Door to Door

“How now, spirit! whither wander you?” – William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Sooner or later, we all knew where the forest path would lead – all the way to Greece. The fairy door puzzle concept is so compelling and magical that it inspired the creative process in a number of artists. Kelly Snache’s Puddleduck Pastures was a playful journey around a cute lopsided house full of hidden surprises and well kept secrets. That fairy door is locked by at least four separate mechanism in classic Soul Tree Creation style, and features a charming mini interior once the door is open. More recently the original concept, and Puddleduck Pastures too, inspired Tracy Clemons to bring her own vision to life, in the massive and complex Dark Fairy Door. Her puzzle features three doors in all, with two guarding the initial box, which is artfully adorned with lovely details, and a hidden third door locked inside. This last must be built from materials that are discovered, and used to help open a final puzzle box with a locked treasure. What amazing things one can find in the forest!

The Fairy's Door by Mike Toulouzas

We are here to celebrate the original fairy door this time, finally, the one that inspired the rest. Mike Toulouzas is a highly talented woodworker from Greece whose hobby has earned him tremendous accolades in the puzzle world. He was truly inspired when he came up with the idea for his third puzzle box design, the Fairy’s Door. Mike has a fondness for designs that mimic something from the real world. He shared that on his way to work each day he passes many beautiful houses in the mountains made from stones and wood. There was one particular stone arch on this journey that caught his fancy one day, and next to it, a wooden door that was equally inspiring. He combined the two elements from his real life into something he could only find in his fantasies. His Fairy Door is an impressive piece of art, approximately 22 x 25 cm in size. It is beautifully rendered from Oak, Sugar Maple, Mahogany, Kotibe, and Katalox woods. The whole piece looks like a large tome of magic, with a scroll hinge down the right hand side and the prominent door on front, framed by hand carved stones. The details are exquisite, from the textured planks of the door, to the lovely carved hinges, to the tiny turned knob. It’s a magnificent piece of art to display, and Mike accommodates this nicely by including a companion display stand which hides inside – a wonderful detail he added later to the production versions.

There's magic to be found here

Mike is also a clever puzzle creator. Just look to his Flatliner packing puzzle, so named for the catatonic state it will put you in as you fail to solve it. The Fairy Door does not rely on its pretty looks alone, and does not disappoint as a puzzle. Opening the front door is only half the puzzle, as it turns out, and tools are discovered on the journey which will be needed to help find the way. There is a brilliant misdirection waiting, and even a final flourish with an actual magic wand. When it’s time to retrace the steps and put everything back together for the next brave soul who wanders off the forest path, you find there is a final puzzle to solve. As if that weren’t quite enough, Mike includes a charming illustrated booklet with the puzzle, which tells the epic tale and provides the solution, all set in verse.

Mike relates that he had the overall idea in his head from the beginning, but improved everything as he went along. Initially, for example, he only imagined the opening of the door aspect, but as he created it, he realized it would be a wonderful puzzle box and added the entire back section. Mike’s door is an instant favorite, and notably won the “Puzzler’s Award”, the crowd favorite, at the 34th International Puzzle Design Competition in 2014. Mike was in attendance at that award ceremony, and had been hearing people say that they thought his puzzle was very nice. But as the awards and honorable mentions were being announced, his was not among the winners. Finally he decided he had not won anything. He was thus so overwhelmed when the coveted Puzzler’s Award was declared in his name, that he literally began to cry as he came to accept his trophy. Mike has created a limited set of his remarkable puzzle, produced slowly and patiently over the last six years, a few at a time, and a lucky few have gotten to share in the magic.

The Fairy's Door Cocktail

Like the prior Fairy Doors, we must turn to the Green Fairy for a worthy potion to offer the forest spirits. For this toast I turned to an old favorite, the Old Cuban, an elevated version of the classic daiquiri invented by famed mixologist Audrey Saunders. That modern classic combines aged rum, lime, mint, and sugar, all topped off with champagne. It’s incredibly delicious. I took these cues and built a version including absinthe (the Green Fairy) and orange wine. The absinthe adds a complex and mysterious element that’s perfect for the fairies.

A magical potion

There’s also the final touch to the drink which references the origins of this puzzle box. In place of the champagne, I used a special bottle from Greece. Paleokerisio is a unique semi-sparkling, semi-dry orange wine made from indigenous white Debina and red Vlahiko grape varieties. The wine is a revival of the traditional semi-sparkling wine of Ioannina and brings a deliciously magical finale to the toast. Here’s to original inspirations, magical moments, beautiful creations and losing oneself to the lights. Στην υγειά σας!

an a-door-able pair

Fairy’s Door (adapted from Audrey Saunders)

1 ½ oz aged rum

½ oz absinthe

¾ oz lime

1 oz simple syrup

8 mint leaves

1-2 oz sparkling wine

Shake ingredients except wine together with ice, strain into a favorite glass, and top with the sparkles. Garnish with a citrus fairy’s door*.

* this fairy must be a bartender – there’s a barspoon and shaker door handle, a jigger knocker, a cocktail coup bell and some Hawthorne strainer hinges!

For more from this artist see: