It's almost time for the unveiling of The Fairy Forest, but I still have a few loose ends to tie up before the Great Reveal.
In no particular order, let us proceed...
About that office book shelf in the basement....After struggling to get a solitary shelf from the rather large, very heavy unit up two flights of stairs, I realized my desire for frugality was no match for my age and lack of physical strength. So I gave in and purchased an inexpensive particle board shelf unit to replace the behemoth in the basement, which I assembled on my own. The one in the cellar will now be donated to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, because they will come and pick it up - and carry it up from the basement.
I wasn't too far into the Fairy Forest project when my childhood love of playing dress-up was reawakened. I mean, what kind of magical woods isn't inhabited by real fairies?! The grandkids must have costumes for their play acting adventures! Inexpensive fairy wings for kids, as it turns out, are not too difficult to find. Even the dollar store had them in stock. And big flouncy, wispy skirts and dresses were easily obtainable too. My original dream included a tickle trunk with scads of dress-up items like capes, skirts, cloaks, plus accessories like hats, fairy wands, sceptres and the like. But alas, space in this particular fairy forest is at a premium, and since the children it is designed for do not actually live here, I opted for something a little simpler. Coat hooks. That way I can change up the costumes periodically to keep things interesting.
And I found just what I was looking for. After much searching I unearthed a set of four wooden hooks, appropriately shaped like mushrooms, and secured to the wall with double-sided tape. Perfect.
I have been remiss in not mentioning a couple of valuable sources when outfitting the dream closet. First, second-hand stores and thrift shops can be a wonderful source of materials for so many things, including toys, dress up clothing, fabrics such as sheets, draperies, for crafting into something new, furniture items and decorative accessories. I personally found the local thrift store to be a good source of pre-loved children's books.
Second on my list is second-hand book stores, both local and online. I have been able to locate and purchase a series of children's books that is no longer in print, but was a favourite when my daughter was growing up: The Biscuit, Buttons and Pickles Ivy Cottage series by E.J. Taylor. They proved to be a much better deal at online book stores than ebay! I am eagerly awaiting their arrival, and looking forward to sharing the treasures with my grandchildren! And I just might have to create the main characters Violet Pickles and Ruby Buttons to inhabit the forest. Recreate, I should say, as I have already made them once for my (grown-up) daughter.
Another incredible shopping source is the dollar store. The ones around here carry a decent selection of craft supplies, storage boxes and decorative items that can be used to contribute to the fairy forest theme. I am going to lump Giant Tiger in that group too, as I have discovered many inexpensive items there, including a small, very sturdy bookshelf that I have incorporated into the forest. It's a perfect size for little people, and just $25.
Finally. I would like to share the wonder of wall stickers when creating a theme. Unlike full wallpaper, the decals are inexpensive, simple to apply and add an additional touch of whimsy to a room. When we moved into this house, the smallest bedroom was decked out with a Winnie the Pooh theme, with all the favourite characters from the popular Disney franchise. Now an office, some of the decals have been removed by its current inhabitant, though enough still linger that Opa can feel right at home in the Hundred Acre Wood.
It won't be long now....
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