Autumn Fairy Bower

Easily be taken apart and used for the next season

This toy is so simple and cheap to make. Similar fairy dwellings can be quite expensive if purchased new. All you need besides a few common tools and some creativity is….

The metal support recycled from a lampshade
(or similar ring)

A BASE

(upcycled from a wooden toilet seat, just drill a tiny hole through the center. Beats having to manufacture it myself from raw wood)

Central Pole

Drill a 1cm long hole in both ends of a dowel. Thread a wooden bead onto the dowel and glue in place. Measure the length of the BASE hole add 1cm plus 3mm to the number. Cut a wooden bamboo BBQ skewer according to your estimate. Glue it into the dowel at its end. Cut a 2cm length of skewer to fit the dowel hole at the top and glue one end into a pre-drilled wooden cup. This will be your TOPPER. Set it aside. Be sure to carefully measure the length of the dowel, your "pegs" and the placement of your bead. Your measurements will all depend on how high you want the top of the bower to be, and how tall the crown. Don't glue the bottom end of the dowel/peg into the BASE! Instead insert it into another pre-drilled cup and glue it in place. This will serve to hold down your seasonal RUG. The peg should still be long enough to go into the base and be easily removed for storage. 

Topper

Just artificial flowers, the top of a dried mullein plant, a wooden cup and glue gun. It is not glued into place at the top of the central pole.You can remove it later and replace it with another one for the next season.

Garland and rug

For the garland you need just a few supplies and a glue gun.

acorns, floral wire, dried flower heads, chestnuts and artificial flowers are layered and glued
You will measure the circumference of the ring to know how large to make your garland.

Crown

Tulle wrapped around the wire lampshade support that rests on the wooden bead

The Canopy

No swewing required! Cut and fold a length of larger mesh tulle into a double layer and tie onto the crown with long ribbons of several colors. It wraps around enough of the circular support to enclose the bower but leaves an opening large enough for easy access to play.

Slip the garland over the crown and it should rest over the ring. You can sew it to the tulle if it is a little loose.

Summer Fairy invites Autumn Fairy to tea and says goodbye for the year

Notice the rug at the base of the dowel and its cup. You can furnish your bower with artificial or real leaves, minature goards and pumpkins, small baskets of nuts, and stools made of branches.

Front view of the autumn fairy

Back view of the autumn fairy

(I will do a tutorial on making fairies in December)

We left the fairies some treats.

The next morning they furnished the bower and left a book.

We have been using the Flower Fairies books by Cicely Mary Barker to learn botany and plant identification. Associating lovely pictures and personalities to particular local plants, makes them easy for a preschooler to remember. 

Happy Fall Equinox, Lesley