I saw her as t’was yesterday,
The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;
And round her play’d a golden ray,
And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.
With angel-hand she swept a lyre,
A garland red with roses bound it;
Its strings were wreath’d with lambent fire
And amaranth was woven round it. – Alfred Lord Tennyson
The beauty and mystery of the fairy world has captivated me since childhood. I had everything from picture books to coloring books to handmade paper dolls. It was thrilling to imagine that, in a world where things were often difficult (like going to school, being sick or losing a friend), you could simply wave a sparkling wand and make good things happen instantly. As a mother, I love watching my little girls trying to recreate the same magic as they play dress up. Today’s post, sponsored by Great Pretenders, is a “how to” for aspiring fairies everywhere.
Great Pretenders makes beautiful costumes and pretend play accessories for children. It was founded in 1989 by Canadian Joyce Keelan because she was disappointed in the selection of imaginative toys available for her own children. Twenty-seven creative years later, Great Pretenders continues to inspire boys and girls everywhere with a dazzling collection of sparkling gowns, dramatic capes for heroes, pirate garb, color-in costumes, and more!
Ingrid and Susanna are going to walk us through the basics of being a fairy.
#1 Choose Your Identity
There are flower fairies, sea fairies, tree fairies and tooth fairies. Which will you be? The first step is to choose and identity what fits your personality. Ingrid and Susanna wanted to be garden fairies who encourage flowers to grow with one touch of a magic wand.
#2 Choose Your Name
Tinkerbell, Titania, Queen Lurline…try to capture your fairy personality in a memorable name. Today, Susanna is calling herself Rosa Lia; for Ingrid, the name Violetta is perfection.
#3 Choose Your Dress
A lovely costume is undeniably one of the best perks of being a fairy!
Susanna’s Fairy Blossom Gown, with rich hues of magenta, blue and teal, evoke both mystery and enchantment. Tulle petals that float in light layers above the skirt and gossamer wings that your little fairy can hook to her fingers and “fly” away with complete this gorgeous gown. It retails for $35 USD.
The sleeveless lilac fairy tunic allows Ingrid – I mean Violetta – to flit freely about the garden. She’s a vision of purple and silver with pretty flower and ribbon accents around her waist and a plush and stretchy violet-colored bodice. The beautiful forest fairy tunic is available in either pink or lilac and is only $30 USD.
Playing pretend is an important part of every child’s development; it builds social skills, enhances communication, offers practice in problem-solving and can even be a teaching tool for personal and civic virtues. More simply put, children learn while they play, and thank goodness for that, because pretend play is soooo much fun!
The fairy gowns we received from Great Pretenders are beautiful and well made! My only suggestion would be to expand the size offerings beyond 5/6, because older children still love to dress-up, too.
Where to Buy: Great Pretenders costumes and accessories are made in Canada with high quality textiles and embellishments. The online collection includes fairies, princesses, pirates, heroes, mermaids, ballerinas and a special “career” section. And don’t forget the accoutrements – swords, wands, gloves, shields and tiaras. Shipping is free to both the US and Canada with orders over $30!
Giveaway: One of my readers will win a $30 gift card to spend at Great Pretenders. This promotion is open to readers in the US and Canada. Enter using the form below, and good luck!
