The Alexandrea Collection
The Alexandrea Collection is the work of artist Andrea Linebaugh. She specialises in unusual fibre art wings and faery accessories made using crochet techniques. The site also has clothes, handmade shoes, and a fabulous toadstool garden table and chairs. Andrea recently appeared on HGTV demonstrating how to make the wings and the tables. Each item is created without patterns and no two are ever alike. Andrea is available for commissions or you can find her work at The Studio, York, Pennsylvania (USA).
Filed under Faeriewear | Comment (0)The Elfin Oak of Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens in the heart of London is probably best known for it’s Peter Pan associations, but for faerie seekers there is an added attraction. The Elfin Oak stands by the children’s playground, and has the honour of being perhaps the only faerie residence to be Grade II Listed. It was created by Ivor Innes, a children’s book illustrator, around 1911. In every nook and cranny of the ancient oak elfin faces peer out at you – some carved straight from the wood itself. They are quirky and extremely charming, and look ready to start playing just as soon as your back is turned.
Kensington Gardens is open all year round, and the nearest tube station for the oak is Black Lion Gate.
Filed under Places to Visit | Comment (0)Fairyland Trust Fundraiser
The Fairyland Trust has been given an opportunity to create a permanent Fairyland at a former wild flower nursery in north Norfolk. The 10 acre site includes a river, woods and gardens and would allow the Trust to run workshops and events all year round, enrich the existing wildlife habitats and train new volunteers, as well as continuing the sale of local wildflowers for people to create their own bit of Fairyland. They are looking for people to become ‘Founders of Fairyland’ – by donating a few pounds each month to help raise the deposit and improve the facilities.The Trust is a unique organisation combining environmental education with the wonder and magic of Faerie. As mentioned in an earlier post, you can also raise money by becoming a Fairy Queen.
Filed under Nature | Comment (0)Fairy Berry
An utterly delightful short animation, go watch Fairy Berry now!
The website is in French, which I am afraid I’m not very good at deciphering, but you get a choice of formats in which to watch the film and there are galleries of stills and sketches.
The Green Children
A curious tale from Suffolk – William of Newburgh, writing in the 12th Century record how villagers came across two children – a brother and sister – in the Wolf-Pits area (now Woolpits). Although they appeared human they both had green skin and talked to each other in an unrecognisable tongue. They were taken to a local nobles house where people tried to give then food. They cried and wailed and refused to eat anything until fresh cut beans were brought before them. They did eat the beans, although they ate them raw and at first tried to get the beans from the stalk until they were shown the proper way. After some time they were weaned onto normal food, but the boy soon sickened and died. His sister remained healthy and gradually lost her green complexion. She learned to speak English and told how they lived in ‘St Martin’s Land’, where there was no sun, only perpetual twilight. They had been tending sheep when they heard bells coming from a cave. Following the sound they passed through a tunnel for some time, until suddenly they found themselves in the open. The light and warmth from the sun made them swoon, which was when the villagers found them.
There is debate over the origins of the children. The eminent folklorist Katherine Briggs pointed out that green was the Celtic colour of death, and beans were considered food for the dead. There are also slightly more modern theories that they were aliens. It is not known if anyone tried to find St Martin’s Land.
