Winter's Children

In the still quiet of midwinter wee folk travel unseen on bird and hare through the sleeping wood. 

They are gathering twigs and hollowed seed heads for their faerie hearths, wintergreen and bayberry for table and feast. 

If you wait, crouched unstirring beneath the cedars for long enough you may hear rising on the wind tiny whoops of laughter as they swoop and dart amongst the forest brush. 

Fionn & the Hare

Niamh and the Raven

Finnénn & Fionnait ~ The Twins

Oisín & Old Mother Squirrel

Winter's children will be in my shop at 8pm EST, today February 8th.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Then on she rode many many days, a weary time, before she got to the East Wind’s house, but at last she did reach it, and then she asked the East Wind if he could tell her the way to the Prince who dwelt east of the sun and west of the moon. Yes, the East Wind had often heard tell of it, the Prince and the castle, but he couldn’t tell the way, for he had never blown so far.

“But, if you will, I’ll go with you to my brother the West Wind, maybe he knows, for he’s much stronger. So, if you will just get on my back, I’ll carry you thither.”

Yes, she got on his back, and I should just think they went briskly along.

When they got there, they went into the West Wind’s house, and the East Wind said the lassie he had brought was the one who ought to have had thePrince who lived in the castle East of the Sun and West of the Moon; and so she had set out to seek him, and how he had come with her, and would be glad to know if the West Wind knew how to get to the castle.

“Nay,” said the West Wind, “so far I’ve never blown; but if you will, I’ll go with you to our brother the South Wind, for he’s much stronger than either of us, and he has flapped his wings far and wide. Maybe he’ll tell you. You can get on my back, and I’ll carry you to him.”

When they got there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell her the way to the castle that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon, for it was she who ought to have had the Prince who lived there.

“You don’t say so! That’s she, is it?” said the South Wind.

“Well, I have blustered about in most places in my time, but so far have I never blown; but if you will, I’ll take you to my brother the North Wind; he is the oldest and strongest of the whole lot of us, and if he don’t know where it is, you’ll never find any one in the world to tell you. You can get on my back, and I’ll carry you thither.”

Yes! she got on his back, and away he went from his house at a fine rate. And this time, too, she wasn’t long on her way.

So when they got to the North Wind’s house, he was so wild and cross, cold puffs came from him a long way off.

“Well,” said the South Wind, “you needn’t be so foul-mouthed, for here I am, your brother, the South Wind, and here is the lassie who ought to have had the Prince who dwells in the castle that lies East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and now she wants to ask you if you ever were there, and can tell her the way, for she would be so glad to find him again.”

“Yes, I know well enough where it is,” said the North Wind; “once in my life I blew an aspen-leaf thither, but, I was so tired I couldn’t blow a puff for ever so many days, after. But if you really wish to go thither, and aren’t afraid to come along with me, I’ll take you on my back and see if I can blow you thither.”

Yes! with all her heart; she must and would get thither if it were possible in any way; and as for fear, however madly he went, she wouldn’t be at all afraid.

--from East of the Sun and West of the Moon, by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen Jørgen Engebretsen Moe

Ginny Green thumb

What are you doing up in that tree Ginny Green Thumb, what do you see below?

And what is in that little jar you carry everywhere you go? 

No doubt some special fairy potion to make our gardens grow.

Ginny is a determined little sprite with a no-nonsense attitude and a serious green thumb. Gardeners would do well to leave little treats for her every now and then (her favourite is honey), she'll make sure your tomatoes always ripen to perfection.

Ginny is entirely hand stitched from natural fibres with the exception of her wings. Her tiny dress is made of hand dyed velvet and cotton; her wild hair is silk and mohair yarn and her delicate features are hand embroidered; her hat is hand dyed, sculpted silk. She stands in a needle felted toadstool garden of wool and silk. Her copper wire frame allows her limbs to be adjusted.