Thursday, December 20, 2007
Fairy doors are popping up around Ann Arbor, Michigan. No one knows who's building them. They just mysteriously appear. The entryways are Thumbelina small and are so subtle and incongruent that they're easy to overlook -- or dismiss. At first glance, you might mistake one for an electric socket or a mismatched brick. But look closely and you'll see evidence that, yes indeed, something very little could be living there. Are they appearing there because they're being displaced from their rural homes by urban sprawl? Perhaps.
Here's only one of the examples of Fairy Doors in Ann Arbor. It can be found at the Sweetwater Coffe Shop:
Because Urban Fairies are as fickle as any Woodland or Flower Fairy,the locations change with whims. At any given time, there may ormay NOT be a door when you look.
One of the most amazing examples can be found in the children's section of the Ann Arbor library.Fairies have taken root here! The urban fairy library door is a teal colored double door in the end of a book case of fairy tales.
Not only a double door, but windows in several of the books. The shelf sign reads: "Please do not touch. These books are out of circulation. Besides there may be someone living in them and it would be rude to disturb them. " 
Although the sign requested people not to touch, it apparently was difficult to comply with! Some of the damage has been repaired. Unfortunately, who knows how likely it will be that the fairies will return!
Here is on of his Fairy/Faerie Doors (Also suitable for Elves, Gnomes, Sprites and other Wee Folk)"Have homeless fairies been bouncing off your windows? Are sad little gnomes milling about your garden and sleeping under leaves? Do you find passed out pixies in your mailbox?Don't just sit there saying "oh, the poor wee things"...Be a part of the solution!All you have to do is install one (or several) of my fairy doors around your abode (and yes, you do have to buy them first -- this 
isn't "Habitat for Supernatural Beings"). You can put them in your garden, mount them on the side of your house, put them on a bookshelf, lean them against a tree or stump or big stone and "voila!"... an instant home for the wee folk!I make what have been called the "finest" fairy doors on the Intarwebs. They've also been called "magnificent", "cute", "adorable" and other nice things. Unfortunately, the artist (me) hasn't -- but then I'm just an overfed long-haired leaping gnome known to spill wine.All of my doors are constructed of solid knotty pine (unless otherwise noted) and each one has a personality of its own. I also sign and date each one on the back. The door and door frame are separate pieces of wood. Very important detail... THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN -- at least not by human hands."
:)
by Colin Thompson
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1st American Ed edition (April 9, 1996)
The first reported sighting of an urban fairy door in Ann Arbor was in 1993.
(kimonomomo on Etsy)
what a magical thing for the children of Ann Arbor when they visit the library :)
I just showed my little miss 7 your post and she was so Delighted!