Would you like to build a fairy house for the 2007 Portsmouth Fairy Houses Tour?

If you are interested in contributing, contact Tanya, [email protected]
However, please read carefully the guidelines below before contacting us to participate. Thanks!

One of our gardens this year will be featuring a limited number of fairy houses built by anyone who is inspired to participate.  This invitation is to builders of all ages and to get you started we have included some guidelines.

Guidelines for Building Fairy Houses

There is only one rigid requirement for building a fairy house to be included in the 2007 Portsmouth Fairy Houses Tour. All fairy houses must appear to be made entirely of natural materials, and contain no obvious man-made elements. The Fairy Houses Tour was inspired by Tracy Kane’s "Fairy Houses Series (tm) of books and video. The Series motivates children to build houses from natural materials to attract fairies.

However, fairy houses built to be viewed on the tour must be made to withstand two days of unpredictable weather and unexpected animal visitors. Therefore, houses built to be displayed on the tour may be made with the assistance of hot glue, acrylic spray and other man-made items, but these must be completely concealed so that the house appears to be entirely natural, perhaps made by the fairies themselves.

Are houses to be built in advance or built on location? Either. There will be a couple of hours during which houses may be built on the location before they are to be viewed. Planning ahead is advised. Make sure that you can complete within the alloted time. There will probably be no electricity or water available. If built in advance, you may wish to use a plywood or other base; however, the base must be concealed. Please remember the houses are being displayed in public gardens or buildings. We have promised that the gardens and buildings will be left exactly as they were found.

The basic structure may be of twigs, birch bark, vines, or tall grasses forming a lean-to, teepee, shed, or other imginative materials. Or you may find an item that is already suitable as a shelter – a small hollow log or stump or gourd, ready to be embellished.

What size must the house be? Most end up being about the size of a dollhouse. Space may be limited, so do not make them too big.

Are fairies allowed with my house? No. Houses are built to attract fairies. However, if you are able to make fairies using only natural items (no pipe cleaners or woven fabrics), do so. Your fairies may attract others. And note that fairy accessories—fairy furniture, clothes and tools enhance the appeal of fairy houses.

Theme of Fairy Houses. The theme may be anything you wish - serious or whimsical, childlike or elegant, antique or modern, rustic or polished, woodland or seashore, represent any country, any season.  The fairy houses aren’t required to be “houses” at all. They can be boats, gardens, rooms, any environment where one might find a fairy. One of the books in the "Fairy Houses Series (tm)" is Fairy Boats.

Delivery and Contact Info. Your house will need to be delivered to the garden on the Saturday morning of the tour (September 22) and a time will be arranged for pick up after the tour has ended.  Please contact Tanya, [email protected] if you would like to create a fairy house for our weekend of enchantment!