Haiku morning...

Snow in Vancouver. Cold. A haiku kind of morning.

From the tip of Buddha's nose
an icicle.

Issa

Painting

I have on my drawing table, a tree fairy, or nymph, or goddess I don't know which yet. She's wearing a golden headdress and will be in attendance at the annual Forest Christmas Gala taking place deep in the woods. As she decides what to wear and as I complete her I will snap a photo of her for you to see. So I am at the drawing table if I am not eating cake at the Fairy Fruitcake salon. Hope that you all are having a fun time these days. Talk to you soon.

Angel Food Cake

Late afternoon I was out in the yard raking fallen leaves from the maple when I smelled a whiff of something wonderful. It smelled like it should be pink in color no matter what it was. I looked around the garden and then up into the sky where I saw a wee fairy and a wee PINK cake flying gently by. I asked the fairy about what she was doing and learned that it was a special delivery for Robin. Lucky Robin I thought. And so it goes here in the forest...one never knows what one is going to happen upon. Well if I have time later this afternoon I am going to bake my first batch of shortbread for the season. I'll have it with tea. And serve it in the Fairy Fruitcake salon. Maybe I'll see you there later. Bye for now!

I'm over at the salon eating cake!

Just over setting up the aluminum tree and hanging glass balls on it; starting to get into the spirit of things in my new salon. I call it the FairyFruitcake http://www.fairyfruitcake.blogspot.com/
salon, as each day at 4 p.m. I serve fruitcake with a glass of sherry. Or tea if that is your preference. This is a new place I'm setting up right next to the fairyyellowbug studio space. Here I dream up things while I munch on cake. Friends drop by to talk about things they dream up. We share stories and laugh and cry sometimes. Overall, a place to BE.

Thanksgiving swap

Thanksgiving swap
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

A paper doll, an a.t.c. and a recipe were called for in this swap. The fairyyellowbug studio was a flurry of activity this past week, getting this swap package together and then off in the mails. Well it's been some time since I've last spoken with you and there has been a number of times I've meant to check in and give an update about the happening in my neck of these woods. The wedding (magpie) was a fantastic event enjoyed by all of us here in the Kingdom and I will open my new ink bottle and find my stick pen and write you all a nice long letter. Meanwhile look at the goodies for my partner Vivian. This swap was generously hosted by Debra at HopHopJingleBoo.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...

Magpie Bride Paper Doll
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

Maggie, a magpie friend of mine is finally getting hitched. She's been waiting for a long time before she met the right fella. She met him at a dance in the forest, late last fall, and has found the love of her life. His name is Maurice, a blackbird from another part of the world. Maggie made the bridal dress herself out of real crow feathers; she borrowed the veil from her cousin; and the brooch is old although the photo of her soon-to-be husband is new; and she choose a blue garter to throw out to the bachelors in the crowd. I am so looking forward to this wedding and will report to you later about how it all turned out!

Dude's resting place

Below my largest hydrangea and among a groundcover of periwinkle. There is a headstone which is a head cast in stone and with a place to nestle a candle. Enjoy the garden sweet prince.

R.I.P. Dude

Dearest Dude:

My darling sweetheart I miss you so but I am happy to have known you and honored to have shared the length of your lifetime on this earth. How can a little ball of fluff and nothing, weighing practically nothing, contain a heart of solid gold, a spirit of perfect silver, and enough personality to last forever. I never did take a picture of you honey but I never threw out one single feather from your little body, ever. I saved them in a jar. To me they were too precious to just lay in the garbage. I could not bear it. Each feather was touched (some many times) by my hand as I picked them up from the bottom of the cage, or rescued them from the whisk broom and dust pan. There are more than 15 years worth my sweetest dude. Thanks for those years spent with me. Good night, sweet prince. Love Mom.

Butterfly Catcher

Butterfly Catcher
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

I was out in the forest yesterday in the early evening down on my knees peering upside down trying to find spitbugs on the underside of my hydrangeas when I spotted a small child wearing the most interesting pair of wings. He was carefully walking along a small path and so I kept quite still so as not to startle him. When he neared I whispered oh so softly...that is quite the pair of wings you are wearing young man... He shyly looked up at me and told me that he was a butterfly catcher and what he did was collect cocoons that were in jeopardy and take them to a place where they were safe until they were ready to 'hatch' is what he called it. I told him that it was the most unusual and beautiful chrysalis that I had ever seen and wished him well with his endeavors. He smiled quixotically and continued on his path tenderly holding the bundle.

Satchi and Suki

Satchi and Suki
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

The forest has been very active these past few weeks and I've not had a moment to sit down and write to you. The fairyyellowbug studio has been rearranged and is getting organized. Rearranging a studio is a task cut out for the brave hearted. Now there are dozens of things that've gone astray temporarily and I find myself running down to the nearest craft store or dollar store to duplicate what's missing. Meanwhile, I completed the paperdoll swap for my Yahoo group and it'll be mailed tomorrow.
Oh! What is that lovely music?! A flute! Oh how lovely it is. I have to go peek...just a minute...be right back.
You will just never guess what I saw. I have to describe it to you in my own words. I heard a flute and it sounded like it was coming from the sky so I looked up just in time to see the most beautiful bird flying by with a gorgeous bead hanging from its beak. On its' back sat the prettiest lady I have every seen. It was she who was playing the flute. Well they just flew by and I watched them fly out of sight. Now I wonder where they were going? Honestly! You just never know what you are going to see in this forest! Well, time to make some chai and maybe do some tidying in the studio. Ta!

Jumping Jackie no. 2

This gal is a gardener. Since the weather has improved dramatically over these past couple of weeks, she's been down by the willows digging new beds for the flowers she plans to plant out later this spring. Birds have kept her company, watching for errant worms and singing their mating songs for all the forest to hear. It's been pleasant. Ta!

Jumping Jackie No. 1

Jumping Jackie No. 1
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

She learned how to crochet recently and is wearing the hat that she made for herself. These jumping jack style of dolls will be available on my etsy shop www.fairyyellowbug.etsy.com

Jumping Jackie paperdoll

Green Jumping Jackie paperdoll
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

How have you all been? I've been thinking about you lots and lots these days and so I popped in to say hello. I've been preoccupied here in the fairyyellowbug studio--playing with paper and scissors and up to my elbows in glue. I came across an article that I'd photocopied and filed away for a rainy day read. Well it rained and I read. The article featured 'jumping jack' style dolls and while I was completely convinced that my version would suck badly, I discovered that it didn't! In fact it was good enough to give away! So here is a picture of my first doll in this style; quickly thrown together; experimental and a complete surprise to myself. I loved, loved, loved, loved making her and I'm going to make more! Somehow it freed me up to not worry about making things match or having fingers exactly in proportion. There's a whole new world out there for me.
So, this day, in the forest while I listen to the spring birds chirp and claim their space, and while the late afternoon sun finds its' way into my studio, I am especially happy.

Fairybird #11

#11 fairybird
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

House sparrow.
This wee fellow is happy to sing to his hearts' content. He is #11 in the fairybird family from the fairyyellowbug studio in the fairy hedgepig kingdom. No other bird is quite like him...not fairybird no. 10, nor fairybird no. 12. He wears his tag no. I.D. on the band on his leg, and also another tag which reads FLY. He does like to soar. He is available on my etsy shop now.

Awake

Awake, O, north wind;
And come, thou south;
Blow upon my garden.

February came and went in the forest. Buds have found their beginnings on shrubs in my garden. Birds sing. Yesterday I set up the garden fountain just outside of my door and today I am doing a bit of clean up of decayed vegetation. The world beckons me outside. Dreams call.

Snowman with metal heart

Snowman with metal heart
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

Well it seems that just as we'd thought that there'd be an early spring around these parts, a heavy snow fell last week. So what to do but make a snowman! I found an old aluminum pie tin over at the dumpground and it was so rusted and split that it couldn't be made new again so I just went at it with a scouring pad and cut it into a heart. I think he looks fabu. if I must say so myself. Oh the whole neighborhood has had something or other to say about it. I shot this photo only a day before the sun came out and melted him away into the magic realm of memory.
Also at the dump I found an old Nabob coffee container. It's glass and has a lovely red lid. I'm just going to clean it up and use it for my new/old cookie jar. Then what is a Queen to do but to fill it with cookies. Let's see...sugar or gingersnaps? I'll let you know. Ta!

Winter fairy birds

Winter fairy birds
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

A photographer I am not. These paper birds are made of layers of collaged tulle, music paper, quotes, text, calligraphy done by me, goldleaf punch outs, petals from a 'money' plant, stamped images, and sequins. They have bead eyes and wire feet. Beaks are wrapped string painted and highlighted with acrylics. Buttons sometimes hold on wings. Tails are layers of tulle from old wedding dresses combined with a touch of pale blue fine tulle. A frosting of the most delicate of sparkle finishes them off along the back and top of their heads. Some have images that have been applied with a gel transfer technique. The quote on the small bird reads: We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. KENJI MIYAZAWA~ Each bird has a different quote. Birds have a stuffed layer in between the two sides to give them a sort of 'body.' Shown here are a large size and a small. I am working on a medium size bird and then I plan to list them for sale on etsy. Meanwhile, I am giving one of these types of birds to the first 3 people who sign on for the PIF post on my blog.

Pay It Forward

The Altered Diva http://alterediva.blogspot.com/ has invited everyone to take part in this Pay It Forward challenge. I too think it is a great idea and am willing to play! I will send a handmade gift/thingy/something to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this "Pay It Forward" exchange. I don't know what that gift will be, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! And truthfully, it will probably be later than sooner! The only thing you have to do in return is "Pay It Forward" by making the same promise on your blog with a link back to me. So basically, if you comment I'll send you something crafty that I'll make! Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be the recipients of your handmade work. You must post this on your blog to be eligible.

Breakfast in the garden

Originally uploaded by minnasusanne on flickr., we see that an early spring may be on its way.
I was walking in the woods yesterday, and noticed that my shoes were tracking red and blue color and just as I thought that they would be interesting colors to dye something, I heard a sweet chattering above me. I looked up to witness the loveliest of fairies who had joined a family of birds for a meal. I am going to come back later to collect fallen berries to use as color for something or other. Wouldn't these colors make lovely ink! I'm making cloth collaged birds at the moment. As they do have calligraphy on each, perhaps I'll deviate from the india ink I am using and try some color. My birds are winter white with a hint of blue traced with pearl. These colors are strong but may be the beginning of a different collection! Well time for a piece of shortbread with chai. Ta!

holly spirit

holly spirit
Originally uploaded by fairyyellowbug

This paper artdoll was made for Jean in the U.K. When this lady was walking in the forest gathering up the bits of holly and scattered pinecones to make a nosegay for herself, she happened upon an elephant who was carrying the most handsome man she'd ever laid eyes on. Well the elephant must have thought that she was a ghost as he reared up upon sight of her and threw the Prince who was riding him, onto the ground. This resulted in a sprained thumb and a start by the Prince to be sure. As the holly spirit was so frightened by all of the commotion she fled, leaving me to muster the courage to speak to so handsome a being. To make a long story short, I wrapped the sprained thumb in a sort of splint, and invited the two of them to my house to tea. We enjoyed tea and biscuits and wouldn't you know it there was no one and I mean no one home to witness this. Everyone just has to take my word for it. I had a real Prince and his elephant over to my house to tea!
I did invite them to stay over for the night but they wanted to get going to continue their journey and so we said goodbye and best wishes all around. The Prince asked me what he could do to repay my kindness and as he insisted, I told him that he could send me exotic fresh fruit like pineapples, and exotic fancy nuts like macadamias so that I could bake really fancy fruitcakes. He said he would and also a surprise as well. I think it may be a bottle of sherry as I'd told him that one of my favorite things to do was to eat fruitcake with a wee glass of sherry at 4 in the afternoon. I'd said that I thought that that was about the most perfect thing I could ever think of to do. Well, with all this talk of cake I must go slice myself a piece right this minute. Ta!

Adieu Sweet Prince

If wishes were elephants...
It's been quite an adventure in the forest these past few weeks. First of all came word that a real Prince would be passing by and may be staying for the night to rest up on his journey. You can imagine the pandemonium that caused! Suffice it to say that the households in the neighborhood that I live in have never been so spic and span. Mine included. How often does one get the chance to meet a real Prince in one's lifetime. It's never been heard of in this Kingdom. There were a few sleepless nights for the first week or so, and a few false alarms of potential sightings but nothing came to fruition and we all just settled back into the routine of life in the forest during a holiday season. Fruitcakes were baked, decorations hung, gifts made, a seasonal craft fair held, and life was pretty much as it should be. Or so we thought! Let me tell you what happened...
Earlier that morning I decided that I wanted to make just one more batch of fruitcake and knew that the supplies store would be open for only half a day due to it being the holiday season and all. I quickly grabbed a headscarf and tucked my handkerchief into my coat pocket along with the recipe. I decided to take a shortcut and so hightailed it down to the riverbank to take the trail over by the sheds and storage buildings that the people use. I don't often take this route as it is a bit scary to me but on this day I did. Oh! There's the door. Someone's knocking. Just a minute...
It's Merci. She needs me to hold something for her. I'll just pop over to her house and be right back to finish the story! Ta for now!