When I originally wrote the story Prince Taylor's Corn Maze Halloween, ( one of the Princess Jelisa children's stories) one of the characters was dressed as Captain Hook. In editing the story for publication, the character was changed to a simple pirate captain, which I felt made him more relatable.
When I started looking at clothes for the dolls, back in 2016, one of the articles I read suggested using clothes made for preemies. In order to see how they fit, I purchased an outfit that my grandson liked. The print on the shirt (a on piece that was long enough to snap over a diaper) was a teddy bear with a pirate scarf and eye patch. Although it was too long for the doll's torso, I saved it, thinking I could use it later or remake it.
I searched Pinterest and online costume retailers and found a variety of ideas. I decided I wanted something simple, the kids could see themselves as. The shirt was a perfect beginning. I cut the bottom off the shirt, keeping it a little long to go over his pants. Next, I made a red scarf from some red cotton and tied it around his head. The eye patch was made from black felt and held on by a piece of black elastic. I was planning to pair the shirt with some blue pants but Lilly, my granddaughter, insisted he needed red pants. So I used a basic pattern to make him a pair of red pants. We used some boots, previously purchased for one of the other dolls. Jilly, another granddaughter told me real pirates always wore a vest. So she helped me find some felt squares to make a two-toned vest. Finally no pirate would be complete without a waist sash. His ended up being black satin.
This has ended up being one of my favorite outfits to make for this particular doll. Next to the camouflage outfit, it is also a favorite of my grandson. I hope you like it as well as he does.
Showing posts with label children's stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children's stories. Show all posts
Friday, January 12, 2018
Monday, January 8, 2018
A Princess Inspired Costume
My 4 year old daughter hardly ever goes a day without wearing some kind of a princess dress. Some days it is one of her favorite Sunday dresses, but most days she can be found prancing around the house in a dress-up costume. For Halloween, she wanted to be Cinderella. She found a dress at a local thrift store she decided was "perfect". A week later another dress arrived, purchased by her mother from Amazon. It was a brighter blue with an organza overlay. I thought she could wear the new dress for Halloween and the used dress for play, she insisted the first dress was her costume. However it was the second dress which became my inspiration for a costume for one of the characters in my newest book.
I bought some scrap pieces of blue silk and white organza from our favorite fabric store. Since I was short on money and didn't want to purchase a new pattern for just one outfit, I used some creative knowledge to change a pattern I already owned. Cutting the sleeve wider than the pattern I ended up with a full puffy sleeve. I figured out that two half (1/2) circles would make a simple flounce. Jilly's dress had gold braid trim down the front, which I didn't have any of, but I did have about twelve (12) inches of ruffled lace,I could use. I decided would look just as nice. Jilly was thrilled with the new princess dress for the doll. Jilly wanted to wear long gloves with her costume, so of course the doll had to have the same. Luckily I already had a pair of gloves which Princess Jelisa was happy to let us borrow for the night. A pair of clear sandals worked as her glass slippers.
Here is a picture of the finished princess costume that one of the book characters wore in the book, Prince Taylor's Corn Maze Halloween.( one of the Princess Jelisa children's stories).
I bought some scrap pieces of blue silk and white organza from our favorite fabric store. Since I was short on money and didn't want to purchase a new pattern for just one outfit, I used some creative knowledge to change a pattern I already owned. Cutting the sleeve wider than the pattern I ended up with a full puffy sleeve. I figured out that two half (1/2) circles would make a simple flounce. Jilly's dress had gold braid trim down the front, which I didn't have any of, but I did have about twelve (12) inches of ruffled lace,I could use. I decided would look just as nice. Jilly was thrilled with the new princess dress for the doll. Jilly wanted to wear long gloves with her costume, so of course the doll had to have the same. Luckily I already had a pair of gloves which Princess Jelisa was happy to let us borrow for the night. A pair of clear sandals worked as her glass slippers. Here is a picture of the finished princess costume that one of the book characters wore in the book, Prince Taylor's Corn Maze Halloween.( one of the Princess Jelisa children's stories).
Friday, September 1, 2017
The Promise Took a Turn
As I started the new year I promised myself I would do more with my writing this year. I started the year posting regularly to this blog, and actually did so fairly regularly until April. I was feeling fairly pleased with myself. That was the month I attended a writer's conference in the area.
The writer's conference was geared more toward those writing a novel but there was something that happened after the conference. My promise took a turn in a different direction. There were a number of authors who had books for sale, some on how or what to write, a number of science fiction, numerous romances, a variety of fantasy and even some scripts/screenplays. What I did not see many of were books for children, although I think there was one table that I thought offered a few. I remember walking away with the question as to why didn't more people write for children?
One of the things I found was that many writers said they had thought about writing for children but they didn't know what children would like, and didn't want to risk the reputations they had built as an author writing fiction for adults. Another prohibitive factor mentioned was the cost of illustrating a children's book with 24 or more full color pages, even using freelance illustrators.
Well, a reputation was not something I was terribly worried about at the time. I had published two self-help books, but had only sold a few to date. I didn't have reputation or a reader base of hundreds. What I did have was a feeling that did not go away, that I needed to share what I had already written before worrying about writing more. I had spent much of 2016 following a prompting to purchase stuffed animals that would go along with a series of stories I had written over the years as my grandchildren were growing up. Along with the animals, I found myself purchasing two dolls whom I felt were much like the princess and prince in the stories. At the conference I had learned about several websites that offered free or low priced photos that could be used or edited for illustrations and particularly covers. I had also talked with several authors during lunch that were happy with results they had received via Kindle Direct Publishing. One of the authors in the audience during one of the presentations asked a question about using a presentation program to design the cover and/or front pages of a book. His question prompted me to search the internet for more information. In doing so I came across an idea of how to prepare a children's book using a slide presentation program. The final thing that convinced me publishing my stories might be possible, even on a budget, was that while taking a refresher course in publishing, I found an easy way to combine elements from different photos into a slide presentation.
As the weeks passed, an idea began to move forward and the belief that it was at least worth the effort. So I began to self-illustrate some of my stories using low-cost purchased backgrounds and images, and adding elements of photos of the animals and dolls I had taken myself. The next step was to add the text, making minor edits to the stories as they had originally been written and format them into a form that could be repeated. The final step, for me, was to decide was what the covers should be - something about the particular book or something that would be recognizable from book to book. I finally decided to use the same cover for each book, but to make each unique by varying the color of the background. The first of the books about Princess Jelisa was finally published in July in both print and ebook formats. . As of today I have published 6 of the possible 20 or more stories I have written.
I don't know about you, but for me keeping a promise to myself, has been something I am really excited about. It may not look like what I anticipated or expected back in January, but too many new year resolutions in the past have disintegrated or been pushed aside by other demands by this time of the year. So I am anxious to continue my efforts. I invite you to follow me as I share more of the Princess Jelisa stories and more of my own as well.
The writer's conference was geared more toward those writing a novel but there was something that happened after the conference. My promise took a turn in a different direction. There were a number of authors who had books for sale, some on how or what to write, a number of science fiction, numerous romances, a variety of fantasy and even some scripts/screenplays. What I did not see many of were books for children, although I think there was one table that I thought offered a few. I remember walking away with the question as to why didn't more people write for children?
One of the things I found was that many writers said they had thought about writing for children but they didn't know what children would like, and didn't want to risk the reputations they had built as an author writing fiction for adults. Another prohibitive factor mentioned was the cost of illustrating a children's book with 24 or more full color pages, even using freelance illustrators.
Well, a reputation was not something I was terribly worried about at the time. I had published two self-help books, but had only sold a few to date. I didn't have reputation or a reader base of hundreds. What I did have was a feeling that did not go away, that I needed to share what I had already written before worrying about writing more. I had spent much of 2016 following a prompting to purchase stuffed animals that would go along with a series of stories I had written over the years as my grandchildren were growing up. Along with the animals, I found myself purchasing two dolls whom I felt were much like the princess and prince in the stories. At the conference I had learned about several websites that offered free or low priced photos that could be used or edited for illustrations and particularly covers. I had also talked with several authors during lunch that were happy with results they had received via Kindle Direct Publishing. One of the authors in the audience during one of the presentations asked a question about using a presentation program to design the cover and/or front pages of a book. His question prompted me to search the internet for more information. In doing so I came across an idea of how to prepare a children's book using a slide presentation program. The final thing that convinced me publishing my stories might be possible, even on a budget, was that while taking a refresher course in publishing, I found an easy way to combine elements from different photos into a slide presentation.
As the weeks passed, an idea began to move forward and the belief that it was at least worth the effort. So I began to self-illustrate some of my stories using low-cost purchased backgrounds and images, and adding elements of photos of the animals and dolls I had taken myself. The next step was to add the text, making minor edits to the stories as they had originally been written and format them into a form that could be repeated. The final step, for me, was to decide was what the covers should be - something about the particular book or something that would be recognizable from book to book. I finally decided to use the same cover for each book, but to make each unique by varying the color of the background. The first of the books about Princess Jelisa was finally published in July in both print and ebook formats. . As of today I have published 6 of the possible 20 or more stories I have written.
I don't know about you, but for me keeping a promise to myself, has been something I am really excited about. It may not look like what I anticipated or expected back in January, but too many new year resolutions in the past have disintegrated or been pushed aside by other demands by this time of the year. So I am anxious to continue my efforts. I invite you to follow me as I share more of the Princess Jelisa stories and more of my own as well.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Creative Christmas Results
Christmas is over, and most of the presents are put away. I say most because the books I decided to give are still here and there, waiting to be read or written or drawn in.
Even though I got some unexpected money from Santa to buy presents with, I decided I still wanted to give each of my children and grandchildren a book for Christmas. So I searched the internet for some ideas, free printable pages, recipes and articles. Designed some simple covers, and wroted some comments and personal thoughts to make each book unique or special.
Each of my 5 children received a book containing 4 stories I had written when they were children. One of the stories was written during a time when 2 of the children were receiving treatment for a congenital disease they had. My son spent several weeks confined in the hospital to a bed due to traction. He didn't respond to many things, but one thing he did respond to was reading. To keep things varied and special, I would write a short children's story at night after I put the other children to bed, and take it to the hospital the next day. As I read the story, I would have him draw a picture to go with the story. Of the many stories I wrote during that time, I only have the original of this one, for the rest were given to other mothers with children in the hospital or kept by the nurses to share with other patients. 2 of the stories I included were ones that the children would take to school to share with thei
r teachers at Halloween and at Christmas. The 4th story I included was one I wrote and have shared with many primary classes throughout the years. One of the girls said she didn't remember these stories, but another daughter was thrilled to have a copy of them and remembered the times she shared them with her friends at school.
r teachers at Halloween and at Christmas. The 4th story I included was one I wrote and have shared with many primary classes throughout the years. One of the girls said she didn't remember these stories, but another daughter was thrilled to have a copy of them and remembered the times she shared them with her friends at school. My 3 year old grandson received an activity book that contained coloring, tracing , counting and matching games and pages. The 5 year old granddaughter received a book of paper dolls and clothes to play with. The 10 and 11 year old girls received some fill-it-in journals. I wasn't sure if the 10 year old would really like it, but she was thrilled with it and said it was just what she wanted, and the smile and her face said as much as her words. For the older 3, ages 16 and 18 I gathered some family recipes, and included some ideas of things you could cook in a microwave or easy dorm meals for students. Then I personalized each book with my testimony, some ideas on being a missionary, some personal traits I admired, some values to live by, and some suggestions from others in foster care on how to make personal changes. Finally for a precious great-granddaughter, age 1, who is always in my heart, I printed out some personalized Disney stories for her I hope she will enjoy.
I thank the Lord for the spirit of creation he blesses me with. This is not the first Christmas, nor I am sure will it be the last, that a little thought and originality will be given and received with love. Creativity is one of the gifts the Lord has given me that I have been able to use throughout the years to touch family, friends, neighbors and even strangers in powerful ways. I pray that I will remain open to the spirit of direction and will continue to touch the lives of others for many more years.
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