"Gratitude is the vessel that we lift to the gods, that they may fill it with their wonder gifts"
R. Steiner
A New Year Story – The Four Brothers – adapted for puppetry
here is a story from our story newsletter Jan. 2012 - to sign up for this free monthly newsletter please CLICK HERE for upcoming rod puppet workshop in Fair Oaks california on the Four Season Rod Puppet CLICK HERE New Year Story - The Four Brothers an old tale adapted for puppetry by Suzanne Down It was early in the year, and still cold snowy winter. A poor mother and her daughter lived in a small cottage in a village near the great woods. One morning, Mother called to Elyena and said, 'dear daughter, go to our neighbors house and ask if they have food to spare, for we now have nothing left to eat.' Elyena put on her warmest winter clothes ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on January 14th, 2012
How the Robin Got His Red Breast – adapted for puppetry
How the Robin Got it’s Red Breast (Adapted for puppetry from a French Christmas Legend) The north wind doth blow And we shall have snow And what will poor robin do then Poor thing. He’ll sit in the barn To keep himself warm And hide his head under his wing Poor thing. Late one winter’s night a lone robin flew seeking shelter. The north winds blew icy and bitter cold. The little bird looked out over the land, but saw no place to find safety. So he flew on, his wings covered with ice. After a time he saw a little light ahead. It seemed to come from a small barn. As he flew closer he saw it was a stable. At least it would protect him from the winds, so he flew in the open door and settled on the top-most rafter. He ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on December 14th, 2011
Four Seasons Rod Puppet Workshop
The Four Seasons Rod Puppet An early childhood professional development workshop for teachers, parents, homeschool, grandparents, caregivers Feb. 18,19 Fair Oaks, CA Saturday 9:00 – 4:00 Sunday 9:00 - 1:00 Nature, in all its wisdom gives children a deep sense of wonder and reliability. This workshop will look at weaving these two gifts together. We will focus on the amazing Rod Puppet. This puppet comes to life more than any other with its possibilities for subtle gesture and intimacy . I call it the ‘heart’ puppet because of this. Hearts connect between viewer and puppet. In this workshop we will look at what makes nature stories ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on December 7th, 2011
Needle Felting Fairy Tale Tapestries
Needle Felting Fairy Tale Tapestry Tour A Workshop for Everyone! come join us for a delightful class on creating magic pictures with wool all levels are very welcome! these charming pictures are perfect for a child's room, or to inspire a classroom locations: Jan 1, 2012 - Vancouver, BC Feb. 25 2012 - San Francisco, CA April 27, 2012 - Asheville, N.C. May 12, 2012 - Des Moines, Iowa May 5, 2012 - Boulder, CO May 18, 2012 - Spokane WA to book your own community or ECE workshop or for details of the workshops contact suzanne@junipertreepuppets.com
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on December 2nd, 2011
The Magic Elf Garden, and Advent story
Here is the link to our full December story newsletter 2011. to sign up for our free story newsletter click HERE December Advent Story - The Magic Elf Garden It was December, snow lay deep and crisp all over the land. Finn, who was 8 years old, and his little brother Timmy, had been sledding on the hill behind the big red barn. Whoooosh, whooosh, they flew down the hill on their sled. Then up and up they pulled the old red tobaggen until they were at the top of the hill, ready to fly... whooooosh, whooooosh, down the hill again. Both boys had very rosy cheeks and cold toes, when Mama brought them a big thermos of hot cocoa to warm them up. 'Come into the barn where it is warmer and drink your cocoa and warm your toes ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on December 1st, 2011
Larkspur School of Felting Arts Festival – August – Boulder, CO
Larkspur School of Felting Arts Boulder, Colorado Welcome to the Larkspur School of Felting Arts based in Boulder, CO We are a group of dedicated felters passionate about the wool arts. We have been teaching our craft for years and years, and have come together with our diverse and award winning skills to start a school of felting arts. Larkspur is a flower whose name means ‘joyful levity’. We do believe that our soul opens wide in joy in the creative process, it warms, and expands, and we become the best of who we are. Our goal is for all who come to our events find this joyful levity in the learning and sharing. Our workshops, ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on June 19th, 2011
Story Newsletter June – a ladybug’s tale
Summer Story - A Ladybug's Tale - from the June 2011 Story Newsletter Summer days are here and this newsletter has a lazy day story about a ladybug's adventures. A sweet story for young children. I remember going for a walk with my daughter up a steep hill. We stopped to rest on a log and saw thousands of lady bugs. We obviously came upon a newly born nest of them. We named the spot 'ladybug hill'. Here is the link to the story newsletter for June 2011 - CLICK HERE To sign up to receive the free story newsletter go to Juniper Tree Puppets Website
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on June 19th, 2011
West Coast Summer Workshop Tour – The Mother Archetype and Sense of Touch
Elements of Therapeutic ECE - Summer Institute Touched into Being - The Mother Archetype and Sense of Touch Creating a Mother and Baby Rod Puppet West Coast Workshop Tour of 3-day Professional Development Intensives When a child is born we need to help them find their physical boundaries. This is determined by the skin that informs us of our human form. It is not an instant or easy process! Think about how soft, porous, and delicate newborn skin is. The infant is more one with the world. One way we can help them become content within their skin is through the sense of healthy touch. As a mother swaddles the baby in a snug wrap, and cradles the child in her confident, loving, reliable embrace, the child begins to find his way ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on February 24th, 2011
The Art of Finger Puppet Theater /Vancouver BC workshop April 16/17 2011 – PHOTOS
The Wisdom and Art of Finger Puppet Theater Vancouver BC workshop April 16, 17 2011 Finger Puppet Theater for early childhood is a much overlooked goldmine. Not only is it a simple theater style, easy for teachers and parents to create for their children, but children are simply delighted with the miniature worlds of imagination they create. My instant stage is a piece of silk or soft cloth that I put over my arm and hand, ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on February 24th, 2011
Creating Needlefelted Fairy Tale Tapestries – Boulder, CO workshop May 28, 2011
CREATING FAIRY TALE TAPESTRIES Boulder, CO May 28, 2011 9:00-4:00 Location: 19th st. N. Boulder Boulder Waldorf kindergarten In this workshop we will immerse in the art of tapestry needlefelting to create a magical picture of a scene from a favorite story, fairy tale, nursery rhyme or song. Learn the steps in building up a picture worthy of hanging on a child's wall, or in a classroom. All levels are welcome to join us to work with color and form and watching a world unfold with the flicks of a felting needle! workshop cost $90 plus $15 ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on February 19th, 2011
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