Christmas Wreaths of 2020

Each year the Nursery makes fresh Christmas Wreaths to give away and donate to friends and the local community. 

This time around, I made 12, including one for our own door. That means I had a MASSIVE sparkle party in my own kitchen. Usually I can do this project all in one evening but 12 was just a few too many so it took me a whole 2 evenings to decorate them all. I did however learn a few things from the past few years, like how to contain as many sparkles in one area and how NOT to spread them all throughout the house. So, I came up with an ingenious plan to tape plastic tablecloths onto the kitchen cupboards. This worked perfectly as we have a galley shaped kitchen. Mind you, with two woof woofs, a Hubby Dearest, myself and the FAERIES we still did an amazing job of making the house all glittery. 

 

Each year I make our wreath just a bit different than the rest. I decided to go with a rose-gold theme and I think it was one of the best ones I've ever made and we were really happy with how it turned out.

So between shades of reds, cream, white, gold, green and silver these wreaths went beyond me expectations. Each wreath had Christmas scented pinecones that would waif into the air and of course wee bells that would ring each time a door was opened or closed. One thing that I did add in this year were lights!! Either pinecones or mesh wired balls in gold or silver made the sparkles dance in the evening light. It was so beautiful to drive down the street and see all of the wreaths I had made lit up. 

It was just this past weekend that I had all of the wreaths returned to me so it was time to cover up the kitchen and take them all apart to save the flowers and decorations for next year. As each wreath was dropped off or picked up, the recipients had nothing but praise, amazement and a glitter in their eye. It took me a full two evenings to make all twelve wreaths and only one afternoon to store everything away.

Now it wouldn't be right if I didn't take orders for next year. Surprisingly enough, the most asked for colour was BLUE! Yes, blue. Second would be metallics and then follows all of the regular traditional colours of reds, greens creams and whites. So, I have already ordered over 200 blue silk poinsettia flowers and now almost daily there seems to be a parcel or two waiting for us at the post box. It's like getting a present everyday! Mind you, my shopping doesn't stop now as I'll be busy looking for sparkly decorations all throughout the year.

So, which one was your favourite? Do you prefer the traditional look of reds and greens or are you a bit more daring and you like pinks, purples and blues? 

The Blossom Holiday Line

Welcoming to the Nursery our newest faeries...

The Blossom Holiday Line

These Faeries are available for a very limited time so please be sure to visit our website for further details. www.faerienursery.com

Empty After Thought Syndrome

here is the scenario - there are two empty boxes on the floor
here is the decision - final must be made off the top of your head
here is the action - operation stuff as much stuff as you can
here is the opening - turn the key to the nest
here is the celebration - Christmas and your birthday
here is the predicament - lost and found or find and seek
here is the quandary - conglomerate or bestow
here is the remorse - why?

welcome home

A Touch of Red

RED

definition:
noun
1. ... the primary colour at one extreme end of the visible spectrum relating to fire, rubies and blood...

the who:
Stella -- Blossom 

the what:
the treasury -- gift

the when:
the holiday -- year round

the where:
the Etsy -- Treasury


to feature an Etsy Treasury is a beautiful way to say 'i'm looking for you'.

to be featured in an Etsy Treasury is a beautiful way to say 'i found you'.

with Etsy the protocol when featured in a Treasury is to ('heart') like all of the other artist's photos that they have collected but this process, well it almost feels like it is only a formality of politeness.

but how can you combat the rules, the contract, the obligation? well i Blog, i Twitter, i Google +, i Pinterest, i Facebook, i Website it (i'm pretty sure that i do more but well those are the ones that i can see on my saved tabs above).

and this is how i say 'thank you' to curator: JoyForToes for featuring Stella in the Bright holiday_2 by Natasha


RED
noun
1 .... the primary colour at one extreme end of the visible spectrum relating to fire, rubies and blood ...

RED
1 .... a holiday celebration ...

RED
1 ... thank you ...

Bright holiday_2

Snowflake brooch, red, beige, white, hand painted brooch, painted, hand drawing, badge, snow, holiday, women, winter brooch, pin MagicTwirl $15.00	Christmas Angels Red Fabric Fairy Christmas Ornaments Doll Christmas tree decorations little angel doll miniature cloth doll MaryankaDolls $19.00	Christmas Figurine Nutcracker , Large Wooden Nutcracker,Christmas Figurine Puppet,Nutcracker Mouse King , Vintage Christmas Decoration millyscollection Sold
Nursing necklace Breastfeeding necklace Baby necklace Lace Pink red Gift for mothers day Baby girl Baby shower gift Kokadi babywearing MiracleFromThreads $30.00	Waldorf Winter Doll, a DemiLunes Dolls OOAK demilunes $275.00	Bride & Groom Charms, Wine Charms, barware, Wedding Wine Charms, Bride Groom, Wedding Shower, Bridal Shower, table setting, Black White Red KellysMagnets $7.50
Modern Art Print Cotton Canvas Pouch OddmintDesigns $29.00	Custom Christmas Stockings/Wedding Check Holder- Personalized PAIR as Original Keepsake Meoneil $70.00	Crochet Lace Red Mittens Cozy Fingerless Gloves Arm Warmers Women's Hand Warmers Wrist Warmers ColorfulMosaic $15.00
Crochet toddler skirt size 2 hummingbirdcreation1 $45.99	SALE 15% off Nursing Juniper necklace / Breastfeeding Teething necklace, Teething amigurumi toy Ladybug MagazinIL $29.75	Santa Baby Earflap Beanie, Diaper Cover and Booties Set........newborn size hatitagain $35.00
Stella the Flower Petal Faerie, Fairy, OOAK FaerieNursery $25.16	Drumkit cufflinks BBJstudio $30.00	Strawberry Polka dot Children's Leisure suit - Mint 1970's funkdaughter $20.00
Sz 7.5 Ornate Koi Fish Fancy Resin Ring zougeebean $39.50

Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools

Finally..well kinda finally

I will admit that it has taken me almost 2 months (bad on me) to post the remaining 4 faeries from the Northern Line.

Now granted, I could make a thousand and one excuses...but technically...I really should have done this a wee bit a go but just haven't (bad on me again).

Right now they can be viewed on the website but they are not listed or linked to one of our e-commerce pages but hey, they are up for viewing.

Oooooohhhh but before I forget (and this one isn't a bad on me)....I have taken all NEW photos of The Northern Line Faeries....perhaps that is one of the reasons it has taken me this long for them to be  displayed.

Now, the next step...well, after I have these faeries listed/linked...next will come posting The Calendar Line.

You would think that with the craft fairs, the Christmas rush (guaranteed mailing dates) and well just most (some) of the general stuff being over for the year that I would be way more organized. But I am proud to admit...there are still 5 boxes that need to be dismantled from the craft fairs, all accounting (I haven't even found my sales book yet), posting of new faeries and the whole just keeping up with all of my sites (blog, website, e-commerce pages, Facebook etc.) I am pooped!

This is when I start to think that it is time that my wee faeries come out of hibernation and help me out...but everything that I have done so far has been unsuccessful. I have made tea (the really pretty pink coloured kind), sugar cookies (with extra icing), ringing sweet sounding jingle bells (even my ears are starting to pound), purposely leaving beads laying around the nursery (and yes, I have almost fallen on my keister once or twice), unlocking the cabinet that holds all of the wee jars of faerie dust (man, I know that I am just asking for trouble now)...and well....not too sure what there is left for me to do....any suggestions?

Well off I go to do something...not sure what this something will be...but I'm sure I will end up doing some of it anyways.

Ewwwwww?

So okay, I have been awfully quiet these past few days, okay fine, the past couple of weeks?

Ooooopppps...off topic...did you see that insane graphic quote I posted today? Not only was the topic quite gross...but the colour of the background...was that not the LOUDEST colour scheme you have EVER seen!!

For those of you that do follow our Facebook page and for those of you that don't (sure would be nice if you dropped on by...was that a please...perhaps it was), I had noted that hubby and I did an impromptu holiday for about a week.

Oh course, this leaving all of a sudden sure does put a monkey wrench into trying to keep my wee company on the 'map of the internet'.

As soon as I got home (okay, yes, that was a definitely exaggeration of my timeline...but I'm a faerie...so all aspects of time (to you anyways) is certainly not on my schedule) I hurriedly tried to get posted on here, Facebook /// Facebook pages (yes, that was a plural for pages...), Pinterest and Flickr (man, that sure is spreading the 'word'....did you get that one? I really meant 'quote', maybe a 'graphic').

As noted in many posts, I do not add any 'Thought of the Day' messages over the weekend...this allowed me time to unpack all of the new goodies for the nursery (and, ummmm, as normal...there are still plenty of bags still on the worktable calling to me...as I write this blog posting...shush now....all of you!!).

So, I am once again starting to feel under the gun here on trying to get myself ready...yes, it is the time of craft fairs, getting ready for the gift giving season, the time of 'the rush'. As with EVERY year, you promise yourself that THIS will be the year that you are ready!!

Here are a few of the things to do...a few of the reasons why these 'said' things have not been done...

Jewellery....I had over the summer purchased a few (okay, does about a hundred still classify as a few??) of those floating memory lockets. I have now filled them all with the shiny wee faceted gemstones and they are now in their pretty white/sheer organza bags (these ones have pretty silvery butterflies on them...nice!!). I am now waiting impatiently for the fuzzy black felted display cases that have all of those wee square compartments for the speciality charms that you can put into the lockets. Next, I still need to make another one of those flowered display chalkboards that will list the prices.

Faerie Dolls....yes, these are not my Faeries that I make but ones that I had purchased really early on in the year. They have pretty coloured blue, purple, green and yellow hair along with matching wings. They all have wee dresses on them as well...they really are quite adorable. I have attached one of the faerie necklaces that I had made, oh probably for the Trade Show that was in April. They too have been placed into pretty organza bags...these ones are almost a shade of sea green...please do not ask me what this colour really looks like...I just know that it is pretty. These also need a flowered display chalkboard price sign made up.

Faeries...yes, these are the ones that I make....I have enough the Northern Line ready to go....now here is the hiccup...the New Line (if you remembered, the wire was just a bit toooooo off on the size that I required (insert here...I really wished that they would regulate an actual sizing chart) to make them. My goal is still to have at least 5 of each ready to go. That entails layering all of the flower petals, making the heads (with hair), having the wee stands numbered and painted (remember, the nursery uses only environmentally safe products) and there are probably tons of things that I need to do in the hopes that the replacement wire gets here in time.

Now, here is the problem....I have to go out of town again this weekend onto late next week....and you ask what is the problem with that....well....the biggest of our two craft fairs happens on Saturday, November 22! Yes, sure...I can get all of this done prior to leaving! Sure I can...yuppers!!

The Perfect Day

I'm not sure if it is by complete coincidence of the true nature and meaning behind the lore of Fae, behind the traditions of today and the weekend of a new time. What an amazing day, what an amazing weekend, this is!!

Shall we start at the beginning....

As in today's 'Thought of the Day' graphic, evil, well no, that's not quite correct in the definition...I bare with me..I'm getting to it). The Seelie Court has just a bit of evil to it, and I guess you could say that the Unseelie Court has just a bit more evil, possibly a whole lot more than just a bit, evil attached to this group (oh come on now...you know that this 'just a bit' of evil in no way, shape or form truly describes this court).

History....now, please do forgive me, as this information is pulled from so many sources, that I can't really quote any one of them as I have jumbled all of the words into my own interpretation....as always..sigh...so, please do not bother scrolling down to the bottom as there are no footnotes included....

Let's try to explain a few things....

There are possibly 6, but knowing faeries, there will technically be an inexhaustible limit to the courts within the realms of fae but there are 6 that seem to have withstood the test of time and are still quite known today. This part I have found to be a little bit strange to me, as the information that I was able to garner really only spoke of 4 major courts...but who am I to say anything, particularly anything that I really know nothing about!!

Onto the definitions...I know get on with it already...there are still 2 other topics on today's agenda to talk about....

Fae Courts....

The Seelie Courts:

Summer - these faeries are possibly the nicest of all, well to your face that is as they can be or probably more so a bit on the fiery side. Fiery side? Well, you know how the sun during this time is at its brightest, the warmest, the ice tea (for those of you that prefer something a bit stronger, I will add in coolers and even though it is not my cup of tea (ha, ha, ha) a bottle of beer being cracked open that can be heard throughout the land), the time for barbecues, lounging around by the pool/ocean/water in general, the time of the full blooming for the flowers...Okay you get the drift...this particular court is the epitome of summer, but just as some days can be soooo friggin' (sorry for swearing but that is the best definition) hot and unbearable...so can be the faeries. I'm not sure if the heat is what gets to them but remember that fiery side I mentioned earlier....well so can their tempers be, hence the LESS evil of the groups.

Spring - okay, so I'm doing these out of order...just note that I can do this as it is me telling the story here...so there! This court of course represents the spring season...dah, bet you didn't figure that out on your own now did ya'. This court can be called the calmest of them all. It is not too hot or not too cold for that matter...it is just right, (not trying to make any reference at all to the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Little Bears') but hey, if it helps with the analogy of this paragraph than so be it. Everything is just right, literally, the porridge, the chair and the finally the bed. Think that should pretty well sum up this court!

The next Court is The Unseelie (and I suppose you already have figured out who these guys are)!! (smarty pants...no-one likes a know-it-all):

Autumn - the time of change, the time of death, the time of dancing around the campfire. These are the worker bees of the hive. They are the collectors of the honey, okay enough with the references to outside stories or behaviours. Sitting back on the rocking chair, smoking that long pipe, listening to the fiddle music (not my personal favourite type of music, but I degress again), thanking the 'gods' above that the pesky little ones are finally going back to school, watching the sun sink below the horizon with its fantastic orange colours, oh and how could I forget....doing the cannonball jumps in the raked up leaf pile. There is no tea on the menu tonight but more the warmed hot buttered rum apple cider (spiked with a bit of rum, okay, perhaps more like a 75/25 split, yes that being the rum at the 75 percentage as who wants just an apple flavouring in the mug...mind you...I might like mine without the rum part but with the 75% being the hot buttered flavouring), I know in the latter part of this season you can purchase eggnog (but then again, when did it become the norm to have Christmas trees and potential gifts all ready in the isles at shopping malls), mulled wine with cranberries..(yummy) and even hot chocolate with those wee marshmallows that float on top from the package (I've heard but don't quote me on this...they really aren't marshmallows..but who really wants to know this fact/fiction). So to sum this court up, they are the wild bunch that really is calmest of the all!

Winter: the time of freezing your butt off, getting your tongue stuck on that metal light post, snow ball fights, the building of igloos, the....oh wait, this is the human race I'm talking about now! Besides it being to darn (did you all see that...I substituted the word darn instead of the harsher word, the not so polite, the word you wouldn't say in front of your Granny...damn...of crap...there I typed it out anyways)...I know, me bad...the faeries made me do it...seeeee...just like I mentioned above the MORE, possibly EVEN MORE evilest of the courts. 'nough about this group as I think you can probable fill in the blanks after the words 'more, possibly even more evilest' of the courts....

So here, it the graphic....


p.s. I ran out of room on this blog posting so you will just have to wait for the next topic being typed out a bit later on in the day...now don't get your panties tied in a knot....I promise to be back later (yes, I know...promises, promises!!).

p.s.s. Yes, this is the same graphic that I will be putting up on the 'Thought of the Day' tab, so don't feel obligated to changing pages, as I would hate to make you work any harder today than necessary.

p.s.s.s See I told you there would be no quotational footnotes!! SEE!!

The 'Thoughts'

For the week of October 13-17, 2014

'The Thought'

Authors this week include:

Lita Burke, Awwthentic and William Butler Yeats

Topics were kind of all over the place as well!
The sizing up faeries in Ireland, finding faeries, unicorns, dull worlds and beautiful smiles. It seems as well that I doubled up on both Awwthentic and Yeats quotes...I guess that they must have had special meanings this week.

'The Photo'

Well this week was both the final sneak peeks and then finally the introduction of our first Holiday Limited Edition Faerie - Candy Cane. Surprisingly enough, this faerie seems to love the camera? I wished that I had more photos to share but she is still busy in the photo sets? Go figure...this one has a fascination with her candy cane striped dress that she just can't stop spinning around. I sure hope that she doesn't eventually fall over!

The rest of the week, well I tried to capture the happier parts of our northern Nursery and its first snowfall (okay, I will admit that this is not the first one for this winter as we have had snow every month this year!!) but this one I doubt will go away and is now here to stay. We still have wee pansies that are weighted down with so much sticky snow that they are trying their best to still show their colours. The next photo was one from our local bird feeder which wasn't exempt from the warm weather that over night of course plummeted...this left everything with a wonderful icy look to everything (unfortunately that meant the same for our sidewalks and roads turning everything to a pretty sheen of black ice).

I am sure that I will be able to finally the grab the camera or at least the memory card, now wouldn't that be terribly sneaky of me....Candy Cane can continue swirling with the camera pointed at her but there just won't be any 'film' in it....this should give me time to upload the photos that have already been taken and I hope to work on those over the weekend.

On that note...'The Photo' and the 'The Thought' will be back on Monday :)

The Candy Cane

Well, this week certainly has been a busy one here at the nursery. A new Faerie has arrived and with the cold winds of winter she brings a bit of warmth and a whole lot of mischief!

Introducing Holiday Edition 2014 - Candy Cane

I certainly do love the photo of her from up above as she looks just like one of the Christmas candies that are red and white striped!

Now, I haven't had time to take her professional shots yet, but who could resist just showing a few Instagram photos that have already been posted.

Don't you think she looks just like a candy or maybe even a red glitter poinsettia?

p.s. Please remember that she is a VERY Limited Edition with only 10 available for this season.

Into the KNOWN Wild Blue Yonder

Do you ever get the feeling that you that you have to do something in order to do what you need to do?

I have sat here for almost 3 weeks looking at my work table that is still scattered with stuff that I have either never bother to unpack, display or just plain and simple put away!

But that isn't even the worst of it yet!!

I know that once I clear and clean off my massive 1.2m x 1.2m (4'x4' ) table that I really will have to not only do something productive with both my time and energy but that I will have/need to start getting creating again.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I love being creative. It's in my bones. It's in my head. It's in my heart. The difference here is that in essence I have/need to be creative.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

This next Line of Faeries truly inspires me. Excites me. Is part of me. I have purchased absolutely everything that I require/need to make/create these Faeries. Everything is separated into their own pretty coloured cloth boxes and rubbermaids just waiting for me. Calling to me. Even whispering to me.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I so really want to get these Faeries done by the holiday gift giving and craft shows. I think though that I have missed my international shipping time for any of my Faerie creations in order to reach their destination in time to be wrapped and opened. This is such a massive hurt/blow to me as I was really counting on, well let's face it...for more sales.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

Since I have shut down my Facebook page I know that I have missed out on the largest looking/shopping opportunity. Promoting my website, blog and even my e-commerce pages is way harder than I had expected. Well, actually I know that I was throwing myself under the bus but I needed to take a break.

Now, please do not get me wrong any means!!

I have tried relentlessly to promote my wee company. To get seen. to not fall behind on what I need to do. I do know however that I made these massive changes and transformations since I knew that I would be away from the nursery for almost three and half weeks. Trying to keep up remotely would have both been way too time consuming and well, let's face it....not the type of vacation that I truly needed.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

I didn't want to be away from the nursery. I needed to be away mentally and physically. Anyone of you that run a small home based business knows that it takes about 7-10 hours a day. Yes, this is way longer than a full time job. These are the sacrifices that need to be done. This in itself takes everything that you have. Everything that you want to do outside of the business. Everything that you want to do socially un-business related. Everything that you call a personal life. These all get interrupted and/or cut short.

Now, please do not get me wrong by any means!!

Since leaving work (and not by choice), loosing your independence (I am no longer cleared to fly or to drive a vehicle), to being in the house all day with only three critters to keep you company and well, to talk to. When I was a Mom at home with two children this scenario was quite different. Yes, I was still home alone (technically), I did have the ability to fly and drive (but I'll admit somedays just wasn't worth the effort) and when I was talking essentially at least I was teaching (hoping) to teach my children a few life experiences.

Now, please do not get me wrong any means!!

I do promise myself (and you) that the cleaning of my table will start. My head has rested. My body has rested. My heart has rested. Everything else can be called my creativeness and it too have been rested. It is time for me to become Faerie Amma once again.

And the Mystery Continues?

A bit a go, I had a mishap with the nursery. Yes, actually I think you could call it a complete disaster!!

It seems that when left alone too long....well let's just say, Faeries will be Faeries. Figure that should sum everything up just nicely.

This was a posting that I made on my Facebook page Faerie Nursery Facebook

Oh Oh!! The Faerie Nursery has been found in such a disarray that I don't even know where to start! There seems to be faerie dust EVERYWHERE! Even the dust bunnies are covered in faerie dust! How does that happen?? So while having to make some rhyme or reason out of everything that had happened, I heard the little faeries laughing and they were calling me the strangest name? Once they finally calmed down I was able to figure out what they were trying to say. According to the faeries, they have decided that I am to be blessed with a new name. It was actually quite the event....with faerie dust everywhere (I feel so bad...I sneezed half way through...I couldn't help myself...thankfully they just giggled even more!), I am now to introduce myself as Faerie Amma. So to all of my wonderful followers....meet the new me... Faerie Amma :)

Well since then...there has been no stopping these wee little critters from doing just what they want to do! I have no say in anything anymore. They have COMPLETELY taken over. 

Rumour has it now that there is going to be a new group of friends joining us here at the nursery? Now, granted this has only been whispers and mumblings but I, myself believe it to be true. 

The Faeries have decided that it is time to start a book on their adventures that they have been having (and will have....I can't imagine what else they could possibly get into). So with that being said, the new faeries should be arriving I figure before Christmas! I know, how could that be? With the holiday season being as busy as it is...how can I get ready for even MORE guests in the nursery?

So now I have done what I have been told to do.....the mystery still alludes me but each day brings more information to light. As I find out more...I will stay in touch and let you know what I find out. 

Faerie Amma

My 2012 Christmas Faerie - Caramel Swirl

Well here she is in all of her finery....

This is my 2012 Christmas Faerie that will be given away as a free draw on November 16, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m. MDT.

I have even managed to get my very first YouTube video done that you can view at: Faerie Caramel Swirl - YouTube video

I must make a special announcement though....through special permission I was allowed to use part of the track from the song Silent Night performed by Terry McDade and The McDades. This track was taken from their Midwinter album. Please visit their website to learn more at: The McDades - website

Please remember to enter the draw from my Facebook page: Faerie Nursery - Facebook