Chugging along

A few pics, proof I've been working hard and not at all sitting on my bottom eating bonbons all day (as much as I'd like to.)

Some fairy houses almost ready for installation on the 'fairy tour'.

The wee folk have been into my sewing stash again!

New towns are popping up everywhere.

And I've finally lost my mind and given a town in a teacup it's own little cottage in an acorn cap ;)

Here's a few pretty pics from the garden. They fib a little because there's just a patch of flowers here and there at the moment, but one day I will have a whole meadow of pretty things.

xoxo

Freshly plucked...

Another quickie today...

Just finished up a fresh batch of mandrake roots.

They are quite a bit larger than any of the previous roots I've done... but they're just as grumpy ;)

Fortune Tellers, Gypsies and Exploding Children

Another quick post before my kid explodes from boredom. I don't know if that can actually happen but he seems pretty sure it will if I don't entertain him pretty soon

This month's theme over at Alpha Stamps is Gypsies! Hurrah! Yippie skippy! Wait until you see all the gorgeous stuff my fellow design team members made. And why not hop over and check out the details for the truly fantastic Gypsy Fortune Teller Swap they're hosting. Seriously. You won't forgive yourself if you don't.

Here's one of the projects I completed with the lush gypsy images from Alpha Stamps...

My favourite bit are the rusty crusty nails.

Anywho... gotta run before the kidlet loses his mind. Apparently we're spending the afternoon recreating the Highland games in the back garden! Please keep your fingers crossed it's an injury free event ;)

Brighton Streetfest, here I come!

 

Tomorrow I'll be dragging some of my stuff to Streetfest in my perfect little town of Brighton, Ontario. If you happen to live near by, stop, have a gander, and pop by the tent to say "hiya!". Remember to grab an invitation to the VERY BIG Magical Summer Studio Open House on August 4th while your there.

There's a few goodies here that aren't listed in the esty shop just yet. Rusty iron nails for luck and protection from fairy enchantment, bundles of old paper, and some tiny altered journal kits. Keep your eye out and they'll be listed over the coming weeks.

I've got to go and get some tags made for the fairy catching butterfly nets. Have a grand weekend!

My wild prince and the fabric crowns

I adore my kidlet. I love him with all of my self. Every single inch of him. He's funny, handsome, terribly sensitive, sweet and sophisticated (as sophisticated as you can be at 9). Here's my wild prince with a glint of trouble in his eyes... cheeky bugger.

My kidlet is wearing a fabric crown, one of a bunch I've stitched up to take to the Brighton Streetfest this Saturday.

They're all a bit different. With vintage buttons and scraps of lace attached....

It did occur to me that perhaps I shouldn't include buttons or baubles. That they may fall off and pose a chocking hazard for some button eating child!

But then I realized that kids clothes have buttons.

Hmmmm, maybe I'll put a warning on them anyway... just to be safe.

P.S. I mentioned working with the saints this other day, in particular St. Expedite. I'd like to add here that I am not Catholic (although I did go to Catholic school and all that jazz when I was a kid) but that saints don't mind one bit that you don't go to a particular church (or one at all). Perhaps those holy beings agree that having faith doesn't mean that you have to subscribe to a certain religion. Interesting thought, no? Anywho, if you're thinking of doing some saintly work do a quick search and you'll find loads and loads of information. My favourite witchy author Judika Illes also has a book out called Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages you might want to check out :)

WIP it good.

Terrible title, I know, but I think I'm getting an ear infection and that's the best I could do.

I'm still plugging away on the Fairy Tour which is the biggest work-in-progress of all. Here's a few photos of how things are shaping up...

Still more work to be done on the tree but I'm happy with the pace. Those roofs are absolutely 100% fancy you know. They're made using plastic pop bottle tops as a base!

This is my favourite twiggy house. Padfood loves it too because he keeps picking it up, dragging it across the lawn and gnawing on the roof!

Lastly, something new and totally unexpected that just sort of sprung up this afternoon. The photo is awful but it's a kind of hut made of twigs, old leaves and pine needles. It's actually quite big. Large enough that the kid and his friend immediately claimed it as their own. I think this will end up as a gnome camp but that could change. The very nicest thing about it is that it inspired those two wonderfully terrible children to make their own. Huzzah for out making messes and playing with dirt! That's just what boys should be doing.

A tribute to St. Expedite

I have a great fondness for the Saints and one of my new found favourites it St. Expedite. There's not a heck of a lot known about this fella but what we do know is that he works fast in times of need.

As you would make payment for other jobs that have been completed, St. Expedite must also be given his due. Usually an offering of a slice of pound cake, flowers and public thanks is given. I told St. Expedite that I would repay him by creating something in his honour. And so, I have made some St. Expedite ACEO's to give him thanks and spread his name.

I have three St. Expedite cards to give away. The background is vintage hymnal paper and will vary from the image above. Send an email with your address to info(at)pixiehill.com and I'll randomly select three people to send to.

If you don't find a St. Expedite in your mailbox, you are welcome to use the above image to print your own.

It's really flipping hot and other news

It's hot. I'm sticking to everything. 'Nuf said.

It may be a little quiet around here over the next while as I get ready for Brighton's Streetfest on July 14th and our VERY BIG (you can tell it's important because of the capital shouty letters) Open House on August 4th.

I've started revealing the fairy spots in the garden but there's a load of work left to do. I'm not sure just how much will get done in the heat but we'll see. Here's one of my very old trees in the first stages of 'fairyfication' (... that's my word now,  you can use it but you've got to give me credit.)

Also in Pixie news, "The Other Slipper" was bottled and has been abandoned.

I was sort of afraid of being spotted making the drop so I had two helpers do the deed for me. You can see the jar beside that white bucket on the left. No word from a finder yet but I'm not holding my breath that I'll get a reply at all ... though I'd love one... really... it would totally make my day.

And finally, a heads up to check out Alpha Stamps and their yahoo group. I'd bet my bottom dollar that you'll be interested in some of the upcoming themes and swaps they'll be hosting. Here's some super cute examples from their recent "Beach Postcard" swap.

by Karen Cejka

 by Mollie Huddleston

by Carmen Willis

Now, I'm off to stuff some ice down my shirt in a sad attempt to cool down. Keep cool kiddies!

Mini Post!

I'm working on the "fairy tour" for the VERY BIG Studio Open House on August 2nd so this is just a very tiny, very quick post.

I'm offering two free workshops for August and September. They'll be a sort of crafting pot-luck... you brings some scraps and trims and we'll make something great together. For August we'll be making matchbox shrines, and in September.... well I don't know yet, but it'll be great!

Space will be limited so please email to reserve a spot.

More information here.

P.S. HAPPY CANADA DAY! WOO HOO! YAY!

The Butterfly Conservatory

A long while back I picked up a rather hideous jewelry box. It was ugly, but it had a load of potential and I knew exactly what I wanted to make. It's taken at least four years of starting and stopping, but I've finally finished it.

Here it is...

The outside has been covered in sewing pattern paper and hand painted with butterflies, moths and ladybugs...

Now the inside...

A butterfly conservatory! I'm rather smitten with this piece and it won't go up for sale for a while so that it's available for a few shows first.

Yay butterflies!

The Other Slipper

About a week ago I posted a ballet slipper shrine. Here is the other half of that pair...

There's something extra special about this particular slipper...

There wasn't extra love or glitter put into it...

This one will be placed in a big glass jar and left for a stranger to find!

I'm not sure where to place it just yet. I have a couple of ideas where I'd like to put it for finding. I'm sort of torn between leaving it in the children's section of the library, behind my favourite pizza joint, in an old tree stump or just in the middle of the sidewalk somewhere. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

It's not ugly... it's a stage 2

On our travels yesterday we stopped at a fabulous little studio called the Artful Garden Gallery. The artist, Sharon Ramsay Curtis, does the most delightful watercolours, very charming. We got to talking about this and that and she showed me an amazing dollhouse that belonged to her daughter.

Any who, we had a chat about painting and I mentioned that I'm working on a rather large piece and that it's absolutely hideous at the moment. She told me that I shouldn't say it's uguly but that it's a "Stage 2" painting. I rather like that :)

Here's another 'Stage 2' painting I've been working on this morning.

It's about 60% done. Loads of fiddling left. Hopefully I'll get it done before the end of the week when D starts summer vacation.

The way to my heart...

Apparently the way to my heart is little papery bits.

I had the opportunity to test drive two sweet little paper kits...

This super cute set of three stacking paper blocks which I really liked working with. It was fun to do flat surfaces on a 3d object... does that make sense?

And then...

 

How is that for cute? The paper table and chairs were a hoot to embellish. I LOVED setting that fairy table.

The chairs have text from a vintage book which says "The nicest boy" and "happy girl"

I believe the chair and table kit is sold out already but you can check it out here and be informed when it's back in stock.

P.S. There a fab new shop opening up next weekend in Cobourg called impresario Artisan Market. They'll be showing off my silly things as well as the work of other fantastically talented makers. Pop in and check out the goods if your in town. It's located at 37 King Street West, Cobourg, Ontario.

P.P.S. You should also pop into 9 Muses while you're there. Heidi is warm and wonderful and her necklaces are divine! Check for the "open" sign on the grand place at 202 Church Street, Cobourg.

Midsummer pretties and what's in the jar...

Took a walk around 'the hill' last night and took some snaps of the midsummer loveliness. Green must have been the colour of the evening because I saw a number of fantastically metallic looking bugs. One was a gorgeous damselfly with wings like lampblack. He was too fast for me though and refused to pose! The nerve!

Ah well, here's photos from midsummer at Pixie Hill that did turn out...

Also... a few of you asked what was in the fairy spying kit. Certainly you can make your own for gifts but please don't outright copy this and sell them... I WILL turn you into a toad. I've done it before I'll do it again.

Inside you'll find... a thimble, three coins, a little handmade net, a scribble book with miscellaneous papers, a fairy herb blend, a fairy spying stone, buttons and an old rusty iron nail. There's also a hints and tips, warnings and explanations for all of the items included.

Two kits currently listed on etsy here...