Dollmakers on Thursday: The Christmas Fairy

Us British, we're a secular lot. After all the drama with Henry VIII and the beheading, burnings, civil war and Guy Fawlkes, we've decided to just tone the whole thing down. We rarely talk about religion because it's not polite and, on the whole, we're pretty benevolent towards whatever it is eases your spirit.

So, what does that have to do with dolls, I hear you asking? (well, I don't obviously, I'm behind a keyboard in Arkansas and you are...wherever you are... And your mic's turned off)

When the Christmas Tree made it to England and became popular, it was crowned with an angel. The Empire of Victoria wasn't comfortable with that kind of thing and so the angel was quickly replaced with a fairy.

The fairy remains at the top of the Christmas Tree to this day. She's had many incarnations, sometimes she looks more angelic and sometimes she's a ballerina with wings, but she's always up there. 

That most famous of fairy artists, Cecily Mary Barker

depicted one in her Flower Fairy series,

her painting portraying a fairy doll 

that was just the prettiest ever.

And if you really want one, 

R John Wright, a highly respected and influential doll maker

has been busy on just that.

R John Wright's dolls are made of warm and tactile wool felt, 

with sweet faces and beautifully sewn accessories.

She's lovely but she may be too big for your Christmas Tree 

(or my pocket money).

How about something smaller?

When I was a kid and went to Woolworths 

they had the best Christmas Tree fairies. 

Like this

How I wanted one of these!

This fairy I found at the very lucky 

Making Good Use blog, here .

She made quite a haul of vintage Christmas goodies 

and this cute little thing was among them.

The other commonly available shape was this posing winged Ballerina fairy.

Nope. Didn't get one of these either.

 I was unable to persuade any grown up that had the money 

that I REALLY REALLY wanted one. 

I think that's a big part of why I make dolls now...

Now, with the Internet (I love it!)

there's all kinds of  fairies 

for all kinds of Christmases.

These are made by 

Wendy on Mulberry Musings. She's a girl after my own heart, with her 

whimsical Christmas Marie Antoinettes.

You can find them here, 

along with all sorts of delicious Rococo images, on her Etsy.

Or how about this sweet and pensive fairy, 

by Meenamorey of Deviant Art?

If you want to make your own, there's a tutorial here.

All very British so far.

 How about an American fairy, styled for Christmas?

This Candy Cane sweetie is by AmandaKathryn, on Deviant Art.

 I featured another of her dolls here on Steampunk Fairies.

I always have fairies on my tree.

 In fact,, the Christmas baubles come off on Twelth Night 

and the fairies remain on display all year.

A Christmas tree is a magical creation, full of sparkle and glitter,  

holding hopes and promises of delight.

Of course it should have fairies!