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*