News & Events

The Winter Fairies arrive in the Shop!

Brunette standing in front of a frozen lake wearing white sweatshirt with Snowdrop Fairy print

The Winter Fairies are waiting for you in our store, on oh-so-soft cosy sweatshirts and more!

We’ve read your comments on our social channels about your favourites for this time of year, and made available six beautiful Flower Fairies of the Winter. Discover them on T-shirts and sweatshirts printed with vegan inks on soft organic cotton, and sustainably produced art prints that no reading nook should be without!

shop.flowerfairies.com

15% Off to Welcome Autumn to the Shop!

Image of smiling woman wearing a white sweatshirt printed with The Horse Chestnut Fairy and brown tartan skirt stood in an Autumn forest. Text reads 15% off everything next to an image of a green velvet chair with a wood framed print of The Crab Apple Fairy resting on it in a minimally decorated room.

To celebrate our Autumn Fairies arriving, we’re sharing the magic and giving you 15% off everything* until Monday!

We’ve introduced eight Fairies of the Autumn to our range of organic T-shirts and sweatshirts, and eco-friendly prints. They join homeware and accessories inspired by Cicely Mary Barker’s illustrations. The shop is full of great gifts for fans of the original Flower Fairies books which we think you’ll love.

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*while book stocks last

New Flower Fairies Online Shop is Open!

Group of products: Wild Rose Fairy T-shirt, Elderberry Fairy Cushion, Book, Cornflower Fairy art print in black frame and Narcissus Fairy Cushion

We are delighted to introduce the new Flower Fairies online shop! We’ve curated fan favourites for the first collection of original illustrations, plus selected charming line drawings, printed on a range of clothing, accessories and homeware.

We’re offering an early bird 15% off discount for subscribers to our shop newsletter in the opening week until 29th September, so if you’d like to stay up to date with the latest product news and shop the site, fly on over to

shop.flowerfairies.com

Listening to requests for adult sized clothing, the shop offers T-shirts and Sweatshirts printed with vegan inks on soft organic cotton. Beautiful all-over prints have been selected by our fairy following on social media for home textiles, including cushions, aprons, tea towels and totes made in the UK from premium organic cotton. The range of homeware also includes bone china mugs and small art prints that no reading nook should be without!

Flower Fairies Exhibition

Discover the Flower Fairies at the Lady Lever Gallery!

To mark the 100-year anniversary of her first book, Flower Fairies of the Spring, this exhibition will feature around 45 original illustrations, with digital projections and costumes inspired by the fairies, designed by Vin Burnham.

Explore the inspirations behind Barker’s paintings, as well as the flora and fauna featured in the work through National Museum Liverpool’s botanical collections.

First published in 1923, there were originally 170 drawings – accurate depictions of flowering plants and trees, into which are incorporated, caricature figures of fairies, designed to accompany the species drawn.

The exhibition will run from the 15th April  to the 5th November 2023

Find out more here.

Glastonbury Fairy Fayre and The Flower Fairies Ball

Poster for the 2023 Glastonbury Fairy Fayre & The Flower Fairies Ball. Glastonbury Town Hall, Magdalene St, Somerset BA6 9EL

Karen Kay’s Faery Events’ annual Glastonbury Fairy Fayre and Ball is celebrating one hundred years of The Flower Fairies!

The Flower Fairies Fairy Ball takes place on Saturday 4th March.

The Avalon Fairy Fayre is to be held on Sat 4th & Sun 5th March 2023, with free entry to the daytime fayre and is suitable for all ages! There will also be a selection of free workshops and talks.

With special guest artists Anne Stokes and Anne Sudworth, lots of beautiful stalls, a Flower Fairies photo-booth, and music from The Celtic Giants and Perkelt, it’s sure to be a magical celebration.

The Flower Fairies Summer Garden Trail at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Flower Fairies are coming to Hampshire this summer!  From 19 July to 3 September, Cicely Mary Barker’s much loved creations will feature in Sir Harold Hillier Gardens’ spectacular children’s trail.

What could be more fun than slipping on a pair of fairy wings and exploring one of the county’s most beautiful gardens?  Twelve fairies feature in the trail along with children’s activities and a fairy grotto.  Cicely’s accurate illustrations are a perfect fit for the Gardens – well-known for excellence in horticulture and conservation.

Fairies in the trail include the Honeysuckle Fairy, the Poppy Fairy, the Harebell Fairy and the Foxglove Fairy. The £5 trail (plus normal admission prices) includes a ‘fairy passport’ with activities and a pair of wings.

Flower Fairies: Botanical Magic at The Garden Museum

Since they first crept out from behind leaves and flowers in 1918 for the Elves and Fairies postcards, Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies™ have been enchanting and delighting children and adults alike. A selection of these charming characters will be on display at the Garden Museum this summer in an exhibition which celebrates the centenary of the earliest publication of Cicely Mary Barker’s first fairy illustrations.

Continuing to be inspired by fairies Cicely Mary Barker published the first of her Flower Fairies books in 1923. Visitors will see original illustrations for more than 40 of her Flower Fairiesdesigns, drawing extensively from the Frederick Warne archive which is an imprint of Penguin Random House UK. There will also be previously unseen sketchbooks and drawings together with her research materials.

Younger visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to dress up as some of their favourite fairies from Barker’s Illustrations and send pictures to family and friends.

Some key pieces in the exhibition include a rare set of 1918 Elves and Fairies postcards and the original artwork for these, as well as the preparatory sketches for the White Bindweed Fairy, Alder Fairy and Jack-go-to-Bed at noon. There will be artwork from all eight of the original Flower Fairies books, including Flower Fairies of the Winter, which was published posthumously. Favourites include the Fuchsia Fairy, the Strawberry Fairy, the Rose Fairy and the Horse Chestnut Fairy.

The exhibition will be held alongside a number of family-friendly events, including cookery workshops which explore the use of edible flowers in food and garden workshops which will allow children to make fairy gardens.

 

Robert James Bronze sculptures at Chelsea Flower Show

Robert James launched their incredible bronze Flower Fairies sculptures at Chelsea Flower Show this month, bringing the Clover Fairy and the Gorse Fairy to life in exquisite detail.

It has been a real pleasure for us to work with these talented sculptors who aim to bring enchantment from childhood into the contemporary garden.

 

Flower Fairies Exhibition Now On at Huis Ten Bosch – Nagasaki, Japan

Located in Nagasaki prefecture, Huis Ten Bosch is a famous theme park that is a recreation of a Dutch town, complete with beautiful canals and nature.  Flowers bloom throughout the seasons in this park and right now there is a Flower Fairies exhibition being held as part of the 2017 Flower Festival.

Visitors can enjoy gorgeous Flower Fairies displays featuring their art and poems, as well as information about the flowers themselves.  There will be an area where you can enjoy many unique experiences, including meeting fairies with the help of digital imagery and an enchanted mirror.

This exhibition will run through to 3rd July 2017

 

 

Introducing the Flower Fairies ™ Secret Garden Collection!

CHICAGO, IL – Ultimate Source, Inc. Ultimate Source is excited to announce their partnership with the Estate of Cicely Mary Barker and Penguin Random House to introduce the NEW Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection. This brand-new miniature gardening product line includes 8 Flower Fairies, multiple accessories, and planter kits to create your own real or imaginary miniature garden. With all the diverse ways to decorate your garden, it’s easy to collect, create, and imagine your Flower Fairies world.

Ultimate Source Sr. Manager, Joyce Sprau, has this to say about the product line, “I saw a gap in the market for a Fairy Garden product line specifically designed for kids.  The challenge was to find the right license because children need a story and characters that they can relate to.  I found the perfect harmony through the stories of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker.”

These Flower Fairies are unlike any other miniature garden item on the market, as they are made with durable plastic and they are safety tested for children ages 6 and over. Children can choose to create their real miniature garden using live plants or create an imaginary garden with foam moss and silk plants designed perfectly for the Flower Fairies world. Once they design their own scene, children can continue to play, imagine, and re-create the Flower Fairies stories.

For more information on all of the designs available, visit www.flowerfairiesgarden.com.
Be sure to follow Flower Fairies Secret Garden on Instagram @flower_fairies_secretgarden, on Facebook at Flower Fairies Secret Garden, and on Twitter @flowerfairiesSG

Flower Fairy Hunt | 3rd – 16th April | King John’s Nursery & Garden

The Fairies emerge along with the flowers at King John’s, and this popular fairy hunt gets the children excited, inquisitive and imaginative as they wander around the garden looking for little fairy doors. This year the event will be combined with a special spring watch day on Saturday 15th April. There will be the various activities for children to watch and learn about nature in spring time and do the fairy hunt. There will also be a fairy tea in the cafe to re-energise after the hunt!

wealden ad fairy hunt 2017 landscape

 

Archive Sundays Launch

This year we’ve launched an exciting a new feature for our Facebook followers called #ArchiveSundays

One of the most special things about the Flower Fairies is their history and heritage, so on the last Sunday of each month we will be sharing some exclusive finds from deep in the archives – from original sketches and covers to interesting history and facts about Cicely Mary Barker herself.

 

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Join us on Instagram

Follow us at Instagram.com/officialflowerfairies for a celebration of Cicely Mary Barker’s illustration, associated arts and crafts, and sneak peeks from behind the scenes.

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Enchanting new Flower Fairies range from Enesco

This brand new collection of ceramic, textile and figural gifts features the enchanting Flower Fairies, originally drawn by Cicely Mary Barker. Available from Border Fine Arts Contemporary.

The first Flower Fairies illustrations were published in 1923 and combined accurate drawings of flowers – often based on Cicely’s studies at London’s Kew Gardens – with fairy images based on real children who attended her sister’s nursery school.

Border Fine Arts designers have been inspired by Cicely’s wonderful Candytuft and Gorse illustrations and by adding a contemporary twist using pastel pink and bright yellow backgrounds, have created a beautiful collection featuring tea sets, scarves and umbrellas.

flower_fairies_sm clothing

The Flower Fairies Colouring Book

Delve into the magical world of Flower Fairies with this intricately illustrated colouring book.

With 45 stunning illustrations to colour, this enchanting colouring book is the perfect gift for any Flower Fairies fan.

Colouring Book

Porcelain Art Transfer Stickers

D-Miracle, a Japanese partner, have created a range of Porcelain Art Transfer Stickers featuring the Flower Fairies.

Decorating porcelain items is an increasingly popular hobby in Japan. Known as porcelain art, this handicraft involves transfering images on to porcelain and glass objects that are then fired to create personally unique items.

Now, sweet Flower Fairies porcelain art transfer stickers are available.  The completed pieces make wonderful interior items and can even be used as tableware.  Why not try your hand at creating your very own Flower Fairies porcelain art?

Flower Fairies Personal Name Seals

Skillman, a Japanese partner, have created  range of Flower Fairies items for personal name seals (in Japanese, ‘inkan’), including the seals, seal cases, and stamping mats.

The name seal not only has a Flower Fairies design on the side, but also includes a flower within the stamp design itself.  Every time you stamp your name with this seal, it is sure to brighten your spirits!  The seal case and the stamping mat are also personalised, so you can create your very own name seal set.

 

Dance like the Flower Fairies

Learn to dance just like the Flower Fairies with this magical DVD.

View the trailer on YouTube:

Flower Fairies of Spring Paper

49 and Market, a paper goods wholesaler specializing in high-quality products to fit the needs and wants of today’s crafters, have created a beautiful range of papers using designs, patterns and fairies from Flower Fairies of the Spring.

These are available in the US and Canada, and you can see the full set on their website at 49andmarket.com

Japanese Art Book

Classic art depicting beautiful dancing fairies reminiscent of the England of yesteryear and additional colouring pages make up a wonderful new Flower Fairies Art Book out now from the publisher Impress in Japan.

Enjoy studying the intricately detailed original art of each of the Flower Fairies, then turn to the colouring pages to colour to your heart’s content and enter your very own Flower Fairies world. Included at the back are special postcards that are only available with this book.
Why not treat yourself?

Find out more, and order, from impress.co.jp

Impress Japanses Art Book

Peaceful Wooden Puzzles

Peaceful Wooden Puzzles have created a set of 24 Flower Fairies puzzles for their Alphabet series.

Each Victorian-style wooden jigsaw puzzles features 112 flower, fairy and garden shaped pieces, measures 6” x 8”, and comes in a beautiful tin.

View the full range at peacefulwoodenpuzzles.com

Personalised Flower Fairies cards from Moonpig.com

Flower Fairies licensee Moonpig.com have launched a gorgeous new range of cards, all available via their website, which include new personalisable options including photos.

You can view the full range of their Flower Fairies cards on their website moonpig.com

Flower Fairies Festival

A Flower Fairies Festival is being held in Croydon in June this year, birthplace of Cicely Mary Barker, as part of the Croydon Heritage Festival.

Part of the Friends of Park Hill Park’s preparations included the re-dedication of the Cicely Mary Barker Garden within the park, including a memorial plaque featuring some of her timeless Flower Fairies illustrations.

The festival has had a wonderful response in the local press and social media, including activities such as natural trails, a Flower Fairy Walled Garden (using Flower Fairies illustrations to help children identify specific plants and flowers), a professional story telling session, and the launch of a creative illustration and writing competition for participating local schools.

Plaque

Flower Fairies Prints & Canvases

King & McGaw’s new collection of vintage Flower Fairies prints and canvases are now available.

Chiming nicely with the fairy tale theme at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, the beautiful vintage prints combine a fantasy world with real botanical accuracy. In the most faithful reproduction since they were originally published in 1923, this collection of the much-loved illustrations will instil a sense of magic and charm into your home.

Check out the full range online at kingandmcgaw.com

London’s Year of the Bus

This year, Transport for London and the London Transport Museum have been celebrating the ‘Year of the Bus‘ – a series of engaging events, exhibitions, recreations and activities that will reconnect Londoners with their bus network and remind the world of the incredible role it plays in this great city.

As part of this, TfL with Wild In Art have created four Bus Sculpture Trails around London, creating free public art trails of bus sculptures, painted and adorned by well-known and aspiring artists.

A Flower Fairies bus forms part of the Croydon Bus Sculpture trail, painted by artist Michelle Heron and sponsored by the Whitgift Shopping Centre. Cicely Mary Barker was born in Croydon, forming a lovely link between the town and artwork. The bus can be viewed in situ at the Whitgift Shopping Centre, and it’s hoped that lots of people will be sharing photographs of this and the other buses via social media networks – you can view and share photos on Twitter using #yearofthebus

In early 2015, the bus sculptures will be auctioned to raise money for three charities: Kids Company, Transaid and the London Transport Museum. Find out more at tfl.gov.uk

YOTB YOTB

Taylors of Harrogate’s Flavour Fairies

The Flower Fairies are being reimagined by Taylors of Harrogate, whose lovely new magazine adverts pay homage to them.

Created by Croydon illustrator Cicely Mary Barker, each fairy is in charge of looking after a particular plant and singing a poem to it every day; Barker used children from her teacher sister’s nursery school as models, who posed patiently in a homemade flower fairy costume with the corresponding plant in their hand (though the plant was always a bit larger than to scale in the final illustration).

At Taylors HQ, many of the team grew up with the Flower Fairies – and it’s probably no surprise that people who work for a tea company identify with the little fairies’ jobs as caretakers of wonderful botanicals. So they drew a touch of inspiration from them when they teamed up with Kew Gardens on their range of fruit and herbal teas. And in working with Flower Fairies publishers Penguin Random House they found a striking coincidence.

When Barker couldn’t find a particular plant herself she would enlist the help of experts at nearby Kew Gardens. Her own close relationship with the botanical gardens is one that mirrors Taylors, as they worked together some 90 years after the flower fairies first flitted into the world! Find out more at taylorstea.co.uk

Sand Sculpting Display

The Sand Sculpting Australia team returned to Frankston Waterfront with their largest exhibition yet – ‘Story Land‘.

Each hand crafted sand sculpture depicted a much loved classic or modern story book character; everyone was wowed by detailed sand sculptures featuring the likes of Harry Potter, Angelina Ballerina, Spot the Dog, Mr. Men and Little Miss, Angry Birds, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Postman Pat and so many more Penguin Books titles – including our own beloved Flower Fairies!