A Little Bit 0’ Faerie Magic!

If you can get to the ‘One of a Kind’ show in Toronto (which runs from November 22^nd – December 2^nd, we would invite you to visit our friends, Sarah and Alan, who will be running booth number B49 – The Sugar Bush Fairies. We are currently house/pet sitting for them so that they could be present at this amazing annual show.

Their story is one that will make you believe in magic!

Back in 2007, we met Alan and Sarah while we were attending a Spiritualist Church in Orillia, Ontario. They both met each other at the same place. Coincidentally, they had both embraced the philosophy behind the Law of Attraction, and started to visualize a life-long partner for themselves. We were there to watch them being drawn towards each other, and to enjoy spending time with them in their new life together as a couple, which began the following year, 2008.

They moved into a lovely home in Sugar Bush, just north of Barrie. Knowing them to be fans of the whimsical, and as very gentle, spiritual people, we presented them with a house-warming gift which Mark had found in a gift catalogue. It was a fairy door, which they could put in their garden.

The original fairy door that we gave to them as a housewarming gift

At this point, they had not been finding fulfillment in their employment – Alan as furniture designer, and Sarah as an educational assistant. They were inspired by the idea of the fairy door, and did some research, finding that there was one person making and distributing them in the U.S.A. They realized that there was an opportunity here, and so, being entrepreneurs, they decided to produce their own line of fairy doors on a part-time basis. Each unique door would be handcrafted in wood, and personally designed. Working together as a team, they found success beyond their imagination. So much so, that (once again, utilizing the principles of the Law of Attraction) they decided to quit their jobs and move into the home-based business on a full-time basis. The results have been astounding.

Back in 2011, they decided to get married, and we were honoured to be a part of their wedding. Mark sang a version of the song, ‘Somebody’ (by Depeche Mode), and I accompanied him on acoustic guitar. It was a fun event, and it was a delight to see a couple so much in love, and to be taken up into that experience.

Mark singing at their wedding, with me accompanying on acoustic guitar

Our paths didn’t cross very often over the next few years as life took us in different directions. We always kept in touch via social media, and would occasionally meet with them, and other friends, at a restaurant. We had also purchased a couple of doors for ourselves, which we keep in our display case at home.

In 2015, we were doing a house/pet sit for some friends in Peterborough, Ontario. During this time, we took a trip to Warkworth – a small town we had not visited before. It was a surprise to us that, in one of the gift stores, we came across a display of fairy doors from Sugar Bush Fairies!!!

Display in Cheeky Bee's Gift Shop, Warkworth, Ontario

(We actually wrote about this in a previous blog. See: Warkworth - a Hidden Gem!

We immediately contacted Sarah and Alan and told them what we had found, and they informed us that they had over 70 outlets in North America – and shipped all over the world! We had no idea just how successful they had become! In fact, their success was so great, that they were thinking of expanding. However, the cost of such expansion, in Ontario, was not an attractive one; so, they moved to Digby, Nova Scotia, in October, last year. (They had been to the province several times, and liked what they saw – especially the more ‘laid-back’ environment, which suited their personalities – and their business – more appropriately).

Earlier this year, we were acting as tour guides for our friends from Vermont, and we delighted in showing them the beauty of the shores of Lake Superior. As part of our ‘tour’, we took them into the Agawa Crafts and Canadian Carver, a unique gift shop near Pancake Bay. To our delight, we discovered a display from Sugar Bush Fairies, and were smitten by a design of a British Telephone Kiosk. We bought it to add to our collection.

Announcement of a new design

Our new purchase, in August of this year

Another interesting anecdote: back in March, this year, we were doing another house/pet sit for the same friends in Peterborough, and we had invited friends over for a meal. (We had obtained permission to do this, of course!) Neil and Helena were asking about our plans for the rest of the year and we told them about our house/pet sit in Nova Scotia. We also shared the story of how Alan and Sarah had started their business. Helena blew us away when she said that, only the day before, Neil (who does carpentry as a hobby) had been asked, by one of his friends, if he would be willing to make a jewelry box as a gift to his wife for their 50^th anniversary. He told Neil that he was going to order some fairy doors from a business in Nova Scotia. Sure enough, it was from Alan and Sarah that this purchase was going to be made! We were all gobsmacked by that coincidence! (It should be added that Neil is also an excellent craftsman - as you can see from the finished product below).

Jewelry box fashioned by Neil, using the fairy doors

Other side of Jewelry box

When we arrived here, a week ago, they were both extremely busy getting ready for the One of a Kind show. They have transformed their basement into a studio/workshop, and have an office on the ground floor. They kindly showed us the workshop and we were amazed at the amount of time and work that goes into every fairy door production.

Wooden slats and basic door shapes made from templates

Part of the workshop in the basement

Tools for the job!

Sanding machines

Paints that Sarah uses to decorate the doors

Some door ready for mounting

Doors being attached to their frames

Every box has to be made up and printed

Boxes ready to be filled

Shipment ready!

The happy couple doing what they love most!

We were also in admiration of the efficiency with which they run their business, from the original order through to the delivery. Even on the way to Toronto, they were busy at each hotel stop, putting finishing touches on their products, ready for the show! Their dedication and sheer hard work is obvious – as is their total enjoyment with what they are doing.

Alan, still prepping for the show at their hotel in Cornwall, Ontario

They have spent the last two days getting their booth ready.

Arriving at their allotted booth space

Setting out the booh

Background covering

Creating the environment

Nearly there...

This is what their booth looked like last year. They told us that it will be similar this year, so you'll easily recognize it

One of the designs I have seen in their catalogue, is the Dr. Who Tardis Fairy Door. I am hoping that Mark will allow me to get one of these!

They also have a line of doors for Harry Potter fans, as well as a series based on the Hobbit stories.

We are thrilled to have been a small part of this success story, and we know that they are going to have a huge success in Toronto. This will be the fifth time that they will be hosting a booth at this event.

If you are able to attend this show, visit them at Booth B49. Be sure to mention us, and say hi to them from us!