O long long stems that twine!
O buds, so neatly furled!
O great white bells of mine,
(None purer in the world)
Each lasting but one day!
O leafy garlands, hung
In wreaths beside the way—
Well may your praise be sung!

Song of the White Bindweed Fairy from Fairies of the Wayside

Introducing Cicely Mary Barker

A new relationship

Cicely Mary Barker (1895–1973) was an English illustrator who spent her life creating influential art and poetry, works that we are honoured to reproduce in partnership with the Cicely Mary Barker Foundation and with the permission of Frederick Warne & Co Ltd.

Since the publication of her first work in 1923, Barker’s Flower Fairies have captivated readers with their sense of childlike wonder, and their influences taken from nature, botany, and Barker’s own imagination. The lifelike nature of Barker’s Flower Fairies might be attributed to the fact that the children who attended her sister’s nursery school often posed as the fairy models. Her Flower Fairies came about at the height of the Victorian fascination with fairies and her books, which contained botanically accurate illustrations and accompanying poems, enjoyed huge popularity.

The illustration reproduced for our Flower Fairies series is entitled “The White Bindweed Fairy,” a design taken from Cicely Mary Barker’s Fairies of the Wayside collection. We are delighted bring the beautiful essence of the Flower Fairies to our Fall 2025 Paperblanks collection.

Learn more about The Estate Of Cicely Mary Barker

Cicely Mary Barker (1895–1973) as a teenager - Courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.

A Shared Passion

Barker’s Flower Fairies, with their harmonious pairing of realism and Romanticism, continue to be published to this day, in a testament to the enduring desire for enchantment among readers around the world. At Paperblanks, our love for storytelling and appreciation of art inspires us to share this connection with new audiences, while also awakening nostalgia in those who grew up with the Flower Fairies.

Creating This Exclusive Collection

Working Together

When we first discovered Cicely Mary Barker’s iconic books, we were so taken that we immediately knew we wanted to find a way to capture the mesmerizing beauty of the Flower Fairies on our journal designs. But with Barker’s extensive repertoire of Flower Fairies illustrations, we didn’t know where to start! Eventually, after many months of research, testing, and creative inspiration, we came to focus on the White Bindweed Fairy. With influences taken from nature, botany, and childlike innocence, it was the perfect design to capture Barker’s recognizable aesthetic for our Fall 2025 collection.

Developing the Release

“Designing this cover was like stepping into a sunlit dream. I wanted to honour Cicely Mary Barker’s legacy by weaving delicate, botanical precision with a whisper of fantasy. The White Bindweed Fairy is crafted with care; the design features a delicate, whimsical illustration reminiscent of Barker’s signature style, rendered in soft, pastel hues, muted greens, blush pinks, and golden yellows that evoke a natural, ethereal ambiance.

At the heart of the cover, the White Bindweed Fairy is depicted with intricate botanical detail with flowing wings intertwined with bindweed blossoms and slender leaves in creating harmony between the fairy and her floral environment. The layout balances ornate detailing with simplicity, placing the fairy as the focal point against a lightly textured or neutral background to avoid visual clutter.

This artwork exudes nostalgia and enchantment, faithfully mirroring Barker’s timeless blend of botanical accuracy and fairy-tale whimsy. As the Paperblanks designer, I aimed to capture the delicate interplay between nature and imagination, inviting users into a world where everyday planning meets fairy-tale wonder.” - Mikhail Shepail, Paperblanks Graphic Artist

Original Artwork, FLOWER FAIRIES™ © The Estate of Cicely Mary Barker, 1948

The Future

We hope this partnership, which was born out of a shared love of storytelling and the excitement of creative collaboration, marks the first of many additions to our Flower Fairies series honouring Cicely Mary Barker’s lasting legacy.