I'm turning over our Monday craft day today to Joyce
and Jim Lavene, co-authors of bestselling mystery novels. They've written and
published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley and Charter Books along
with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications.
Their current novel is Treacherous Toys, book #5 in the Renaissance Faire Mystery
series set in Myrtle Beach. Learn more about them at their website.
Joyce and Jim are offering a copy of Treacherous
Toys to one of our readers who posts a
comment. Be sure to stop back on Sunday to learn if you're the winner. -- AP
Making Wooden Toys for Christmas
Our protagonist, Jessie
Morton, in the Renaissance Faire Mysteries takes on a different craft as an
apprentice with each book. Of course, murder isn’t far behind, but she is
genuinely interested in what she’s learning.
Jessie is working on her
thesis, The Proliferation of Renaissance Crafts in Modern Times. She’s learned
arrow making and archery, sword making and sword play, hat making and weaving
baskets, among other efforts. She’s not always the best at what she learns, but
she works hard.
In the fifth book in the
series, she is learning to make wooden toys at Renaissance Faire Village. Her
mentor is Father Christmas who is a little on the devilish side but a master
toymaker. Her apprenticeship may be one of her shortest yet when he's found
dead. Unfortunately, there's a long list of suspects – Chris Christmas liked
the ladies.
One of the things Jessie
learns about Renaissance crafts is that you have to develop patience.
Craftsmanship wasn’t rushed hundreds of years ago. A master craftsman lived or
died according to the time and effort he put into his work. His reputation was
everything.
Toys were very simple, meant
to appeal to the child’s imagination. This might
include toy swords, bows and arrows, hand puppets, whistles, wooden stick
puppets, wooden cup-and-ball toys.
Today’s Father Christmas might create wooden trucks, animals and
bendable toys. These would be brightly painted but very basic.
The Renaissance
Faire of the 1500s was very different from today. While our modern faires and
festivals seem to be a hodgepodge of foods, rides, characters and shows, they
do have some order. Early faires and festivals were spots for people to come
together, maybe once or twice a year, and could get quite rowdy.
Craftsmen, like
Father Christmas, would be at these events – hopefully not with such tragic
consequences as are found in Treacherous Toys.
Watch a video that shows how to make a wooden toy train.
Thanks for joining us today, Joyce and
Jim! Readers, if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Treacherous
Toys, post a comment. And don't forget to check back on Sunday
to see if you're the winner. -- AP
16 comments:
Joyce & Jim,
Thank you for the post on your new book, TRECHEROUS TOYS. The cover is eye-catching and the video on making wooden toys piqued a renewed interest in crafts.
I look forward to the read. Best in sales.
Thanks, Meb! It's always interesting to do the research for these books. We've learned a lot along with Jessie as we've written them.
Joyce and Jim
Oh, what fun! I just bought four wooden toys (truck, heart-shaped rattle, moose and car) for my 6 month old grand daughter, hndmade in the next town up the road here in Maine. She loves the rattle as she can put her whole hand into the hole in it. I've always loved wooden toys.
Hi Yetta! We love wooden toys too. Jim collects them. We have some fire trucks with detachable ladders and some dragons. Little kids - and big kids - like them!
Joyce and Jim
I've learned so much from reading Lois' blog. I had no idea how crafty the world is. My dad made wooden toys so your mystery, Joyce and Jim, touched a special place in my heart. Congratulations on your new release.
Remember those terrific toys from childhood. On TBR list.
Thanks, Kathleen! I haven't actually known a real toymaker but we did meet some Renaissance Faire vendors who made puppets. That was interesting!
Joyce and Jim
They are great toys, Jake, and almost indestructible!
Joyce and Jim
tscI love wooden toys. My grandfather made wooden toys for his kids and his grand kids were playing with them over 20 years later! Even his great grand kids knew the fun was in the toy box at grandpa's house!
The kids always know where to find the fun, Elaine!
Interesting! How something built for joy and fun can be used for evil. Great blog.
Hi Joyce & Jim! What a fun post, and I look forward to reading the book. I think simple toys are the best - I still remember the many fun hours I spent with my plain wooden blocks. Low tech, hi fun. Thanks for being so crafty :-)
Or high fun even. ;-)
I fondly remember my wooden toys of childhood---I think I'd like to read this book during the Christmas season.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Wooden Toys hold a special place in my heart. They are so precious and when I was young easily obtained. Enjoyed your great post.
I love the cover and I've read a few of the Lavenes' books and I own more of their books to be read.
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