Simple Floral Favors for Petaloo

Holy heck! I almost forgot to post this super sweet project I created for Petaloo!

Although I've been married for an age, I believe the worries of time and money probably still plague brides-to-be today. I thought this project may be too simple but quickly realized that might be exactly what someone needs, an oh so simple favour that can be done in a pinch.

Ok, ok... but what are they?

Pretty floral rings! Easy as can be to make. Simply affix the blooms to a ring blank and ta-da! You've got a cute as a button favour for your guests. Selecting adjustable rings will take the worry out of fitting.

Give as party favours at a bridal shower, or give as a sweet token of affection to those who help make your day special.

I've used Chantilly Mixed Blooms in Sienna 1279-212 and Textured Elements Mini Blossoms in Red 1263-212 but I am certain that there is a Petaloo bloom to match any wedding colour pallet. 

Supplies:
Textured Elements Mini Blossoms in Red 1263-212
Chantilly Mixed Blooms in Sienna 1279-212 
Adjustable ring blanks

A work in progress

I don't often share my works-in-progress but I'm pretty excited with how this project is coming along. The bones is this Blank Corner Diorama made exclusively for me by Gina's Designs.

It's exactly what I wanted and my-oh-my the possibilities! I've got a katrillion ideas tumbling around in my head. My first project currently looks like this...

It may not look like much yet... but I'm pretty sure you'll like what I have planned ;) Seriously, it's so much fun I can barely contain myself!

For the outside I've created a brick exterior using a brick stencil sheet from Gina's Designs. I'm pretty dang happy with the results so far. 

If you'd like your own Blank Corner Diorama there are a handful available exclusively in my etsy shop. It's a great size to work with (7"x8"x4"), easy to assemble, and I think you're really going to like the projects I have planned using this piece as a base.  

A Mid-Summer Progress Report

First things first, SOLSTICE BLESSINGS to you!

Despite calls for drizzle it was a glorious weekend and I got burnt to a crisp working in the garden. Our garden is coming along nicely (thanks to all of the hard work by Mr. Pixie) and I'm grateful for all of the leafy green goods that are sprouting and ending up on our dinner table.

Our solstice celebrations were quiet. I made a nice meal for the hubs (it also being father's day and all) and then took some treats outside for our fairy friends. Honey, jam, bread, and sweet wine. Our contribution to the wee folk's solstice celebrations.

Our "fairy sanctuary" is coming along slowly but surely. I managed to finish up a handful of sprite cottages, which are now sitting in an overgrown tangle of leaves. They'll be a perfect spot for our little fairy visitors to rest.

Our resident Hobbit has returned. The long grass was cleared, a small stone wall built and his tiny garden tended.

Word of our safe heaven must be spreading. On Thursday evening I heard a ruckus outside and when I went to investigate I found this wee caravan parked beneath the bird bath. Some travelling fairies have come to stay for the summer.

I'll try to get better photos of the caravan camp soon. It was being guarded by a band of determined mosquitoes when I took this photo. I was very nearly eaten alive before I was chased away ;)

Frogs and Pixies

For the past week, this fellow has stopped by for a visit every evening. He hops onto the living room window and stays for a few hours. I'm not sure if he's a frog prince waiting for a kiss or a maybe a moocher looking to borrow $5. Check out that sexy yellow leopard colouring on those legs!

This morning I ventured outside (a dangerous feat, the mosquitoes were on full alert) and very nearly stepped on this little hopper.

I cursed and grumbled and this wee pixie came along to see what the fuss was about. She double checked on the little guy and gave a nod of approval before fluttering off.

She's been hanging out in my studio since Christmas, just lazing around, stealing my scissors and buttons. I guess she got fed up of being on my 'to-do list' and made herself some raggedy clothes.

Last I looked she was sitting in the black locust tree, taking in the morning sun.

I think this one will be a handful ;)

Sleeping Stones

I am not the sort who has any desire to travel the world. I'm quite pleased to explore my own land and sleep in my very own bed thank-you-very-much. 

There is an exception. 

Iceland. 

Iceland, where Huldufólk and álfar, (trolls and elves) live in rocks and beneath the earth. Where roads are detoured to protect mounds of stone, least the those creatures be disturbed. Where rocks should not be thrown for fear that Huldufólk may be harmed.

Perhaps these stones in the Pixie Hill garden are sleeping, weary from their long Icelandic voyage.

For more stones that have had their faces coaxed to the surface see my Stone Creatures pinterest board.

A Mermaid Shrine for Alpha Stamps

Alpha Stamps theme this month is mermaids. Being a child of the 80's my thought process on those fish-tailed beauties beneath the sea goes something like this:

1. Gorgeous Daryl Hannah in Splash.

2. The selkies of The Secret of Roan Inish (if you haven't see this, you should)
3. George Melies' Under the Seas

I ended up with a dreamy glittery underwater mermaid shrine inspired by the tints of Melies' (that sounds far more pretentious than it is).

For the base I've used this Curio Cabinet. I've simply omitted the shelf inside to create a large open interior. Almost every surface has been covered with an iridescent glitter thanks to a Stickles. I simply spread them with my finger, giving a glowwy rather than a glitter encrusted effect. It's pretty, like flecks reflecting light beneath the sea.

I wanted the outside to coordinate with the Unearth Copper Patina Scrapbook Paper interior. Here's the paint process I used:

• plain chipboard

• black

• turquoise smudges

• yellow ochre smudges

• copper highlights

• Waterfall Stickles* 

I think it compliments the paper nicely :)

For the seabed floor I used a square of organza, which fills the space nicely and also provides a nice reflective quality too.

My fussy cut mermaids sit upon painted chipboard coral. Staggering the placement of these pieces helps with the depth perception.

On the exterior I've draped ribbons as a sort of banner. It helps with the dreamy quality and is a bit like fantasy seaweed. A few stamped brass charms and adhesive pearls finish off the the piece with a bit of treasure trove flair.

Supply List
Mermaids Kit
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Turquoise 
Cream Adhesive Pearls - 3mm* 
Gypsy Coin Mix* 
Waterfall Stickles* 
Raw Brass Flourish* 
Curio Cabinet
Organza

Mostly Made-Up Mushrooms

I spent Monday evening and the entirety of Tuesday working on these mushroom specimens. Keeping real toadstool samples was not an option, as they would certainly dry, wither and lose their lustre. Instead, these make-believe mushrooms have been created from polymer clay.

The presence of toadstools may indicate faerie activity, especially those found growing in lines and rings. They are tell tale signs that faeries have been trooping or dancing in that very spot. 

While it may be enticing, do not disturb those rings and lines. It would be like showing up at a celebration you were not invited to. Do admire them, appreciate them, and respect the fact that the fair folk may be near by.

Fly Agaric/Fly Amanita: The most iconic of all fairy mushrooms. Especially popular in Victorian fairy paintings but renaissance depictions can also be found. It has hallucinogenic properties and a long history of use in religious and shamanistic rituals. Toxic to consume, but lucky to see.

Hens Goblets: These goblet shaped mushrooms are often found growing outside of hen houses. Planted by impish fair folk, they are filled with fairy wine to lure chickens from their nests. This allows for the theft of fresh warm eggs. 

White Needles: Similar to Golden Needle mushrooms but slightly larger. I suspect they may be a cross variety cultivated by Koro-pok-guru who may have migrated from Japan.

Good Witch's Hat: a specific type of waxcap toadstool especially useful to witches who use green magic. Enhances the potency of any spell or charm. When on good terms, faeries will sprout a small patch of these for their favourite witch to use. The witch in turn will bake a crumb cake and leave it on the window sill for the little folk to steal nibbles from.

Smooth Pixie Cups: a lichen, rather than a mushroom, related to the Mealy Pixie Cup. Found in mossy areas known to be frequented by trooping pixies and faeries. It is said that gnomish beer tastes especially good when sipped from one of these cups.

Fibbing Amethyst Deceiver: Not to be confused with the true Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina) the Fibbing Amethyst Deceiver is a completely different species. A single drop of tincture made from this mushroom in a cup of tea will cause the drinker to hiccup whenever they tell an untruth. 

Undetermined Fungus: Grown by faerie folk on dead or decaying tree trunks to store nutrients from the decaying the tree for later medicinal use. Also used practically as shady awning for tree dwelling little people.

Conocybe: not entirely certain which subspecies this is, as there are at least 50 found in North America and almost 250 worldwide. Certain varieties have been used for shamanic purposes but others are highly toxic and could be deadly. Caution is advised. Only those with an intimate knowledge of the species, and on good terms with the fair folk, should attempt use.

Elven Bluecap: So called for its resemblance to the headwear often worn by Northern elves. The glittery substance on its capped top is believed to magically assist them to remain upright on their rather spindly stalks.

Verdigris Agaric: Named after its colour, being strikingly similar to the pigment on weathered copper/brass/bronze. A favourite of little people with seaside roots.