A Peek Into The World Of Faeries

For those of you who missed out on visiting the magical FaerieWorlds festival this year, I offer a glimpse into another way of life...

FaerieWorlds I Already Miss You...

Don't worry I'll be posting some more images of my trip to FaerieWorlds soon. It was such a wonderful, fantastical adventure I wish I could have brought all of you with me.

I did however lose my wings though.....hopefully the soul who found them loves them as much as I did...

FaerieWorlds 2009 & New Faerie Wing Tutorial

So I finally bought my tickets to FaerieWorlds '09! I've missed the scent of incense, sweat, and craft booths, and I've missed being in that little secluded spot of fantasy and magic lovers, dancing and creating for 3 days.

And now as the countdown begins (24 days) I'm trying to energy drink my creative flow into overdrive so that I can pump out something truly fairy-like for the festival. Last year I posted a wonderful fairy wing video tutorial which I used to make my own wings since I was a beginner.

This year I'm trying something a little more challenging. I will attempt to make some insect like fairy wings out of iridescent cellophane paper, using wire as veins to create an open frame like these ones below.

Thank goodness for Faerie Muse and her extremely helpful tutorial! Wish me luck! Keep checking by for updates on my costume!

Colin Thompson

If you've ever visited Gelaskins for a new phone or laptop cover, you might recognize Colin Thomson's "Bookshelf" or "Underworld" (which is the one I have for my mac). He's an amazing artist and I've always been drawn to his detailed illustrations.

Well...yesterday and I browsed the sale bin at Borders I found a large picture book titled "How To Live Forever" and I recognized right away the Thomson's style that adorned the cover. Of course as I'm a fan of children's book and his work I had to buy it! (only $5)

It's a story about a library that houses all books ever written which come to life every night. It's so beautifully illustrated and all the little hidden details kept me reading longer than the short story demanded.

After discovering this book I've realized that Colin Thompson actually has a huge collection of storybooks that he's written! Here are a few of them. I can't wait to get ahold of more and you should join in the search with me. These books and Colin's work are so worth it!

Film Du Jour: Monster Camp

The Newest Miyazaki Film

I'm sooo excited! Miyasaki, who directed two of my favorites films My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, is now out with his newest feature film Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea! Hurray it looks like it will be reverting back to Totoro style anime, which although isn't quite as stunning as the style of Spirited Away it does have a certain sentimentality about it. So check it out! If you can't see the subtitles just click on the CC button after the up arrow button on bottom right of player. Enjoy!

My Ever Expanding Etsy Cart: Enchanted Theme

Moonelighte: Midnight Fantasyland Druzy Strand $32

Whichgoose: Cocoon comb (when i get married I'll definitely be buying one of her crowns)

Beasley's Wonders: Egyptian Empress Circlet $24.99

Blue Planet Creations: Skeleton Key Necklace $14.95

The Honeycomb: Woodland Headband $28

I Never Want To Leave The World of Michael Parkes

Alright...get ready for a long post of images. I've fallen in love with the world of Michael Parkes. I really don't even know what to say about his art besides that I kept saving image after image to prepare for this post and pretty much ended up saving every other illustration I found...I assume that's all you really need to know.

If you love the Art Deco and Surrealism movements or mythology he's your guy.

Kelborne Castle & The Graffiti Project

Although I almost hate to see those beautiful castle walls painted white, this fluid rainbow of surrealist artwork adds sort of a modern romantic edge to Scotland's Kelburn castle. 

"The idea was simple and original: take the vibrant and often transient art form of Brazilian graffiti, out of its predominantly urban context and apply it to the ancient and permanent walls of an historic rural castle in Scotland."

A team of 4 of Brazil's leading graffiti artists came together with some of Scotland's best to collaborate on this controversial painting of the south side of the turrets and walls of Kelburn castle. It's like each side of the grounds would look like separate fantastical realms. One where all sorts of that misty medieval castle stuff happened, and the other like a Dr. Suess and Rainbow Bright wonderland. 

Lost Fairy Tale: The Twelve Dancing Princesses

There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. They slept in twelve beds all in one room and when they went to bed, the doors were shut and locked up. However, every morning their shoes were found to be quite worn through as if they had been danced in all night. Nobody could find out how it happened, or where the princesses had been.

Down they all went, and at the bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees; and the leaves were all of silver, and glittered and sparkled beautifully. They came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds. On the other side of the lake stood a fine, illuminated castle from which came the merry music of horns and trumpets. There they all landed, and went into the castle, and each prince danced with his princess.

They danced on till three o'clock in the morning, and then all their shoes were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave.

To read the whole story of the twelve dancing princesses by The Brothers Grimm, visit SurLaLune. You can also check out versions from around the world it's all so very intriguing! 

Thank You Stephen King

Thank you for Stephen King for saying what we all are thinking...

"Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. ... The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good."

I have nothing against books like the Twilight series for young adults mind you, but when the writing is being compared to books like the Harry Potter series and grown adults are saying it's their favorite book I just....don't know what to say.

If you are 15-ish or younger I highly recommend the Twilight series. It's a wonderful introduction to love, fantasy, and sexual tension. But if you are older...please PLEASE move on.

Oh and just so you know I have read the first Twilight novel in the series and all the Harry Potter books so I'm writing all this from an informed perspective. 

Art of Dreams: Daniel Merriam

As a Christmas present I bought this Art of Dreams calendar for a friend of mine. I hadn't ever heard of the artist before but the it caught my eye in a bookstore last week and I was just fell in love with the fantastic surrealist artwork on the cover I had to buy it! 

For those of you who know me, know that I love magical dreamworlds, fairies and all things make believe. I think it comes with being an only child, having only my imagination and my cat for company. 

So here is just a little sampling of the wonderful Daniel Merriam. I hope you enjoy his work!

DIY Faery Flower Crown

Never has a post been so right on like the one that The Cherry Blossom Girl just posted. If you're like us, you've been on the hunt for a lasting crown of flowers for ages. There are some very beautiful ones on the internet but prices run oh so high it sort of ruins the point. 

There are the daisy crowns we've all made in the summer time. But no matter how beautiful, they're shriveled up messes by the end of the day...

Although it's the only the beginning of winter, flower crowns are always in season I say. So check out how to make your own (flower crown) and let the magic begin...

Etsy Find: Unicorns

I love unicorns. I'm not a horsey girl either (aka the girls who always played horses at recess) so don't think I love them just because its a horse with a horn. 

Unicorns have very practical uses such as counteracting poisons and curing epilepsy. They are also saviors for only children with vivid imaginations like me. 

All of the below items are found on Etsy ...

-Unicorn Print, Studio Lyon

-Care of Magical Creatures Book, Celestefrittata

-Vinyl Unicorn Decal, Post

-Unicorn Cat Horn, Bridget 85

-Unicorn Cake Stand, Local 81