Roberta Writes – Fashion writing challenge, d’Verse Quadrille #212 and fondant trolls

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This post is doing triple duty for Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, d’Verse Quadrille #212, and fondant trolls for my wonderful photographer and nature conservationist friend, Wayne.

Esther’s challenge is to write something inspired by the word “fashion”. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/11/06/writing-prompts-39/

De Jackson’s, aka WhimsyGizmo, prompt for d’Verse is as follows:

What the what? Yep, that’s right, this week I want you to include some form of the word what in your 44-word poem. The poem after the prose is for this prompt.

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/11/quadrille-212-what-the-what/

Wayne’s trolls are at the end of the post and compliment the poem I posted on Saturday about Norwegian trolls here:

The Red Devil Costume

Picture caption: Robbie the dancing lady bird

When I was a little girl, I loved to dance. I attended ballet classes with fourteen other little girls who loved to dance. I was flexible and learned to do backbends and the splits quickly. After several months of learning the foundations of ballet, our teacher sent home a letter.

“The ballet school is holding a concert,” Mom said after reading the letter. “You will be a lady bird, and I need to make you a costume.”

I was delighted. Dressing up was one of my favourite things.

On the day of the concert, I was dressed in a yellow leotard, yellow tights, black ballet shoes, and a black Alice band with black sequinned antenna. I also had wings made from soft black netting with red dots on it.

The concert was held in a hall. Being one of the youngest children, my lady bird dance was early in the proceedings. The dance students had to stay until the end, and I spent my time alternating between running about being a flying lady bird and watching the other dancers.

It was during one of my swoops down the long passageway with several doors into the concert hall and dressing rooms, that I saw her. I stopped and starred. Mesmerised. The older girl on the stage was a red devil and was doing the most amazing and graceful dance. She was attired in a red leotard and red tights with a short, stiff red tutu that stuck out perfectly. She held a red pitchfork and had a red Alice band with red horns. Even her ballet shoes were red. A ballet fashion statement, I was enchanted. I watched the whole of the dance and afterwards, went to sit alone in a corner to contemplate the splendour of that costume.

I asked Mom for a red devil costume for Christmas. She wasn’t particularly interested so I knew Mom was a lost cause for fulfilling this dream. I then asked Granny Joan to make me a red devil costume. On Christmas Day, I eagerly awaited the arrival of Granny Joan and Granddad Jack. Eventually, they arrived, their old beige Ford Cortina pulling up to the front door. Granny Joan climbed out clutching a bag full of parcels. I was the last child to receive my gift. As soon as I had the package in my hands, I rushed away to a quiet place behind the couch to unwrap it.

Inside the cheerful Christmas paper was my red devil outfit. A pair of red tights, a red leotard, a red skirt made from soft netting, and handmade devil horns and a pitchfork made from stiff cardboard, red sequins, and red felt. The only thing I didn’t have was red ballet shoes but that didn’t matter. Ballet shoes were expensive, and I didn’t need shoes because Granny had cleverly bought footless tights.

The red devil costume was my favourite outfit for months and months. When I wore it, I was also a ballet fashion statement.

A magical red devil costume

To stimulate my imagination

Setting free my creativity

Allowing me to follow dreams

The red sequins catching the light

Creating mottled red patches

On the wooden floorboards

Turning our lounge into a concert hall

What more could I want?

Fondant trolls

I have always loved trolls. Trolls are included in three of my children’s books, Sir Chocolate and the strawberry cream berries story and cookbook, Sir Chocolate and the Condensed Milk River story and cookbook, and Haunted Halloween Holiday.

Picture caption: Stinkpot the father troll
Picture caption: Michael’s Stinkpot the Troll with a huge club and stubble.
Picture caption: Stinkpot and his sons helping fix a church
Picture caption: Stinkpot and his sons with a log they removed from the Condense Milk River

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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122 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Fashion writing challenge, d’Verse Quadrille #212 and fondant trolls”

  2. How wonderful that you got your costume in the end, Robbie. I’m so pleased 😊 Thank you for sharing your story and that wonderful poem. I’ll add it to my prompts blog post for tomorrow. Thank you 🥰

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  7. Oh Robbie!! How wonderful to have a dream come true. Those childhood moments stand out in our memory into old age. Your grandmother’s special Christmas gift is a testament to how our loved ones can make our dreams a reality. I can only imagine how excited you must have been to receive it. Thank you for sharing your story; it truly brightened my day!

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  8. How lucky to have a mom and a Granny Jean to make you such wonderful costumes.

    Love your quadrille to close it all out and those trolls are wonderful!

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  13. I love the story of your red devil costume. My grandmother always gave me what I asked for as well. Bless them. Your fondant trolls are fabulous. And you look adorable in your dancing ladybird costume!

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    1. Hi Dave, I have never forgotten the Red Devil costume. A strong memory for me. I asked my three younger sisters what they remember from our childhood a few weeks ago. They don’t seem to remember anything in detail like I do. There memories are vague and general. It was disappointing for me because I have so many clear and vivid memories.

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  17. Great, Robbie! I love the story as much as I love your wonderful new characters. The older ones have a duty to foster the children’s abilities. Your grandmom has done a good job, even thought you are now situated in another branch of art. 😉 Beside your profession in financial matters. Best wishes, Michael

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  18. So, so cute, Robbie. My dancing career didn’t last so long. I was in one performance with my turquoise tutu and skinned knee with no tights. Our teacher was a older dancer, the seventh-grade sister of one of my classmates. She had beautiful long red hair that moved as gracefully as she did when she danced. I’m sure I wanted the hair much more than a replica of her costume, which I can’t remember. I wasn’t flexible, and spent much more time wearing band aids than tights. Nonetheless, the memories last a lifetime. 🙂 xxxxx

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          1. That’s always a good idea. I find that other people stimulate them – like you did with your picture. Dad took a picture of me. I’d just have to find it. It’s a slide, so buried with his other hundreds of slides that have never been converted to digital. 🙂

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          4. When I speak to my sisters, I am surprised at how much more clearly I remember things than they do. I can recall a lot of simple things with great clarity but they only remember general things. It is quite disappointing for me.

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          5. I am like the disappointing sister, I think. Randy and I have been talking a lot since his wife died in May. We remember different things. I can usually trust him to remember details and dates. I don’t know what he hangs those memories on, but they are usually accurate. I am better at navigating systems, but he is improving a lot. He just needed someone to come along side of him and work things through together. We are both enjoying our new roles as different but equal.

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          6. Hi Marsha, that is very interesting. I am the oldest which may also be a reason. The younger kids perhaps followed my directions more and did less of their own creating. You remember what you created yourself better. It is wonderful that you have these precious conversations with your brother.

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  21. What a charming childhood memory! Your grandmother sounds like a loving and giving person.

    I’m getting a big kick out of that last photo. The three trolls look like they would rather be anywhere else than with each other by that log.

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  24. That is a beautiful story. What a special memory. It brought to mind when our daughter was dancing balet. She loved doing it and was good at it. I remember performances with the young girls and then there were some older ones who were really amazing. The teacher was not very nice so she quit after a while, but that is a different story. It was a beautiful poem and I loved the fondant art.

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  25. o Robbie, I love this post, every section of it: that childhood memory, the little poem and, of course, those fondants ! I don’t know how it happened but somehow I wasn’t subscribed to this blog. Have now rectified it 🙂

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  33. Oh, Robbie, I loved that story about the Lady Bird being mesmerized by the Red Devil’s dance. I could feel the awe and that deep desire. I’m sooo glad that your grandmother fulfilled your wish. A beautiful photo of you. And fun photos of the fondant trolls. 🙂

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      1. My sister in Los Angeles had never worked since she got married. After her husband died of liver cancer at the age of 51, she had a hard time. I’m sure she had benefits from him. Eventually she went to work.

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  38. Robbie, this was a delightful story, and I danced along with you as I read your post. Grandmothers are the best, especially when they make red devil costumes.😍

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