"Gratitude is the vessel that we lift to the gods, that they may fill it with their wonder gifts"
R. Steiner
Ashland Oregon ECE Workshop April 9.10 -The Art of the Story Apron
The Art and Craft of the Puppet Pocket Story Apron April 9,10 Ashland, OR ECE Professional Development Weekend The art of the puppet pocket story apron is linked to the quality of finding a treasure that is hidden. It draws the soul in with wonder and surprise. Join us for this 2 day workshop on creating a pocket apron. We will hand felt a story landscape (wet and needle technique) with a picture pocket out of which a puppet story helper will tumble out to tell it’s tale. We will complete the apron with a seasonal silk skirt, and ribbon ties. Then we will explore the delightful ways of bringing the apron stories to life! We will work on story ritual, story voice, enlivening puppets, and inner wonder. This is the best storytelling ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on February 16th, 2011
Portland Oregon Puppet workshop March 26, 27 2011 – The Worker Character Archetype
Oregon Early Childhood Professional Development Workshop The Wisdom of the ‘Worker’ character in Story Workshop for early childhood teachers and parents March 26, 27 Portland Oregon – Rosehip Preschool What is it that lives so wisely in the story characters that do meaningful work in the world? How do their deeds impact our children’s developing moral sense through the powers of Will? In this workshop we will explore these profound questions and more. What unites the fisherman, the woodcutter, the baker, the shoemaker, and the farmer in becoming living models of ethical life for the children? We will work on understanding the value of the rhythmic gesture of these ‘doing’ characters. Through discussion, demonstration, puppet making, and story ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on February 16th, 2011
A Million Valentines – a story for children
Dear friends, I have had so many requests for this story, that I decided to post it here. Enjoy this Valentine's Day, and any other day love leads. A Million Valentines a story, thoughts on Giving and Receiving, and story activity to do with children. This is from one of our Story Newsletters - sign up for free email newsletter on http://junipertreepuppets.com Giving and Receiving in Story Many traditional stories have moments of giving and receiving. The wise kind man in the forest gives the magic cooking pot. It is given to the character whose soul is ready to receive it’s abundance. With inner preparedness, the daughter receives the pot that makes good sweet porridge. Whether it is a key that opens the magic door, or the flower that heals, ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on February 14th, 2011
Story Newsletter February 2011
Many people have asked me to put my story newsletters on my website, so here we start.... this last one just went out to my email list. If you would like to receive them in your email inbox, sign up at http://junipertreepuppets.com there is a big box to click on....really, it is so simple to sign up! And equally, easy to unsubscribe if it is not your cup of tea. the story of this month is Little Lost Fox Click here for Newsletter!!!
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on January 19th, 2011
The Art of the Mother Rod Puppet – ‘Touched Into Being’
Touched Into Being The Mother Archetype and The Art of the Rod Puppet San Diego Regional ECE Workshop March 19, 20 2011 There is no deeper bond to a young child than the healthy connection of Mother/infant/child. Healthy is the key word here. Today, many moms are at a loss to know how to touch, hold, speak/sing to, and model a meaningful life for their young children. In this professional development workshop we will explore how the Mother Rod Puppet can become a magical helper that offers children an experience of the presence of the archetype of the Mother. In this workshop we will embrace the qualities and support such puppet work can bring to the foundational senses of the children in our care. We will create a Mother Rod Puppet and ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on January 12th, 2011
California February Workshops 2011
I am excited to be offering 3 California workshops this Feb. 2011 Here they are with photos, to get you excited! Please contact me, suzanne, for more details and registration CLICK HERE SACRAMENTO: Feb. 19/20 9-4, 9-12:30 - THE ART OF THE ROD PUPPET - THE BOY ARCHETYPE - The Rod Puppet is a remarkable kind of puppet, who can also become the storyteller! Children connect to this puppet style more than any other. I call it the 'heart' puppet because of it's fine and sensitive gesture and ensouling possibilities. We will create a 'boy' character, and discuss what it means to bring to life this archetype, and how healing it is for our times. We will also work of how to manipulate the puppet so that it will truly come to life ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on January 11th, 2011
Grandmother Winter – puppets doing purposeful activities.
Here is Grandmother Winter who 'sits and knits with her sticks'.....knitting snow blankets to cover the earth and keep the sleeping bulbs warm. She is a beloved character for children, because she is kind and full of warm heart, even while she represents the cold of winter. She is also meaningful to experience in her activity, in her gesture of knitting with great care and interest, because it is a 'doing' activity. Children love and need to witness real practical life actions. I am giving a workshop at the February WECAN east coast early childhood conference in NY, on 'Worker Characters in Story' to support the conference theme of Movement. I will also be giving puppet vignettes to highlight and make visible aspects of each keynotes talk. You see, this is because we all ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on January 3rd, 2011
PuppetAid Project 2011
The PuppetAid Project 2011 Here is a Happy New Year invitation to join the PuppetAid Project, the newest addition to Puppets for World Change network. This is a call to action! Resolve to give PuppetAid shows, puppet shows where you ask for a donation to help hungry, cold, or sick children in the world. It could go toward your own town’s homeless shelter for women and children, poverty programs, food banks, or go towards a world agency such as Save the Children. It is the year for awakening to social consciousness and here is a simple way to put our story loving hearts to action. Please let me know what you do as a world representative of PuppetAid 2011, and who you donate to, so I can share your ideas. It just might inspire others. After a newsletter story, the “Christmas Slipper’ went out, I heard of a woman ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on December 28th, 2010
Winter Christmas Tale – Little Jack’s Plum Pie
Nursery Rhyme Stories Story Theme: Creating Nursery Rhyme Stories: The Nursery Rhymes are true verse from literature that have endured time, imprinting the lively, rhythmical, alliterative song-like little stories in the world ether. This gives them additional power in the telling. This is one reason why children love them to be told again and again. I like to include them in and amongst prose stories to give the children the gifts of the nursery rhyme, along with the gift of a longer story. The children benefit greatly from the rhythmical aspect of the verses, which deepen and regulate wonderful breathing and circulation of the blood. The play of the consonants which find their best home in the nursery rhymes will strengthen children's speech muscles and language aquisition. Sometimes I create a story to expand and highlight a nursery rhyme. I call them Nursery Rhyme Stories. The following story is one of those. I invite you ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on December 7th, 2010
Certificate Puppetry Training New Series Starting Summer 2011
Juniper Tree School of Story and Puppetry Arts 15th Certificate Training Group Begins Summer 2011 photos from the different sessions: story apron lap puppetry, and color and light puppetry scene from Sweet Porridge Here is a picture of a Mother Rod Puppet and her baby....a big part of the therapeutic session. Nothing makes a child feel safer than a Mother! In the third session we work with fairy tales and folk tales and the art of the marionette. Here is a scene from Snow White and Rose Red! Dear Puppetry Friends, The NEW FORMAT one-year part time certificate training consists of 3 sessions over one year. The 2011 dates are almost ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 1st, 2010
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