Crafting for a cause: Peggy Dickey’s “Pixie Properties” benefit Bethell Hospice

By Zachary Roman

Peggy Dickey began making “Pixie Properties” as Christmas presents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The properties are unique pieces of art that look like doors into the magical worlds you read about in fairy tales and fantasy novels.

They're made using recycled and found materials and Dickey says she enjoys the challenge of using unusual objects in her work.

She first got the idea for her properties from the local magazine In The Hills.

“I was having so much fun, I wanted to make more,” said Dickey.

Her husband suggested selling the Pixie Properties for charity, to which Dickey said, “yeah right” — she didn't think people would buy the properties as she doesn't consider herself to be an artist by any means.

“I love doing crafts, I used to be a teacher, so this is sort of Grade 3 art,” Dickey said with a laugh.

However, it's clear that people think otherwise.

Dickey has now sold enough of the properties at $20 each that she's been able to donate over $4,000 to Bethell Hospice.

According to Bethell Hospice's website, it's a residential hospice facility that's free for its residents and “provides compassionate, respectful care to enhance the quality of life for individuals facing a life-limiting illness and their families.”

Some people have paid “over asking” for Dickey's Pixie Properties as they know 100 per cent of their money is going to a good cause.

Dickey has a well-organized studio set up in her house for creating her Pixie Properties.

There are little baskets of supplies: everything from buttons and jewelry to shower-curtain hooks and pieces of purses. Knick-knacks like these go on a base of wood, which can include reclaimed wood, tree bark, or even cedar shake. The end result is a one-of-a-kind creation that looks like what the front of a pixie's house might be.

Doors, windows and decorations come together to create a magical and mystical aesthetic.

One might ask how Dickey gets her creations to stay together, and the answer is a combination of things.

“Wood glue, exterior wood glue. And, you know, I Varathane a lot. A lot of things are attached with a wire,” said Dickey.

Also useful for Dickey's creations has been her husband's workshop, which has a drill press and band saw.

Dickey likes to experiment with items people give her, things she finds, and tries not to buy anything to create her Pixie Properties.

She's made over 250 of them and the first ones she sold were to her friends from the Inglewood Schoolhouse Performers.

Since Dickey is very familiar with Inglewood, she knew Bethell Hospice would be a great place to donate to as it's right there in the community.

“It's something that you see the results of,” said Dickey. “People have come and said… a relative or, you know, so and so was there and what a wonderful place (Bethell Hospice) is.”

Dickey said the idea is for people to leave their Pixie Properties in their gardens, “as an entrance to the magical underground world of fairies, pixies and the like.”

While she said the properties should survive outside, it's best to keep them on a covered porch or patio, put them “out when the grandkids come”, or put them on a bookshelf, for example.

Anyone who wants to buy a Pixie Property can reach out to Dickey via email at the following address: pixiepropertiesbypeggy@gmail.com. When someone drops by Dickey's house to buy a property, Dickey will display a bunch of the properties on her front porch. She said it was a great way to meet people and sell during the pandemic, as people were not worried about meeting outside to make a purchase.