Celebrity Fairy artist Myrea Pettit honours the memory of her mentor and friend  Swedish illustrator Ann Mari Sjogren who died this summer aged 92. Famed for her book A Day in Fairyland which a world of post WWII baby boomers grew up on. Myrea’s new picture ‘Daisy Chain’ is a fitting tribute to the unending link and connection to the World of Fairy.

Daisy Chain

Theo van Joolen New York’s own Fairy Poet’ with timely words hits New York Fashion Week

A Fairy’s Winter Outfit (see link)

When Lady Autumns’ golden rays
Begin to say adieu
A fairy with a fashion sense
Must think of something new

Silken sleeves and petal skirts
Possess a certain flair
But won’t pass fairy muster
In the frost and chilly air

Bunny’s fur and spider’s web
Were popular last year
But much too hard to harvest
And the weaving I can’t bare

The fuzzies from the goose’s wing
Are easy to accrue
I’m always very nice to them
They let me sift right through

The friendly flocks flew south before
I made my bold request
The thought of wearing hand-me-downs
Put my senses to the test

I pondered my dilemma
While strolling through the glade
And spied a natural haute couture
That seemed most ready-made

Such smooth and downy elegance
With moonlight’s silver sheen
This fabric throughout fairyland
On me just MUST be seen!

For me to make a statement
I knew I could not share
I’d need garments and accessories
And style beyond compare

My fairy sweet acquired for me
This robe of winter’s bloom
By picking all the plush supply
Of dandelion’s plume

I donned my soft and fluffy gown
And strutted with such pride
Grinned at my fairy sisters
Whose eyes beamed open wide!

Winter fashion’s highest prize
Would be mine this day…
But then a mighty gust of wind
Blew all my my clothes away.

Winter Outfit ©Myrea Pettit

Fairies Art Studio by David Riché -Myrea Pettit and Yishan Studio now available in Dutch ‘Digitaal elfen tekenen’  distributed in Netherlands and published by Librero   -  www.librero.nl

Digitaal elfen tekenen

Fairies Art Studio by David Riché -Myrea Pettit and Yishan Studio now available in Italian, ‘Un Mondo Di Fate’  distributed in Italy and published by LOGOS

Un Mondo di Fate

At 72  and affectionately known as the Fairy Godfather, and a decade as an author David Riché known for championing young fairy and fantasy artists in his books, decided to try his hand at wife Myrea’s acrylics and painted this portrait over the weekend of their daughter Charleigh. ” I needed to know what drives these wonderful artists, no sooner had I started I found I was fascinated, completely hooked and couldn’t stop, and that bit was the hardest part, knowing when to say I’ve finished! I have a totally new high regard for the creative imagination and skills of artists , just wish I had started when I was young”

Charleigh Riché a portrait by her dad, David Riché

Swedish artist Ann Mari Sjögren passed away peacefully early on Sunday 11 July 2010, her legacy to thousands of families and friends worldwide who spent a Day in Fairyland with her, and will continue to do so.

Ann Mari Sjögren

Over 92 years old, yet still alert and full of humour here she goes out to talk with Per Arne Skansen in late June 2010. There is some general talk (in Swedish) about the weather and daily routines then after some discussion in Swedish about the sunset in the evening, they turn to English. This treasured dialogue from probably the oldest known Fairy Artist in the World who made her fame with her book A Day in Fairyland published in 1947 and many subsequent books, pictures and illustrations, is all the more poignant.

Fairies are not the friendly creatures you think, Dr Bob Curran investigates the folkloric roots of the fairy kind, tracing their origins from the sprites and maenads of classical times to the sanitized versions of the English Victorians. Illustrated by Ian Daniels this book will enlighten those who wish to know that fairies are not always doing good as Disney might have us believe, it is time that centuries of folklore are examined, enlightening new believers their connection. Dark Fairies  is a must read for any fae follower.

Dark Fairies

Dark Fairies

Dark Fairies

ISBN-13: 987-60163-110-7 Published 2010 Career Press.

Click here to purchase Dark Fairies by Bob Curran

Simply Read Books is excited to announce the release of a beautiful new book by renowned illustrator and artist Jessica Albarn, entitled The Boy in the Oak. In this magical tale, Albarn tells the story of a lonely young boy and the journey he takes upon discovering an old oak tree in the garden of his family home.

The Boy in the Oak draws on the grand tradition of fairytales, demonstrating not only Albarn’s skill as an illustrator through her delicate and ethereal drawings, but her profound connection with children and the enchanting nature of the childhood experience. This is a story of good and bad faeries and ancient Druidic oaks: a tale where nature is powerful, demanding and ultimately just, and which promises to appeal to young and old alike.

The Boy in the Oak is a beautiful collector’s item, enlaced with opaque layers of acetate, which are interwoven with the illustrated pages. To celebrate this new release, there will be an exhibition of drawings taken from the book, which will be on display at the Gallery in Liberty, London from 17 June – 11 July.

Jessica Albarn will also host a special event and reading from Boy in the Oak as part of this year’s House of Fairytales at the Port Eliot Literary Festival in July.

About the Artist:
Jessica Albarn is a fine artist who studied sculpture, painting, drawing and printmaking at Middlesex University, London. Inventor of an interactive toy called Brainbow, and a finalist at the BFIY (British Female Inventor of the Year) awards, Jessica prizes a connection with the magical time of her childhood, and this inspires much of her work.

She has exhibited extensively around London , most recently a solo show at the Nelly Duff Gallery. She has collaborated with Modus Design Co., Helmut Lang NYC on their spring /summer collection followed by an exhibition spread across 4 venues In Tokyo and Oasis for their Designer Collective collection last Autumn. Jessica has also published a limited edition book Bee-headed with Cederteg Publishing in Sweden.
Fascinated by nature, Jessica has worked closely with insects and spiders in all of her art, finding beauty in all creatures, dead or alive. As a child she loved old faerie tales, and the idea of faeries being both delicate and deadly, like insects, existing in a world we co-habit, formed the basis for her first storybook, The Boy in the Oak.

About the Book:
The Boy in the Oak is published by Simply Read Books, and is available to order from www.turnaround-uk.com.
It will be available to buy exclusively from Liberty from June 2010, and then from all good book shops from September 2010, at RRP £12.99

About the Exhibition (Listings Information):
Address: Liberty, Great Marlborough Street, London W1B 5HA
The exhibition will be open to the public from Thursday 17 June – 11 July.
Opening Times:
Monday – Saturday 10am – 9pm Sunday 12pm – 6pm.

The Boy in the Oak

The fairy tale came true today when Snow Fairy bought  by her publicity-shy French owner and breeder Cristina Patino for only £1500 when Snow Fairy was put through the sales ring in 2008 only 18 months ago, won the Epsom Oaks Classic race, winning over £200, 000 for her delighted owner in prize money.

SnowFairy wins Oaks

Snow Fairy won the Oaks at Epsom as champion jockey Ryan Moore held off the challenge of Meeznah in a thrilling finish. Moore expertly guided his mount from the middle of the pack to claim his first British Classic win and a second victory in the race for trainer Ed Dunlop.

Theo van Joolen, the Fairy Poet debuts at the May Faery Festival at Spoutwood Farm, Pennsylvania.

Theo at Spoutwood 2010 from Fairiesworld on Vimeo.