A family that owns Pop-Up Handicrafts and Dynamic Audio Design in The Old Bag Factory in Goshen adopted a secluded spot on Wild Things Way to invite the fairies, gnomes, and little people that may enjoy the space. I loved their ingenuity, knowing it took tremendous effort to pull it all together. They made swings, ladders, signs, doors, a pond, little houses and more!
The repurposing was great, using many recycled items from The Depot and other spots. This spot was available to the public for many months, with slight adjustments and changes each time visited. We chose a spot on a less used trail, keeping it a little quiet to protect it a bit.
They also used existing elements to blend it into the surroundings. We cleared the area, pulling out or moving plants, lining the area with logs to define the space. It took a fair amount of work on their end to pull it together. We decided to bring some delicate items in the nature center on a check out system to help protect them a bit more.
I LOVED all the details of this labor of love!
We had a couple of work days prior to the festival, with great helpers pulling it together. We planned a few basic activities, including dress up opportunities. We had fabric from a nature preschool momma and some felt from my momma. We made these into simple tunics with a neck hole and rope or a sash for a belt. As families arrived, they could make fairy wands or wild thing sticks, with ribbons, yarn, and more readily available.
Inside the center we had several activities such as face painting, making flying fairies, and create your own fairy or wild thing. For the wind tunnel, we had straws, pipe cleaners, tissue paper, feathers, coffee filters, and glue. They could created and experiment to their heart's content.
We had baskets of pinecones, clothespins, feathers, raffia, popsicle sticks, goggly eyes, acorn caps, fabric, and other materials, appreciating the donations from Joyce and others. Each fairy or wild thing ended up unique and different, just as the creators are!
Outside, we had a fort building spot with tulle, outdoor fabric from Nature Explore, clothespins, clamps, rope, and lots of sticks. This is always a favorite spot with fort making and creating a private space.
We also had a fairy soup station--I was a bit surprised how much into it the boys were; however, it did involve mud! I admit that I actually had a taste of the soup as they were so proud of the concoction. It was a bit gritty! :-)
Nearby, we found a tree frog! :-)
We had a nature art section with inspiration from Chelsey Bahe from Nature Play Nanny. I contacted a few local florists and was so appreciative of Camille's Florists in Bristol for donating some odds and ends over Mother's Day weekend. It was perfect!
I loved see in what all they created!
The digging area is always a hit, too!
We took a parade walk in our fairy and wild thing costumes (prizes for costumes, too!) out to Wild Things Way, complete with music instruments. We also had a scavenger hunt finding the bejeweled flowers Amanda donated along the trail.
We checked out the fairy house and gnome hut entries, finding dragon dens, too!
Everyone was so creative--we really enjoyed these!
What cool details!
We even saw fairy spots in our block building area and in chalk! Loved it! What a fun day! I appreciate all the help of Amanda, Amanda, Joyce, Linda, Teresa, Vicci, Julissa, Sasha, Clover, and others who made this day possible! Long live fairies and wild things!
