Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Throwback Thursday: The Princess and the 100-Year-Old Dress

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Princess Autumn is happy to show off an antique gown.

The title says it all. Here is Autumn, our princess. She’s not 100-years-old, but 9 months, and comes complete with teeth, crawling agility skills, and potential for climbing.

Autumn is sporting a 100+-year-old cotton dress. Notice the intricate stitching and detail as she chews on her hair brush. See the tiny buttons stitched to the opening on the back of the dress. Allow your gaze to appreciate the length of the long dress and long sleeves. For posing and walking, this ankle length gown is divine. For crawling, gnawing, and drooling, maybe not so perfect. Over 100 years ago, this antique gown was handcrafted by a loving and skilled female member of the family. I adore vintage.

Throwback Thursday welcomes Princess Autumn, which is kind of ironic, as she has not even had that many Thursdays…yet.


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Got 30 Ideas? Sign the Storystorm Pledge!

You made it through! It doesn’t matter if your journey was like this… Because you have emerged victorious! OK, so maybe your journey wasn’t that difficult. Whatever the path was l…

Source: Got 30 Ideas? Sign the Storystorm Pledge!

Ta-da! A month full of great picture book ideas! OK, maybe not all are great, but still! Many thanks to Tara Lazar for making Storystorm happen! Happy writing!


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Storystorm Day 30: “Make Soup!” by Dr. Carrie Barron

by Dr. Carrie Barron Here is a wonderful quote I just found by psychologist and creator of the Hierarchy of Needs pyramid, Abraham Maslow: “A first rate soup is more creative than a second rate pai…

Source: Storystorm Day 30: “Make Soup!” by Dr. Carrie Barron

Creativity. Sometimes it comes and sometimes you have to start working and then the juices get flowing. Writers and other creative souls, we just need to start working with our ingredients, be those pen and paper, paint and canvas, clay and tools. Smell the soup!


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Storystorm Day 29: “Let’s Play Books!” by Kirsten Hess

by Kirsten Hess, Bookseller It has been wonderful to read the posts in Storystorm this month, to get a peek into the creative processes that go into the many wonderful books that we carry in our sh…

Source: Storystorm Day 29: “Let’s Play Books!” by Kirsten Hess

I love having books and play partnered together! Perfect match. Need to visit this bookstore!


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Storystorm Day 28: “Book, Not Novel” by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon

by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon Audrey: Like all picture book origin stories, this one starts years ago. Liz and I knew each other but not well at this point, if I remember correctly. Li…

Source: Storystorm Day 28: “Book, Not Novel” by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon

I hab a code, too!

This is a great post with strategies for helping write picture books – with a friend!


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Storystorm Day 27: “Ruth Spiro is Asking for it!”

by Ruth Spiro Two weeks ago, I posted the following question on the Storystorm Facebook group: I had been brainstorming my own list of ideas to write about, but I think it’s important to do some ma…

Source: Storystorm Day 27: “Ruth Spiro is Asking for it!”

Ruth shares some great writing strategies for turning ideas into picture books. Thanks, Ruth!


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Fun Friday: How To Write Your Name In Elvish In 10 Minutes

Reblogged on WordPress.com

Source: How To Write Your Name In Elvish In 10 Minutes – The Meta Picture

Love it! Everyone needs to know how to write their names in Elvish. LOTR, ready to go!


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Storystorm Day 26: “Non-Fiction Truths” by Rebecca E. Hirsch

by Rebecca E. Hirsch Congrats, Storystormers, you are almost done! Tara asked me talk to you about how to get nonfiction ideas. In fiction, anything is possible. But nonfiction shows the world as i…

Source: Storystorm Day 26: “Non-Fiction Truths” by Rebecca E. Hirsch

What are your interests? Mine your hobbies, passions, and experiences for picture book ideas – fiction and nonfiction!


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Storystorm Day 25: “Characters Who Won’t Stay in the Drawer” by Jill Esbaum

by Jill Esbaum Ever had a story idea pop into your head while reading someone else’s published book? I still remember, back in 2008, stumbling onto Mary Amato’s quirky CHICKEN OF THE FAMILY. I was …

Source: Storystorm Day 25: “Characters Who Won’t Stay in the Drawer” by Jill Esbaum

A tale of a tale which inspired a tale – and many years of revising and/or simmering in the file cabinet. Some stories take a long time to perc. There is hope!


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Storystorm Day 24: “Bake Your Darlings” by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

by Debbie Ridpath Ohi I’m assuming that you’re all deep into your brainstorming about story ideas at this point and already have a meaty list after all the inspiring posts you’ve …

Source: Storystorm Day 24: “Bake Your Darlings” by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Simmer those ideas on the back burner or place them in the oven to let them bake a bit. Don’t peek too early – they might just flop!