Fairy Houses: How to Create Whimsical Homes for Fairy Folk

433 Pages·2016·83.15 MB·English

by  Sally J. Smith

FAIRY HOUSES
How to Create Whimsical Homes for Fairy Folk
Sally J. Smith
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
INSPIRATIONS: DESIGNING WITH NATURE
CHAPTER 2
BLUEPRINT FOR A FAERIE HOUSE
CHAPTER 3
ITTY BITTY NITTY GRITTY: CREATING MAGICAL FAERIE HOUSE COMPONENTS
CHAPTER 4
ADDING TWINKLE AND STYLE: LIGHTING AND INTERIORS
CHAPTER 5
FINISHING TOUCHES: ROOFS, BASES, AND EXTERIOR DETAILS
CHAPTER 6
BUILDING A FAERIE HOUSE FROM THE GROUND, UP
INDEX
DEDICATION
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CONVERSIONS
INTRODUCTION
T
his book is definitely a different kind of faerie book. It will take you from
the world of dreams and imagination right down to the earth by way of practical
matters—learning how to actually construct and build detailed faerie house
creations of your very own. It’s filled with nuts and bolts, practical information,
and step-by-step guides that teach you how to build your own enchanting
creations.
I’ve written this book with the skillful crafter in mind. If you’ve never made
anything with your hands before, you may find the tutorials in these pages a bit
challenging, so start with the beginner projects. If you have some experience
with putting things together, this book will open new doors of creativity for you.
Our main focus will be houses built in the craft studio (not outdoors), though I
will cover some of the basics of outdoor constructions. This book presents basic
faerie house construction as a series of steps or phases. First, you’ll make the
small elements, such as windows and doors. Then you’ll construct the main body
of the house. Finally, you’ll put it all together and place it in the landscape. It
may sound simple, but there are loads of tricks and detailed techniques that I
share in this book to make the projects easier for you. I’ve developed these over
the past decade with practice, trial, and error, so you don’t have to make the
same mistakes.
A word to parents of crafty kids: This book may be suitable for talented older
kids, as well as young adults who want to learn more about this subject. I find
that young people learn a great deal about structure, form, design, and ingenuity
by taking up the craft of faerie house building. Perhaps they are budding
architects or engineers in the making, or stage designers or movie-makers trying
architects or engineers in the making, or stage designers or movie-makers trying
to develop their dreams and visions. If so, this book may be helpful to them
because we cover various construction methods in miniature that they may be
able to apply to their own creative projects. These houses are works of art,
however—not toys—and should be treated as such.
I’ve written this book as I would speak if we were sitting together in my
studio and I was guiding you through your very own project. I hope that learning
some of these simple skills and methods will enable and embolden you to take
your creativity as far as you want. It is satisfying to make these little structures,
and everyone always benefits from more magic and creativity in their lives!
CHAPTER 1
Inspirations
DESIGNING WITH NATURE
W
hether you bring your tools and build onsite or take a few photos and go
home to conjure and create the perfect dwelling for the space you’ve discovered,
it’s always best to take your creative cues from the natural world around you. As
you look to nature for inspiration and building supplies, you may also find that
unexpected things happen, like discovering a perfect faerie nook. Perhaps this is
the faerie folk letting you know they approve!
Inspired by the tiger lilies that grace my garden every year, I built this tiny house to be enjoyed by the faeries
when the flowers are in full bloom.
The Cedar Basket House. This ephemeral structure encloses the charming space nestled between the trunks of
a few white cedars. It is made entirely from materials found nearby. The mushrooms were not present when
the house was built, but when I returned the next day to take the photos, they had all magically appeared.
Sometimes delightful things happen when we play respectfully with nature.
Autumn Leaf Gazebo. This observation gazebo perched over the small waterfall provides for ideal viewing of
red and golden autumn leaves drifting downstream. The bridge made from pinned-together autumn leaves
ensures that only the light-footed will be able to visit.