The Queen's Handmaiden These beauties now have a home at H&H Mercantile. If you didn't already know, The Wee Folk's Queen depends on these helpers, choosing them for their beauty, so they may assist in brushing her hair, carrying her silken spider web train of her gown, or sitting with her and playing music to while away the afternoons.  Made from birch bark and blue hydrangea growing on my property, this is a gorgeous, colorful reminder that fall produces the best hues in Maine. As most of my Queen's Handmaidens are a toasty, fawn color, this rare blue beauty is one of a kind. I won't make another until next summer. The Cranberry Fairy  This pretty one is made from paper birch and Highbush cranberry. She is an attractor of wildlife and pollinators, her dress serving as host plants to numerous butterflies and moths. Her role in the rath is to dance and sing when Spring comes alive.  This is one of my most popular "Wee Folk" handmade fairy dresses. The Queen's Handmaiden comes up from the rath to sun herself on a bed of purple, pink, and white wildflowers. It's nearing the time of Solstice, when they sing for the Goddess of Cold Darkness.  Her bodice is made from birch and her dress from hydrangea, adorned with a bit of moss for a sash.     It's that time of year again when the "Wee Folk" rath is eager to come up from underground, where they've spent a long winter. The Queen is looking forward to go outside and see the sun. Her lady in waiting is by her side.  Each one I make of a certain series is completely unique. It may have the same materials, but each is crafted with a slight variation. This one is made from birch and hydrangea.    Each dress comes with a bejeweled hanger. I've only made one of each for the spring season. You can find them at Good Natured in Liberty.   ©Kay Stephens Dwarfed by a forest of white stalked flora and purple wildflowers, The Queen's Handmaiden is dressed up and ready to serve on a hot spring morning.  ©Kay Stephens  ©Kay Stephens This Wee Folk Fairy is made with white birch bodice and a sun bleached hydrangea skirt and adorned with a sash of dried wildflower.  ©Kay Stephens  Mid-October. Can you feel the energy getting stronger?  The Queen and her rath have had a long, luxurious summer, but now they are busy preparing for their retreat underground. The Queen's Handmaidens are unusually busy, moving her things. Here's one, found taking a rest upon the changing maple leaves.  Here she is, close up. Her skirt is a blush of hydrangea; adorned by brambles and dried roses.  Her bodice is crafted from red birch and white birch collected on our property.   They're tricksy. Look at this one camouflaged next to a pot of white tulips.    Made with the dried buds of spring blooms. And here's another one made from a bodice of birch and beech leaf with hydrangea for a skirt.   Each is stitched up the back with thread and comes with a custom bejeweled hanger.  Here are two new iterations of Lady of the White Thorn and The Queen's Handmaiden  It's several days before the Winter Solstice and they are above ground catching the dawn light, which melds with their creamy, tawny colors. 
Each one I make of a certain series is completely unique. It may have the same materials, but each is crafted with a slight variation. This dress has a fern sash, a sepal applique and the back of the bodice is layered with poplar leaf.  And here, you have another version of The Queen's Handmaiden.  Here, I found the perfect curlicue to augment the dress for The Queen's Handmaiden.   All of these new dresses will soon be available at Brambles in Belfast and we will soon be working on an art series of dresses and photos for a gallery. Note: all designs and photographs © Kay Stephens
Another of the Queen's Handmaidens comes up from the rath to sun herself on an evergreen. It's nearing the time of Solstice, when they cling to the branches of pines and sing for the Goddess of Cold Darkness.  This one is made from grass and birch bodice and an underskirt from the palest pink/tawny petals of dried Hydrangea.  "Green is for the newborn Lord of the Forests, the Divine Sun Child who comes once more for the World."   ©Kay Stephens You don't see them; but they live among the summer wildflowers keeping the Queen amused. This is another of the Queen's Handmaidens adorned in a birch bodice, a dried hydrangea skirt and a ruffle of Silverrod at the throat.  ©Kay Stephens In Tanglewood, the Musk Mallow is a sign that the Queen resides nearby. They pluck the fruits and one-seeded nutlets for her meals.
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Tonic of the Woods
the inspiration behind the creations Photos, stories and concept ©Kay Stephens
Look up the story behind a fairy dress by clicking on the name below
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