fairy crafts with Harvey

The Blue Star Gazette

	Fairy Crafts with Harvey! By Harvey Randall Like Samhain, Beltane is the time when the veil between the two worlds is at its thinnest and most fragile. Beltane is the time of the year when the fairies wake from their winter sleep. They are restless, full of energy and delight and just a little bit of mischief! On the eve of Beltane, it is said that the Queen of the Faeries rides. If you stay quiet and hidden beneath a tree, you may hear the sound of her white steed’s bells as she rides by. In the old days, on the eve of Beltane, people used to put rowan branches on their doors and windows to protect them from the fairies meddling. You can do this and more if you do not wish the fairies to come for a visit. A Fairy Spell for Beltane Outside, in your favorite secret place, spread a green cloth. Make a circle of flowers, crystals and gems, and remember that fairies love the color pink! Keep in mind that the fairies are most likely watching you as you say the following words.... “O Fairy Queen, Upon your white steed, Within me plant A magic seed. From you may spring Many new beginnings. Great Queen, Accept these offerings.” Walk around your little altar three times and then leave it all behind as you walk home, not looking back. Keep your ears peeled for the sounds of laughter and bells ringing, for you are blessed! Leave the items and walk around the altar three times, then slowly walk the path back to your home. Listen for the sound of laughter and bells and know you are blessed! Naturally Dyed Fairy Eggs One of the greatest treats that you can leave the fairies are naturally dyed eggs. This year, do not bother with the smelly store bought chemical egg dye. Although naturally dyed eggs are not as bright, they are subtle and gorgeous. With just a few herbs and ingredients, you can create many special gifts for your local fairies. You will need: dyestuff (be creative! try red cabbage for a blue color, turmeric for yellow, onion skins for a yellow-brown, coffee for brown, beets for pink, cochineal for fuschia, etc.) eggs (room temperature) white vinegar What to do: Put your dyeing ingredients in a pot of about a quart of water and bring to boil. Add two tablespoons of white vinegar and the eggs and simmer for about half an hour. Remove the heat and let the eggs cool in the dyed water. Remove the eggs and rinse them in warm water. Don’t touch them too much, set them aside and let them dry. Fairy Furniture The fairies are sure to be tired from all the dancing and playing they do. Why not help them rest by making some furniture! Here is how to make a fairy chair, but the same technique can be used to make beds, coaches, or tables. You will need: bendy twigs, vines, moss, leaves and dried flowers pruners or strong scissors for the twigs needle and thread hot glue gun ribbons, bells and other decorations What to do: 1. Cut the twigs into one long piece that will make the back of the chair and the back legs 2. Cut four equal length pieces that will form the two front legs and the seat 3. Bend the long twig and glue one of the small twigs in between the two ends to make the seat. 4. Glue on each side of the bent twig facing towards you a smaller twig to make the sides of the seat 5. Glue the front piece of the seat to these side twigs. Then glue the front legs to the seat so that the chair legs are even. 6. Decorate! Wrap vines around the chair legs. Sew moss or leaves to make the seat or back of the chair. Glue dried flowers along the top of the chair. 7. Place your furniture outside for the fairies! The Blue Star Gazette Your guide to an naturally inspired, magical lifestyle Brought to you by a community of those involved in the healing arts. Please contact the authors and sponsors of the Blue Star Gazette on-line (www.the bluestargazette.net) and tell them you saw their work here! Don't miss an issue! Subscribe and receive each edition for only $21. Just send your editor an email and we'll get it set jai@earthdancepress.com. Feel free to call me at the office at 360-379-blue(2583).

Fairy Crafts with Harvey!
By Harvey Randall

Like Samhain, Beltane is the time when the veil between the two worlds is at its thinnest and most fragile. Beltane is the time of the year when the fairies wake from their winter sleep. They are restless, full of energy and delight and just a little bit of mischief! On the eve of Beltane, it is said that the Queen of the Faeries rides. If you stay quiet and hidden beneath a tree, you may hear the sound of her white steed’s bells as she rides by. In the old days, on the eve of Beltane, people used to put rowan branches on their doors and windows to protect them from the fairies meddling. You can do this and more if you do not wish the fairies to come for a visit.

A Fairy Spell for Beltane
Outside, in your favorite secret place, spread a green cloth. Make a circle of flowers, crystals and gems, and remember that fairies love the color pink! Keep in mind that the fairies are most likely watching you as you say the following words....
“O Fairy Queen,
Upon your white steed,
Within me plant
A magic seed.
From you may spring
Many new beginnings.
Great Queen,
Accept these offerings.”
Walk around your little altar three times and then leave it all behind as you walk home, not looking back. Keep your ears peeled for the sounds of laughter and bells ringing, for you are blessed!
Leave the items and walk around the altar three times, then slowly
walk the path back to your home. Listen for the sound of laughter
and bells and know you are blessed!

Naturally Dyed Fairy Eggs
One of the greatest treats that you can leave the fairies are naturally dyed eggs. This year, do not bother with the smelly store bought chemical egg dye. Although naturally dyed eggs are not as bright, they are subtle and gorgeous. With just a few herbs and ingredients, you can create many special gifts for your local fairies.

You will need:
*dyestuff (be creative! try red cabbage for a blue color, turmeric for yellow, onion skins for a yellow-brown, coffee for brown, beets for pink, cochineal for fuschia, etc.)
*eggs (room temperature)
*white vinegar
What to do:
Put your dyeing ingredients in a pot of about a quart of water and bring to boil. Add two tablespoons of white vinegar and the eggs and simmer for about half an hour. Remove the heat and let the eggs cool in the dyed water. Remove the eggs and rinse them in warm water. Don’t touch them too much, set them aside and let them dry.

Fairy Furniture
The fairies are sure to be tired from all the dancing and playing they do. Why not help them rest by making some furniture! Here is how to make a fairy chair, but the same technique can be used to make beds, coaches, or tables.
You will need:
*bendy twigs, vines, moss, leaves and dried flowers
*pruners or strong scissors for the twigs
*needle and thread
*hot glue gun
*ribbons, bells and other decorations
What to do:
1. Cut the twigs into one long piece that will make the back of the chair and the back legs
2. Cut four equal length pieces that will form the two front legs and the seat
3. Bend the long twig and glue one of the small twigs in between the two ends to make the seat.
4. Glue on each side of the bent twig facing towards you a smaller twig to make the sides of the seat
5. Glue the front piece of the seat to these side twigs. Then glue the front legs to the seat so that the chair legs are even.
6. Decorate! Wrap vines around the chair legs. Sew moss or leaves to make the seat or back of the chair. Glue dried flowers along the top of the chair.
7. Place your furniture outside for the fairies!

The Blue Star Gazette

Your guide to an naturally inspired, magical lifestyle

Brought to you by a community of those involved in the healing arts. Please contact the authors and sponsors of the Blue Star Gazette on-line (www.the bluestargazette.net) and tell them you saw their work here! Don't miss an issue! Subscribe and receive each edition for only $21. Just send your editor an email and we'll get it set jai@earthdancepress.com. Feel free to call me at the office at 360-379-blue(2583).