Small fairy house finished!

October 7, 2015October 4, 2016 / beneaththeferns / 4 Comments

I’m excited to be done with another paper mache fairy house! The inside will be left empty, since this fairy house belongs to my daughter (at least that’s what she believes, and I’m not going to try and convince a 2 year old that it doesn’t!). She loves to play in it, and in the past it has made a great “barn” for Sven and Christoph when she gets her Frozen dolls out!

I went with a grey color for the roof, since the other houses in the village have had a lot of warm brown tones.

The small accents around the fairy house windows are remnants from another project for my book, a laser-cut spiral staircase. I’m glad to put them to good use!

This year has been busy (having a baby!), so I’m glad I got a project done that I started a while back. If you want to visit the other fairy houses I’ve made so far, click HERE.

And if you’d like to see how the roof is built, click HERE.

Thanks for visiting!
~Jessi

A rare sighting…. The home of Fae maritimus

September 3, 2015September 4, 2015 / beneaththeferns / Leave a comment

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.

Summer fun! A beachy fairy garden theme ♥

July 24, 2015July 24, 2015 / beneaththeferns / Leave a comment

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

Baby fairies in the garden!

May 29, 2015May 29, 2015 / beneaththeferns / Leave a comment

I anticipate that this might be my last post for a while, as my husband and I are about to welcome our second child, a baby boy, into the world! Our two-year old daughter is so excited, and tells everyone “I’m ‘onna be a big sista!” So the only fitting way to share this experience is to imagine how our fairy friends might also celebrate the coming of a new little one… Here are a few of my favorites from Etsy, and they’d all make a great addition to any fairy garden! Just click the pictures to go to their shops on Etsy ♥

Tania from Fairy Shadow makes these adorable little Waldorf-inspired fairies, complete with a felt leaf to hide in! I love the tiny antennae and all the details in the leaves!

Garnett over at Garnetth makes little wee ones that are so natural, they look like something you might find if you start looking under all the leaves in your fairy garden!

There’s something about this sweet babe that really captures a newborn…maybe it’s the round little cheeks and button nose, but this polymer clay fairy reminds me of my own daughter when she was born! (By Jennifer at Gnome Woods)

I love how Agnes at Sacred Jewel matched tiny little wings with this sleeping fairy! The colors are so soft and muted, they fit right in with the milkweed cradle!

This sweetie looks like her wings are drying out, and when she wakes up, she might just be ready to explore her world! Paula at Trilliants makes amazingly realistic fairy figurines!

And finally, here is the exhausted momma fairy, grabbing a quick nap while she can before her little one wakes up again! (By The Little Hedgerow)

Thanks for reading, and hopefully I’ll be able to catch some sleep like the fairy above! Have a wonderful June, and I’ll return soon with another little fairy of my own 🙂

~ Jessi

Fairy garden accessories from fresh shops on Etsy

May 22, 2015May 22, 2015 / beneaththeferns / Leave a comment

Fairy gardens are one of the hottest new trends in gardening! A quick search on sites like Pinterest will show how many amazing artists are creating adorable treasures for the fairy folk. Among these talented artists are a few I found on Etsy with original ideas for creating fairy garden accessories and supplies. In such a big marketplace, these artisans have found their own niche. Check out these fresh shops and see if there isn’t something that you need in your own fairy garden! (Click each picture to go to their shops)

I’m in love with this fairy house! Look at all the details carefully carved into the side of the stump (RooPottery also offers all the other accessories you see in the picture in their shop)

These miniature fairy house windows will turn any regular stump into a home for our little friends! The color on each window seems to blend perfectly with the garden foliage around them. (By TGO2014)

This hobbit house is soooo cute, I can imagine creating a whole hillside full of them! (Aka, The Shire!) Kara does an amazing job, and sells the hobbit house as a kit, allowing the customer to personalize each fairy garden as they create it. (By Mossy Pocketss)

Next is an elegant little chair, fit for fairy royalty! I love the way the jewels sparkle and accent the purple flowers in the background. What color flowers would you plant next to this adorable fairy chair? (By Fairy Fountain Minis)

I’m blown away at all the detail that Michelle from Fairy Creek Lane has put into this little clothesline! Each heart is hand-crocheted, and attached with a miniature clothespin. Sooo cute!

This little hummingbird feeder looks so real, I wouldn’t be surprised if real hummingbirds stop by to check it out! The Enchanted Acorn makes these miniature feeders in different colors and styles to match the look of your unique fairy garden.

This miniature fence and gate are a perfect way to separate different sections of your fairy garden (I can imagine rich, green moss on the outside, and a miniature vegetable garden on the inside!) Cammy from the Misty Hollow Pixie has lots of other fairy garden supplies in her shop to go with this sweet little fence!

And finally, a fairy house so detailed and intricate, I want to move right in! Molly from Smoky Mountain Follies has an incredible eye, and has left nothing out on this magical house that started out as a garden gourd!

I have a feeling we’ll see lots of amazing creations from these fresh shops, and can’t wait to see what they add to their shops next!

~Jessi

How to draw attention to your fairy garden.

May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 / beneaththeferns / 3 Comments

My fairy gardens are always in need of something “special” to catch my eye. Perhaps it is the little “pop” of red, with sprinkles of white, but one of the most eye-catching additions to any miniature garden are little toadstools (otherwise known as the fly amanita mushroom). This is no accident, mind you. There is actually some science behind it…

The color wheel: each color has a complementary color that is their opposite, in this case, green and red.

Basic art classes will discuss in detail the way colors interact with each other, and the contrasting (or complementary) color to green is red. Since most plants are green (wait, they’re all green!), the best way to get someone’s attention is to add something red to the mix! Just look at the way the pictures below are surrounded by the green background of my page…sort of like a real garden.

Need some ideas to get started? Here are a few of my favorites…(Click on each picture to find out where to purchase ♥)

Fairy garden furniture by The Enchanted Acorn

I love these mushroom chairs and table! (The Enchanted Acorn!)

Fairy garden supply accessory mushroom bird house

This little bird (or gnat!) house is so sweet and tiny! The white really looks great with the red of the roof. (By Broken Sparrow Studio)

Fairy garden sign with mushroom supplies by The Ltttle Hedgerow

I love miniature mushroom accents this lovely fairy garden sign. (By The Little Hedgerow)

This mushroom house could fit just as well inside your house. (By Paris Cabinet)

Fairy garden supplies mushroom by The Edgewater Shop

This fairy house is so small and delicate….check out the door handle that is made from a little gemstone! (By The Edgewater Shop)

Fairy gardens accessories miniature mushroom by Fairy Creek Lane

Another incredibly detailed fairy house! The cap is made from an acorn, and look at the carefully place moss around the door! (By Fairy Creek Lane)

Don’t they just pop off the page? I want to add them all to my fairy garden! Check out the link on each picture to see other fairy garden supplies and accessories that each of these talented shops offer ♥

~Jessi

Spring fairy house

May 4, 2015May 4, 2015 / beneaththeferns / Leave a comment

I recently had some family over, and my two nieces helped create an imaginative fairy garden made from spring flowers. There are lots of fun accessories for the fairies to play on, from swings to a hammock!

Little people love helping…

I love this fairy swing!

The window of the fairy house and a tulip tower…

The completed fairy garden. To see the entire post with many more detailed pictures, click HERE!

The winners from The Great Annual Miniature Garden Contest!

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 / beneaththeferns / 1 Comment

Woo Hoo! The results are in, and I’m SOOO excited so say that my entry for the Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Contest won the “Best Fairy Garden” category!!! Considering all the other amazing miniature gardens that people made, I feel so honored to be given this award! Follow the link below to check out some of the other miniature garden entries…

The WINNERS from The Great Annual Miniature Garden Contest!.

And here was my entry…