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Freya Perry (Faeriefizz)
Freya Perry is a textile artist and producer of fabulous faeries and fairy wings. Freya runs her own company, Faeriefizz, in Southsea, Hampshire. I spoke to her to find out more.
Can you remember the first faerie you ever made?
Yes I can, she was called the Rainbow Warrior and lives in Australia now. She wore a fantastic multi-coloured costume. A lady loved her so much she bought her and so I made another one. That’s how I got started. Then in 2006 I received an award from CIBAS (Creative Industries Business Advisory Service) to launch Faeriefizz. Since then I have exhibited at Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching show, and articles on my work have appeared in Doll International as well as featuring regularly in Sewing World Magazine.
Tell us more about the commissioned faeries you have produced.
They are usually 14-27 inches tall, depending on what the client wants. I call the commission faeries ‘life story faeries’ as they include the personalities of the person they are made for. I usually stitch their name, colours of their birthstone, star sign and any other personal details into the costume. Every faerie I make is completely unique and becomes a family heirloom.
Can you tell us more about the kits you make?
The kit faeries are called Ragged Rainbow Faeries and come with a ready-made, bendable faerie body and colour instructions to create her face, hair and costume. All the materials are also included. There are three different types of faerie – summer, winter and Christmas and they are all £19.50 plus £4.50 postage. I also have a kit for a Spring Fairy, which has the ready-made body, pattern and full instructions but no materials included. This kit costs £14.50 plus £4.50 postage. My Ragged Rainbow and Forest Faeries are available as a pattern only for £6.50 each and this includes a wonderful pair of sinamay wings.
Has the design of your faeries changed over the years?
Yes definitely. Like all artists I love to experiment with colour, fabric, texture and the design process. Something might capture my imagination in a film or in nature and I bring that into the next faerie.
Which is your favourite faerie you have made?
I love the Tipsy Girl faerie on the right of the photograph on the left, as I had such fun making her. I think everybody has someone like her in their family, someone who likes a little tipple! I also love the faerie I have named ‘true faerie’ as she was the first faerie I have truly loved. She really brought out the best in me while I was making her.
What are the biggest influences over the designs of your faeries?
I love colour, so this is definitely the biggest influence. The first thing I think about each morning is the colour of the clothes I am going to wear. The expressions on the faeries faces are also important, and this is often influenced by people I meet. I think one of the important things about faeries is that they are about hopes, dreams and enchantment. It is nice to see that people will dream a little when it comes to faeries.
What are you hoping to work on next?
I would love to create a very large faerie with large wings, and hope I will have done this by the end of the year. This would link with some exciting carnival projects that I have been asked to become involved with in Summer 2008. I am also designing a magical art doll for the boys as they have told me they want something too!
You run workshops in your studio for adults and children. Can you tell us more about them?
My studio is a working studio so I have limited space. My workshops are for a maximum of 4 people and take place over about 2-3 hours. The people attending the workshops can be designers for a day and make their own unique faerie from a Faeriefizz kit or they can create a wonderful pair of wearable faerie wings to their own design. The cost is between £17 and £20 depending on how much special embellishment is required.
For more information about Faeriefizz please visit www.faeriefizz.co.uk. If you would like to contact Freya to purchase one of her kits or talk about a commission please email freyaperry@faeriefizz.co.uk or call 023 9283 0835.
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