FairytaleBio:MynameisRobinWightandI’mthefounderofFantasyWire.Iwasborn1960andthesonofanengineer.IservedanengineeringapprenCceshipandspentthefirsthalfofmyworkinglifeinthecopperindustrybeforeswitchingcareerstosoGwareanddesign.

Art

I’vealwaysbeencreativeandfirstmasteredpencildrawingatschoolwhichIcontinuetoenjoy,butswitchedtoiPadasamediuminrecentyears.

ArtandengineeringhasmeantthatthroughoutmylifeIhavecreatedallmannerofthingsinallsortsofmaterials,fromcopperandbrassornaments,turnedwoodenchesspiecesandevenarockinghorse.

Myinterestin3D/sculpturedevelopedwhenourchildrenwereverysmallandIusedtobuildelaboratesandcastles.Asthechildrengrew,Iretainedmyloveforsandsculptureandwealwayshadaringoftouristsaroundusoneverybeachholidayrightupuntilthe2009(muchtomywife’sannoyance).

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The

FantasyWire

NatureReserveIn2009wemovedtomiddleofanaturereserveandthescaleofspaceandmaterialstocreatethingsincreaseddramaCcally.Istartedproducinglargewoodcarvingswithachainsawandchisels.IwasenjoyingitandmadeseveralpiecesthatIwasproudof,butwood(likesand)hasmaterialconstrainsthatlimittherangeofsubjectstoasortofjelly-mouldshape.Sandcannotsupportoutstretchlimbsandwoodrunstheriskofdryingoutwithfragilepartsfallingoff.

FairyEncounter?AtChristmas2009,Ireceivedanewcamera.Whileinthewoods,learninghowtouseit,Itookaphotoofthelightstreamingthroughthetreesontosomemosscoveredrocks.ItwasonlylaterwhenIunloadedthecameraandexaminedtheimagesthatInoticedwhatlookslikeafairyinthetree.I’msureitmustbejustanillusion,likeseeingarabbitshapeintheclouds,butitdoeslookconvincinglylikeafairy.

StartingwithWireInearly2010,whilemendingafence,Iwastwistinganoldpieceofwireuptothrowaway,whenitoccurredtomethatfencewirewasagoodmaterialtomodelwith.It’seasytobend,itsrequiresnospecialtreatmentsorexpensiveequipment.Itproducesapermanentweatherproofresult.It’slikeasortofmetalclay.Youcanbothaddandremove(unlikesandandwood)ifyoumakeamistake.

IthoughtI’dstartwithasimplehumanfigureandperhapsbecauseoftherecentphotoIdecidedtomakeitafairyforthebottomofthegarden.Thenetresultwasverycrudeandcertainlywouldnotwinanyprizes,butasaproofofconceptforwireasamaterialtoworkwith,Iwashooked.

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MasteringtheHumanFormAfteraround5attempts,Iwasstillstrugglingwithproportionsanddecidedtorethink.Itookmeasurementsofseveralhumanproportionsandworkedouttheaverageskeletonandevenmusclemeasurements.Ithenwentaboutmakingaprototypecalled“Glance”whichincorporatedallthenewdesignelementsincludingmyfirstattemptathair.Glanceworkedwellandturnedouttobereasonablyaccurate,althoughsheseemedalittleoverweightforafairy.Becauseglancewasasimplestandingposeglancingoverhershoulder(hencethename),herhairsimplyhungdownherbackandoverhershoulders.Asthefinishedtextureofwrappedwirecreatesasortofcamouflageeffectitwashardtotellwhereherhairendedandherbodybegan,soIabandonedhairforawhileandstucktoaddingsimplebluebellstylehats.

TreeHuggerandTheThiefTheverynextfairyafterGlancewasonecalledthe”treehugger”.Imadeherasabitoffuntoputinatreeinthenaturereserve(permissiongrantedbytheStaffordshireWildlifeTrust).Peoplewalkingpastwouldeasilymissher,butwoulddoadoubletakewhenshedidcatchtheireye.ThelocalpeoplegottoknowherandthefollowingyearIwasaskedifI’dliketoshowsomefairiesattheannualvillagefestival.

IwonderedhowIcouldmakeonetodisplayatthefestival,thatcouldn’tbesimplypickedupandstolen.Icameupwiththeideaofbalancingafairyontheendofawateringcan,whichistippedonitsedge.Thewateringcanisactuallyfilledwithconcretetobothcounterbalancetheweightofthefairyandtopreventsomeonesimplypickingherup.Hencethe“TheThief”whichcoverswhatsheappearstobedoingandwhyshewasmade.ThistypeofdesigntypifieswhatI’mtryingtocreateandassuchIusewasusedasmylogoforawhile.

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FairyTrailsWorkingwithStaffordshireWildlifeTrustwehidsomefairiesinanearbylocalwoodsomembersofthepubliccouldfindthemasa1offattractiontohelppromotetheTrust.Itworkedquitewellandwasgoodfun.Sothefollowingyear,whenthevillageaskedifIwouldtakepartinthefestivalagain,Ipulledoutallthestopsand(againwithpermissionfromtheWildlifeTrust)setupafullscalefairytrailinthereservewhereIlive.Thelocalslovedit.Wehandedoutlittlemapsandimagesofthefairiesandallthechildrentriedtotickoffeachfairyastheyfoundthem.

TheTrenthamEstateBypurecoincidence,themarketingmanagerfortheTrenthamEstate(AmandaDawson)tookawalkwithherfriendthroughthereserveonthedayofthefestival.Amandahadnoideatherewasevenafestivaltakingplaceandwasamazedtospotafairy,thenanother.BeforetoolongshemetsomeonewithatrailmapwhoaskedAmandaifshehadseenonethattheycouldn’tfind.AmandalovedtheideaandIreceivedanemailentitled“Weloveyourfairies”.IthoughtthatTheTrenthamEstatewantedtocommissiononeandwasdelightedwhenIgotavisitfromtheheadgardener.IshowedhimhowImadethemandallthedifferentcharacters.Stillthinkingtheywantedtocommissionone,Iwasverysurprisedwhenhesaid“heresthedeal,wewantthemallandwewantthemnow”.

Thenextday,allthefairies(excepttheveryearlyattempts)wereloadedupandwereonthewaytoTrentham.

ShakyJustpriortothevillagefestival,ImadeafairycalledShakyforajoke.There’sapathupthebackofourpropertywhichpassesa5bargate.Ithoughtitwouldbegoodfuntomakeafairythatstoodonthegate,armoutstretchedinvitingpeopletoshakeherhand.Isetupasecretcameraandwasallsettotakephotosofpeopleshakingherhandwhennoonewaslooking.ShakywaswhiskedofftoTrenthambeforeIevergottocatchanyonesnakingherhand.

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HeartsofstoneWiththegardennowemptyoffairies,Istartedtomakesomemoreandevensellacouple.Iwantedtoaddsomethingasasortofmakersmark.IthoughtIcouldburysomethinginsidethebodyofeveryfairy.Thefinishedwirestillallowssomelighttopassthroughthefigure,soputtingsomethinginsidewouldnotaffectthefigure,butwouldservetoshowthatitisoneofmine.Thenitstruckmethatapebblecouldbeusedasaheart.AheartofstoneinasteelfairyandifIengraveamessageonitsheart,itcanpersonaliseittothecustomer.

Rusty&StainlessSteelOneofmyfirstcustomerswantedacopyofthetreehugger.Herhusband(neverhavingseenawirefairy)wasfarfromconvincedandcouldn’timaginewhathewifewasthinking.“Afairymadefromfencewire,surlyitwillgorusty?”Itbuggedmeandasearchedforalternatives.Icontactedastainlesssteelsupplier.TheyweregoodenoughtosentmesamplessoIcouldtrybendingitandcompareittothefencewire.Obviouslyasteelsuppliersisn’tgoingtoshipatinycoilsofwireandifIwasgoingtogoforit,Ihadtomakealeapoffaithandbuytheminimumquantitywhichwouldbeenoughtomakeabout6-8fairies.

Itpaidoff,stainlessissomuchnicertoworkwithaswellasproducingamorespectacularresult.SoonIwasorderingfinerandfinerwire,applyingitinseveralstrandsatatimetoproduceamuchsmootherlineoverthebodiesofthefairies.

Italsoallowedmetoreturntohairandhaveitblowinginthewindawayfromthebodyandwithoutlookinglikestraw.

DandelionsForyearsIhaditinmindthatyoucouldmakeasculptureofadandelionwiththeseedsblowingawayandallinterconnectedtosupporteachother.Havingmasteredwire(tosomeextent)IthoughtI’dhaveago.Imadeasmall8inchdiameteronewhichisquitefiddly.Itworkedquitewell,soImadeafairyintheposeofblowingitandthefairy/dandelioncombinationwasborn.

Impressedwithmyfirstdandelion,IdecidedtoseehowbigIcouldmakeoneandmadeoneabout2feetdiameter.Assoonassomeonesawit,IwasaskedifIwouldsellit,butIwasconcernedhowitwouldreactinsnow.I’donlymadeitusingthesamesoftwireasthefairiesandwasconcernedthatifitgotaheavycoveringofsnow,alltheseedswouldbendanddroop.SoIwaiteduntilwintertoseehowitfaired.Tomysurprise,whenitfilledwithsnow,thesnowpackedinandsupporteditratherthanbendingtheseeds.NeverthelessIcontactedmysteelsupplierandaskedforsamplesofhighertensilewiretomaketheseeds.

ThedandelionsmydaughterAmymakestodayareprettyrobustsculptureseveniftheydolookdelicate.

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BlownAwayWhenTheTrenthamestateboughtallthefairies,itincludedtheoriginalTreeHuggerfromdownthelane.Thelocalsmissedherandfrequentlyasked,“areyougoingtoreplaceher.”Imissedheraswell,butratherthansimplyreplacingher,IaskedifIcouldputoneinthevillagesomewhere.Theparishcouncilgrantedmepermissiontoputoneonthevillagehall.Wantingtomakearealstatement,Idesigned“BlownAway”,afairystrugglingwithalargedandelion.

WhenshewasfinishedandInoticedhowshefoughttherealwindandworriedthatshemightposeasafetyhazardandoptedforasaferdesigntogracetovillagehall.

ButseeingherreactinthewindgaveMeanotheridea.Whataboutmakingafairy weathervane?

1o’clockwish1o’clockwassimplyanevolutionfromblownaway.Iimprovedtheposetoshowthepressureofthewindandmountedheronbearingstorotatefreely.Havingneverattempteditbefore,Iassumedthatshewouldbetooheavyandwouldsimplystandstill,buthopedshewouldoccasionallyfaceadifferentdirection.Noonewasmoresurprisedthanmewhenshemovedwiththeslightestbreathofwind.

ExtendingtheTrenthamTrailTheideabehindTrenthaminstallationwastoencouragevisitorstowalkaroundthegardensratherthansimplybeelineforthecaféandthechildren’splayground.It’sbeenatremendoussuccessandI’veworkedwithTrenthamtoextendthetrailaddingmorefairieswhichnownumber15.

“Wishesdocometrue”Attheendof2013,IjokedwithAmandaatTrentham,thattheycoulduseacentrepiece.Ihadnoideathat2014happenedtobetheir10thanniversary.Amandacamestraightbackwith“Doyouthinkyoucouldmakealifesizedone?”

Amandagavemethebriefof“Regeneration”,“timepassing”,“goodthingsyettocome”.It’sasifshewasdescribingadandelion:seeds,clocks,fairywishes.Soweworkedtogetheronanumberofideas/evolutionsfromblownawayand1o’clockwishresultingin“Wishes”withthetagline“Wishesdocometrue”.

WisheswasinstalledinMarch2014readyfortheanniversaryinMay.

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Wisheshasbeenagreatsuccessandcertainlyincreasedmyexposureevenfurther.

JoFitzpatrickJoisanormalmemberofthepublic(withahistoryinphotography)whohappenedtotakeaphotoof“Wishes”whileonadayoutwithherfamilyatTrenthamGardens.JokindlysharedthephotoonmyFacebookpage,andIinturnsharedit.Withinadayorsoithadbeensharedover1000times.IcommentedonitandbeforetoolongIgotanemailfromalandscapearchitectwhowantedtoincludeitandsomeotherimagesonsomegardeningforumorother.

AguycalledPaperkutRob(RobertAllam)shareditonImgurandReddit.Robemailedmetosay“I’vejustpostedacopyofJo’sphotoofyourworkandit’sonthefrontpageofRedditalready(after20mins),itsgoingtogoviral”.

GoingViralYouhearaboutthingsgoingviral,butit’sanothertoexperienceit.BeforeJo’sphoto,Ididgetacoupleofenquiresaday,whichIwasverypleasedwith,buteventhatrepresentsademandIcouldn'tmeet.OnceitstarteditbuiltandbuiltandevenafteracoupleofdaysmyPCwasstilljustgoingping,ping,pingconstantlyasliterally1000’sofemailspouredin.Atfirstit’sfun,it’slikeyouimagineaslotmachinestartingtopay-outinLasVegas.

Whileitwasstillinfullflow,Ipostedasimplelittlevideoof1o’clockwishspinninginthebreeze(entitled“Livingthedream”)It’sstillhardtograsphowfastthingsspread,injustafewdaysthatvideohasbeensharednearly42,000timesandreached4.5Millionpeople.

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Today,Itsnowbeensharedover600,000timesandcontinuestobebesharedeveryfewminutes.

AsaresultofthefirstfewdaysofthatvideobeingsharedIgotaround1000requeststobuy1o’clockwish.Howdoaddress1000requestsandwhatpricewouldIputonitwiththatsortofdemand?TheonlythingIcouldthinkoffistomakeacopyandallowpeopletobidforheroneBay.

DancingwithDandelionsThecopyImadewasnamed“DancingwithDandelions”afteroneoftheviralheadlines(fromJo’sphoto)andshesoldfor10timeswhatIhad beensellingthemforandchangedFantasyWireforever.

DancingwithdandelionshasclearlybecomemysignaturepieceandassuchhasbecometheregisteredtrademarkofFantasyWire.

DIYKits&FairyWishesPeoplekeepaskingifIcanmakesmalldesktopsizefairies,partlybecausetheyshouldbecheaperandpartlybecausetheyonlyhaveasmallgardenorspacetoputone.

Itactuallyeasierandmuchmorecosteffectiveformetomakelargerones,butIcompletelyunderstandtherequest.

EversinceIstartedmakingthem,mywebsitehasshownhowImakethem,soitwasn’tabigleaptoproducingaDIYkitallowingpeopletomaketheyown.

TheDIYKitshaveeverythingyouneedtoproducealittle8inchfairy,includingaskeleton,wire,pliersandfullinstructions.Seetheshoppageformoreinformation.

Wealsogetaskedforadandelionkit,butunfortunately,theprocessisn’tsomethingthatleadsitselftoaDIYkit.Itsnotthatthedandelionsareparticularlycomplexordifficult,itssimplyduetothewirebeingsofine.Wehavetostretchitoutintolongbundlesofwirethatarethencutintoshortlengthsandtheseedsareactuallymadeintheexactspotthewireiscut.Itsnearimpossibletohandlemultipleslittlebundlesofveryfinewirewithoutgettingintoarightmess.

Inanefforttoprovidesomesmallerversionofadandelion,wecameupwiththeideaofafairywish.Asinglepre-madedandelionseedfromoneofthelargerdandelions.SeetheDIYpageformoredetails.

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GiantDandelionsTrenthamGardenslovedthestandalonedandelionsbutthoughtthataspikyballofwireatheadhightmightposeabitofasafetyriskinapublicplace.Amysuggestedthatwemakesometallenoughsopeoplecantreachtheseedsheads.Amysetaboutmakingaprototype,butwhenyouscalethemuptotheheightthatpeoplecantreach,theyendupbeing4footdiameterand16foottall.

TrenthamGardenswerere-developinganareaofthegardensandofferedAmyaprojecttoproducea12dandeliondisplay.

AFamilyBusinessThepopularityofFantasyWiretookusbysurprise.Clearlythereisaneedforgoodold-fashionedwhimsicalfunmixedwithsomeartandphotography.Unabletocopewiththedemandasahobby,inOctober2015FantasyWireLtdwasregisteredasacompanyandwenowemploy6people.

ItsYOURsupportthatcreatedFantasyWireandyourfeedbackclearlysuggeststhatyouwantmore:Morefairies,moredandelions,morekits,moreaffordablemerchandise,workshopsandcourses.

Itsstillearlydaysbutallthesethingsareintheplanandweareworkinghardtoincreasecapacityanddeliverthemtoyou.

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