Fairies & Fairy Houses

Creating whimsical fairy houses in the woods is somewhat of a tradition in the Northeast, especially Maine and Vermont. Using tree stumps, mosses, twigs, acorns and other natural materials, children (and adults, too) fashion little dwellings, hoping the fairies will appreciate and use their gift to them. Learn a bit about these fairy houses and more as you explore this lens about fairies.

This fairy door is at Musterfield Farm in New Hampshire.

Is it the innocence and magic of childhood? Is it the desire to escape from the worries of our own world with all it's complications? Or, is it simply because they are so lovable?

On Mackworth Island in Maine, there is long-held tradition of building fairy houses in the woods and along the trails. It is truly THE fairy house island and known for its impromptu and fanciful fairy houses fashioned by visitors, or are some of them real fairy houses?

Here are two very special websites, one animated, which are showcasing Cicely Mary Baker, a children's book author and flower fairy artist who began her writing career in the 1920s. She gave us the whimsical and now iconic images of garden fairies dressed in flowers. Even if you don't know of Baker, you will probably recognize these fairy images. SCROLL DOWN to see two of her lovely books.

Here are some suggestions for natural materials to use in making your fairy house. I'm sure you can think of many more things to use. Gather them up and begin. Use your imagination. There is no right or wrong.

• an old hollow tree: the bones of a house
• acorn caps: dishes, finials & handles
• milkweed fluff: pillows & beds
• feathers: beds and decoration
• empty walnut shells: sinks & bowls
• Reeds and grasses: weave mats, rugs & blankets
• mosses: cushions, chairs & footstools

Why not also add furniture to your fairy house? Here are some sources and ideas for you.

Fairies so like to live near lovely, secluded flower beds. Maybe they feel like flowers themselves. Can they talk to the flowers? Are they, perhaps, half flower and half little person?

Are there fairies in the city? Sometimes you can only see the little doors leading to who-knows-where.

I made this!

Tracy Kane is a New England author and illustrator of a series of books and DVDs on building fairy houses. She participates in and holds special events for children around New England. Click through her site to see photos of fairy houses built by children and a listing of up-coming events.

Do you think that fairies are dancing with the flowers as they blow in the wind? Do they move so lightly that we cannot often see them?