When I first wrote "the Ruby Red Slippers," I couldn't wait to read it to my youngest daughter. I felt she could be my greatest critic, or... she might just love it. And, well... she loved it! I watched her face as I reached a few of my favorite parts, waiting for her reaction. Well let's just say, her expressions were priceless. I think I was just as excited as she was, seeing how much she enjoyed hearing the story of Mia and her ruby red slippers. Because she was a big part of the inspiration for this story; I really hoped she would connect with the main character - and I believe she did.
-I asked her if she wanted her own "ruby red slippers" and of course, she REALLY did. So I made her a pair of sparkly red shoes like the ones I'd envisioned when writing this book. - In fact she has been my model for all the illustrations. I've really enjoyed working with her on this, since she'll only be small for a short while longer. Sometimes I wish I could bottle up the little girl in her and keep her that way forever. In a sense, these illustrations were my way of preserving a little bit of her youthful imagination and enthusiasm for all things magical.
-Anyway, she has slept with her slippers beside her bed every night, and she has worn them to school and anywhere else she could manage. She even wore them to school on gym day and got in trouble, (which, not surprisingly, is exactly what little Mia does in the story.)
So, you might be wondering, just how one might go about making a pair of ruby red slippers. I'll tell you, my first recommendation would be to buy a pair if you can find some. Since I could not, here's what I did:
~ I found a pair of red (vinyl) shoes in my daughter's size.
~ Then I purchased some red glitter spray.
~ I used masking tape to tape off every area of the shoes which did not need to be "sparkly" (including the inside).
~ Then I sprayed them(in a not so well ventilated area... - Yeah, well I live in South Dakota and it's winter here nine months out of the year). This took several coats to get them good and sparkly.
~ After the paint dried, I found some red sequin ribbon which I fashioned into two little bows. I had intended to attach the bows with a glue gun and reinforce with a few stitches of thread. As it turned out, it was very easy to run a needle and thread through the shoes, so I did just the opposite. I stitched the ribbon on first, then reinforced with a hot glue gun.
*** Despite the fact that my little 'princess' is not very dainty in her little shoes, they have held up surprisingly well.
For more information about Dee Dee Fox, The Suit, and the Ruby Red Slippers, please visit our website at www.wildflowerpress.org
