Hattie & Hedgie

 
 

Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark

As the autumn winds whip through the forest, dancing through half bare branches, and loosing cascades of brilliant leaves in their wake—a dazzling confetti of gold and amber, the littler creatures move about the forest floor in a more subdued manner. There is much to be done before father frost comes nipping at their doorsteps. But it is done with a merry heart, for the woods are a festive place this time of year. If you stand and listen very carefully, you’ll hear their songs playing on the wind, the little folk. They’re singing of the colours, of cold nights, and raging bon fires. There are friendly meetings afoot in every nook and cranny, hidden from the untrained eye, neighbours exchanging gifts and stories.

Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark
Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark
Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark

Hattie & Hedgie stop to rest on a couple of toadstools. They’ve been gathering dried bracken for their bedding all morning (they share a small hollowed out birch by the widest part of the stream). Hattie pulls out a woven moss scarf that she’s been secretly working on all week, and wraps it around Hedgie’s neck, careful not to catch it on her spines. The loosely woven strands of moss that she’s tucked into her own skirt for warmth are not nearly fine as this. She smiles as Hedgie does a little spin.

Soon they’re on their way again. They can smell delicious wafts of turnip soup coming from the old birch, as they make their way down to the stream.

Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark
Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark
Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark
Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark
Hattie & Hedgie by Lavender & Lark

Hattie & Hedgie will be in my shop this evening at 7PM (ADT).

They’re one of a kind art dolls. They are entirely hand stitched from natural fibers (with the exception of the wings). Hattie’s dress is made from hand dyed silk ribbon and wool locks, her bodice and cap are made from plant dyed silk cocoons. She is carrying a satchel with tiny dried bracken on her back. They are $400 USD.

 

Eilidh ~ The Autumn Oak Faerie

 

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As the autumn darkness sets in, Eilidh (who's name means light), moves quietly over the moss and fallen leaves around the towering oak where she makes her home. She's collecting the tiny acorn caps the old oak has dropped from its ancient gnarled branches. Some are made into bouquets to decorate her little hollow, some used for bowls, and some to stoke her tiny fireplace when the autumn nights grow chilly. The acorns are ground up and made into a dark rich coffee, good for the cold winter nights that she knows will come all too soon.


 
 
by Lavender & Lark

A Song of the Woods

“My leaves are turning crimson,” the giant oak tree said,
“It’s almost time these children should seek their winter’s bed,
But how they still cling to me and gleam with crimson hue,
They truly are more lovely than cirrus clouds of blue.

By Winifred Sackville Stoner, Jr.


 
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Lavender & Lark
 

Eilidh is a one of a kind art doll. All of the wool and silk in this piece was hand dyed, mostly using natural dyes. She is entirely hand stitched from natural fibers (with the exception of her wings). Her dress is made from plant dyed silk, and she’s wearing a silk cocoon cap (also plant dyed). The acorn caps were lovingly collected from a huge old oak tree in England and are being carried in tea dyed silk cocoons.

She will be $330 (plus postage).

 

A Weekend of Faerie Making on Salt Spring


salt spring island workshop

~ Day one ~

Lavender & Lark workshop

Salt spring in autumn is a pretty magical place to begin with, and we were lucky enough to have a beautiful venue surrounded by forest and horses, with a view of the ocean. We spent two and a half days bringing eight little faeries to life, over many cups of tea and good conversation.


~ Making toadstools ~

Lavender & Lark Workshop
Lavender & Lark Workshop

It was incredible to see the wonderful and distinct little personalities that came out in each faerie. They were all so beautiful, and so different. We pour a lot of ourselves into our dolls, and when you have a group of eight very talented and lovely women, all kinds of magic happens!

Lavender & Lark Workshop
Lavender & Lark Workshop
Lavender & Lark Workshop

Lavender & Lark
Lavender & Lark workshop
Lavender & Lark workshop
lavender and lark workshop

Lavender & Lark workshop
Lavender and Lark workshop
Lavender & Lark workshop

It was such a privilege to spend a weekend with these incredible ladies, learning, laughing and sharing. I came away with such a full heart (I think we all did!).

Lavender & Lark workshop

Thank you!