My Passion is Puppetry

It has taken me sixty years to find my passion, not because I had to work hard to discover it, but because it has always been there. I always thought everyone could do what I do. As a result I really never appreciated what I was capable of. I just thought everyone could write and create the same way I could.

Creating Puppet shows and teaching have always been my passion. There is something magical about being able to create a puppet show. I enjoy working on an idea, writing the script, buying or creating the puppets and then being able bring it all to life by performing the show. Creating the performance on video is exciting because you are able to create your own music and lighting to bring it all to life. Video makes it possible to be able to share the show with as many people as can view it.

As a child I was fascinated by how puppets have the ability to open up a new and believable world. As a huge Jim Henson and Mr. Rogers fan I loved how people could use puppets to support both children and adults. I was dyslexic and reading was hard for me but with puppetry I was able to write and create my own stories. I have written stories all my life. Writing comes easy, but I love performing the stories too.

I worked as a freelance puppeteer and created one person puppet shows that I performed at bookstores, libraries and schools off and on for four years. As my children got older I became an elementary school librarian but my passion for puppetry followed me. I shared my puppets and love of puppetry with my students. My students created scripts and created their own puppets for puppet shows. At the same time I created small finger puppets for my students. Watching my students perform their shows and learning to create through this process was a wonderful thing to be able to share with them.

Now that I am retired from the school system I would like to use my love of puppetry to entertain and educate children and adults. I want to create puppet plays based on the classic fables and stories from around the world. I am currently working on a version of The Tortoise and the Hare, and would love to film the Japanese fable Momotaro and other diverse classics. I could give lessons on how to create different types of puppets and how to use different puppetry techniques.

I have been crocheting finger puppets for the last ten years. Each one of these tiny puppets are original and have their own personalities. Each one has wild hair of different colors. My favorite thing about them is their diversity. I like to use different yarn and different eyes to make each one unique. That is how I see the world and people around me. Being able to crochet and create these finger puppets helps me to communicate this to the world.

Puppetry lovers could subscribe to see a new puppet show each month. We would also have DIY classes. Each person who signed up as a member would receive an original crocheted finger puppet with their subscription. I would provide a monthly show that people could watch with their children. After a pandemic it might be nice to watch something new and different that can be viewed by the entire family.

I would love to be able to share my puppets and my productions with Members and their families. I would love to be able to create children’s puppet shows that would both educate and entertain all those who saw it.