Pixies & Sprites

Pixies & Sprites Unusual Gifts made from usual things

Framing up some big pieces today.Usually I’m ok being fairly tall, but this one was a struggle to cut the aperture.This ...
19/06/2026

Framing up some big pieces today.

Usually I’m ok being fairly tall, but this one was a struggle to cut the aperture.

This is me at full stretch and I’m still a foot short to reach the bevel cutter 😅

Got there in the end but glad I’m not doing these big pieces everyday!

Still love this machine tho 🥰

And another new piece ready to go.1920’s canvas OS Map of Peak District. We’ve toned the waxed handmade obeche frame to ...
19/06/2026

And another new piece ready to go.

1920’s canvas OS Map of Peak District.

We’ve toned the waxed handmade obeche frame to work in harmony with the piece.

How much detail can you see on the map? Take a closer look.

What do you think of the map colours? 😍😍

And finally this one’s ready to share!It’s taken several months to bring this piece to this stage, a real labour of love...
18/06/2026

And finally this one’s ready to share!

It’s taken several months to bring this piece to this stage, a real labour of love but so pleased at how it’s turned out.

It may seem like it’s similar to our other map pieces but other than it’s a map, and it’s paper, then that’s where the similarities end.

A 1940 RAF issued OS map of Southern England and Wales.

I started folding this one at the start of May after a month of planning and deliberating. I guessed the finished piece would be 700mm x 500mm, maybe even 750mm.

Not far off - the final piece measures 820mm x 550mm. In a handmade African maple/obeche box frame protected behind UV resistant acrylic.

The map stretches from Lands End, across the Bristol Channel and up into Wales, as far north as Manchester then across the Wash and over the Norfolk coastline with Burnham Market and Great Yarmouth and Orfordness on the East coast.

So why is it different to create? Well there were so many decisions points in the construction for orientation to make sure the map was coherent and a good representation. The map was damaged in places, with weak areas from poor folding and tears. The colours are very different to other OS maps and in this 3D shape that can play total havoc and mayhem.

I always like what I create, wouldn’t sell it otherwise, but I’m particularly proud of this one.

Not coming across another RAF map in to colour/style although I do have a couple of smaller RAF maps.

So for now, this is a proper, proper one-off 🥰🥰🥰🥰

To clean or no to clean that was this morning’s question 🤭A before and after image.Both these pages are from a fabulous ...
18/06/2026

To clean or no to clean that was this morning’s question 🤭

A before and after image.

Both these pages are from a fabulous 1930’s Belle Jardiniere magazine, a high-end French art-deco fashion and life-style magazine.

There’s significant colour difference between the front page and the luxury luggage brand page 😊

Given the great condition of the paper and fabulous image, I took a chance to give the front page a quick clean-up with a document cleaning pad. It’s still several shades away from the internal page, but it’s made that stunning image just that bit sharper.

All these new pieces are ‘moments’ away from being fully framed.Six very different pieces. This is one of my favourite ...
18/06/2026

All these new pieces are ‘moments’ away from being fully framed.

Six very different pieces. This is one of my favourite parts of the process, seeing everything coming together.

Once a piece is finished, there’s the necessary faff of taking lots of photos. But then I often like to see the piece at different times of the day, to see how the light changes the colours creating shadows & patterns.

Not going to be able to do that with these since once photographed they’re going to be safely packed up ready for the Royal Norfolk show next week. One or two may make a sneaky appearance at Creake Abbey on Sunday, just so I can get a chance to enjoy them that bit longer 🥰

I create in chaos and spread out regardless of how much space I have 🫣🤭This is my framing room as we head into the Royal...
17/06/2026

I create in chaos and spread out regardless of how much space I have 🫣🤭

This is my framing room as we head into the Royal Norfolk show next week and it can only be described as riotous!

There’s some gorgeous pieces emerging from the chaos and hopefully we will get to share some of them before next week.

We’ll also be bringing some of these treasures to the Summer Brocante at Creake Abbey on Sunday. So come see us there if you can’t make it to the showground 😊

This latest batch have tarnished nicely overnight.They’re all different, thank goodness. Great for us since some people ...
17/06/2026

This latest batch have tarnished nicely overnight.

They’re all different, thank goodness. Great for us since some people like their roses more/less tarnished than others.

Now it just need to stop raining so I can lacquer them.

I may save one, just to see if another 24hrs ‘developing time’ creates another level of tarnish. It shouldn’t change them massively but it may change the colours.

Where possible we’d always go for reversible conservation using Mylar/polyester film encapsulation.But preservation is o...
16/06/2026

Where possible we’d always go for reversible conservation using Mylar/polyester film encapsulation.

But preservation is only part of our business, we also want these forgotten stories to be displayed on our walls and enjoyed for years to come.

When encapsulation isn’t suitable to hold a distorted page, then we use conservation grade adhesives to stabilise the page for further mounting.

This 1940’s war-time plane identification page for a Douglas Dakota fondly known as the Gooney Bird is showing significant signs of damage. The conservation adhesive can lock onto the paper fibres and create a near flat page ready for framing, yet won’t react with the page. A very thin but uniform layer of adhesive is used, any gaps mean the page fibres won’t be secured; too thick and the wet adhesive will cause the paper to stretch too much and separate.

The paper is very curled at the edges and can break off very easily, so there is limit to how much external pressure can be applied to unfurl the edges. It’s certainly too delicate to use a brayer or roller. Fortunately I’ve been able to piece together the line down the right hand side which will help the final image.

Now it just needs to dry. It may want to curl as the water dries out at different rates. As it goes through this stage we can cover it with film and weigh it down but it really is a wait and see 🤞🤞

Our map pieces remain one of our most popular ranges.We create them in a variety of sizes and our 10” deep box frames is...
16/06/2026

Our map pieces remain one of our most popular ranges.

We create them in a variety of sizes and our 10” deep box frames is a great option if you’re looking for a smaller, more manageable piece.

Yet, they really are very different to make compared to a larger pieces.

For our larger pieces, the focus is on creating the best possible piece from the entirety of the map. Everything else falls in place after that; together with strict rules over orientation etc.

For our 10” frames, well I can use 5+ different modules sizes; adjusting the aperture mount as I need. I can change the orientation of the hexagon & rotate it. If I’m including place names, then there are opportunities to centre the name in lots of different ways. I can lose a few millimetres here & there when I cut the squares without compromising the piece. Every choice can create a different piece.

This makes the planning stage of these pieces fairly top-heavy. Yes it’s easier to fold 6 modules rather than 72, but determining which 6 modules can be a head-scratcher.

Bit of a blurry image but the plan this week is to switch over to our new website.No name change, or provider; but much ...
15/06/2026

Bit of a blurry image but the plan this week is to switch over to our new website.

No name change, or provider; but much more than just a quick spruce up.

The whole layout and feel is very different with much more information about the process and our approach.

The intention is to replicate a little of the information you might get talking to us at an event, together with what might come next if you’re interested in exploring a possible commission.

The other biggest change is the actual online store itself. You’ll still be able to order pieces but it will be on a click & reserve basis rather than direct sales. Our existing store has been very much a click through entity anyway acting as a conduit for contact etc.

So why the change? Well at the moment we can’t have a shiny e-commerce package working with the new website. Best analogy I can give you is it’s like not being able to get directly into your back garden without having to go out your front door, round the block and over the fence. It’s doable but not very elegant 🤭.

Long-term the plan will be to fully return to an e-commerce shop (back garden), once the builders have finished configuring the back door. The existing e-commerce shop is still there, but it’s more important for us to continue the conversation around what we can create, rather than to directly sell what we’ve already made.

Good news is you’ll still be able to see indicative prices for pieces, that was one thing we didn’t want to compromise on.

…….and it’ll be all in place before our return to the Royal Norfolk Show 😅

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Welborne
Dereham
NR203LD

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