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.