Wow! Here is where fairies are born!

The most amazing thing happened today as we journeyed through a remote part of Hob Knobby Hollow.This area is only known to magic elfin types, so you have to have an elfin guide to enter the realm. I could not believe it, but there stood a large tree with fairies hanging from it! What is this? My guide informed me that fairies are born from a butterfly-like cocoon. They hang from a tree as unborn nymphs until they have fully developed wings. One day they just flutter away in the breeze. If they don't develop wings, they become magic spirit elves and they just plop to the ground where a fairy may pick them up and place them in the safety of an unoccupied bird's nest. There are so many things I never knew!

My husband is helping me out by making fairy doors that are sized just right for my elfins. Here is his first door that will be for sale on ebay soon. It can hang on the wall.

Here is a baby elf that is safe in a bird's nest.

They go bump in the NIGHT!

Don't be scared, but the latest thing is votive holders that have a critter on top of a hollow log. So cool that I'm glad my sister put me in the frame of mind to make something that can be useful. The flameless votive gives a spooky aura to a display and here are my latest ones that will soon go to eBay.

This is a link to one on eBay now. I believe it ends today.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200710648607?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Big trouble here in the Hollow

Big trouble can come in small packages and we have been trying to figure out what is behind the disappearing items like spoons and socks, candy and chips. Who is lighting the candles, what is the cause of the general mayhem around here. We tried leaving cupcakes out with a bowl of milk, but still the mischievous mayhem continued. We found the answer to one mystery, the candles light themselves everyday at the same time which is a delight. The biggest excitement came when we found the culprit to many of the crimes,...meet Blinkitty a pesky sprite that was found red handed trying to cut off the wings of a sweet little fairy!. We trapped him in a cage, and there he sits looking so innocent. He is not. He pushed little Minnikin into the mud and was attacking her wings with nail clippers. Minnikin is fine now, although a bit traumatised. Blinkitty is better off in a cage for now. They both will visit ebay today. I have vowed to get more little ones in my Etsy shop and I'm about to lunch my latest additions. I've been off for a bit working on finishing techniques and testing new materials.

A gathering of Nobbins at dusk

You may not see a Nobbin during the day, but that is deceiving, because at dusk they emerge to greet the evening. So view them in the setting sun, carry a torch and be prepared to run.

A fairy ring in the night

What is that light glowing in the woods in the dark of night? A ring of elves and fairies and other strange creatures is what it is!

Amazing Hummingbird

About 20 miles outside of Hob Knobby Hollow is an amazing sight. A calliope hummingbird is still visiting long after departure time has come and gone. Our weather is quite wintry and we have had very cold temperatures. There are no blooming flowers for the little bird to get nectar from. No one has ever seen the calliope hummingbird in Indiana before so it is a first and truly amazing story. And a true story to this point :). Here at the Hollow, we can understand how the bird survives. She was adopted by a human family with a nectar feeder, but also is cared for by this little flower fairy. She has a magical garden that blooms even in winter and she shares her flowers with anyone who wants them. She will go to eBay today along with her hummer.

Group shot

Here is the group going to eBay between 6 and 7 est today. We have a mom and her baby, a baby Knop, a baby elf, and a dragon to go with the previously mentioned characters.

On eBay this week

Here is a picture of my guide with a pack on his back, all eager to be off. It didn't take us long to discover a Dinsele which is a vampire fairy originally from Romania. They appear as large cats that walk on their hind legs and wear clothes. This one is Torine and his teeth are showing. We didn't visit long because Dinselles like to wait on the edge of crossroads and suck blood from any humans that wander too close. We kept to the middle of the road and moved on along. If you should see one of these bizarre creatures, you can offer milk and bread, white bread is best. Here is a goblin that is dressed for the cold, except that his shoes have holes in them! He wears a key that shows us he has old world wisdom and is able to travel into the mystic realm that most Nobbins never see and humans can only wonder about.

For those who play with clay

This is a picture of my guide for the week. I like to make a Nobbin elf that has a pack each week. I am showing this picture of the legs made of Super Sculpey. I like to experiment and I haven't used this clay in a long time. Now I know why. You can see that the legs which have been baked for the second time, have turned very dark. Super Sculpey doesn't allow me to do the multi- baking method that I use. The other parts of the sculpt are done in Original Prosculpt. That is sold on ebay by Jack Johnson, a doll artist himself. I will not use any other type of flesh clay because his is the best by far. It models nicely, and never gives me problems. The shoes (and later the clothes) are made of Sculpey Ultralight. It is a great clay that does not need conditioning beyond some easy squeezes. It also paints like a dream. You may want to give it a try. These are a couple of characters coming soon.

Sad News from the Hollow

I hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays! I had a few days off and then it was back to work..er.. play. I must first start off on a sad note. Here is the headline in my local paper. Versailles State park is next to the Hollow and my home (my big back yard). A dog was on a leash and was killed by a hidden raccoon trap that the park people had placed in the gully. I have taken my pictures in those gullies and my dog explores them all the time. We never had a clue there were traps in some of them. Her dog was probably a troll-sniffing dog like mine and they are especially attracted to those places because that is how Nobbins safely cross the street. I know fox, beaver, opossums and other wonderful wildlife are living there and we are grieved to think of traps. I won't go on as I have many new things to show you this week that I hope to start listing on eBay tonight and tomorrow.