Author: Kris

Storybook Cosmetics collaboration with Dahl

As I blogged about previously, Storybook Cosmetics are indeed bringing out a Charlie-inspired eyeshadow palette book. The company has provided the press release below. I’ll be on the lookout for it when it goes on sale!

Storybook Cosmetics™ Announces Collaboration with Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Childhood classic to be turned into eyeshadow palette book

OMAHA, NEB. (January 26, 2017)- Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket stated, “In your wildest dreams you could not imagine that such things could happen to you! Just wait and see!” That is exactly how Storybook Cosmetics is feeling as they announce a collaboration with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate for CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. The iconic children’s book served as inspiration for the latest Storybook Cosmetics eyeshadow palette book that will feature 12 Whipple-Scrumptious colors.

The made in the U.S.A. color palette will come in a life-size custom hardcover storybook and features a dozen cruelty-free highly, pigmented shades that range from mattes, metallics and pearl finishes. The limited edition palette would surely send Veruca Salt into a fit until she got one! But all good things come to those who wait…and in this case it won’t be until later this year when the product is perfected. Willy Wonka himself said it best, “Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises await you!”

“We are so excited to be teaming up with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate on this,” said Missy Maynard. “My sisters and I have been huge fans of the legendary Roald Dahl works since we were little kids. We guarantee that this palette will do the iconic story justice! It’s like Roald Dahl says in the book, “Something crazy is going to happen now, Charlie thought. But he wasn’t frightened. He wasn’t even nervous. He was just terrifically excited.” We really couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration! It really is a dream come true.”

Stephanie Griggs, the Roald Dahl Literary Estate’s Licensing and Design Manager added, “Roald Dahl’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is not only one of the world’s most popular and iconic children’s books; it has also inspired two movies, and a hit stage musical- soon to open on Broadway. And now this exciting collaboration with the Maynard triplets! We love the fact that Storybook Cosmetics products are inspired by the magical stories Erin, Mandy and Missy enjoyed most as kids. The combination of stories and cruelty-free cosmetics demonstrates an inventiveness worthy of Mr Wonka himself, and we can’t wait to see the limited edition palette of colours inspired by the story.”

The Storybook Cosmetics Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Palette will be for sale later this year at storybookcosmetics.com. For the latest updates people can sign up on their website and follow the official Storybook Cosmetics Instagram account.

“The Amazing Eyes of Kuda Bux”

It’s not often I get to read a story by Roald Dahl that I’ve never read before! Recently I had that wonderful thrill though when I finally managed to track down a copy of Dahl’s 1952 essay “The Amazing Eyes of Kuda Bux” in an old magazine on eBay. I knew that Kuda Bux had been a real person, an Indian fakir who walked on fire and claimed to be able to see without his eyes. I knew that Dahl had written a “hard-to-believe true story” about Bux, and then twenty-five years later used him as inspiration for “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” What I hadn’t realised though was just how much of “Henry Sugar” was already present in the earlier work. I’d estimate that 90% of the fictional account of Imhrat Khan’s life in “Henry Sugar” is reproduced nearly verbatim from the earlier essay. I’ve detailed the differences between the texts here if you’re interested. I guess the lesson is that Dahl didn’t hesitate at reusing and recycling earlier work when it suited him!

Willy Wonka Teddy Bear by Steiff

Oh wow! I just learned that Steiff, the famous makers of teddy bears, created a limited edition teddy bear based on Willy Wonka. They’re pretty expensive though… (I found one on Amazon.com.)

Details:

Steiff WILLIE WONKA is the most amazing, the most fantastic, the most extraordinary chocolate maker the world has ever seen!

He is made from the finest beige mohair, fully jointed, felt paw pads and with shiny eyes and hand embroidered brown nose and mouth. One of the pads is embroidered with the famous name of the author ROALD DAHL.

He is beautifully dressed in a dark pink jacket, yellow and white waistcoat and matching dark pink and white bow tie. Finally he is wearing his favourite grey hat with contrasting band.

So smart and loved by all our collectors!

Inspired by Quentin Blake’s original illustrations, Steiff bring their style to the beloved ROALD DAHL classic CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY with this delicious eccentric candy-maker Steiff Willy Wonka.
Limited edition of just 1,916 pieces.

Charming Baker illustrates four new editions of Roald Dahl’s sinister short stories

Penguin has just announced the publication of a beautiful if rather sinister set of four books bringing together Roald Dahl’s short stories. Each of the paperbacks bears a fittingly disquieting cover illustration created by artist Charming Baker.

Read more at Creative Boom and check out the books here: War, Trickery, Fear, and Innocence.

Looking for a job in England?

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden is looking for a new part-time Archive Assistant:

Do you want to gain wide-ranging experience of working in an archive while helping people discover more about Roald Dahl and his stories? Do you want to be part of a dynamic and evolving Museum Team? If the answer is ‘yes’, you could be our new Archive Assistant.

What an amazing opportunity for a Dahl fan!