Today we’d like to introduce you to Saoirse McGurrin.
Hi Saoirse, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started The Fairy Place in 2023 during the writer’s strike. I had dreamed of creating a fairy house kit for many years before finally having the time and space to make it happen! It took about eight months to design and assemble the kits, which are complete with the birchwood dollhouse pieces, miniature furniture, kitchen and bedroom accessories, and paper floral to start building your fairy house as soon as you open the box.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Designing and building the kits was so creatively fulfilling, but the work of sharing your business with the world is a whole other story! I spent almost every weekend last year at different farmers markets, holiday markets, art fairs, and the Renaissance Faire, sharing my work and meeting other artists. The reward of seeing people engage with the kits, exploring their imagination and creativity through building and designing their own fairy houses (especially with their children or grandchildren) has made it all worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I wanted to create a fairy house that people (of any age!) could design, build, and play with for a lifetime. I quickly realized I was not looking to design a quick craft toy. I wanted to create an heirloom piece to be cherished by families through each season, and hopefully generations. I selected each element of The Fairy House Kit with care: the birchwood house pieces are locally stained and cut in Los Angeles. The delicate handmade branch furniture is meticulously carved by artists in Poland (currently, my favorite piece is the rocking chair!). The kit includes vibrant wool, ceramic accessories, Velcro-backed paper floral decorations, and dried moss to adorn on your house how you choose. In addition to the provided decorative materials, the house is designed to change with the seasons, adding seasonal flowers, or any found treasures to your fairy house kit is part of the magic!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking was essential in my creation of The Fairy Place, especially in the early days when every choice felt like a risk. These commitments, from designing to spending money, time, energy on this idea, forced me to make big decisions every day. What began as my quiet project quickly became a masterclass in business, international trade, and sustainability. I’ve had a lot of help from friends and family from packing kits or dragging my wares to markets on weekends. I’m so grateful to them, and to the other artists I’ve met along the way that have continued to inspire joy and creativity!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefairyplace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.fairy.place/
Image Credits
Evan Mulling
Jeffrey Chan
