Fairy Doors

　

FAIRY DOORS AND KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES

Fairies are fond of two things: Knock-knock jokes, and tiny doors that are exclusively crafted for them. For those of you out of the fae loop, FAIRY DOORS are miniature facsimiles of human doors, representing a wide range of architectural styles. Their creative design runs the gamut, from Cape Cod cottage to beefy doors, perfect for protecting a mini Medieval Castle. Fairy Doors can be found beside their human door counterpart, at the bottom of a tree or stump, at the side of a bookshelf, level with a baseboard, or hanging on a wall. 

Fairy Doors represent an open invitation to wandering sprites that they are welcome in the attached garden or home. They also serve as portals into the Fairy Kingdom, magical realms where a Ladybug might spontaneously belt out a song, accompanied by flower instruments and dancing toadstools. It’s a land of total enchantment that humans can’t enter. But humans can use their imaginations to conjure up visions of what it might look like. If you’re curious about what goes on beyond closed Fairy Doors, I suggest you check out famed fairy artists, Cicely Mary Barker’s family friendly books ,Fairyopolis or Return to Fairyopolis. Your kids will love them.  

Ann Arbor, Michigan was the scene of a Fairy Door infestation in 1993 when local artist and fairy fan, Jonathan Wright, decided that the depressed downtown needed a spritely pick-me-up. Fairy Doors started appearing next to doors of local business establishments, including the newly relocated Google. This created an influx of city residents, curious adults and children wanting to check out these mini doors of wonder. The children left offerings for the fairies, while adults stimulated the city’s economy. Since then, the Fairy Door phenomenon has spread to other cities and towns, bringing excitement, enchantment, and an economical boost supporting the long-held belief that fairies (or their doors) can bring luck, wealth, and prosperity. Ann Arbor's Doors are available at Red Shoes.

Want a little of that good fortune for yourself? Build your own fairy door by cutting a 2’ by 1’ rectangle out of a piece of plywood. Use sandpaper to smooth all edges and flat surfaces. Depending on its anticipated destination, cover with indoor paint, exterior latex paint, or a wood stain - two coats for each side. Measure a 2-3" perimeter up the longer sides of the rectangle, and down from the anticipated door’s "top," to be used as the new fairy doorjamb. Paint it a different color from the shade that was chosen for the actual door, or glue decorative stones, shells, moss, or dried flowers along the "jamb" to give it definition. Use a decorative cabinet knob, found at any hardware store, as a doorknob. Attach the door to the desired location with a drill or a wall hanging mount. Want to go super easy? Recycle the door and jamb of an old dollhouse, or nab a rectangular wooden picture frame from a local thrift store. Voila… instant Fairy Door!




If you don’t have the tools or time to fashion you own Fairy Door, a multitude of doors sporting amazing designs can be yours with the click of a mouse. Wee Folk Outfitters’, Purple Dragonfly Fairy Door,  Pagoda Style Fairy Door,, and Starry Night Fairy Door are charming, inviting doors ready to attract a roaming fairy in search of a route back to the magical Kingdom.   

Fairies love to have their doors redecorated from time to time. Accessorizing a Fairy Door can be as simple as adding a tiny pair of garden boots, a watering can, a fairy doorbell, or a fairy mailbox around the entrance. Obelisk planters, a daisy topiary, miniature flowers in pots and planters, or tiny flower arrangements in baskets can beautify any Fairy Door locale, any time of the year. 

Although for fairies only, Fairy Doors can foster creativity, whimsy, and laughter in their human counterparts. They are a portal to security and comfort that we can offer the fae folk and, in exchange, forever reap their gratitude in happiness and prosperity. And nothing is more precious then a tiny WELCOME mat, the size of a postage stamp, alongside the one adorning your own front door. 

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