fairy couture

Quite a few fairies have dropped in to the studio lately, and a few of them asked if I'd design them some new outfits. It seems there's a Spring Fairy Festival up on Mt. Hood very soon, near the tiny town of Rhododendron, and needless to say, the local fairies are quite excited to show off the neighborhood to fairies from around the planet.

I don't know what I was thinking when I said yes. I have a show coming up in two weeks, and I need to keep working on my inventory.  Plus my studio is all torn up at the moment, so I'm working in the basement. (More on that soon) 

Anyway, I'm beginning to suspect a fairy spell has come over me, because all I can think about lately is fairy couture!


Little piles of leaves and fairy ephemera have been appearing on my doorstep, and every time I go for a walk with the pups I come back with my pockets full of stuff.

Here's is the first piece I designed. It's a little sundress for Imelda, a garden fairy.  The skirt and bodice are of preserved sessile oak leaves, with a scalloped, asymmetrical hemline and crossed straps of miscanthus sinesis (a grass).  The waist is accentuated with a bamboo belt embellished with a rosehip and hop petal clasp. (Wait till you see her shoes!)

The next piece is a sweet and saucy little number with a swingy, swirly oak leaf skirt trimmed at the waist with a ruffle of blue hydrangea petals. The translucent birch bark bustier is embellished in just the right places with hydrangea petals. It will be worn by Willow, a forest fairy, who loves to dance in the woods.

Check back tomorrow to see what I came up with for Buttercup, the Meadow Fairy!

new work

I'm participating in a group show coming up this weekend,
titled "Say it with HEART!"
here are some little shrines I've been working on: