Highland Fairy

Wedding dresses

2011-12-16T03:27:00.000-08:00

I have had the pleasure of making some unique wedding dresses for some lovely ladies recently.
Thanks to my facebook page and word of mouth I was contacted and asked if I could create something that combined the ideas and dreams of my clients and my individual, quirky style.
Each dress was a challenge and although I found it quite stressful at times, I loved making my very first corset style bodice, ordering special tartan cloth (even if it took me ages to make the first cut),
finding beautiful pieces of vintage lace and linens that would go with each dress, gathering up different fabrics and piecing them together...adding details and seeing the finished garments.
The best part had to be seeing the photos of the weddings themselves and knowing that everything was perfect.

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Mairi's 'Skye tartan' dress...
corset bodice and long skirt with vintage linens.

A beautiful Highland wedding in a woodland chapel.

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Laurie's wedding dress, inspired by Avril Lavigne's 'Alice' dress.
black and white vintage fabrics with bustle.

Winter wedding... x

Black and white sleeves with button detail.

Chelsey's bridesmaid dress made from vintage cotton, linen and lace.

bridesmaids dresses

2011-05-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have had the chance to create some very different dresses for a friend who is getting married at the weekend.
She asked me to make some of my raggy faerie dresses that I've started making from vintage linens, tablecloths, doilies, delicate frayed cottons, and other raggedy fabrics.
I've not done many custom orders, but I feel like this is the first of many..

Hello!!!

2010-12-27T03:43:00.000-08:00

Nearly a year has gone by since I blogged last!?
I'm not going to go into great detail about what I've been doing or what I've been going through because it's just too much, so instead I'll show you a few photos .
Hope you like ....xxx

winter creations

2010-02-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

It's been a cold winter, with lots of snow and I've spent a lot of time indoors trying to keep warm.
Making the most of it I read lots, crocheted, stitched, painted and chopped wood!

Just before the snow arrived I gathered lots of sycamore and chestnut leaf stems to weave together with some lovely brown yarn....

I made some sock creatures out of old socks

Started on some new clay fairy bottles

Crocheted lots of pixie bags

Painted a goddess

Made some funky button necklaces

And did some sewing.......

♥

new

2009-12-04T07:36:00.001-08:00

It has been a lovely autumn...one of my favourite seasons.
Now it's turning cold and the hills are looking grey.
This is a view across Strathnairn, looking down the valley towards Farr.
♥

Cat Goddess

2009-04-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

I finally finished a painting that I'm fairly happy with!!!

a new painting

2009-04-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

I love messing around with photoshop and my self portraits....
I find it easier to paint myself for some reason, maybe because I'm not trying to get it exactly right, as when I'm painting someone else I tend to want to get it as realistic as possible....and I find that tough!
So.....
here's the photo I took....

and the beginning of the painting I did today~

Shopping list Saturday

2009-04-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Circus~

Lollie Monkey circus girl by Lollie Patchouli

Eunice Print by amberalexander

Candy for the Queen lace cuff bracelet by LaCamelot

Circus Baby by Artsy

The Trapeze Twins by Roadside

Shopping list Saturday was put together by fancypicnic.blogspot.com/ to help promote etsy sellers.

Brooches

2009-04-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to show off my girls brooches.
They made them by laminating their drawings and gluing a brooch pin on the back.

My girls are only 9 and 10, and are very creative!

A Holiday in Findhorn

2009-04-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

Me and the kids decided to go off for a few days to stay in a gorgeous cottage by the sea.

CORTACHY APARTMENT
is in the village of Findhorn, on the Moray coast.
It was amazingly cozy and just a few steps from the beach.

I love the sea and the sound of the water on the pebbles.
The pebbles at Findhorn are so smooth!

We visited the Findhorn Foundation while we were there.
A place I love to walk around and look upon the eco houses and sweet little gardens.

My lovely Sister lives and works in Findhorn at the Shambala Retreat Centre.
It's a beautiful house on the beach.

We did lots of walking in the sea air, pebble collecting, beach combing, charity shop rummaging, leaf throwing, forest venturing, cottage gazing, seagull avoiding, and more!

Shopping List Saturday

2009-03-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

Things that made me go WOW!
no theme this week.....
just some gorgeous finds!
Hope you like them as much as me..

The first beautiful creation is by RoundRabbit, who's work is an inspiration to me.
This necklace blew me away when I saw it today!
She's a talented lady!

This next vibrant piece is by my friend Red2White
her shop is full of felted wonders...
I love them all!!!
esp this brooch....

This beautiful enchanting fetish spirit art doll is from a shop called
Awesomeart.
These little dolls are very special and have a very peaceful feeling to them.

This next necklace is by Moxiestudio.
A steam punk creation, with some really interesting trinkets.
Her work is so unique!

I could make this list go on forever...but I wont,
so here's my last item.
A magical print by Geninne.
called Moonbird
I'd love to buy lots of her prints!
This particular one jumped out at me.... maybe it's the moon influence.

shopping list...faces

2009-03-15T02:47:00.000-07:00

Shopping list Saturday was put together by fancypicnic.blogspot.com/ to help promote etsy sellers.

I thought I'd feature some lovely faces that I found on etsy...

These delightful ceramic faces are made by firedandfused.
I love their sleepy expressions and the colours used.
They would be amazing for anyone who likes to make art dolls.

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This next shop is called Unmasked.
the clay masks are incredible...every one different and individually made.
I love them all!

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This next face is by Chelsea Rose , a
Pen and Ink/Photoshop collage work.
Her shop LucidopticLab

is full of these expressive drawings and paintings...and she also sells lovely colourful clothing!

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This next beautiful piece of work is by

SCRAPdannymansmith

who I have been inspired by for a while now.
He has such an abundance of creativity, it's so amazing to see!

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This last one is another clay mask by Mudgoddess
The masks are made using life mask molds, so have a very realistic quality.
I love the colours and again the peaceful expression in this piece.
There are also lots of other beautiful clay items in the shop.

buttons and more buttons

2009-03-10T03:38:00.000-07:00

I love buttons, and if I see a tin or a jar full in a charity shop or car boot sale I'll pounce on them!

I have such a lot of them I decided to experiment with some wire and thread some up...
into neck pieces and large pendants.
I'm even thinking they'd be great stitched onto a dress or made into a whole top!
The possibilities are endless.

organic shopping?

2009-03-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

I was blogged by the lovely Cathy Cullis on her shopping list saturday...
which I was really excited about , as I am a fan of her work!
I thought I'd do my own shopping list thing here, to show some of my favourite etsy finds.
So every Friday.....I'll put in a few items that I love!

my first one is a gorgeous shawl made by wet felting, silk chiffon, crochet and knitted pieces and threads.
It's from a shop called Living Earth Gallery .
Her work is so organic, and the combination of different fabrics and threads is amazing!
I'm finding it hard to choose a favourite....
to buy!

The second beautiful item I found is a birch bark cuff made by Bettula .
Heather makes jewellery from birch bark and other natural materials, and each piece is simple and delicate....showing the detail and pattern of the wood.
She makes ear-rings , and necklaces too....
and has a sale on until March 21st!!!

The last one is from the very talented Kaylacoo
who I found on flickr and makes the most enchanting and colourful felted brooches and little pictures!
Her work is full of life and the attention to detail is so lovely!

Inspired about recycling....

2009-03-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I met up with a man who runs the Greenhouse Charity shop in Dingwall.
Dave Lynch is part of the Dingwall and District Environment group and set up the shop a few months ago to raise funds for the group, it's environmental projects and other worthy causes in the area.
It's a lovely shop and well worth visiting...I could've stayed and rummaged for hours!

He is keen to make people aware of the possibilities of recycling clothes and re-using materials that would end up in landfill.
I've been making garments and accessories from recycled materials for a while now, and it's really nice to find others in my area who are as enthusiastic and inspired as I am!
I am very excited about what could happen now that I've connected with Dave and the group!
I'm also keen to get more involved with my local environmental groups and projects.
I also came across the local Friends of the Earth group in Inverness, that I'll hopefully get along to sometime soon.

birds and driftwood

2009-02-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

I found an old piece I painted on years ago and thought I'd try some more....
I love painting on wood and the gold paint looks really nice...I think.
One thing I always like to find on a beach is old pieces of wood from crates and furniture that have been worn by the sea, making the wood smooth and rounded on the edges.
The holes and rusty nails add to the character and I enjoy painting around them or along the grains and knots.
And as always...I've used my usual colours!

I painted on some stones too.

More dolls.....

2009-02-04T04:42:00.000-08:00

I'm having fun making these little people...
I love to imagine who they are, what names they will have and where they live, etc...

If you'd like to see more....go to my FLICKR........which you can see to the right of this page>>>

dolls

2009-01-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

I've not been in here for ages....!!!
I've kind of abandoned my blog, and been too involved with flickr!

I've also been making a lot of new stuff....
getting back to playing with natural materials, and trying out some polymer clay for some dolls.

I managed to over cook the clay, so most of my heads turned darker than expected and blotchy....(I've used them anyway!)

I'm having fun making them.....and look forward to seeing what characters appear.

Talking of dolls....
I have a friend
Novembergirl
who makes these gorgeous 'Lollie dolls'...
they are so full of charm and delight!

check them out in her shop

♥

heart-o-matic

2008-12-09T02:54:00.000-08:00

I found this place a while back ....
if you're an etsy seller you can find out what items have been hearted and who has hearted them all on the one page.....
It's cool!
Give it a go and see all your hearts!
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
@ craft cult

etsy shop banner

2008-11-27T06:04:00.000-08:00

I spent ages on this, trying to merge a few photos together with some text....
I'm pretty pleased, as it's my first attempt!
It's bright and eye catching....don't you think?

Next thing to do is sort some of my dark and blurry photos, take more photos and add more items....
I have so much stuff that 'needs' to go.....hopefully I'll sell them in my shop for xmas!?

cold and dull

2008-11-26T08:22:00.000-08:00

I was going to take loads of photos today and list things in my etsy shop...and on ebay, but because it was so dull, windy and cold , there was just no light to take good photos!
It just meant that I spent a bit too much time in front of my computer instead!
I tell myself that it's restful......and I've been told to take it easy and rest.......
although I do know that computers can drain your energy!!!
Oh well~~~~

here's a photo of something I'm working on at the moment......

♥

changes

2008-11-21T05:49:00.000-08:00

Luka Skracic

With Winter approaching, and a change in the air, I've been doing a lot of shifting inside and out!
I've been de-cluttering for a while now, but a lot of it has been at a slow pace, up until the past week or two!
Situations, and problems have all come to the surface, and each day comes a new breath of air, a fresh breeze to carry away some more heavy loads!
My work space is being cleared out, making room for me to focus on what's important.
My life has taken a turn around a corner and a light has been switched on.
Lessons are being learned and eyes are opening wider than before.
Time is precious, and what lies deep within me is coming out....reaching, stretching .

♥

Time out

2008-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs time to think and look beyond...
I need to do lots of thinking.
I've not gone away.....
I'll be back soon~
xxxxxxx

paint and leaves

2008-10-06T04:41:00.000-07:00

The other day I got out my paints again....and did a few quick paintings...
they are small, simple abstracts.

I'm trying to get back to being more minimal with my work.
At times I find I can put too much into one thing, overloading a canvas or adding too much detail to a skirt, etc.
We were out walking the other day, and we collected pine needles, conkers and leaves.
I love the colours at this time of year, the leaves are slowly turning orange.
Years ago when I had more time on my hands and when I was a wondering art student I used to go for long walks to find fallen plant and tree seed pods, leaves and twigs.
I used them in my work and I made some bracelets.

They're not very wearable, but I love the simplicity of them.
I've been thinking of somehow re-creating them with clay or fabrics, or making larger scale sculptural pieces with the same feel as the woven, stitched leaves.

fabric and mind destash

2008-09-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

After being at a stand still for about a week, and looking at what I have around me...regarding materials and supplies, I've begun a clear out of fabric.
Some of it I'm giving to the recycling bin, the rest I'm making scarves!
It's just been sitting for too long, and even though I've always had the intention to use it one day, I've realized that I can't hold onto it ALL!
I love patchwork, and with added details like embroidery, buttons, shells, beads and sequins I've been having fun making some long scarves.

I've also cleared out a load of beads and bits I don't want (going on ebay or etsy sometime soon).
It's true that clearing clutter clears your head too.

At times I'd love to get rid of everything and live in a tipi.
We do have one, that we bought a few yrs ago have but never put it up!
Maybe it's time to...something tells me!

I recently found a beautiful place in Wales that does a four day retreat for women, to heal and recharge energy..
'Barefoot healing Tipi retreat with Corinna Michelle'.
With all the demands of work, motherhood, and generally keeping things together puts burden on our energies!
Sometimes we have to find the time to be in tune with our own selves.
Check out this website if you're interested in reiki,rituals, retreats and gatherings
Earthchild

I'd love to go!

I've often thought about doing a Reiki course, mostly to use for myself, family and friends....
and having a clear mind has made it stronger in me, and that I have to follow my heart..♥

brooches

2008-09-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

Even though I've been in an unmotivated wandering mood recently I've managed to make some small pieces, fun things that I felt needed to get out into the world.
I've sold a few of them already (all to the same person) and as they were just a kind of experiment (like a lot of my work) I was surprised that they went so quick!
They are quite large for brooches...I'd call them corsages maybe..
and I used these lovely fabric moon and sun faces I bought .
I've hunted around for more, but can't seem to find any fabric the same!
I'll perhaps paint some myself.
I've had an idea for a while to make clay faces for bags, brooches, etc, so I'll get around to doing that soon too.

they actually relate to some of my paintings too, and I'm starting to realize that most of my work does link together.
I was talking to a friend the other day about how we see our own work and how others might perceive it completely differently, maybe in a way we don't see ourselves.
I know I feel unfocused and lacking in direction at times, but other people tell me they see the opposite!
Is it the perfectionist in me?
I do like to be 80-100% positive and confident in what I produce, and if there's any doubt in my mind, I'll think it's rubbish!
I would LOVE to be able to focus on one thing, whether it be clay or fabric constructions and develop from there, but my mind is constantly churning out these ideas and so I hop from one thing to another, maybe only making one or two of something and then moving onto the next creation!
But one thing I know is that I LOVE faces!
♥

video

2008-08-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes

2008-08-24T06:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes
I just want a cloud to pass
and lift me up
and carry me away to another place.
Somewhere
where the silence lives
where thoughts are kept
and hidden.
Where no-one else
can touch your skin
or jump into your head,
where birds sleep,
where the wind is still.

I wish
just for a moment
I could sit inside a tree
and listen to it's heart beat,
it's roots entwining
around me
and holding me tight,
making me forget.
Forget the noise,
forget the thoughts,
forget the world.
Quietly alone.

cuffs

2008-08-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

I've been making some fabric cuffs (from reclaimed,recycled material) the past week and as usual I seem to have a short spurt of enthusiasm to make a certain thing, then in a couple of weeks or sometimes sooner I move onto something else....
I've always been like this, one day I love clay ...the next I'm fed up of it....then I'm sewing a skirt...then threading up a necklace!
I'm so scatty and unfocused at times!
But I've come to realize that this is how I work, and I'm letting my intuition lead me!
If I feel comfortable making something I'm happy, but if I feel uninspired or there's no heart going into my creation I'll stop and leave it be.
Sometimes I just need to get things out of my system...like an idea that's been jumping around in my head for days begging to get out.....
once it's been realized.. I'm at peace!
or my brain is at least!!!
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There are more photos in my Flickr
and soon to be in my Etsy shop.

new necklaces

2008-08-13T05:17:00.000-07:00

I've finally finished some of my clay bird necklaces, and my new butterflies, flowers and feathery ear-rings...
I'm going to send most of them away to my local outlets,and maybe find some new places to put them.
Some I've put in my Etsy shop.

colours are more natural this time, instead of the brighter greens and blues, pinks, etc....
They seem to have a softness to them too.

faces

2008-07-18T02:19:00.000-07:00

I've always had a fascination for faces and how each one is so different.
I am drawn to people's eyes and mouths...
Drawing them, whether from life or from my imagination makes me realize how wonderful us humans are!
I love the shadows, the lines and the shapes in faces, and expressions...
how our faces change in every moment.

I also love hats, although I don't wear many myself...
I've made a few in my time, but recently I had an idea of making some similar to my gourd pots, very natural and earthy looking, with lots of texture!
I found a girl on Flickr called tiny toadstool who makes amazing little berets...and I was very inspired by their organic shapes and quirkiness.
I'm not quite sure how to start with them, but I'm positive I'll have fun experimenting!
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I had some lovely news yesterday, as my friend and neighbour bought one of my clay birds from Browns gallery, where I have an exhibition.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it, sitting proudly on her window sill!

drawing

2008-07-17T04:45:00.001-07:00

I've been doing more drawings, just coz I feel like it....
It's nice to be able to sit and draw what ever comes ...
without really thinking too much about it...
usually when the kids are sleeping and it's quiet.
tell me what you think about them....

tribe

2008-07-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

my tribe have been driving me batty today...I thought I'd take them into town to do a bit of shopping...went in on the bus... as us commoners do.....and went round most of the charity shops (which I have to go into.. even though my eldest, who is almost 10 moans at me and tells me 'these shops are for old people!!...and I do try and educate her that these shops are better than the BIG shops, full of mass produced rubbish that little children sit for hours and days making for pennies!).....although sometimes, but rarely do I buy 'new' clothes from places like Primark and TKMaxx.!!
naughty me!
I have always told myself that I should buy second hand clothes, fair trade clothes, and handmade clothes....and I strongly believe in recycling as much as possible!
I love to make clothes and bags out of old clothes and jeans....it's such a great feeling knowing that I've made something new out of something old....and I just wish people would stop throwing clothes away just because they've gone out of fashion....it just potty!!!!
Be individual....not a fashion victim.....make your own clothes....customize your old ones....it makes sense...doesn't it?

Anyway~~~ to get back to my tribe...I lost one today,(he's only 4..my little dragon!) but I knew that I'd find him....somewhere. I didn't panic...it's strange but I was so much calmer than I thought I'd be, we found him playing with some lego in the toy shop. He'd managed to find his way there by himself and was quite oblivious to the worry he had caused ....
I'm quite positive that I had someone guiding me to where he was, because he could have been anywhere!

I've been doing a few sketches in my very small book....
in the hope of developing them into collage paintings.
They have a slight tribal feel to them....which I like...
although they might seem a bit odd to some!

UGH

2008-07-09T02:29:00.000-07:00

for some unknown reason my post got removed....so I'm going to just add photos and not put in links, as I think this may have been my problem!?
Anyway~
some photos of my ceramics!~

hello

2008-07-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

I'm going to give this blogging another go.....
as I feel a bit left out ...seeing lots of my friends doing it.
I'm not going to put loads of personal stuff in here, or try and add loads of photos, as I want my blog to be clutter free and simple....like my garden I want it to be easy to look after and not need much work done to it.....(a bit wild and overgrown then!)
hmmmm.

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I have been very busy making clay birdies for a craft fair I'm doing in August, and more to put in my Etsy shop and a few local shops here.
I'm making some butterflies, flowers and long fish shapes.
It's all very exciting....

I'm making around 100!!!
It's not mass production..honest!
They're all hand cut, stamped, smoothed and fired, then all individually painted....
♥