A Fairy Story Takes Flight: How did you do that?

You’re marveling at an unexpected moment of magic! I created the enchanting fairy garden scene. Over about an hour-and-a-half I captured seventy-eight photos. Out of the blue, a little chickadee decided to grace the pages of the fairy book with its presence! It was all the chickadee’s spontaneous doing!

People often ask me, “Where do you get your ideas?” The initial spark often comes from a vintage object or pretty flowers. The idea then leads to brainstorming and the search for the right pieces. Early morning is when I create a bird-sized scene. The photo shoot is a waiting game with delightful surprises. Come along and see the making of a Fairy Garden!

The Springboard: The Initial Spark

It’s funny how a simple idea can blossom into a scene. This past Sunday, Brian and I took a wander through the enchanting House on Willow in Adamstown. And there they were, like a little treasure!

Tucked away, I found three charming little “Flower Fairies” books by the remarkable Cicely Mary Barker: Flower Fairies of the Wayside, The Fairy Necklaces, and A Flower Fairy Alphabet. Her artwork is pure magic – all delicate lines and soft colors, making tiny fairies look like they truly live amongst the petals and leaves.

For quite a while, I’ve wanted to capture a stack of small books in a photo. These were just perfect! The moment I saw them, I could picture it: a sweet little fairy garden scene, just the right size for our feathered friends to discover. The path to a perfect scene for the birds is a series of little challenges to overcome. Stay tuned to see how this dreamy idea comes to life through the lens!

Brainstorming: Weaving the Magic

Back home, the creative wheels kept turning! As I wandered through our yard, it was like the perfect pieces for this little fairy world were just waiting to be discovered. Pink bleeding hearts have a swooping way of framing a scene. They were a must! And the soft lavender of the woodland phlox? Absolutely the perfect size and hue to dance alongside those pink hearts. Then I spotted the barrenwort – those delicate little yellow flowers were just enchanting! And to tie it all together, the periwinkle would create a beautiful groundcover. The vision for this tiny fairy garden for the birds was really starting to bloom!

And of course, what’s a fairy garden without those whimsical toadstools? Our woods aren’t exactly a mushroom mecca, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon these ingenious little mushroom creations at a flower and garden show! They were crafted from natural plant pods. Get this, an upside-down lotus pod makes the perfect mushroom cap! Suddenly, the fairy landscape was complete with its very own little fungal wonders!

Then the next little puzzle popped into my head: How were these fairy tale books actually going to look? Just plunking them in a neat stack felt a bit…blah, you know? Not very whimsical at all! So, off to the internet I went, scrolling through photos of books for a little visual inspiration. And then I saw it – a book with its pages all artfully fanned out! Now that had some magic to it! But, the big question: how on earth do you get book pages to do that on command? I started gently coaxing the pages, trying to break them in a little. It was a start, but they still weren’t quite cooperating. Then a little lightbulb went off: what if I tucked tiny toothpicks between each page? And wouldn’t you know it – success! Those little books were finally ready for their whimsical garden debut.

Oh, but wait! There was just one tiny detail I hadn’t quite figured out yet. Where would our little feathered visitors find a snack in this magical garden? I always have a soft spot for vintage treasures, and wouldn’t you know it, I had a little demitasse cup tucked away. It was so dainty, even my smallest feathered friends might accidentally tip it over. But a few little pebbles nestled in the bottom? Problem solved! Now our fairy bird garden would not only be beautiful but also offer a little snack station.

Creating: Crafting the Miniature World

The next morning, I was up with the birds (literally!) and ready to bring this fairy garden to life. Around 6:30 am, (after a couple cups of coffee) the creative energy was flowing. Fresh, green moss from our woods would be a wonderful carpet for the scene. Out came my trusty metal spatula – it makes scraping up the moss a breeze! Old, beat-up cookie trays came in handy for transporting the earthy goodness to our deck. You know, it always takes a surprising amount of moss to create that lush carpet on the feeding platform.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the fairy garden build, a labor of love that unfolded over about two hours. The soft light of morning gradually washes over the scene.

The Photo Shoot: Lights, Camera, Birds!

The little demitasse cup was filled with a tempting mix of black-oil sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts, and those wriggling treats: live mealworms. The photography started around 8:40 am and would last for about an hour and a half, until 10:15 am. Then came the delightful anticipation: who would discover the little garden? And what would unfold? Mama bluebird, ever the prompt guest, arrived quickly and perched on the demitasse cup exactly as I had imagined! Soon after, a little chickadee followed her lead. I was overjoyed to get some shots of two birds! A nuthatch perched atop one of the little mushroom caps, seemingly waiting its turn as the chickadee grabbed a seed. Then, both Mama and Papa bluebird posed together! Birds certainly have a knack for the unpredictable. Then something absolutely astounding happened –  a chickadee perched on the fanned-out pages of the fairy books! You could have knocked me over with a feather. Birds always fill me with wonder!

“A Fairy Story Takes Flight” is available online at AzarElGreetings as a photo, giclée canvas print, or metal. This is one of the most magical moments in all my years of photography!

Just think of it…all this magic began with the little discovery of three utterly delightful fairy books by Cicely Mary Barker. Combining the flowers, demitasse cup, and mushrooms brought the magic to life. The early morning, with its vibrant chorus of birdsong, makes crafting the scene a true delight. The unexpected antics of the birds turn still-life into a lively, unpredictable drama. It’s a reminder that God’s smallest wonders often bring the greatest joy!

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