What are little boys made of?

I've put the finishing touches on that wip I showed off a while ago.

My intention was to make a collection of things that an imp might pick up and hold for safe keeping but things sort of changed direction in the middle. Instead it became a sort of homage to little boys. Lost buttons, skipping stones, birthday candles and missing game pieces, these are what boys are made of.

I do like this piece but it sort of makes me a little sad too. I suppose it's all of those the little memories tugging at my heartstrings. Despite all my swearing, I am very squishy and sentimental inside :P

Although I've been completely bombarded with design work and germs this past month, I've started a new project. I'm really excited about it and having a lot fun. It's not in the least bit serious and a complete departure in both medium and subject for me. I can't wait to show it off, though it might not be your cup-o-tea... you'll just have to wait and see *lol*

Party Like A Rock Star

I'm bushed! Today our kidlet had some friends over to celebrate his birthday. It was a bit of a rushed affair as it wasn't until last week that the kiddo decided that he wanted a Rock'n Roll party. It was a mad dash to pull it all together. I didn't get to cram in everything I hoped to, but there's always next year to do bigger and better :) Anyway, on to the goods...

The invites were done up like backstage passes.

There was a red carpet to greet the kids at the door.

The signs just encouraged them to break in : P

We had a mini photo shoot and I did a 'magazine' cover for each of the kids. I used a white backdrop for easy cropping and made the template so that I could just drop each kids' photo in and change the name.

Here they are checking out some of the finished covers.

I covered my drafting table with fresh paper and let the kids graffiti it. It was a good spot for the kids to go when they felt a bit overwhelmed and needed a few minutes of quiet. Boys can make A LOT of noise and be pretty rambunctious.

On the menu? Candy sushi, fruit salsa, fruit kabobs, cheese and crackers, chips, hotdogs, hamburgers...

and a mini ice cream bar! D already had 2 birthday cakes (lucky kid!) so we decided not to have another one at the party.

Each kidlet got to take home their magazine cover and fancy swag bag.

If I had to do it over again (or had more time) I would have organized more activities and given gold records as the prizes. The kids spent A LOT of time whacking each other with balloons and driving the Mr. insane :)

... but I think the little trouble makers had a pretty good time.

A whole village (& a swamp too)

I'm swamped. I secretly love being busy so you shouldn't feel badly for me in the least. Things might be pretty quiet around here over the next couple of weeks. Don't worry about the silence, it's just me chipping away at my day job.

I managed to make a wee village from the teeny weeny houses I created. It hasn't reached it's destination yet but I think it's safe to share.

There's a little pond

Farms with petals, flower buds and seed pods.

Unfortunately the 'arch' snapped while I was packing it for shipping *insert sad sigh* so the new owner will get the wee village without it's topper. Ah well, I was afraid it would break during shipping so I'm glad I could remove all evidence before it went on it's way.

A Fairy Godmother for Paige

Babies are popping out all over the place! My cousin-in-law just had a little girl named Paige. I've made a fairy godmother for the little one, wand and all, to keep all sorts of good wishes in safe keeping.

She's got a hoity paper crown on top of her lambs wool hair, and she's keeping a close eye on that felted bee to make sure he doesn't fly into anyone's bonnet.

The ragged skirt is kind of special. It contains scraps of fabric from the baby's great-grandmother who passed away a few years ago. If anyone will look over that baby it'll be her "bisnonna" :)

There's all sorts of wishes and charms hidden in her skirt. A key to open every door, a treasure chest for secret wonders, a silvery house to make a home, a lucky coin, extra buttons... loads of things every little girl will need while growing up.

When things don't go as planned

*sigh* In my head there are loads of lovely things fluttering and floating about. My fingers are having none of it this week. They are refusing to co-operate! I was hoping for a lovely little town and on my first attempt, got instead, a sort of depressing village that looks as though it's about to suffer a very bad storm :P

Do you ever scrap something and just start over? I rarely do. Being a stubborn old mule I chip at it and work away until it all fits together. Not this time. This time I'll make a bigger and better village and I'll show these town folk who's boss!

No! It's not my kid... though he thinks so...

It's ME! Grrrrr.

Little Houses and Mess Making

As usual I've got a zillion things on the go and (also as usual) much of it can't be shown at the mo'. I do have a something I can let you peek at...

A whole village of faerie houses!

What's that? These aren't quite as pretty or nearly as detailed as the others? Well that's true but there's a reason for that. They are just a little smaller than the original faerie houses I made.

Just how small are they?

Absolutely teeny weeny!

The tiny houses are actually part of a bigger project so check back soon to see what's happened to the little things :P

I'm starting a weekly thing over at the Pixie Hill blog called "Make a Mess Monday". It'll be all about the creative process, developing ideas, and making stuff. This week I talk about words and have a page of them that you can use in your making. Check it out here.

Making of Faerie Spying Stones

Here's the little bit I wrote for Danni over at the Whimsical Cottage. Hop on over there to see all the faerie goodness :)

~ The Making of Faerie Spying Stones
Faeries are a sly bunch. They are quick as a wink and well camouflaged to boot. It’s difficult to get a good look at the wee things. I often catch a fleeting glance of them while I hang my laundry on the line. While daydreaming they dance in my peripheral vision.

There are a number of ways to get a good look at the wee folk. One of those ways is by looking through a Faerie Stone (also called a hag stone, witch stone, holy stone, holed stone).

It is said that a true and proper Faerie Stone is a natural stone in which a hole has been formed by the elements. The stones should be found by the user, not purchased, gifted or traded for their true magical potential to be realized. But there’s a great deal of power in your thoughts and the energy of making. I say you might just be able to catch a glimpse if you create your own.

In Raven Grimassi’s book “Hereditary Witchcraft” he gives instructions on making a sort of Faerie Stone called a Faerie Sight Stone. Flowers, leaves and pollen are added to clay, a holed disk is made, and when ready, it is painted black with four white lines. “Legend says that Fairies can be sighted by looking through such a disc.”

Make your own version of a Faerie Sight Stone by adding faerie flowers, good intentions and charms to your own hand made holed stone. Wear it around your neck on a length of ribbon or hang it by your front door so that it’s always on hand for peeking at the fae.

Especially good times to try and spy faeries through your stones are: noon and midnight, mid-summers night, twilight hours, May Day, Halloween. Some say that you need to walk backwards and recite a specific chant too!
For specific instructions on how to make these, you can skip over to to this page at Pixie Hill.

** Please remember the spirit in which these are made. Sharing with friends, giving as gifts, making as a group project, leaving for strangers to find is absolutely encouraged. Selling them is not so nice and may just irk the faerie folk into pinching you in your sleep and tripping you up as you walk along. Don't say I didn't warn you ;)