The delicate wire structures under the bounty of silk flowers (below) are examples of the unusual french term, fils de fir or fil de fer. I’ve only ever seen (live & on-line) such items in Anthropologie and Ballard Designs. So when a shoppe near-by called Tutto Bella displayed about a dozen of these little (?!faerie rings?) I gathered them up and started adorning them with beautiful little garden-forest things, all the while trying to decide what they’d be called. The term ’roundelai’ just seemed to capture their whimsey!

Fairies need as many crowning glory garlands of flowers– as their human counterparts need –pairs of shoes.  If you are so inclined, you can very easily make a few of these garlands for your  own little winged one.  Assembling the materials will be as much fun as creating each one.

Early Decisions:

1.  How wide will the circlet be to fit on the head of the lucky benefactor? (typical widths are 6″ to 8″)

2.  What color theme will she like?

Materials:

Long stem silk flowers

Silk, small ivy leaves vine

Other decorative embellishments (bridal crafts have lovely, glistening stems of “jewels”)

Ribbon (thin) or thin feather boa

Directions: Inter-twine the silk flower stems with the ivy vine to create the circlet’s diameter to be the size you need.  If you don’t like the spacing or nearness of the blooms and the ivy leaves, add additional stems or another vine of ivy.  Now, add in the other embellishments to enhance the faerie’s garland crown.

Good placements include in the center back; or, to the left (above the ear).  Do not overly dilute with extra’s– you would detract from the floral theme.

Here are a few others–

When someone makes you smile or even — laugh– they need to know how much they mean to us!  We can’t wait around for until February 14th appears.  It may take the proverbial village but let’s establish a new social rule:  valentines can be given any day of the year!

{Pix coming soon}

Here are a few examples– if you make up one you’d be willing to share– please add it to a Comment for everyone to enjoy! comment

(coming)

I have been searching for ideas, images, descriptions to make ‘new’ vintage nursery toys.  Not having much luck though and I may need to go to a library and look.    Amazon has many available as Used Books…few had cover images to be a clue but I got a handful anyway.  But so far, I still don’t have a decent collection yet.  Anyone have suggestions?

Who needs a nursery mobile when you can make a gorgeous wreath of flowers for your baby to gaze at above the bassinet!  These lovely  structures can also be hung above a dining table– called Table Crowns– for special occasions like Birthdays or anywhere else that you want to “shower with flowers” !

Before you get started though, scope out where you will hang it and how you will attach the finished product onto the ceiling; for instance suspended from a  hook (for indoor hanging flower/fern baskets; onto a chain suspended from an overhead light, etc….)  This will also enable you to decide how large a wreath to make and how many flowers therefore you’ll need.

Gather the following materials and tools:

Grapevine wreath (available in variety of sizes; circular/oval)

Silk flowers and ivy vines (by the armload! in beautiful colors)

Optional: 6-8 long flimsy vines with flower buds

Florist wire (sold rolled like kite string)

One yard of 16 gauge wire or lower (see an eBay Guide on crafting wire)

Three to four yards of plastic chain link, strong enough to suspend 15 lbs or more

3 or 4″ carabiner (hardware or sporting goods store)

Sturdy wire cutters

One & a half yards of woven fabric in a color blending with the flowers

Scissors, needle & thread or use of a sewing machine

Measuring tape (soft, rolled; not metal, retractable)

Warning:  I have made several of these beautiful ‘crowns’ and am amazed at how I always need to go hunting for even more flowers than I’d estimated!

Surface to Work on

The first thing to do is to find a place to set your wreath on, ideally suspended or leaning against something, instead of lying flat.  By having a somewhat vertical position, you’ll have a better view of where to place the flowers.  My favorite location is to lean the wreath on a staircase post/banister.  It leans in front of me like it is being worn by a horse who’s just won a race!

First, Add Flowers

Cut and discard the stems from the flowers leaving 3 to 5″ of stem to wrap around and anchor to a branch.  Before putting them in place permanently, divide the flowers into two piles to distribute them evenly on the upper side of the wreath & on to the bottom side (which will be the side Baby views!)  Then begin adding the  flowers, wrapping the stem length around the vine branches.  Further secure each one with strips of 8 to 12″ florist wire.  Glue petals/ leaves, sparingly–this will be a good way to camouflage wires or stems among the grape vine branches.  As one side dries, turn the wreath over and add the flowers so the colors look  harmonious– not necessarily in identically opposite positions form the top side, but pleasingly balanced.

Optionally add butterflies/ birds, etc.

Hanging Vines ?

If you want to add the flowing, flimsy vines, hanging down from the under-side, attach them as you did with the flower stems, securely with florist wire, if desired.  INSURE they are well above grabbing reach of an infant or youngster if hanging wreath above a table.

Suspending With Chain

Once you are satisfied that you have enough flowers & greenery, and you like the array of colors they form, then you are ready to add the parts enabling you to suspend the wreath.  Cut the plastic rope into 3 equal pieces.   Using the measuring tape, locate three equally distant points on the top side of the wreath, where you will secure the last link of each chain, down into and among the vine branches.  Use the 16 gauge wire to lash the last link onto a branch….  Lace all three top chain links onto the carabiner to hold up and determine if any adjustments need to be made to balance it perfectly.

Covering the chain

Unhook the top chain links from the carabiner.  Measure the fabric (at the width, or short end) and mark off three 7″ lengths.  With scissors, snip down about an inch  at these three marks and tear the strips the full length of the fabric.  ( Hint:  Tearing will enable you to have perfectly straight strips, according to the weave.  Hopefully the print will be even also.  Whereas, cutting the fabric would let you  have  strips that look straight, according to the print dyed on it, but there is a slight chance that fabric may not have been woven perfectly straight.  If the strips aren’t straight by way of the weave, they would pucker and twist, causing unsightliness.)

You will make three long, skinny tubes to thread each chain through.  Since the fabric is far longer than each chain strip, the excess fabric of the tube will make a beautifully ruffled effect.   Here’s how:  for each strip, fold them length-wise, with right sides together.  Hand stitch or use the sewing machine to stitch the open edge of the folded tube leaving about an half inch selvage (the area that will keep the fabric from unraveling).  Turn down the far ends so the openings of the tube are smooth too.  Then you will turn the tubes right side out by telescoping one end up into the long part and working it up  with your hands until you have brought the whole tube inside out.  If you think the tube is too wrinkled, iron them out.  Then thread the chain length through each tube, stitching the fabric ends to anchor them in place on the first & last chain links.  Now you can re-thread the three top links onto the carabiner.

Hanging the Wreath

You can either hang the wreath by the top loop edge of the carabiner, or add an S hook giving you another secure way to hang the wreath onto a ceiling hook or other device.

Share Your Creation!

If you are able to send a digital photo of your final wreath, please do! so we can have a gallery of these fine creations to inspire us!

Have you had the sheer delight lately of smiling at James Christensen’s characters?  Do not deprive yourself much longer because it is completely free joy-in-a-bottle!  You can search on his name and come up with links for his prints, books about his art, porcelain figures that come alive from the one dimensional prints–you’ll even find greeting cards and a few 1500 piece puzzles of these masterpieces.

A few sites I’ve found are:  www.jameschristensen.com    www.greenwichworkshop.com/christensen

And be sure to check out the assortment of Christensen things on Amazon.com

Let me know what you think and what pieces are your favorite!

It has been 25 years since Brian Froud first published Fairy, the adorable crouching little one on a white cover–many say he is the reason this subject has found its way into daily lives, book stores, craft tables and bed stands.  Not only has Brian & actually, his wife Wendy too, created innumerable  spin-offs (Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairies, The Bad Fairies, Goblins, Dark Crystal, etc) but they have inspired legions of illustrators, polymer clay sculptors, publishers — very likely the gorgeous magazine also succinctly called Faerie, to amuse and entertain us! For more see Wikipedia and Amazon.

So what’s all of this got to do with the three day conference in Philadelphia?  2007 was the first time this hugely attended event was held on the east coast, in addition to the west coast event, which has been held for many years.  The Froud’s and other well known artists and musicians, plus hundreds of exhibitors,  will return to host what promises to be an annual gala.  In fact, many attendees come in full regalia to immerse themselves into the experience, not only for the grand ball, but for walking around, conversing, entertaining and overall enjoying the spirit of the occasion!

Of course this is not the only event of its kind.  Search on “fairy conferences” and find many such             get-togethers, held globally, of varying sizes.  Faerie magazine also publishes notices for prospective attendees on any conference information sent to them.

If you are planning to attend this year write a Comment here and let’s get together!

Watch for photo’s I’ll take and add…

Eventually the dollies will beg for chocolate cake so you might as well plan to make one. In addition to seeking just the right shade of dark brown flannel, brushed cotton or wool, you will want to go treasure hunting for color coordinated small flowers/ berries… to decorate with — and try to find the wonderful new glues that have glitter in them.

Use it– not as glue, but as sumptuous icing glaze! If perhaps you’d rather have non-glitter, look for the small bottles of fabric squeeze paint. Some will even puff up as they dry.

Have fun!

Doesn’t just the thought of designing a doll’s sized wedding cake stir up a swirl of ideas? Here is one to get you started in the hunt for silky rayon, pearls, flower buds and doves!