A Week in the Country

Actually, it was only one night, but the ladies of Little Witch Press had a great time out at Kim's country estate. While there, we celebrated the arrival of the new book (it's here! it's here!), devised an entertaining launch event (December 3rd at the Firehall -- only five sleeps away), and plotted our next moves in the publishing world (cackling, of course).

While we are not necessarily seeking world domination (though a cup of tea would be nice), we would like children in other cities to know of our exploits. Plans are afoot to expand our publishing empire.

It all begins with a puppet. Yes, yes, she has proper clothes now. And mittens.

A big shout-out/thankyou to Steph Rea, who is busy creating Pansy the Puppet's Very Secret Weapon. You must come to the launch to see its debut! But I will likely be posting photos of the launch here, so you may get to see it after the fact.

Remember: Five sleeps. That's all.

The Puppet is Here!

I believe we have a finished puppet. Or, at least, a finished puppet head. I'll work on the body tomorrow. But here are the steps:

After forming the head from foam and gluing it together, I spray painted it. Today, I added more features using acrylic paint

Doesn't she look fetching? 

Then, I added button eyes and started in on the hair:

She looks like she's suffering from Male Pattern Baldness, I admit. But here she is more complete.

Notice that her mouth isn't quite right. That was the next step!

I carefully measured her mouth using a thin cardboard pattern. Then I cut the black foam and glued it on. She's enjoying a small pot on her head -- it helped hold her in place!

And here she is! Next? We work out about her clothes. But that's tomorrow!

Happy witching my dears -- book launch in just a short while! December 3rd -- mark your calendars. By then, the puppet will be in full form.

ETD

Puppet in Process

It's been years since I've made a puppet. Honestly, I'd almost forgotten. After wrassling with a big piece of foam from Rockland Fabrics, I had to come up with a sort of pattern. Luckily, there was this site so I had something to go from.

Then I experimented with glue. I started with rubber cement, but it didn't work. I was a bit worried about setting Pansy the Puppet's head on fire with hot glue, but in the end it was what did it. I glued and glued and burned my fingers and finally I had a head! Then I modeled the nose bits. I'd already bought some button eyes, but the next step, which I did this afternoon, was the paint my form.

Here she is, drying upside down from my basement beams!

Plus, if you look carefully in the background, you can see the awesome coat of awesomeness that will be Pansy the Puppet's overcoat. VV Boutique -- how I love thee!

More photos to come as I paint and add more -- the next step...makeup! Then eyes! Then -- hair! I have a surprise for hair!

And little Ms. Sassy Rouge will be knitting our accessories. Can't argue with that.

But too labour-intensive to be a product line.

Best to all!

Elizabeth Todd Doyle

To Muppet, or Not To Muppet?

My Special Dearies,

You see us -- and photographic proof is rampant on this blog -- green and blue, marching happily through the children's section of bookshops. But maybe the Little Witches are ready for a fresh approach. As many of you know, we have a new book coming out December 3rd, Witches Don't Do Winter. 

What if, and bear with me here, what if we made puppets? Performed with good big puppets? In this story of sheer athleticism (something which many of you probably already associate me with), Pansy must ski, snowshoe, toboggan and stop a few pucks. That's a lot of work for a poor Witch...but not for a witch puppet.

Not too shabby, eh? We could equip her with baby clothing and Bob's your uncle! Plus, Susan and I can dress in "orchestra black", sans green and blue faces. My skin will thank you.

Thoughts?

Love, 

Sandi Witch

End in Sight! Or, Is It?

Hello Friends,

Some of you may have spotted us at Pinecrest Chapters yesterday as we flitted about in our pre-Halloween giddiness.  Here we are, in front of the IndigoKids! section. I think we look very smart. Our afternoon included reading from all three books, a brief fashion show (featuring my chicken wire tutu), and much coffee (photographic proof below).

After heavy caffeination, we resumed witchly duties, which seemed to now include a visit to Globo shoes (pronounced glob-o, don't let anyone tell you differently), because Pansy Witch needed a pair of knee-high riding boots in preparation (doubtlessly) for her brave foray into winter. More on that later. For Pansy, staying awake for the next few months of darkness is the equivalent of a college student pulling an all-nighter. I'm going to enjoy seeing this.

Today, defrocked, we infiltrated Saunders Farm as civilian witches (there is such a thing) and thoroughly enjoyed the mazes, the hayride, and the bouncy bubble. However, we made fast use of the Chicken Door in the House of Horrors. Not me, you understand. The littlest witches. They were...wanting to use the Chicken Door. Because it looked like fun. Not because they were scared, you understand.

Even though this is the end of the Halloween season, our fourth book, Witches Don't Do Winter is coming out in early December. Pansy has to stay awake allllllll winter this time. We'll post details about the upcoming party soon. Halloween will soon be over, and winter skies will be snow...and I'll tell you where the witches go and it's not Cozumel (regrettably).

In any case, tomorrow we'll see you at Lakeview School, if you happen to be a student there, or a teacher, or maybe a parent of a kid there. Or a witch. Because we know witches always come uninvited. It's how we roll.

Love and kisses,

Sandi Witch

Thank You, Rockcliffe School!

Dear Students,

It was so lovely to see all your faces this morning! Susan and I had a lovely time (as Pansy and Sandi and Wilhelmina) in your classrooms. It's always great to talk about how our books come about.

I was especially pleased that when we asked what you thought our upcoming book Witches Don't Do Winter was about. You guessed almost all the things that we put in there! Except ice-fishing! Thank you Jack, for that suggestion. I wish we'd had it a little earlier, because I can totally see our witches out on the ice, cutting holes and pulling up a whopper.

Check us out this weekend at Saunders Farm, ValleyView Farm and Peace of Mind Creations in Almonte!

Love, 

Sandi Witch

Sneak Peek! Shhhhhhh.

Lookit, everyone! Actually, shhhhhh. No, don't look.

Okay, come here. Let me show you something very, very exciting. It's the draft cover of our upcoming book, Witches Don't Do Winter (available for pre-order now -- launching in December!)

Isn't it beautiful????

Thank you, Sister Kimmie, for all your work in taking the drawings and making them look lovely! xxxx Sandiwitch xxxxx