beach

Recently I went camping on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, and was delighted to find the very rare dwelling of the fairy type, Fae maritimus. Otherwise known as the common beach fairy, F. maritimus is well known for weaving their homes from the durable grasses that line saltwater beaches. I was very cautious when approaching this house, as I was unsure whether the residents were at home or not…

Just as I approached the home, a group of tourists walked by, and I, not wanting to draw attention to the home of F. maritimus, left the area quickly. And later I realized what a good move that was, for this house was indeed inhabited. When I returned later that evening, the owner of the home was inside, and I could see them moving around (most likely preparing the evening meal).

I watched from afar, my telephoto lens allowing me a closer glimpse of the house. I could make out that the door is crafted from seaweed, carefully hung from a reed to protect the interior of the home from the elements.

While a common type of fairy, F. maritimus gains the reputation of being rare, simply because their dwellings blend into the surroundings so well. They live on both the east and west coasts, and on the shore of other inland bodies of water.

I left before I made my presence known, as I did not want to disturb the owner of this house. I plan to return, as I admire these fairies who make the gusty sea shore their home.

Fairy gardens are fun no matter what time of year it is! To celebrate the hot days of summer, this week I’m featuring some beachy-themed fairy garden accessories. Just click on each picture to be taken to their Etsy store ♥

Up first are some amazing nautical doors created by the talented hands of Alicia at MiniWhimsies. I couldn’t decide which door I liked better, so I had to include them both! Alicia has an amazing vision, and makes her doors fit seamlessly with her theme.

Next are some adorable little flip-flops and a woven basket created by Plamena at Plad. Plamena’s work has been a favorite of mine for many years… and these little beauties look soft and whimsical, like a perfect day at the beach!

And what day at the beach is complete without a little something cold and bubbly? Pam from Landscapes in Miniature has provided the refreshments today with a little bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice.

These charming bedrolls were made by Pam at BitsandpiecesbyPam. They look like a sleeping bag I had when I camped out as a kid!

Here is another gorgeous little piece that has been in my favorite box on Etsy for years… Orly from Orlydesign has captured the misty feel of the coast in her little house just perfectly!

I had to revisit Alicia at MiniWhimsies (The artist who made the doors above) for this spectacular sand castle, made from polymer clay! If you want a nautical feel in your fairy garden, this castle will bring that! I love the blue and white accents with the sandy color and texture of the rest of the castle…

And finally, this little lighthouse and boat are just too cute! They are perfect by themselves, or add them to a fairy garden… Edna from Ednapio has created a sweet little pair here!

Maybe I just love the beach because I grew up in the midwest, and only had the Great Lakes to look at.. I could imagine what the “real” ocean looked like, and always told myself I’d go there. Well now I’m a west-coaster, and all these beautiful fairy garden accessories sum up the beach experience for me: sand, water, and a touch of magic!

Thanks for looking, and remember to click on those pictures if you want to learn more about each item!

♥ Jessi