold applique have been used on the skirting of the frock.

Some pretty little flowers, acrylic snowflakes and set of fairy wings complete this piece and really add an extra dash of magic to this charming little lacy frock.

Materials used:
White Lace Trim
Gold Lace Applique
1" Ivory Lace Trim
3" Ivory Lace Trim

Sheer Organza
Small Faux flowers
Scrapbook Paper
Acrylic Snowflakes
Glitter
Fairy Wings printed on transparency sheet

Walnuts and Memories

I made this little Christmas in a nutshell while waiting for glue to dry on some other projects.

You never know what people will react to. Spend a week on something and no one bats and eye. Spend a few extra minutes and everyone loves it. I don't really mind though, especially when the reason for the reaction is because memories are revived.

A number of people said that they reminded them of German baubles that their parents or grandparents had decades ago. That's a nice thing.

I could see loads of conversations, people planning to make their own. "We need to buy walnuts!"

I'm all for encouraging a handmade Christmas (or just handmade in general really) so I cut into my holiday baking and cleaning time and put together a quick tutorial found HERE.

Below is a list of products I used. Feel free to substitute to create your own miniature masterpiece.

Walnuts
Hot glue
White glue
Moss
Frosted White Sisal Trees (painted them green) / aka Bottle brush trees
Wired Pine Needle Stems (or anything similar to cut into tree shape)
Flat-Back Gold Star Studs - 12mm*
Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars
Snowflake charms
Wee clay houses
Handmade Toadstools
Flower Soft
clear glitter
Buffalo Snow

Enjoy!

A Holiday Tradition for Petaloo - Clothespin Fairies

We celebrate both Yule and Christmas in our household and we have a number of traditions that go along with them. There are the regular things like putting up a tree, decking the halls, feasting and making merry. There's also our yearly argument about how many cookies the Pixie men are allowed to add to the cookie request list. A small tradition I keep is to make a small sweet craft, just a little something, to enjoy during the holiday madness. For a number of years that craft has been clothespin dolls.

In the past I've made peg soliders and winter talisman charms. This year I've made some acorn topped fairies.

The frilly little things look pretty darned cute in their Petaloo flower frocks. The frocks are most easily made with layered elements like the DIY-Daisy Layers or Mixed Textured Blossoms.

Paint your pegs first, with rosy cheeks and striped leggings. Then, simply snip a little hole in the centre of the flower layer, push onto the peg and glue into place. Multiple layers make for a nice full skirt.

Vintage velvet holly leaves make a very nice skirt too!

Add little Sugared Mini Blooms or as many flowers as your fairies demand.

A little acorn cap, a set of wings and your wee fairies are ready to fly and make someone's holiday a tiny bit brighter.

Supply list:

DIY-Daisy Layers

Mixed Textured Blossoms

Sugared Mini Blooms

Vintage Velvet Holly Leaves

Fairy Wings
Wooden Clothespins/Clothespegs

Acrylic craft paint
Glue
Acorn Caps*

Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop

I've been puttering with this project for a while. A little bit here. A little bit there. It kept popping up, getting in the way, nudging me, so I figured it was time to finish Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

Aren't familiar with Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop?

"Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop was a small tea shop located on a side road off the High Street at Hogsmeade. It was owned by Madam Puddifoot. The decoration was very tacky and frilly. The windows steamed up and the gaudy tables and chairs were all claimed by teenagers holding hands or kissing over cups of tea and coffee. A bell over the door announced customers in a tuneful tinkle; the round tables were decorated with lacy napkins and china sugar bowls, and cramped up the small shop to the point that Madam Puddifoot has great difficulty in moving in between tables to serve the couples." Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 25 (The Beetle at Bay)

"On Valentine's Day, the tearoom was decorated with golden cherubs hovering over each of the tables, which occasionally threw pink confetti over the people sitting below them." Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 25 (The Beetle at Bay)

"This, however, was more of irritating than romantic, as the confetti would occasionally land in the beverages." Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 25 (The Beetle at Bay)

 

The piece measures approximately 10" x 12". There's a battery pack located on the roof that lights the interior. I'm not 100% happy with the lighting to be honest (it's too led/fluorescent/blueish for my liking)... but I'll consider it a lesson learned. Edit: After looking at the piece in dimmed conditions I take this back. It does look a bit fluorescent in daylight, but in a darkened room it's just peachy.

Here are some of the products used in the making of M. Puddifoot's Tea Shop:

Storefront Room Box
Brick Wall Chipboard Texture Sheet* 

Stone Wall Chipboard Texture Sheet* 

Clay Planters with Saucers 
Gold Candleholders
Asparagus Fern Garland*
Mini White Plastic Tea Set with 2 Mugs 
Miniature Silverware - Set of 20 
Miniature White Wooden Shelf 
Bust of Diana *very nice*
White Mantle Clock *very nice*
Brass Cherub Banner 
Brass Cherubs - 1 Set  
Tiny Plant Table  
White Kitchen Wall Shelf Cabinet  
Pronged Metal Handles*   
Mini Rose Buds - Pink Cream Variegated* 
Clear Cake Dome on Gold Tray 
Mini Silicone Bread Mold Set - Larger Loaves 
Mini Silicone Cake Mold Set 
Mini Silicone Bread Mold Set - Smaller Loaves 
Narrow Gold Fleur Dresden Borders* 

Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop is listed HERE

Miniature Book Tutorial Now Available

We hoard books like crazy in the Pixie household. They are tucked into every cranny. It's not surprising that miniature versions should frequently make their way into my work.

 I've been making little books for a very long while. Years even!

I love the challenge of going smaller and smaller... 

...while still being able to open them up and turn the pages.

There's something extra magical about being able to interact with those little things. When children pick up my little books the skepticism in their eyes turns into a flash of delight when discover they can open the cover and flip through the pages.

Anyway, after years of keeping it all to myself, I've decided to offer my book making technique with a PDF tutorial available in my etsy shop. I'm not gonna lie, it's a bit of a long process... but you end up with books that are pretty dang sturdy. I've left books in my pocket, put them through the wash, and they've come out the other end fully intact.

Instead of a template, the download shows you HOW to make the books so that you can add your own splash of magic and create them in whatever size or shape you like. Quick as can be you'll have an entire fairy library in no time at all.

You can find the listing HERE... and, don't tell anyone, but there's a little bonus project included too ;)