To the left, Shirley had quite a thriving business, selling fairy paintings down at the local markets. These paintings were unique to her, depicting apple houses, mushroom houses and houses in and amongst trees. There was also an assortment of cute little furry animals, pixies and fairies. Shirley's canvases for these pictures were chipboard edged in black, thus not requiring a frame. Right Top, Shirley shows her handy

work with clay figurines, the Gnome shown here, was a hot seller. Shirley not able to keep up with supply and demand employed her ten year old son to help her produce the clay figures. Right Bottom is one of her Terrace house pictures, which were sought after by their owners. It was not until 1985, widowed and with her children grown, that she decided to have another attempt at her lifelong ambition to publish a children's picture book. At her daughter's insistence, Shirley revised the text and illustrations of Martha B. Rabbit. Five Mile Press was the third publisher she contacted. It had taken thirty years! Shirley Barber (nee Machon) re-married, to a retired dairy farmer with three grown children of his own.