Welcome back and happy September 2022!
Here’s some updates from last month. If you missed it, you can read more here.
► “Squeezing in the Last Summer Months this August 2022
Update on Donations for Baseball Players
If you remember, I mentioned I was going to take a 100% of all the royalties from the sale of my “Avi Jackson Best Friends” book and donate it back to baseball players in some way.
According to Amazon and their current updates, I sold one paperback book. That’s okay as it gives me enough to work with helping a player or two out. Even if it’s a snack or drink before or after a game, I think they will be pleased.
Other News…
My next Early Reader is coming along nicely. I’m working on my 8th page and I’m having so much fun putting it together. If you remember my “Beasley Helps” book, if will be made very much like that. Real people with added illustrations. I’m excited!
Reveal of the BIG Personal Project I’ve Been Talking About
This next personal project has taken me many months of planning, cutting and gluing to put together. I was going to make it as a gift, but decided it was something that we can work on together over time. So, this project will stay at our home, well, for now. (It wouldn’t be fair to give a gift and tell them they can’t take it home, right?)
Do You Remember?
Do you remember my book, Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail?
If you have read that book and made the project in the story, then you know what exactly that is. It’s a small little, 6 x 6 book that unfolded into a dollhouse. I’ve made many of these and have given them as greeting cards over the years, too.
Well, I decided to make one of these on a much, much bigger level!
I made rooms 12 x 12 rooms with added items. Here’s what it looks like folded up and tied together.
Watch the video below to see it now. (If for some reason you have a hard time watching it, feel free to download and watch on a device that’s best for you. Just click on the three small dots to the right of the video.)
We are going to use an array of characters for our house. Our plan is to make paper doll type figures. I can see this as a fun Barbie dollhouse for later on, too.
Here’s My Question
Do you think readers would like to know how to make something like this on a larger level? If so, do you think they would enjoy an activity book/story with templates, measurements, ideas, etc.?
I have a friend that suggested readers could make other things out of this project. Perhaps a grocery store? A department store? A school? A Pet Rescue Center? (I really liked that idea.)
Please leave me a comment. I’d love to know what you think.
Tell Us What You Have Been Up To
What have you been up to and do you have any projects in the works. We’d love to hear all about them.
Enjoy your September, everyone.
As always,
Happy Reading! 📚
Rosie
Hi Rosie, your house is soooo cool! I love it! It honestly looks to me like you would do very well with doing video tutorials on how to make the dollhouse. Maybe you could create a book or printable templates for people to purchase and then you could do video tutorials on how to actually create them. That was just my thought. My girls used to watch My Froggy Stuff on YouTube and tried to make a few things but the stuff was usually too advanced for them to create so they just made stuff up as they went along.
What great ideas, Jessica! I’ll put some thought into that and keep you posted.
I love that your girls made things up. I think this dollhouse, or structure, leaves lots of room for imagination.
I sort of “winged” parts of this, as well. I know what worked and what didn’t. Lots of learning. 🙂
Thanks again!
You’re welcome and best of luck!
Wow, so creative! I can’t imagine how much work has gone into that!
Hi Julie, yes, lots of work, but fun. It took a lot trials and errors to figure out.
Do you think readers would want to try and make something like this? Maybe not to this extent. Of course, adults could help out, too.
Thanks for stopping by today. 🙂
Whoa, Rosie. Your house book is ***AMAZING!*** !!!!!! Such intricate work and all within the covers of a book. What a treasure!
Are you thinking of crafting for kids? Adults? I can see a separate set by different difficulty levels and sizes for each age range. As for craft-challenged moi, I’d buy the kit to gift it to more skilled others.
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it being September. It feels like we just celebrated Easter! I’ve been adding more chapters to my beachy rom com and working out tons to drop the 10 pounds gained during Covid.
Awe, Cat, I loved your feedback and it’s so helpful. There are so many takes I could do for this project. I know I could tell readers what “not to do,” as I learned so much along the way. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Where is the time going? Yikes, it’s all going way too fast to me. Adjusting to a cool weather day here which makes me realize that the holiday months will be here before I know it.
I’m so happy to hear how your new book is coming along. Wow, great job on your workouts, too. I think a lot of people gained weight over those down times. Wishing you lots of luck. Knowing you, you will do this all just fine! 🙂