Thursday, May 13, 2010

Bubbles, balloons and a bit of chafing...


The BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child Market was heaps of fun. And my faerie wanderings were also lots of fun. A crackin' day. Happy kids. Lots and lots of lovely handmade goodies. What else could one ask for on an Autumnal Saturday in Brisneyland!!

 

So I wandered, I blew bubbles at happy toddlers who waved their arms in the air, gave balloons to kids who were sometimes torn between wanting one and not wanting to be approached by a grown-up who looked like they'd got caught in the fairy floss machine; and generally chatted, gave out flyers, and made sure everyone knew about all the extra special things happening on the day (my kids LOVED the badge/pocket mirror making by Red Seed Studio, and the colouring-in competition).



I must also say that the face-painters who were there on the day (Wowee Creations - I can't not give them a plug, I was so impressed with their work) were just fantastic. Having a school-age kid myself I have been witness to a lot of very very average face-painting, so was super-happy to see the amazing professional designs that were being pumped out on the day.

I even indulged myself with some pretty stars!!!


And of course it would be so wrong for the kids to have mum dress up for the day and not dress up themselves. So I made Kate a matching fairy dress-up and Lee donned his 'King' costume, and we all hammed it up as we paraded around the market, trailing a stream of rainbow bubbles in our wake. So much fun! 




And surely no mother and child market is complete without a snow cone. I must say, at the end of the day (when the chafing from the wings and the pinching of my shoes was becoming more difficult to ignore) the sour grape snow cone was a yummy and welcome relief.



For more pics of all the amazing stalls and general market pics, visit the BrisStyle blog for their market wrap-up post. And a fairy good day to you all :)

Sunday, May 2, 2010

...and I will wander everywhere...

 

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough briar,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,



 I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
 
             
  I must go seek some dew-drops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.
Farewell, thou lob of spirits, I'll be gone; 
My queen and all her elves come here anon! 

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II, Fairy, Scene I


Yes, only seven days until I go a-wandering. As a Faerie. As you do!

I'm currently putting together a costume for the BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child market (next Saturday 8 May). I won't have a stall, but I will be there as the wandering BrisStyle Faerie, handing out balloons, flyers, blowing bubbles, and taking care of the colouring-in table (if you're bringing kiddies make sure you get them to enter the colouring-in competition - there's $25.00 Etsy Vouchers to be won!!!).


I will also be making sure everyone knows about the face-painting, the fairy-floss, the badge-making, the snow-cones, and all other fun that is to be had by children. After all, this market is just as much about the kids as it is about the mums!
And hey, it's a hard gig - dressing up as a faerie and poncing about all day. But I'm doin' it for the kiddies. No really. I am. Ahem..

I will also have a little sprite come and help me for an hour on the day. I consider her my 'faerie in training'. She has already announced herself as the 'Faerie Bubbleblower'. Of course I have made her a  woodland faerie head wreath to match my own.


They are super fun to make - if you want to give it a try I suggest you check out this great 'floral head wreath tutorial', or follow these 'head wreath' instructions. However although I did check these out I actually did mine kinda different. In a 'no rules' freeform kinda fashion just using what I already had around. Because being a faerie is all about embracing the random chaotic-ness of nature and creativity. And well, I'm just not that good at following rules anyway...

....oh,  and when I grow up, I want to live in this lady's world. If you're not sure whether you can be bothered clicking the link to check it out let me whet your appetite with a sneak peak of just one of her stunning creations (which has provided me with the inspiration for the making of my own faerie costume....on a much smaller scale and budget obviously :)


I'll be back to post an update of the finished costume. Until then, be well human mortals...