Book Review: Fairy Houses ... Everywhere by Barry & Tracy Kane

Book Review ...

Fairy Houses ... Everywhere

Authors: Barry & Tracy Kane

Originally Published in 2006 by Light Beams Publishing
ISBN 10:097081044X   ISBN 13:9780970810441


"... just turn these pages and discover a world filled with whimsical habitats constructed from natural materials."

Filled with beautiful photos of faerie houses that have been build in the woodlands, on the beach, in meadows, in backyard gardens and in the air you are transported to a land that only those that believe in faeries can actually see. It is like when you are told to 'stop and smell the roses', faerie houses are just the same, they can hide in plain sight but once you spot one you are always on the lookout for more.

This book not only shows tiny homes but it gives you a chance to see how with just an acorn, or a seashell, or a feather or even a pretty leaf can be put to good use when building a house. As the words nature and faerie are synonymous with each other, it is easy to see how with just a bit of imagination anyone and everyone can construct a dwelling made for the wee folk. It doesn't stop with just houses though, Barry & Tracy bring to life full little villages including boats made of seedpods docked on a lake, apartment buildings made from tree trunks, mansions with individual rooms decorated with miniatures, to seasonal homes of pumpkins and snowy boughs. Truly an inspiration to all those that are young at heart.



You can purchase this book through your local bookstore or online through both Chapters/Indigo and Amazon. Be sure to check out the rest of The Fairy Houses Series®: Fairy Houses, Fairy Houses ... Unbelievable!: A Photographic Tour, Fairy Houses and Beyond!, Fairy Flight, Fairy Boat, Forest Secrets: A Fairy Houses Mystery, Ocean Secrets: A Fairy Houses Mystery No. 2 and Kristen's Fairy House DVD.

I purchased this book way back when I had started my Faerie Nursery in 2011 thinking it was a great place to start to look for ideas for my faeries. Now, thanks to this book, I have a whole line of faerie doors and garden nurseries which just happen to cary you off into a land of magic, imagination and enchantment.

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

Fuzzy Slippers Required

home sweet home

only 50 meters from our back step you can see our amazing view.

with a small wooden bench, warm cuddly housecoats, fuzzy slippers and mugs filled with hot chocolate completes the scene for an early Sunday morning setting but why and stop on a Sunday?

visitors welcome

The Dream and Lie that never were.

Not knowing where one might be after the mist 

rises from the depths of the valley; 

it is here that I'm left pondering if my seeing 

what actually is there any better than the impenetrable lie that I keep close to my heart and hide in my mind. 

Do you hide and turn your face away from reality just so you can live in the bubble you call home?

On frilly note paper..

This is the message that the nursery received from one of the Mistress Sanna's that found a forever home away from the cold cold ocean. We always love to have updated and shared notes and even photos too...

"Hello My sweet caretaker,

Thank you so much for helping me come into this world of 2014. I find these fancy letter writers very interesting!! Michelle types for me, But I picked out everything, I wanted your letter to be extra special.

Michelle says you would like to see my room, and know if I am happy. Yes, my sweet friend, I am very happy here. They let me stay up as late as I want. I have my own t.v. And I have made new animal friends that play with me and sleep with me, and we even go on adventures together!!

I have a tray to help keep my furniture in place. A wonderful magic pool that my fish friend takes me on rides in. Sometimes we dive deep in the pool! You should see duckies face! When we dive deep, sometimes we come up in other places too. Saturday, we ended up in France! They place special rocks and shells around my pool, so I can sit by the waters edge, and brush my hair out. I even have a seashell seat! They also gave me special bottle of grooming lotion. It helps me clean myself, and softens my fair. They called it 'essence of water dragon' And boy is it a big bottle!!! I think it may last me a lifetime! In my pictures, you can see my bed, it is a paua shell, lined with hand embroidered sheets and pillow, and beside me, a little table made from a flower, with a bell on it, that I rend if I need anything! And of course my TV! I never saw anything like it, but it is fun watching people do silly things on it. Thank you again for my new family. They pamper me, and make me feel special. As time goes on, we may go places together, and send you pictures if you like. That way you can see how things are going. Would you like that? I miss you my friend, and all the sweet babies in the nursery too. Before I left, they gave me a small sac of fairy dust so I could have something of them with me no matter where I go. Tell them that I sprinkled my whole room with it, so that every where I look I remember them, could you please? Oh goodness, I am going to get , what did Michelle call it? Homesick again if I am not careful!  :) No matter how much I love them, I love you just as much. Be good to yourself! E-hugs!!!!
-- Mistress Sanna"

A new YouTube video featuring 'Me'

As a tradition, okay this is only my 2nd time submitting something for the Fort Smith's Annual Festival of Trees, I have made a YouTube video of what I entered and it features ME!

This idea came to me in a dream one night. When I woke up I was able to draw a sketch of what I really wanted. Yes it was bizarre but it was fun. After a major shopping spree and my husbands most invaluable help, I was able to bring the dream to reality.

I have had a few invaluable points made to me about marketing my little nursery and they all seem to have included that "I" must become a part of that company. I have always kept myself at a distance, not for any particular reason but I have never allowed myself to be really photographed when I wasn't in makeup and dressed up as Faerie Amma.

So, I did post on Facebook with a few photos of me 'working' in the nursery playing with flower heads. Well, it's what I do. My husband was playing with the camera and took a few shots of me and I was brave enough to post them on Facebook. That was a first for me.

As the great advice goes, people need to fall in love me (and Faerie Amma) and what I do before they can fall in love with my company. If I allow myself to be seen as more of who is behind the creations then hopefully my family, friends and followers will learn a bit more about me.

I titled this years submission "Your enchanted home away from home." Now I understand that this is definitely not your normal Christmas Tree entry but I work in a Faerie Nursery. I shouldn't be part of the norm. I should be different. I should be whimsical. I should just be me.

I hope you all enjoy the video (next time I will at least have brushed my hair and put a bit of makeup on...lol).

Heather's Visit to the Nursery

Well my winning contestant for Nutmeg the Halloween Faerie actually was able to come over this weekend and make Nutmeg a friend.

I would like you all to meet Glisten. This is the little story that Heather wrote up about her.

"Glisten is a crisp sparkly winter faerie. She dripped off the end of an icicle one sunny winter's day and has been enjoying her time in the garden ever since. Her favourite activities include skating on frozen bird baths, making 'snowfaeries' in the freshly fallen snow, and coming inside for a hot cup of apple cider afterwards. Her dress is made from endless layers of wintry petals, covered in sparkling gems".

And yes, for all of those who have not had a chance to visit the nursery....I hold all my Friends of Faeries captive!! Well only for a little awhile, I promise. Once a visitor has come over and spent the time to make themselves a faerie, I get to keep her here in the nursery for a bit. Since the first visit is always a gift from me, in return you must leave her with me to have her photo taken and posted on my website. As well, you must give her a name and write a short biography. It can be something simple to as to what you were feeling when you were making your faerie, about her dress or like Heather, a bit about your faeries' personality.

Glisten will now be gently packaged up and I will give Heather a call to let her know that she can come and pick her up to take home.

And the story goes....

A big thank you goes out to Meagan who finished off the story of Enchanted Pathways today.

We are no longer just a name...but we are a something!

Enchanted Pathways now has an identity all to it's own. This is not just a workshop where wee little faerie creatures are created....this has become their home.

More details to follow :)