Debbie Schramer of Beautiful Art has just produced a delightful new movie called THE ENCHANTED TREEHOUSE. This charming film features Debbie's whimsical creations and her amazing fairy scale treehouse! She writes:
It is about a magical, amazing Fairy House in the forest and the curious and comical characters who live there. One day, a little girl named Sarah, suddenly discovers this wonderful, hidden fairytale world in the woods and meets the little characters. They tell her all about the Enchanted Treehouse and show her the amazing rooms, stairways, tiny little furniture and everything else in the Treehouse that is just so enchanting!! There are many wonderful surprises all throughout the movie and a mysterious ending!!!
Be sure and check out her new websight called The Enchanted Treehouse Movie which is filled with wonderful stills from her new film. You can purchase this movie as well as another one that teaches you how to create your own 'FAIRY FURNITURE' on her Etsy Shop. (Press on image below to enlarge.) Best of Luck Debbie!!!
Sometimes gifts take on a life of their own... Such is the case of a wonderful Chinese treasure that arrived recently from my friend Kimberlee!
ONCE UPON A TIME... in a land where fish swim in trees,
a Wee little boy was feeling sad, alone and just a little bit useless.
His brothers were hooting and hollering, busily climbing high, looking for longtailed birds to ride. His sisters sat giggling and whispering in a meadow gathering flowers to turn into crowns.
Quietly he crept in amongst the trees until big sister spotted him and asked, "Wee one, why are you so sad?" "No one will play with me..." he replied. "I am too small to climb with my brothers, and not nimble enough to help you with your flowers..." With a kiss on his forhead she said: "Then we shall find Big Brother and ask him what to do!"
And she gathered their other siblings, one by one...
...and went in search of Big Brother who was known for being wise, kind and generous.
Big Brother took Wee one on his lap, and told him he had found a great surprise, a magic basket that surely was filled with treasures inside! But he couldn't open it, the lock was too small for his Big fingers. "Will you help me Wee one?" he asked.
"Oh Yes!" said Wee one, "Surely this is a task just for me!" And soft as a kitten, quiet as a mouse, Wee one carefully opened the magic basket and found wonderful things inside! Teapots and Cups, enough for all his siblings to partake!
A scent of sweet Jasmine filled the air, and Wee ones brothers and sisters quickly gathered round, wondering what Big Brother had found!
"LOOK!" Big Brother said, "Wee one has helped us all by opening this magic basket!"
As the treasures spilled out, a wonderful feast was shared and everyone agreed that Wee one was truly the most helpful and useful sibling of all!
THANK YOU KIMBERLEE for your basket of joy! (vintage Chinese teaset, teapot and dolls from Ulla's collection)
I adore this Scandinavian Styled DOLL HOUSE found on Ada Och Emil! Truly Beautiful!
Paul Busse makes fairy tales come alive with his magical creations sized for model trains! He works from photographs of the buildings, using sand, glue and tile grout for the stone facades and berries, seeds, pods and vines to add texture and detail. Then he travels with his art presenting his 'little world' at garden shows and festivals. It takes almost 20 people 10 days to position the buildings, lay out the 1,200 feet of track, get the trains running, construct the trestles, tuck in the hundreds of plants and place the lights. What a delight it must be to see these creations up close!!! See More Photos Here
These tiny beauty's are by Lucy Arnold.
A parade of beautiful FAIRY COACHES were created this weekend at the CASTLE! I love the sense of imagination the students showed. Wouldn't you just love to ride in one of these magical coaches??? WONDERFUL!!!
Here are a few things I found this week, that I found wonderfully inspiring!
First, Elisabeth had a Birthday, and invited all her guests to join her on 'The Moon'! I just love what she created and the Party Photos are truly wonderful! Check out her Moon in progress photos too!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELISABETH!
Next, Apartment Therapy recently posted this Gender Neutral Nursery Wall Painting, created by using an Art-o-Graph opaque projector to enlarge a fabric design onto the walls and then paint it in! I love the whole idea, skulls and all!!!
I also thought Design Sprout's post on Recycled light bulb hanging vases was wonderfully inspiring and simple! Can't you just see a dozen of these hanging from the trees in the summer?
And last but not least, Judy sent me the link to Arthur Millican Jr.'s site Sleepy Hollow Enterprises, showcasing his wonderful Fairy Houses, and dolls. His 'T' Pot cabin is my favorite, but they all make me want to move right in! HAPPY FRIDAY!
Here is my sample for the upcoming CASTLE class PAPER CAROUSEL, to be held Monday April 14th! Students will create a 'Woodland Animal Carousel' that spins on a 'lazy susan'. I've used some fabulous vintage hand-colored animal prints that came from Germany, as well as a combination of other paper-theatre images, gold dresden and green metallic crepe paper. The little gold saddles are actually dresden crowns - turned upside down! This should be a wonderful class, and I am already thinking of other 'themes' to use for future Carousel's!!!
For initial inspiration I found this wonderful 'Paper Circus' print-out online! As easy as it looks, it still took me about 2 1/2 hours to cut and assemble, and I didn't like how the spinning interior functions. Great idea, but hard to make it look good. (I'd recommend stiffening all your paper before you cut the pieces out.) Still, if you want to make your own 'Paper Carousel' and can't take my class, THIS is a fun one to try!
Yesterday, my dear friend Jocelyn, who is visiting from L.A., Lea and I set off for the Bay Area in search of magic and inspiration! Our first stop was the home and studio of Stephanie Blythe, who lives just north of San Francisco. Stephanie for those of you who may not know, is the Master of porcelain fine art fairies! With her nimble fingers she has been creating teeny tiny little creatures, dressed in magnificent finery since 1977. Her background in textiles and love of Children's book illustrations formed a firm foundation for her career in Fairy art! The piece above, called 'One World, One Heart', spoke to all of us on many levels...
While visiting we brainstormed the possibility of Stephanie doing a FAIRY DOLL WORKSHOP someday soon. A very special opportunity for you to come and make your own magical fairy doll, in Stephanie's studio using one of her amazing molds. IF THIS TEMPTS YOU, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT HERE, AND OR EMAIL ME PRIVATELY, and I will let you know what we can come up with!
So many steps are involved in creating these little treasures, and we delighted in seeing hints of each process. From initial inspiration, to boxes filled with tactile delights; a cozy corner devoted to sculpting and painting, and a vintage cabinet filled with dyes in many fairy colors... Here I will leave you with a photo album of our amazing visit, filled with whimsy, magic and plenty of fairy dust!
Stephanie and Jocelyn share a moment discussing the lifestyle of fairies...
While Lea bonds with one of the studio mascots!
A huge 'Inspiration Board' fills one wall of the studio...
While boxes with labels such as 'Sweet Peas' and 'Big Roses' or bursting with beads and baubles tempt from every corner...
Tiny Fairies asleep in teacups, hide in cupboards...
And Walnut Babies rest on our fingertips!
Bits and pieces of porcelain 'body parts' wait for new incarnations...
While dozens of handmade molds hold surprises inside!
Mother Natures Inspiration sits on the windowsill, and ancient trees covered in moss and spider-webs beckon outside!
Surely this little 'Shadow Box Fairy' once lived just outside Stephanie's door...
My personal favorite fairy lay quietly within a tiny antique embroidered purse, her beautiful little legs peeking out...
We couldn't resist holding one of Stephanie's new Madi the Magical Fairy Play Doll, seen here as a whimsical little bumble bee!
And of course, drooled over the many wonderful past creations Stephanie has produced! It was truly an amazing and magical visit being with the lovely Stephanie and her little fairy kingdom! Thank you Stephanie for letting us peek in your wonderland!
ENJOY!!!!!!!
More about our wonderful trip coming tomorrow!
Going to a doll show this morning, and wishing I were riding in this Pink Antique Roadster Pedal Car!
Last Friday a friend and I visited Susan's Store Room in San Anselmo. If you are in the Bay Area, and need a 'WHIMSY' fix, let me tell you, this is the shop for you!!! For 30 years, Susan, the lovely proprietor of Susan's Store Room has delighted and thrilled all who visit with not one but three huge rooms filled to the brim with toys, dolls, bears, miniatures, gifts and all things magical and whimsical! Not a space is left bare, and no corner empty, truly a wonderland of delights!
Susan is also known for a delightful series of books, "The Travel Journals of the Steiff Reggie, Pansy and Clarence Bears". Our visit just happened to coincide with the arrival of her newest book: "Clarence goes to The Chelsea Flower Show". This wonderful book (illustrated by the very talented Maryjo Koch) tells the tale of Clarence visiting England! Clarence, designed by Susan and created by STEIFF takes us all over the Queens Kingdom, journaling about his adventures as he goes. Here we see Susan and Clarence posing at Beatrix Potters home!
(Book and Bear available from Susan's Store Room)
You need to plan on spending a good amount of time when visiting Susan's Store Room, there is sooooooo much to see! look around and you will find Noahs Ark - filled with Steiff animals of every kind; Jolly Gnomes hiding behind a forest of trees; dressed Mice having tea-parties; King Tut holding a conversation with a giant ostrich and Elephants playing Safari! Doll Houses filled with delicious miniatures of every kind, tempt us to join in the fun. Every Holiday has its place all year round here, with Halloween and Christmas sharing space with Easter and Valentine's. Shelves are crowded to overflowing and Dolls and Bears peek out where ever you look! A visit to Susan's Store Room makes us walk back in time and be children again! Truly an adventure not to be missed!!!
The storms hitting Northern California have me thinking of umbrellas and raindrops. Look at this creative delight by George Herman! After yesterdays storm, I actually have a couple of now useless (turned inside-out) Umbrellas that I should donate to his cause!!!
In the sure hands of Sophie Touret, wire, string, bits and pieces of fabric, treasured ephemera and other sewing related items - become magical little creatures, ethereal angels, and fairytale gardens! ENJOY!!!
Late Monday I realized that my next post would be number 1000!!! It seems like only yesterday I was at 750. I remember thinking then, I bet it will be Spring before I hit 1000. Well here it is, and its only November!!! How does one celebrate 1000 posts? With other bloggers of course!!!
Yesterday, dearest Nicol came up for a day of fun and play. We spent the morning creating little fairytale walnut wagons pulled by birds. We used German paper-mache walnuts and dipped them in glistening mica, added vintage wheels, and a dainty moss seat. The birds, cut from antique prints, are ready to pull their precious fairy cargo, wherever ones heart desires...
A little after noon, we were greeted by fellow bloggers Lea and Trish! In Celebration of Good Friends, we decided to walk Lea's beautiful 'Santa Rosa Labyrinth', and light a candle of intention... I chose to light my candle for 'many, many more Celebrations!!!'
An amazing lunch downtown followed, filled with fabulous conversation, laughter, stories, and salads that looked like artwork and tasted like heaven! We ended our day with an hour of 'Antiquing' finding little old bits and pieces to bring home for future artworks and inspiration.
I only wish the day didn't have to end so quickly... Time with dear friends is ALWAYS too short!!! In honor of FRIENDSHIPS near and far, and 1000 posts, I've decided to have another give-away. On Sunday I will have a drawing for 3 WINNERS, First prize will be a MADAME CROW FORTUNE TELLER KIT, with fall colors of your choice, second and third prize will be KIT's to create your own little FAIRY CART, similar to the one's Nicol and I made yesterday. Leave a comment here or send me an email before Sunday if you wish to join the fun... THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING PART OF MY BLOGGING FAMILY AND BELIEVING IN ME!!!
