Fairy Dust

My husband is very supportive of my work but truth be told, he does NOT get "the whole fairy thing." You know....the little vintage photos to which we add wings and then put in jars or on tags and other "altered art" creations. I've tried to explain it to him, to no avail! Here's just a few of my past creations involving fairies in one way or another, most of which James just does NOT get and which actually "creep him out a little" (his words):(my friend Pat's vintage doll collection mixed in the above photo!)

Our girls love faires! I have been asked to draw so many fairies with my 8-year-old-drawing-level-skills that I could draw them in my sleep. Round head, happy expression, curly hair, BIG dress and of course WINGS. For awhile there, my girls were nuts about fairies. Here they are as fairies last Halloween:

Bippity, Boppity....

Boo!
And I completely understand the appeal. I remember playing "Fairy Forest" as if it was yesterday, at about 5 years of age, with an older girl I met while our families were camping. She had a vivid imagination and convinced me that real fairies inhabited a grove of ferns near our campsite. That week of camping was magical and I remember it like it was yesterday.

So when the girls started to be interested in fairies I told them fanciful stories about fairies that live in the flowers and trees. These stories were demanded again and again...the idea of tiny beings hiding in our yard, traveling on birds' backs and fashioning tiny clothes for themselves had them mesmerized. That began a period of time when the only game that was played outdoors was "Flower Fairy" which involved ripping the large leaves off the tree in our front yard for wings and "hiding" all over the yard and "talking" to the birds.

Even Kitty joined in the fun...
So when the girls saw this vintage embroidery motif they went crazy. I was asked to embroider it on something....anything! I loved (and love!) the simplicity of this sweet cotton knit sundress and the girls have worn these every summer for the last few years. It was a natural choice for embroidering the charming vintage "Flower Fairies" they love so much.

Here is Rachel, now 4, at close to 2 years, wearing her Flower Fairy Frock.


The story is not over, though, so keep reading!!!!


I loved this dress so much I offered it on eBay in a custom auction. This was one of the first custom auctions I did, in fact, and I was thrilled when a woman contacted me and asked if I could make TWO of these dresses if she won the auction. Of course, I said. She won the auction and I made two dresses for her twin girls and as a result, she and I chatted a bit via email. There was an immediate rapport and a feeling of "sameness" when we talked. Not long after (but many, many emails after!) this woman, Linda, and I were fast friends.

Can it be 2 years ago, Linda? No.....make that THREE years ago! I discovered, soon after meeting Linda, that she is not only a fellow-fabricaholic, but is also a talented graphic designer She created auction templates for me, designed my eBay ME page and masterminded the "DOLL" brand for my clothing line, right down to the garment and hang tags.

But that's not why I love her so much. This is not just a customer or a graphic designer. This is a FRIEND....one of those "forever friends"...and I expect to know and love her 'til I'm an ancient great-grandma.


It's truly serendipity that we met.....and all over fairies! Perhaps they are magical!

p.s. I'm "re-realeasing" these dresses and you can find them in my etsy shoppe.