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Flower Fairies

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Where do I begin? Flower Fairies are the most beautiful dolls ever created! About 7 inches tall, they had sweet little petal costumes and wings that fitted into their backs, inspired by the Cicely Mary Barker drawings.

Originally, in 1983 when they were first created there was just 6 of them, but by 1985 when the Flower Pixies were made there were many, many more fairies and accessories (including Fairyland Home set, Secret Garden, Snail Carrage, Fairyland Coach, Pegasis Horse, 3 Enchanted Mushrooms sets(Glitter, Fragrance & Healing) Fairy Bedchamber, Petal Pool, 6 Woodland Friends(Rabbit, Harvest Mouse, Field Mouse, Badger, Hedgehog, Squirrel), Ballet Fairy + dancing stand, Princess Fairy + Rocking Throne, Deluxe Costumes like Poppy, Fuchsia and Stork's-Bill, and Deluxe Fairies like Hazelnut, Fumitory and English Rose... and MANY more)!

When their popularity was decreasing they tried a range of 6 'star costumes'(small versions of Rainbow Brite/Moondreamers style clothing) to modernise the dolls. Then they tried a range of 6 Star Fairies (Nightsong, Spice, Whisper, True Love, Jazz, Sparkle) which they marketed in the USA.

Star Fairies (some brown skinned, some pale, some green eyed, some brown eyed, some blue eyed, a red head, brunettes, blondes and one with curly white hair) were more diverse than Flower Fairies (all blue eyed blondes or brown eyed brunettes).

They ended up letting Tonka make them for the US market and they also added a 7th fairy(Princess Sparkle), and Castle Wishstar, a runway type changing room thing, a 'Lavender' Unicorn and Coach and 3 flocked animal friends (a rabbit, a cat and a swan).

Also created was a Star Fairies film, featuring the voice of Drew Barrymore!

Sadly flower fairies stopped being made in the late 1980s, but just before the end they tried a few more ranges, which are the hardest to find today: Magic Mist Fairies(their dresses had patterns which appeared only when sprayed with water), Magic Fairies (glow in the dark crowns and deluxe wands), a Treehouse, and more Deluxe Fairies (Marigold, Rosebay Willowherb, Celandine, etc) and Pixies (Strawberry Pixie, Bluebell, Double Daisy, Holly, etc).

Photo Larah Wylde

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Do You Remember Flower Fairies?

Do You Remember Flower Fairies?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    It was lovely reading all these comments about Flower Fairies. When Hornby were in Trouble (early’80’s) Had been Sindy brand manager at Pedigree for five years.They headhunted me (i refused the job 3 times .. and then got hi jacked in my car and given an offer I could not refuse.) I showed the MD my Cicely Barker first editions and a bunch of chinese silk flowers.. The next three years were dreadful .. no money .. so had to design all of the products myself, all of the pack designs all of the copywriting .. and two Hong Kong trips to do the sourcing. No money .. so got some old art school chums to help me with the Toy Fair Launch displays. Very difficult management .. so did the job and left as fast as I could. Creating Flower Fairies (on the shoulders of Cicely Mary Barker) was not the happiest period of my life. .... but seeing these comments .. retrospectively make it all seem worthwhile. I cleared out most of the Archive (including about a dozen coloured Sindy’s ... Oh Hell! but still have a few original designs and proofs for packs and Publicity. On reflection we came nowhere near doing justice to Barkers exquisite originals ...Apologies to her estate
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I mean, I can't afford to pay much for them, and there are people who will pay over £100, but would you rather you old toys sold cheaply to a child who will play with and love them, or sold for a lot more to a collecter who will hoard them and only love them for their money value?
  • Anonymous user
    on
    These dolls are so sweet! Would love to buy some but sadly I can only find them on ebay where they are expensive beacause of having to bid for them. Is anyone selling any or knows of a site where I might be able to buy some? I'd absolutely love to buy any that anyone is selling
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Oh Lordy how I wanted these dolls! I saw all the commercials, I was grown up, working a terrible job, flat broke and I so wanted to escape to the land of flower fairies! I only ever got to see one which I scrimped to buy for my little sister. She had two clusters of ringlets, a gorgeous dress and a petal cloak, I remember she was holding a white lily. The next time I saw her the hair was a fuzz, the flower was gone and so was the cloak. :'(
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Sindy, my favourite of all dolls; then Tressy 'Her Hair Grows' campaign on television epitomise my childhood.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    We love Flower Fairies, my daughter won a colouring competition and won over £50 worth of flower fairy regalia so she could add the new 'Flower Pixie' to her collection; she would then scatter each one across the front lawn, and over the rockery in our garden then took photos with her 'Le Clic' camera (for her birthday present no longer available) we played hide and seek and she hid the Flower Fairies everywhere possible. Such a joy, and very poignant.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I'm desperate to buy items for my girl pls help xxx
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Hi I have just stubled accross this site and looking for any of the play sets ....horse and carriage,bedroom chamber,fairy land home, petal pool, I already have about 30 fairies and 5 pixies but would really like to build up my collection of scene setters If anyone has anything they would like to sell please leave me a message. Kind regards daryn
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I have kept all my flower fairy dolls from a child. I have over 20 dolls and pixies along with the horse and carriage, bedroom chamber, secret garden and fairyland home set. I have a field mouse and fragrance mushroom and lots more. Its was wonderful to get them all out and reminisce on my childhood but would love for it to be loved and played with rather than go to a dealer. I know ur post was left here a while ago but if you were interested please let me know.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I would really like to buy some for my daughter who loves fairies for christmas. Does anyone know where I can buy them at a reasonable price as i keep getting out bidded by collectors on ebay. Its really sad that there is a generation of little girls that are missing out on these lovely dolls that ultimately are for children to enjoy. She has two of mine, but would dearly love some more.

Do you remember these?