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The Sentinel (Dried manna grass bodice, hobblebush skirt) Sentinels are, like the Amazons, a tribe of warrior females who protect the raths or "forts," the ancient fortifications in fields encircled by ditches. The Sentinels are always watching for human interference. They are most keen to keep Man away from the sacred fairy dens, so beware.  I'm going back to my roots on this creation as it is more earthy than the other prettier ones. But these are the true fairies, the elemental ones.  Adorned with hydrangea and a bit of bleached out tree lichen and Usnea.  Sitting pretty here on a frozen clump of evergreen.   ©Kay Stephens Far from sociable, these fairies are to be avoided at any cost. Pictured here are two sisters after the full moon we had recently. They were raised, as all Sentinels are, like the Amazons, a tribe of warrior females who protect the raths or "forts," the ancient fortifications in fields encircled by ditches. The Sentinels are always watching for human interference. Should you stumble into a field and see a curious mound of raised earth in a circle, know they are nearby, watching you. They have been known to attack people and dive into their hair like bats. They will lure you to the fort and drag you down for eternity. They are most keen to keep Man away from the sacred fairy dens, so beware. And don't ever go out walking alone on the night of a full moon.  ©Kay Stephens A closer look at one of the sisters. This one-of-a-kind fairy dress can be found at The Flower Goddess in Rockland with her own custom hanger ($45).  ©Kay Stephens And the other. Their decayed leaf bodice, dried bramble and bird-like wings allow them to blend seamlessly into the duff of a forest.
It was the strangest feeling to be able to walk across water, but far and away I did.  ©Kay Stephens I had no concept of time, and only realized it was dawn, when I found myself stumbling through the woods, past mossy rocks and through a path that had long been obscured by fallen trees.  ©Kay Stephens I walked until I came to an island surrounded by a moat within the woods, and I'll tell you something now, it chilled my blood to see it, for I knew at once what it was. My great grandmother, born in Cork, told my grandmother stories about this. It was a fort belonging to the sióga.  ©Kay Stephens "Personally , I never cut even as much as a thorn in that fort. 'Tis belongs to ...the unknown. I'll put it that way. The Good People. 'Tis there for generations, for longer than we're aware of , or know of. We don't know what the origin of it is, nor we don't know what them people are about. Just leave 'em alone." -Drumline, 19 September 2001 excerpt from Meeting The Other Crowd by Eddie Lenihan (with Carolyn Green)Gill & MacMillan 2003)  ©Kay Stephens Something flew by by ear, a heavy whirring of wings like the sound of a hummingbird. And his little thing, she flew right up to my face.  ©Kay Stephens "Child, you are far from home," she said in voice I can only describe as like hearing tree peepers at night, high and tiny like far off silver bells. I was so stunned I could only come up with a ridiculous reply. "I'm hardly a child. But, I shouldn't be here I know, please don't hurt me." The Others have their own way of collecting when they felt threatened. She hovered by my face and I got a good look at her as well. Her face was perfectly proportional, smaller than a doll's with a tiny crown of twigs atop her tightly coiled brown hair. Her dress, made of decayed leaves and brambles, blended right in with the bare trees in woods. "Stay," she said. "You are under my protection. Would you like to see where we live?"  I looked up. I looked around. I had no idea where I was, or how to get out of these woods. "It won't be for very long," she said. "Then I'll lead you back." I looked into her little face once again, into her wide brown eyes. "Okay," I said. "but I need to be back soon."
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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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