"Gratitude is the vessel that we lift to the gods, that they may fill it with their wonder gifts"
R. Steiner
Red Hot Chili Peppers
On my road trip from southern Arizona to northern Colorado we drove through a town called Hatch, New Mexico....famous for it's chili peppers. Everywhere there were garlands of chili peppers hanging....deep crimson red, greens and rusty earthy reds. They reminded me of a silly and humorous Australian story I have told many times in grade schools about Wombat Stew..ooey gooey yummy chewy wombat stew!
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 18th, 2009
Little Squirrel
I have been watching a bunch of newborn ground squirrels, truly newborn with wobbly legs. They explore the area with seemingly little if any fear. Mother squirrel has her hands full keeping them safe from hawks and the many predators of Arizona. SO of course this makes me think of story and how story can be created to make children feel safe again and again. In my collection of Story Vessels that can be used in these Protection Stories, I had never thought of a hole in the ground as a perfect 'vessel' to provide safe shelter.
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 18th, 2009
A Gaggle of Characters
Here is a motley and varied group of characters from an 'introduction to the rod puppet' class. Note the violinist, looking so distinguished and patient among the rowdy bunch! These are small hand and rod puppet characters with the needle felted heads....what a fun exploration it was! We work with this puppet among many other types, in the first session of the certificate puppet training...with an early childhood group we do focus on Wee Willie Winkie....but I thought you would enjoy seeing this variety....to check out the training info....go to www.junipertreepuppets.com Next new training group will begin in Boulder, CO as a regional through-the-year weekend (6X yr) format....Starts Sept. 2010. The next summer training intensive will begin 2011!!! Already ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 12th, 2009
Resources for the Thick Felting Pads
To make the wool pictures, I use a Felt Work Pad for working copper on. I found it at Paper Scissors and Stone. The item code is CFWP and it costs $3.95 at this time per piece. It can be found on the "Creative Fun" page on their website, www.waldorfsupplies.com. I had to check with them on what they call it and how to find it on their site. Now you know - great needle-felting permanent backing...you felt into it and just hang it up!
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 11th, 2009
Wool Felt Story Pictures
I love giving workshops on felting (wet or needle) fairy tale and other story pictures. In this last workshop we used story postcards or illustrations from a lovely childrens book to get us going, then the process takes on a life of it's own... They become a creative meditation as people go inward in their own creative work with the layers of colors. I like to use a firm base to needle felt the wool to, an industrial felt...then they can be hung easily in a classroom or a child's bedroom.
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 9th, 2009
Giraffe-ola
This absolutely gorgeous GIANT giraffe puppet is manned by 2 puppeteers on stilts...from a South African puppet theater - check out their cool site:http://www.handspringpuppet.co.za/html/frameind.html If you look carefully you will see the legs of the puppeteers in the legs of the giraffe.The key to creating animal puppets is in the relationship of the head to the body proportion...get that right and the animal will move with the right true rhythm of that animal - as in this fantastic giraffe. Imagine an outdoor puppet show with this puppet running through the grasslands!
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 5th, 2009
The Little Clay Pot
Did a little show today called The Little Clay Pot...a russian version of 'The Mitten' story....theme of a clay pot that bumps off a farmer's cart and lands in a field...one by one the animals come and find it, and live in it together in peace and harmony...I used these animals today, but any number and variety will do. I like my stories to end so all is well in the world, so when Grumbly Rumbly the Bear cannot fit inside,the pot, he does not break the pot...he merely rolls it away, and it rolls down the hill and lands in an even more beautiful meadow...the animal friends live there still and live well....you know the gist of it. I call this kind of ...
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 3rd, 2009
Puppet Story Apron Class
They look like bride's maids, but they are really some of @ 30 teachers who made early childhood story aprons with me in California this summer. Wet felted story landscapes on top with a reversible picture on the back. Amazingly they turned out very cool. Spring green silk skirts make for a good lap landscape to move the puppets on. The felted tops have a felted pocket as part of the landscape where puppet characters can live. The element of wonder and surprise!
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on September 2nd, 2009
Coyote
Last night I could not sleep, and listened to the coyotes yip yipping out my window...years ago I gave a workshop in Arizona and a teacher created a coyote lap puppet that was all warm morning colors....Her story was of a coyote whose magnificent tail of oranges, reds, yellows, swept across the sky and painted the sunrise. I have thought of her and that story many early mornings that I go out walking. It is such an amazing time of day. What would be your story to explain the magic of sunrise?
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on August 30th, 2009
Walkabout
I try to go on 'walkabout' every day, out in nature, taking in the details with my senses, and then I sit and write a children's story. Who knows what invites the muse, but mine seems to enjoy this pathway in. I am bringing 'walk and write' exercises to all my classes and workshops now....it has been amazing to see the stories flow out of people.... Usually we start with a little exercise such as; As you are walking, pay attention to what you hear. After you sit to write, list 3 things that you heard that you were drawn to the most. Now write a story with those 3 things woven into the tale. And like magic, with no thinking, just free writing, the stories arise and are beautiful. If you stop and think about it we have unlimited imaginations, we walk the path of creative infinity....
continue readeingPosted by Suzanne, on August 29th, 2009
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