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.