Fairy Day party

Last night before bed, Helena & I snuck outside and left bread crumbs and a bitty teapot full of milk and honey for the fairies.

This morning right before sunrise deep in the garden, we found the remains of what could only have been an enchanting party! There was still fairy dust floating around!

upon closer inspection, we saw a beautiful fairy sitting in a tiny swing! She thanked us for remembering Fairy Day and held up a piece of stardust for Helena to take.
She said if we each took a bite we would become fairies for the whole day!

We thanked her and ran back inside the house. I turned to get one last look but the fairy was gone, just a naughty kitten sniffing around.

I asked Helena if she wanted to take a bite....but she already had!

Now it's time for me to have my half and fly around to visit the rest of the fairy day participants!
Thank you Jorgelina for hosting this magical event!

Today is fairy day!

How was your weekend?
I had a great one.
Did you do anything to celebrate the solstice?
It's not my favorite time, but I am happy
that the days are going to start getting shorter soon. 
 

 ...................................................................

 I found some really great memes

the other day and wanted to share them here.

I do most of these..worrying less is something 

I need to work on though, lol

 This one is my favorite. 

I love the idea of just being comfortable with yourself.

 Obviously, this one goes without saying.

Did you know today was fairy day?

I used to have a little party to celebrate the day..

I didn't have a chance this year, but in case you're 

interested, if you click here 

you can visit a couple fairy parties that have gone by:)

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Well, I'm about to start dinner 

so i better get going for now.

 I hope you have a magical day💞

 

 

Fairy Day

Take a word Challenge this week is

'The bright colors of Summertime'

I created a Midsummer Fairy for this challenge..

yesterday was National Fairy Day

& I felt this was appropriate.

 

 

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight.

Valentine's Day Fairies

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow!

In honor of this magical day I have created some sweet little fairy flower picks.

They're super easy to make too.

This is Thumbelina Teacup fairy

And this is Beatrice the honey bee fairy.

Supplies 'Thumbelina'

Baby Bailey unfinished doll

mini teacup and saucer

artificial flower petals and leaves

bamboo skewer 

pink tinsel

glitter

acrylic paint in peach, apricot, pink and teal

mini ribbon rose

large artificial daisy flower

hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions

paint Baby Baliley  peach

add facial features with pink paint

paint on a teal shirt

add flower petals to create a skirt

glue on rose petal flower 

add hair with apricot paint

Glue on leaves to back of doll to form wings

hot glue tea cup to saucer 

add glue to the rim of the teacup, dip in glitter

glue doll to inside of teacup and sprinkle excess hot glue with glitter

remove the stem from the flower and replace it with the skewer

add a bit of hot glue to secure it

now hot glue teacup and saucer to top of flower

wind tinsel around skewer glue in place

Supplies 'Beatrice'

Baby Bailey unfinished doll

Glitter heart pick

artificial leaves

glitter

acrylic paints in peach, pink, yellow, orange, brown, black

gold tinsel trim

pink tinsel

white glue

hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions

paint baby Bailey peach

add brown hair

add facial features with pink paint

paint stripes on body

add gold tinsel and leaves

cover leaves in white glue

sprinkle with glitter

hot glue Baby Bailey to top of heart

wind tinsel around stick

glue in place

add text with white glue

Tips

heart picks can be found at most dollar stores

these can be turned into St. Patrick's day fairies

Baby Bailey can be purchased in Lisa Kettell's Artfire shop.

Fairies

Do you believe in fairies?

I do!

Not only because it's a wonderful diversion from 

a sometimes mundane life...

But because, last year, during this month,

I saw one!!!

no kidding!

I was running walking outside to our clothesline 

(no fancy-pants dryer for us....it's Arizona! we don't need one!!)

it was about 2 p.m. & overcast

I was avoiding any and all bugs...

not gonna lie, I don't like them

my hair is dark, wavy and long

(perfect habitat for dark, wavy legged creatures)

To deter bugs,  I usually go outside

like this:

eyes squinted,  arms akimbo, legs pumping manically .

(it's exhausting)

you should see the way the mailman looks at me!

lol,

Anyhow, on this particular day, it was too hot to bother.

 Bug's be damned.

I walked outside like a regular human

& a little bright blue-white light flew passed me

Instinctively, I went into swatting mode

but before I could start swinging my arms

the light flew back towards me

right up to my face

I couldn't tell you what it looked like...

other than a tiny light floating in front of me.

it didn't buzz

it didn't move like an insect   

it didn't fly up my nose or in my hair

there wasn't a figure, buggish or otherwise, to it.

It flew in front of me a few feet then zoomed off into the trees.

(wish I'd  had my camera with me)

no one believes me...

you believe me don't you?

Well, whether you do or you don't the whole reason for this post

 is because I wanted to show you some fairy books I have.

(I just got distracted describing my defensive bug walk/fairy sighting.)

Okay....

  This one is so neat!

It has gorgeous artwork and several different fairy-tales, 

including one of my favorites... 

Tam Lin.

 

Helena has been itching to play with this book.

It even has a little envelope attached to the back

for storage.

This one is actually a pop up book!

again, the illustrations are absolutely stunning.

 

I remember I read the yellow fairy book

 and the red fairy book in the third grade.

I was at Barne's and Noble recently and saw this one.

Just love these covers!!

This one has my all time favorite story,

'Hansel and Gretel'

(it's the candy house that I'm in love with, I think the witch was framed)

lol

 

Alright...that's it for today

I'm off to make some tea and create some fairy art with Helena!

Oh and don't worry, I'm not taking up residence in tree tops or hedges to try and catch

a glimpse of fairy folk...not yet anyway!

See you in a few days:)

Guerrilla Friday 2/11

Today was a gorgeous day, warm and bright, and I was actually pretty happy:) so Helena and I went outside and spent a few hours out there painting/glittering (me) and playing on the swings/sliding (her). It was

Since Valentine's Day is on Monday I made a little "love" fairy for Guerrilla Friday. It's a Christmas ornament that had a snowflake on it,(which I removed) and added a beaded heart and extra glitter to.

I'm going to make a St. Patrick's day fairy this week and I think I might just give it away to one of you awesome bloggers.
Ok, that is all for tonight, I hope you have an incredible Valentine's Day, with lots of chocolate, flowers, bright shiny baubles and the person you love the most.
Goodnight.

A recipe, a winner, & some fairies

I made some peanut butter french toast with strawberry jam topping! It was great, not too sweet either.

In case you feel like trying it:
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or butter
4 slices bread
Directions
Whisk together milk, eggs, peanut butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Heat the oil in a griddle or frying pan over medium heat.
Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, soaking both sides. Place in pan, and cook on both sides until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve hot.

Some people heat up the jam before they place it on the toast, I guess it spreads around better, but I don't think it's necessary.

I used the number generator to choose a winner for the 'Gypsy Dreams' painting and it picked #8 Angela from Free Spirit Haven.

Now i'm off to get things ready for the Fairy Day Party

Have a great day, I hope to see you here later!

A trip & a tale

Guess what?
I made a fairy house to put in the tiny garden I have!!
There's all kinds of fun stuff in this garden, magical secret things that I will only be sharing with you...but not all at once!
want to come see?
We have to go through a tunnel of leaves,

To a place where the roses are as big as dinner plates...

fairy plates...

where flowers are pillows and teacups are chairs.. (click for a closer look)

and fairies are in plain sight!

It's one of the best places to be...under the moon, sharing secrets, watching the fairies fly by...
since we are here, in the magic garden, I will tell you a tiny story..
when I was a little girl, my older sister had a record player, it was red and white, and it closed up like a suitcase when it wasn't in use.
This was something I'd coveted for a while...it was FINALLY given to me along with a few old albums.
One album had the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Another was a night in a haunted house (loved that one)
But my favorite one was a fairy tale, The Frog Prince.
I don't remember what was on side B anymore, I just know I felt so bad for that poor frog! I wanted the princess to be nice to him.I wanted to punch her nose!!
And I was always disappointed when the frog transformed...a talking frog was more magical than a prince! Don't you think?
What's your favorite fairy tale?

I guess we should go back now, it's almost dawn, and it's quite a journey home.
Luckily we have a gigantic kitty to guide us:)

thank you for letting me share a little bit of my garden with you..Have a magical day.

Rain, moss, stars and blossoms

It's a windy overcast day..
 At 63 degrees, it's not cold but the intermittent rain that falls
 makes the temperature seem colder. 
I sit here, in my little wagon with the door wide open, 
to better feel the breeze, 
to breathe in the incredible energy that this magic day brings. 
I love to sit in here and let my mind wander.
The colorful sheets and curtains I have hanging right outside
fly around and
 snap sharply..

Music from the many wind chimes 

masks the whistling the winds makes as it dances 
over the trees.

 (As a child I was terrified of that whistling/ howling sound. In my mind it was a 
giant invisible monster that would whirl you up and gobble you down.)

It was warm last week... Hot even, high 80s.
Since my dad has gone, I've found myself outdoors more often.
Raking, watering, talking to the plants and trees, 

letting the smell of wet soil 
and warm sun push the sadness away. 

 I've been creating some garden art lately... 

 Metal mushrooms,

made from an old bowl and a dollar store waste basket... 

 Spoon and fork wind chimes

from yard sale utensils .. 

and a tin fairy house covered in moss

(also a yard sale find) 

 are the products of my 
imagination right now...

 
Oh! As I write this, I hear the drops tapping away at the roof.. 

sounds so 
incredible!

:) 

 For years the garden was dormant 
I thought a lot of the trees would have to come down, dry as they were,

 no amount of watering seemed to help.
They all seemed to be in a weird period of waiting... Wondering .
Now everywhere I look new life is springing up.. 

 An orange tree covered in blossoms and bright green leaves 
Pomegranate. 

mulberry,

 grapefruit

 and lime trees

 all pushing forth 

beautiful delicate growth. 

And look at this tree...it's just gorgeous!!

Last week as I pulled weeds and dodged bees I realized

that I'm grateful

for

everything

I have

and for the promise of what's to come. 

(I think the universe heard

my word of the year...)

Blossom!

Now as the day begins to melt away

the chill really starts to build..

how was is so hot last week!?

This weather is so bizarre.

It's getting cold in this gypsy wagon...time to go inside I think..

 gonna make a cup of cinnamon tea

to warm up.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my ramblings.

drop by soon

I'm going to have a 4 year blog anniversary giveaway!!!

 

Glitter and stuff

Hello!
I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas! We had a great time...watching a four year old zipping around preparing for Santa is very funny and a little sad at the same time, I know it wont be long before she outgrows this.

we tried to create something festive every day.
Some salt dough and cinnamon ornaments,

Felt gingerbread boys,

Glittered paper trees,

cotton beard Santas,

An assortment of oddly decorated cookies,

More cotton ball usage,(remind me next month when I rant about how we've run out of cotton balls)

I also made a sugar plum fairy mobile to hang over Helena's bed, which was so fun to do I am going to make some more to hang out in my fairy garden in a few days.


Have a wonderful evening, take care this weekend and I'll see you next year:)

Merry Monday ll

Hello!

Welcome back!

How was your week?

We have been very busy here.

My older daughter is preparing for her senior recital soon.

There's been much running around and rehearsing for her.

She's also getting ready for her graduation next month!

I'm late posting this because my email is acting up..it's not loading any of the

photos I have added today.

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Have you had peanut butter kiss blossoms lately?

We made some yesterday.

You need some peanut butter cookie dough or mix.

We used this:

 bake according to the directions.

After the cookies are out of the oven and cooled off a bit, 

place a Hershey kiss right in the middle.

 

 

I love when Christmas comes around and we stop at the dollar store.

Where most people see Christmas decorations, I see future art projects!

tinsel or fairy skirts?

Flower picks or magic wands?

And who says only indoor trees in December need stars hanging from them?

All  the trees in my yard have stars on them! Year round.

I'm excited to create some fun with the goodies I found the other day.

I made a couple of crafts using some old containers.

Hansel and Gretel was my favorite fairy tale when I was a child, 

well, one of them anyway..

I had the Little Golden book and I would read it over and over..

I was fascinated by the witch's house, her windows were made of spun sugar!

Oh, I loved that book!!

 

 

anyhow...

This is the icing cup project..

You know when you buy cinnamon rolls to bake at home,

 they come with the icing in a little cup at the end of the tube..

That little cup is what I used to create this ornament.

Hansel & Gretel (Nibble Nibble mousie)

I used some mini Kewpie dolls from Lisa Kettell Designs Etsy

A small chipboard cupcake 

scrapbook paper

pink glitter foam

small plastic candy

markers

white fabric paint

glitter

tinsel

white glue

hot glue

icing cup

cut out the paper to fit in the icing cup, then glue it in place with white glue.

sprinkle glitter on any excess glue that showed.

paint the cupcake, add  a door & windows.

use white fabric paint to create icing on the "roof" of the cupcake.

cover it in glitter, of course.

when it dries hot glue it to the scrapbook paper in the cup.

cut a strip of pink craft foam to fit from the top of the cup to the cupcake.

(like a little path)

hot glue tinsel all around the top.

paint your little dolls using markers and glitter, add clothing made of fabric scraps if you want.  

And there you have it, Hansel and Gretel running for their lives.. 

instead of eating the witch's house and destroying her life..hahaha

 This next one is Alice in her wonderland circus tent!

I used an empty salt container to make this

You need a violet doll from Lisa's shop

acrylic paints in:

yellow

peach 

white 

blue

black 

pink

silver star confetti 

glitter glue

yellow wool felting

tinsel

glitter star

 moss

glitter

white glue

Ric Rac trim

small mushroom

mini chandelier 

sheer ribbon

rhinestone pendant

hot glue

X-acto  knife

pretty scrapbook papers

pink glitter foam sheet

Carefully cut an opening on the container.

make sure you leave a small ledge on the bottom so it doesn't fall apart.

secure paper to the inside using white glue 

hot glue moss to the bottom,

add mushroom and star confetti

make tent folds by folding paper accordion style

add ribbon

hot glue around the container

add glitter glue to edges

 cut out 8 triangles from gold glitter paper

glue above doorway

 make a large cone out of pink craft foam

glue onto the top. 

glue tinsel around door way

hot glue chandelier to the inside

paint doll, let dry

add yellow felting

hot glue doll to inside the tent

add silver confetti stars to rooftop

glue rhinestone pendant to door way

glue glitter star to top

I can't show you the abandoned art we created this week because of my email

but we left it at a place called Tempe Town lake..

It was a little gingerbread boy ornament made of clay.

we wrote 

"You Are Loved"

and left it on a bench.

Elizabeth, from 

Altered Book Lover

suggested that we leave socks near areas where there are many homeless people,

because that's one item that's always in high demand.

We think that's a wonderful idea and will show you in the coming weeks

what we do. Thank you Elisabeth:)

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So, last week I talked about Lisa Kettell as a person that inspires me,

This week, I'd like to tell you about her mom,

Joan Kettell

She is absolutely the sweetest lady ever, if you meet her, you just love her!

I felt like I belonged when I was visiting New Jersey.

She has a knack for making you feel comfortable.

 She's generous, beautiful, genuine and so, so talented.

The jewelry she creates is just gorgeous.

That's not all she makes either,

Here's a sample of  her amazing art.

If you want to see more of her incredible creations you can find them on her 

instagram here.

thank you for inspiring me Joan!

 

I'm ending this Merry Monday

 with three things I'm grateful for today....

1. Helena

2. the moon

3.improved health

Thank you for stopping by,

See you soon!!