Day #78: Everybody Needs Fans!

Yet another in our serious of "Could This be a Puppet?"

Of course!

And for those of you out there who might be wondering what really happens in a puppet studio, I have some pics below from today's work!

I am preparing the owl's exterior. I am creating a lovely textured fully felted surface...but there are lots of steps to getting it done just right. The owl in the show is a Great Horned Owl; they have lots of fabulous colors and textures...so I need to make some lovely colors and textures!

First, I took three types of wool (left to right: Cormo, Navajo Churro, and a touch of Merino), and I blended them into the color you see at the right. The Churro is very sturdy and used primarily in rug making. It gives structure to the felt. The Cormo and Merino soften it up a bit and give a lovely color. I already did a swatch, so I know it turns out right!

Layers waiting for lots of rolling. Do you see the fabulously organized boxes of fiber in the background?

 Then I laid out two pieces. On the left is twenty thin layers of coppery colored Merino; on the right is the Churro/Cormo/Merino blend -- five layers.

The show must go on!

I performed in a Slam a few years ago -- my first one! I was sooo nervous. I am used to performing for children, and Slams are for grown-ups (you know who you are). Everything went fine, though, miraculously. Really, it was a miracle, because the performance was supposed to be a two-person piece. The day before we went on, however, my other performer had a family emergency and had to go to Atlanta. It was a real emergency, too, so I couldn't even be upset. I just had to reconfigure the piece for just lil' ol' me....

From Plight of the Bumblebee, a Slam piece by Barefoot Puppets.

I think this 365 project will be a lot like that. Things come up in our lives all the time, but the show must go on! Stay tuned...the adventure starts tomorrow! Wish me a happy birthday while you're at it!