tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363366364148383402024-03-12T16:14:41.032-07:00JillyPuppets914 512 7672<br>
jillypuppets@gmail.com<br>
www.jillypuppets.comJilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-56886816540601120022016-09-21T15:29:00.001-07:002016-09-21T15:29:38.687-07:00On FailureAbout a year ago-I remember the exact moment-I was lying on my flowery, cozy, bed, and I asked myself,"HAVE I FAILED ENOUGH?" I recounted my professional failures of the past few years, and decided that NO, I hadn't failed enough. I wanted my failure list to be longer, deeper, and wider.
Those of you who know me well might be screaming out loud at the screen right now, "NOOOOO!!! Jill! You've failed enough! I think you're ok in that department! You have reached your quota!!!"
But I humbly disagree. The more artistic risks that I take, the more my conviction to impact the world grows. The more grants that I apply for, even if I receive zero of those funds, the more I fine-tune my sense of purpose. The more challenging projects that I attempt, the more I can focus my energy, distill and refine my tools as an artist, and potentially reach more people with a vision of inclusivity,open-mindedness, and a love for humanity.
After two police killings of unarmed black men this week, a bomb in NYC,and a genocidal war in Syria-just to name a portion of the suffering and insanity of the world today, how could I not put myself out there with my arms open and my ego willing to take the hit? Art has the power to change, to heal, to open doors, to call to action. I'll let you know if I get the grant that I'm working on now, but until then, I'll keep working on expanding my list of failures. And hopefully by this time next year, it will be longer, deeper, and wider.
Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-60514302729362539452016-06-28T17:34:00.001-07:002016-06-28T17:34:42.289-07:00"Stimulating Creativity with Kitten Postcards"I imagined making some serious headway this summer: Being wildly creative and productive, watching TED talks and becoming 'art business-savvy', spending my days pondering fine art in the various museums of NYC, finally lining my bathroom shelves with swirling 60's pop-art shelving paper, hiking throughout New York state and finally cracking the code of making a serious living as an artist. Also, spending some serious quality time with my man, whom I last spent more than two hours with in 2005, before kid #1 was born.
HERE'S WHAT TODAY WAS ACTUALLY LIKE:
1) While listening to "Hamilton," I wrote kitten postcards to the girls, using the kitten pen names of 'Mumples and Rentoto'.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFwx9dXA4KXNXmXf9nuyur_BBK_V1cN7kTYuw4Afx4Aa7OVuCmpMa_kSFkIjaxXB-sThY7rm5AY7i16fODzVFBuW8yyB-b_a04tP4H4xkkx3jBAdMGMu6nmqP28CtRByjGE-BKB2c_O4/s1600/20160628_185726.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFwx9dXA4KXNXmXf9nuyur_BBK_V1cN7kTYuw4Afx4Aa7OVuCmpMa_kSFkIjaxXB-sThY7rm5AY7i16fODzVFBuW8yyB-b_a04tP4H4xkkx3jBAdMGMu6nmqP28CtRByjGE-BKB2c_O4/s320/20160628_185726.jpg" /></a>
2) While also listening to "Hamilton," I drew a cartoon about a squirrel named Squirrelisimo who was bored and only thought of nuts. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYq4B3Jmnf_mIPwqTu3_e89g2XuLa5HNG5bh6iOqJbVt9QkHSj-JkplmKfPR9DDk2b60i4LrH1iOkZ66GneM-FLn61_ZEd4JVo8onV0bEFj2tc-pS8gR6UuYhpzl4hXGH3yOWX283QgY/s1600/20160628_191333.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYq4B3Jmnf_mIPwqTu3_e89g2XuLa5HNG5bh6iOqJbVt9QkHSj-JkplmKfPR9DDk2b60i4LrH1iOkZ66GneM-FLn61_ZEd4JVo8onV0bEFj2tc-pS8gR6UuYhpzl4hXGH3yOWX283QgY/s320/20160628_191333.jpg" /></a>
I once read about Albert Einstein, who, when stuck on a mathematical/scientific issue, would play the violin and come to find the solution to the problem after delving into Mozart's music. Using the same theory, I am banking on the perfect storm of compulsively listening to the "Hamilton" cast album, hanging out with Mark, inventing new 'nom de plumes' for the twenty-pack of kitten postcards, and drawing about Squirrelisimo's non-adventures with acorns, to bring me to a creative apotheosis.
Hey, if it worked for Albert Einstein....!
Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-21598419124008524412014-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:002014-06-24T10:28:20.161-07:00Zone of proximal developmentSo I have lived with my website being VERY FAR from what I'd like it to be. But I couldn't seem to fix it, and I also couldn't spent the $600-$3000 or so that it would take to bring my it closer to a fabulous and dreamy site. I attempted some templates, a friend spent a morning tutoring me on a website-making program, but then when it came time for me to execute the changes, I just couldn't pull it off. The website became relegated to lower and lower on my priority list. And every time I handed someone my business card, I muttered-"The website is really bad. I'm working on it."
My technologically savvy husband Mark agreed to work with me this morning to create something new and wonderful.
I was 'in it to win it' for the first few hours, until Mark said to me, "Ok. I am going to go back to my work. You can take it from here."
"What?!?" I exclaimed, just like my daughter when I ask her to tie her own shoes or make the bed. "I can't!!! I can't do it! Can't you just walk me the whole way?"
"Jill...you've got this."
I threw a minor tantrum (so weird how this stuff makes me about 5 years old!!!) and sat down at the computer where I botched the work that Mark and I had started in the morning. The background went from beautiful pink to murky mauve, the lettering became navy blue (How did that happen????) and the graphics moved into non-geometric formations. But just like the educational theory of taking kids to where they think that they can't do it, guiding them a bit and then letting them realize their potential (zone of proximal development), after an hour or two of frustration, I started to get the hang of some skills. I could move text! I could insert a picture! With Mark's skilled edit, this website could be almost decent! I did it!
I am truly amazed at how masterfully this process evolved. I feel like Mark just 'schooled' me in a profound learning experience. He set up the 'scaffolding' for me, I climbed up, messed up a lot, and then scored!
And now I am going to eat a piece of dark chocolate.
Check out my new website, folks!! Um, but not quite yet. :)Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-42350069069304887872014-01-15T05:08:00.000-08:002014-01-15T05:08:10.190-08:00Thoughts: Dress Rehearsal dayToday I am holding my first dress rehearsal for puppet choreography that will debut(I LOVE THAT WORD!!!) this Saturday at the Arts Rock Puppet festival. I have invited some friends to be a 'dress rehearsal' audience at my studio and I am planning to go all out-UNITARD AND ALL!!! *I have not sported a unitard since college.*
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW72FXCRGCSCDa-cB48IaF3VmC_3zY8BweZU-MUQlwv4wa5dkm_Xn9qKugzx2JWpzW8-AmbAgKFZvWCqWrvg4GqMUgJWRNX6A1hq5v83oiCQdDaKjRNjcrQqw2wNM0I9hije09EsrcGok/s1600/Hairy+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW72FXCRGCSCDa-cB48IaF3VmC_3zY8BweZU-MUQlwv4wa5dkm_Xn9qKugzx2JWpzW8-AmbAgKFZvWCqWrvg4GqMUgJWRNX6A1hq5v83oiCQdDaKjRNjcrQqw2wNM0I9hije09EsrcGok/s320/Hairy+dance.jpg" /></a>
Here's something that hasn't happened in years-I ran out of glue gun sticks last night and finally finished up a ten pound batch of Poly-Fil(Poly-Fil is puppet stuffing. It weighs next to nothing, so a ten pound box has lasted me at least 3 years.) I have been repairing puppets for weeks, rebuilding ones that have gotten ratty from dragging them across stages and having kids play with them-I love when the kids get to hold my puppets after the show and see that they are made from everyday materials.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpoEKSZlzZs3np2DoLeVK7-ibSmTX6vaRV9daAbQ5OvlsFoNfcaD2IuNwFkRTZQk4WZkaFwBi975YASaifPeArJaSF-fknXz2biyOQzOQT6Cz1QK0K-g4lIfsvyi2x9L743VNj7qzCIA/s1600/fishie+jumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpoEKSZlzZs3np2DoLeVK7-ibSmTX6vaRV9daAbQ5OvlsFoNfcaD2IuNwFkRTZQk4WZkaFwBi975YASaifPeArJaSF-fknXz2biyOQzOQT6Cz1QK0K-g4lIfsvyi2x9L743VNj7qzCIA/s320/fishie+jumping.jpg" /></a>
I have been incorporating dance into my puppet shows for a while now, but this is really the first time that I am full-out dancing for 8 minutes with them in a choreographed number.
I am extremely excited, deep-in-my chest focused, and planning to enjoy every moment up there on the stage of the Nyack Center!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1uhvN57shy131v4Rk2JJnHBptBpEmIo86LY3sOi6FvFDmqdPAE0PmkhMGCbNFEOQFMmPE1FZPFJwqP_CWwEoNNNR9rLCqAQ1zhtmmP8GeOIP1aJ2nHX6M1rI33LwRbvnSQals3Jf15Q/s1600/snake+woodsies+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1uhvN57shy131v4Rk2JJnHBptBpEmIo86LY3sOi6FvFDmqdPAE0PmkhMGCbNFEOQFMmPE1FZPFJwqP_CWwEoNNNR9rLCqAQ1zhtmmP8GeOIP1aJ2nHX6M1rI33LwRbvnSQals3Jf15Q/s320/snake+woodsies+1.jpg" /></a>Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-61982384518454637502013-12-08T11:01:00.000-08:002013-12-08T11:01:52.445-08:00My Chanukkah present
For those who have gazed out of their car windows and noticed a woman slowly and unsteadily wandering around town in a long fluffy coat, that's me. I have been struggling with vertigo the past few weeks. My whole working life is physical; I am flummoxed, to put it mildly. How am I supposed to dance and perform puppet shows and be funny and lively, or wear a frog costume, or dance, when I am gripping the walls as I walk and attempting to not fall and hit my head!?
I have cancelled a lot over the past few weeks, which is a DOOZY when you're a freelancer and then on top of the vertigo, I got nailed with a wicked virus on Monday night! By Tuesday I had lost my voice and was advised by my doctor to be completely silent for 24 hours and that maybe I would be able to perform my annual Chanukkah puppet show on Thursday at the Warner library.
So, starting on Wednesday, I set out to revamp the puppet show to make it less physical and to not require my voice. I had written the show to be heavily musical- lots of ukulele singing and dancing and storytelling. I am used to leading the show with my voice-narration, leading the songs, engaging the adults and kids in the activities...OY VEY!!
So I wrote and wrote and modified the show, but something was still missing. I listened to Chanukkah music all day Wednesday and was extremely silent and listened for inspiration. By Thursday morning, I admittedly was a little nervous-I still hadn't nailed the show into a new format.
The phone rang- it was the nurse from Ruby's school. Would I come over and give her some medicine? She was having an allergic reaction to something and her nose was running.
I grabbed the Children's Benadryl and my earphones and headed out into the gray and rainy day, walking slowly and unsteadily. I played my favorite Chanukkah song this year, “Miracle” by the Maccabeats over and over on my Ipod. I must have listened to it 5 times and on the corner as I turned to walk up to school, IT HIT ME. I HAD NOTHING TO LOSE. GO FOR IT. In what felt like a Chanukkah miracle of artistic inspiration, I came up with the silliest opening scene for the show. I figured that either that it would flop hugely, or that I would have the audience with me for the rest of the show. <b>I felt it in my chest</b>. It was ridiculous and out there and crazy and I had never done anything like it before.
It was show time, Thursday afternoon. Lily read the opening posterboard to the audience for me- “ Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, cats and kittens- I have lost my voice. I have a great show for you and with your cooperation, we're going to have a great show celebrating Chanukkah.” She had the crowd count to twenty while I dashed out the door and into the librarian's desk to change into a dancing zebra puppet costume with a gold glittery potato latke hat. She clicked 'Miracle' on the stereo and I goofily and awkwardly disco danced into the room with the zebra puppet attached to my wrists, neck, knees and ankles to this song about Chanukkah miracles. The crowd giggled and a few kids got up to dance with me. There happened to be a group of teenagers in the room (not my usual puppet show demographic) and their surprised faces seemed to say “ Wow. That woman is dancing like a complete fool with a zebra puppet strapped to her body. There might be something sort of cool about that.” I danced the whole song with the Chanukkah miracle puppet and then continued to do a mostly silent movie, vaudeville type of puppet show. The crowd was gracious and attentive and kind and I thought that the show was even better than it would have been if I had my usual faculties! What a beautiful Chanukkah present, as the sun set outside of the children's room at the library and we celebrated the last night of Chanukkah. Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-30558406838109455922013-11-30T14:53:00.000-08:002013-11-30T14:53:51.248-08:00"FUNK-IFY YOUR MOVES" dance party Dec. 6 7:30 pm Curious on Hudson $20<i>"Jill is so comfortable in her own skin, if even a fraction of it rubs off on you, you'll be jumping up to get on the dance floor!" Indira<i></i></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHTO8JHxwXKAYPJyi8IMOWrAXMEg4AgfkKfsUKIRluDP0BDmCN9yrmka4F7w5UuQ4XNtBnZ92gw5wVzU4PO9lsvZhl36o7QbvZxRVRXO9IgFRE_77jRa0z5ZJgmuWkSiFsRQRNJaUYiU/s1600/split.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHTO8JHxwXKAYPJyi8IMOWrAXMEg4AgfkKfsUKIRluDP0BDmCN9yrmka4F7w5UuQ4XNtBnZ92gw5wVzU4PO9lsvZhl36o7QbvZxRVRXO9IgFRE_77jRa0z5ZJgmuWkSiFsRQRNJaUYiU/s320/split.jpg" /></a>
My 43rd birthday is this Friday and what better way to celebrate than to boogie with friends?!?
<i>"Jill's unique authenticity and commitment to movement gives you all the permission you'll need to ignore your inhibitions and just let loose!" Naomi</i>
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I am running an introductory workshop to recreational dancing. (Meaning: the kind of dancing that you would do at a party!)I have broken down some basic dance floor moves into easy, fun and FUNKY ways that YOU can step out onto the dance floor with confidence! No dance experience necessary!
<i>"If I know that Jill is at a party I'm sure I want to be there, too. Her dancing is so much fun to watch, carefree and contagious that you're sure to have a good time. Jill is a great dancer, artist as well as a wonderful friend!" Bettina</i>
<b>Dec. 6
7:30 pm
Curious on Hudson 145 Palisade St #412b, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
jillypuppets@gmail.com
$20</b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7EV_xgBGOps7Y4v3s92Z5oSZPOby94RUy-JW9J3gfa7Lr5JAkQQyKHRhx9K3mehf_XIrVkACEWxHFqDyEbz97KpSd_KGYhxq5Aov4PIM7PG_5xOFYSUEvTVkj7IdjkVTU6UN4mmve1c/s1600/WW.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7EV_xgBGOps7Y4v3s92Z5oSZPOby94RUy-JW9J3gfa7Lr5JAkQQyKHRhx9K3mehf_XIrVkACEWxHFqDyEbz97KpSd_KGYhxq5Aov4PIM7PG_5xOFYSUEvTVkj7IdjkVTU6UN4mmve1c/s320/WW.jpg" /></a>
<i>"Jill is an awesome dancer, dance teacher and person! She has motivated thousands of people to join her in "feeling the beat" as a professional dancer (in a 6 foot frog costume!) during my concerts. And seeing her dance at parties in her full Wonder Woman regalia is inspiring. I even got out on the dance floor for that one! HER DEDICATION TO MOVING FUNKILY IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD."
Jeffrey Friedberg, leader of The Bossy Frog Band</i>Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-64613404455560696002013-11-07T09:47:00.000-08:002013-11-07T09:47:30.127-08:00Gratitude I am renting a small dance studio in Tarrytown to practice my dance choreography and rehearse with my puppets. I am so often filled with dread the morning before entering the studio: It's just me in there! It's so hard to face myself, alone with the mirrors and the clock and the hard wood floors, with what feels like too little physical energy, or a lack of creative direction, or the solitude of the endeavor.
But I am not really alone in there, if I am listening. I am filled with stories and breath and sounds and freedom. All of this accompanies me when I do face myself and allow my body to move freely, to find whatever is out there, within myself.
And this is why I am an artist. Connecting with this force fills me with so much gratitude, hope, faith, and peacefulness. Thank you everybody who believes in me, and in the power of art to heal. Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-9843581038948618832013-08-06T10:18:00.000-07:002013-08-06T10:18:06.388-07:00House party!!!Wow. Time warp. I have a lot to catch up on, but first, here's some reflections from Saturday night's house dance party at Naomi Vladek and Eric Putter's house!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L4APxqVeH0THiNmb86Cm-79nWgKFK7isHaQKs733TIrSid07SP8WlbsSJPVzi0E5-DS-czUYblsU123DrqPE4dlCZqqJN9cpTMnYBS7to5uGVQaZFOZrCJXRmQWBn9K-nG_MOml4vD8/s1600/jill+and+stephen+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L4APxqVeH0THiNmb86Cm-79nWgKFK7isHaQKs733TIrSid07SP8WlbsSJPVzi0E5-DS-czUYblsU123DrqPE4dlCZqqJN9cpTMnYBS7to5uGVQaZFOZrCJXRmQWBn9K-nG_MOml4vD8/s320/jill+and+stephen+house.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLz3CtXLmu86HdWxCmS5O0Ru1MHJNtznkYp4QslFN-twQqtcEvSf0bvedlxE1E7BimAEoL0hxgvEBeA-5nWtYRYnGX9gKGRHTvNuEXIM2I4BL3EA7_Tq4UoxNo_kJqvZyj3rsJtFv63E/s1600/stephen+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLz3CtXLmu86HdWxCmS5O0Ru1MHJNtznkYp4QslFN-twQqtcEvSf0bvedlxE1E7BimAEoL0hxgvEBeA-5nWtYRYnGX9gKGRHTvNuEXIM2I4BL3EA7_Tq4UoxNo_kJqvZyj3rsJtFv63E/s320/stephen+house.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyTdUNdErKcG5-wYMxhvYsiDvy_Zlm7coAJ7gLQbpHcR2eoXokypAB1459R5iChyO33hQXnvkp5fjAa47XS8hzBdOf8P29ce5ZHhT0flcXHK-KnujNWkRNLeXLzakncRWzipYdrAp1Q4/s1600/laundry+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyTdUNdErKcG5-wYMxhvYsiDvy_Zlm7coAJ7gLQbpHcR2eoXokypAB1459R5iChyO33hQXnvkp5fjAa47XS8hzBdOf8P29ce5ZHhT0flcXHK-KnujNWkRNLeXLzakncRWzipYdrAp1Q4/s320/laundry+house.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZvUsbw1rwM6K2y9xLM4Kloqt-AY_k9Di_3iCG3ErxJdK2P44pGacNFPzXntQP3Qhbm7sHncGONXmivmxoay1d6-OD-XTGxS11FFR3aKQGn7o1qTVByC_t6jZVJfNLFcCqK66yaKgloI/s1600/laundry+house+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZvUsbw1rwM6K2y9xLM4Kloqt-AY_k9Di_3iCG3ErxJdK2P44pGacNFPzXntQP3Qhbm7sHncGONXmivmxoay1d6-OD-XTGxS11FFR3aKQGn7o1qTVByC_t6jZVJfNLFcCqK66yaKgloI/s320/laundry+house+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9VYHD8Eq6wWbEcP2MkANc0Z15HGSncS2lPsKy7QbIyzpeTMJRtGB-W2TnxOCnQJ-mmV7tMXn56rlmFwAdGnbIvcHZiTkkYuZKg3ujqAV56Habf7wN_a1tneyaqgQRi7rpVLXkSf5WL4/s1600/perform+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9VYHD8Eq6wWbEcP2MkANc0Z15HGSncS2lPsKy7QbIyzpeTMJRtGB-W2TnxOCnQJ-mmV7tMXn56rlmFwAdGnbIvcHZiTkkYuZKg3ujqAV56Habf7wN_a1tneyaqgQRi7rpVLXkSf5WL4/s320/perform+house.jpg" /></a>
I perform house parties all of the time, with The Bossy Frog Band and with Jilly Puppets and now as an independent choreographer. The closeness and involvement with the artistic experience that a house party allows, participants and artists situated together in living rooms, back yards and basements, for BOTH the artist and the participants is a beautiful, connective and extremely human experience. Think about life 200 years ago (in my fantasy world!). Neighbors and families would gather to sing and tell stories and dance together. I love that we are bringing that togetherness back, infusing our souls with personal encounters with the arts that change us, motivate us to seek connective expressions, to build communities, to support the arts for their power and value in our complicated world.
I enjoyed Saturday night's house dance performance so profoundly--dancing two feet away from my friends and neighbors, the awareness that they could hear my breathing, see the sweat building on my body, perceive my facial expressions and literally be a part of the performance- I felt connected. Performing in that warm setting was a reciprocal experience; I could hear the audience too- their exclamations, laughter, surprise and delight. Watching Stephen Alex Tracy-Ursprung perform a structured improv was a magnificent, beautiful, transformative artistic moment.
My heart is still glowing from Saturday's Sleepy Hollow house performance. And now, I wonder<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBD380S-4W_AmWzyoV0ip2LMsVoSsHaNe-159tN6bbmU7hRuL1-alGUMNn8xL4iEeTw-embLwd-nI1R40Yh45gZJBJqvZcQvrOSrEIe-hH2dKoJTPYOJyyLwbkj3Ld-gJtRwWvAYt6APo/s1600/stephen+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBD380S-4W_AmWzyoV0ip2LMsVoSsHaNe-159tN6bbmU7hRuL1-alGUMNn8xL4iEeTw-embLwd-nI1R40Yh45gZJBJqvZcQvrOSrEIe-hH2dKoJTPYOJyyLwbkj3Ld-gJtRwWvAYt6APo/s320/stephen+house.jpg" /></a> what's next?
Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-14911779633690709292013-05-05T05:25:00.000-07:002013-05-05T05:25:35.032-07:00A 5 year Anniversary at the Warner Library! These pictures are from my first public puppet show in May 2008:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoU0S7MON_grtxIqAi5NjEWGKDCkz0Wael6EeL_-B0vfI2ubiLO5bT7KJefsZLfulYsxyKT0s6RSrME9UGTQlxKvNgSIo268Gl7YMsj0aVQ2RQypPMomNqCippuLTGzgnCdoHcLqWfdk/s1600/first+puppet+show+wonder+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoU0S7MON_grtxIqAi5NjEWGKDCkz0Wael6EeL_-B0vfI2ubiLO5bT7KJefsZLfulYsxyKT0s6RSrME9UGTQlxKvNgSIo268Gl7YMsj0aVQ2RQypPMomNqCippuLTGzgnCdoHcLqWfdk/s320/first+puppet+show+wonder+woman.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn67G7WZvGC5z8TqMldM6sIRe4UX2Nyx8jeGvEupt43TGE8uqj9EbDf3SE2JhlxAQH5lceX3-xASeSKFbzB_W0vl1HDhJWAie8K51neRHR07WxuuRgM7kaVvNSp31h4yeAYAvjII6rGw/s1600/first+puppet+show+warner+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn67G7WZvGC5z8TqMldM6sIRe4UX2Nyx8jeGvEupt43TGE8uqj9EbDf3SE2JhlxAQH5lceX3-xASeSKFbzB_W0vl1HDhJWAie8K51neRHR07WxuuRgM7kaVvNSp31h4yeAYAvjII6rGw/s320/first+puppet+show+warner+library.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHXyyjUrd9evyl7APB2sbNi4LyZKFRoVaInJG85UyALNN1v8qgCN94JapAYFc4OPa4oxiKxD5SZWqKfNG4KuFPG_PsCD0RNQRPRu0uNvfmnE5IuBtgS1b_UH8IZcYIgBA39bH52AJwNs/s1600/first+puppet+show+kiss+mouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHXyyjUrd9evyl7APB2sbNi4LyZKFRoVaInJG85UyALNN1v8qgCN94JapAYFc4OPa4oxiKxD5SZWqKfNG4KuFPG_PsCD0RNQRPRu0uNvfmnE5IuBtgS1b_UH8IZcYIgBA39bH52AJwNs/s320/first+puppet+show+kiss+mouse.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS_YHUGuoMFjtcRjJwasp8-NWOxtUkO0Fw6twsPwwX8m0TVvkUgpOIthmWVeLqZgLd4MLaE0nq7rRSwm8x3G7VsNC2T3hUV7O1aG2k92bzaOVjpPuCc6Yvqb6oeSGrKE2T8z5Hwz3OoI/s1600/first+puppet+show+troll.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS_YHUGuoMFjtcRjJwasp8-NWOxtUkO0Fw6twsPwwX8m0TVvkUgpOIthmWVeLqZgLd4MLaE0nq7rRSwm8x3G7VsNC2T3hUV7O1aG2k92bzaOVjpPuCc6Yvqb6oeSGrKE2T8z5Hwz3OoI/s320/first+puppet+show+troll.jpg" /></a>
Today, as I was setting up for my Spring Puppet show in the children's room at the Warner Library, I realized that my first public puppet show occured in that same space, almost exactly 5 years before! I had planned a Mother's Day tribute show for May 2008, and Patty Cohn, the children's librarian at the Warner Library, gave me a green light to try my hand at public puppeteering. Dressed in my Wonder Woman costume, my sister in law Kate holding my four month old daughter in a pouch, I gave it my all and began the journey. It's cool having markers-remembering how it felt to do that show-how many months and late nights it took me to plan the show, using store-bought Folkmanis puppets, having a fussy baby to watch out of the corner of my eye and being covered in sweat as I juggled the throngs of kids and the newness of performing.
I remember feeling so vulnerable after that show. Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-58965994874442595602013-04-29T04:24:00.000-07:002013-04-29T04:24:23.313-07:00A million dollars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQAQxmjaxgXisHHX0IsEN_KByyb30YXEA3sCexm3qAMF8mfDtj2D_abb0RBH7piCS07EhoW7neEJxBHdXf4wSnqJDLcvD4K3xZUODmGASHLeSheARwgFwtcd8R90PQX3A4pa4pqvoLDM/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQAQxmjaxgXisHHX0IsEN_KByyb30YXEA3sCexm3qAMF8mfDtj2D_abb0RBH7piCS07EhoW7neEJxBHdXf4wSnqJDLcvD4K3xZUODmGASHLeSheARwgFwtcd8R90PQX3A4pa4pqvoLDM/s320/butterfly.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5MxvdPRJjbIDD4OGyAArF7WF5DPvkBtgGygATBDxTM8SkW2MV4EpOWHTwY6msB3hwXQp0I3Zf2CTajwiCw2fNYE_Z5CLIxxQYYhKpdRgWpxC9h3Zvq8o2O6V9kfJ8wGJZoV_8MONxuk/s1600/call+and+response.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5MxvdPRJjbIDD4OGyAArF7WF5DPvkBtgGygATBDxTM8SkW2MV4EpOWHTwY6msB3hwXQp0I3Zf2CTajwiCw2fNYE_Z5CLIxxQYYhKpdRgWpxC9h3Zvq8o2O6V9kfJ8wGJZoV_8MONxuk/s320/call+and+response.jpg" /></a>
After a weekend of performing-Saturday with the Bossy Frog Band and Sunday as Jilly Puppets, I feel like a million dollars. I am filled with so much positive feeling about what I do and the many gifts that it brings, that I might as well be sitting here surrounded by piles of glittering gold. Being with the children and their families, whether it's in my six foot Bossy Frog costume or in a goofy Jilly Puppets get-up, means the world to me. I get to dance, sing, play, tell stories in all sorts of ways, teach valuable information, and learn about what motivates people to laugh-what brings people together to share in communal experiences.
I am going to bed tonight feeling so rich, so full, and so blessed to have such dynamic,zesty,unique, and life-enriching work. Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-51507601275116435052013-04-22T05:29:00.001-07:002013-04-22T05:29:54.096-07:00Spring puppets
I took a short hiatus from focusing on my puppet business to take a Dance Education Laboratory class in the city, at the 92nd Street Y. The class, DEL, was time consuming and wonderful, I met amazing people and had an adventure every Monday evening. Just the act of heading down to the train station in Tarrytown was an act of faith about how important dancing is in my personal and professional life. The DEL class is wrapping up in two weeks. I hope to springboard into choreographing a piece that's been bubbling around in my limbs. Whenever I stop moving, it comes up and forces my mind to explore new movement options. I put down whatever I am doing and dance.
But what's kinda cool is that just as DEL is coming to a close, I have started back with puppet show season! Last week I had four puppet shows and I could see that they were all profoundly influenced by what I have learned in the class. Being surrounded by teachers, by master educators and people who really think about how to impart learning in the most holistic, gentle, exciting and fun way has really rubbed off onto how I view and produce my puppet shows.
Due to the nature of the beast, a puppet show has a huge improvisational element. Like, when it's freezing out and I can't strum my ukulele because my fingers are numb...then what? Or when twenty more kids show up to the show than planned-what do I do? Yesterday a lawn-mower was blasting in the near-distance. How can I still do a peaceful and connective show with that WHIRRRRRR sound behind me?
Staying calm and creative is the only way to appoach these situations, and it's part of what makes being a puppeteer so fulfilling. I plan each show meticulously, just as I would prepare a lesson plan for a classroom, but my mind is always prepared to hover above the plan and improvise to meet the situation. Like when my hands were numb with the whipping Spring winds on Saturday, I could still bang on my drum, so I extended what I had planned for the drum 'call and response' section. And then I used the soft plushy worm puppet as a mitten to sing “The Teacher Song!” With the lawn-mower, I just brought in extra amplification, and with 20 extra kids I pulled up a game where the kids got to talk into the microphone.
Keeping focused on my ultimate goal, whether it's communicating an Earth Day theme in a silly and fun way or helping a birthday girl enjoy her birthday show, is my essential focus. And getting there is the improvisational part! Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-33095505334328382652012-12-13T11:25:00.001-08:002012-12-13T11:25:22.863-08:00Dance on, woman!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the past year, it has become pressingly essential for me to acknowledge how massive dancing is in my life. Dance has become my vehicle for exploring the world, for feeling authentic, for sharing my creative voice, for experiencing joy. For years, I have been moving towards having more dance in my puppet shows, but my inner voice still banged loudly in my ear-MORE MORE! I signed up for a choreography class in addition to my technique classes at the Tarrytown Y, performed an original work this summer,(which was extremely gratifying) and still, the voice demanded MORE MORE! "Inner self!"-I fought back-"I am 42 years old! Why are you pushing me towards dance! I am old, old, old! How is this logical?"
Obeying the forcefulness of my inner compass, I found a 'Fundamentals in Dance Education' laboratory class at the 92nd St. Y, a six month course that meets from 7:30-9:30 on Monday nights. This means that I leave my apartment at 5:37 and arrive back at the apartment at 10:40 to walk the dog, staggering with exhaustion. The course is radically fabulous-it is not to be missed-it is masterful and mind-blowingly awesome, AND it takes me a full day to recover from my night-time excursion to the Upper East Side.
I co-faciliate an artist's support network at The Purple Crayon in Hastings, where I genuinely believe in everyone else's genious, everyone else's right to grow and to expand, to be confident and OUT THERE with their artistic selves. Even with this fabulous supportive atmosphere and my extreme positivity, I still would sit in my car after meetings and do battle with my pesky inner voice: HOW CAN I CALL MYSELF A DANCER? I WAS NOT CLASSICALLY TRAINED! HOW CAN I BE GOOD ENOUGH??!
Meanwhile, I continue working on a new dance piece. I am learning the slow painful process of revising and discarding unnecessary movements. I continue to push myself in technique classes. I am not giving up, because the cost of letting my fears run the show is far too high for me.
Today, I may have just figured out a way to begin teaching dance.
"Yes it hurts when buds burst.
there is pain when something grows. "
-Karen Boyle
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Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-11363465697251169672012-08-15T09:58:00.000-07:002012-08-15T10:00:40.479-07:00Creative Vibes I have a friend for whom this is the "Summer of Great Transition." For me, I have dubbed this extremely hot and humid time, "The Summer of Tremendous Creativity". I keep imagining myself as a crayoned outline picture in a coloring book, my whole interior covered with a waxy, multi-colored, layered crayon landscape-you know that side to side light and breezy crayon style? I also imagine myself as a (metaphorical) paint jug, filled to the very top of my head with thick dripping rainbow paints.(My brother affectionately calls these my "swirly vortex" images.) Filled with colors and textures and music and movement, I do feel lucky, blessed, joyously at home.
Check out this Bossy Frog video-Much fun is this???
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*I conducted a puppet residency at Ardsley Country Club Day Camp this summer which culminated in a puppet extravaganza to the tunes of "Party Rock Anthem," "Moves like Jagger," "Call me," "Star Wars" and the "Scooby Doo" theme! (I got a giggle every time I heard the music that the kids chose.) After 5 workshops, the final show was fabulous-sweaty and exuberant; It was delightful to watch the kids enjoying themselves and presenting their puppets. I am so pleased to have met the director, Laura Poiss, who is a rockstar educator and artist.
*More dance-Ooooh, I am working on a piece at the Tarrytown Y with Stephen Ursprung. Stephen has been leading me through writing and choreography exercises and I am developing a very personal piece (oooh,I love it so much). I am going to try a costume concept tonight! Who knows what the next step will be...it's a delicious mystery.
So there's also been the artist support network (OpenCanvas) at The Purple Crayon that Naomi, Sarah and I launched (stay tuned for more information about the first meeting in September!), attending the Hip Hop festival in Philadelphia (PLEASE ask me to tell you about that-I love talking about Illadelph), my new dance teachers at the Y (a beautiful adventure), getting my frog on with tons of Bossy Frog performances (hip hop,banjo and frog costumes are a perfect match, in case you were wondering) and a Butterfly show coming up this Saturday at the Greenburgh Nature Center.
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Thank you to all of the muses out there...sending creative vibes right back out there to you.
Love,
xojilly
Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-62255975582905655382012-06-04T15:48:00.000-07:002012-06-04T15:49:34.260-07:00Confessions of a series of bombed puppets (serious title)So I completely bombed on a series of puppets that I was engineering. A few months ago, I aspired to make butterfly puppets-gorgeous, soaring mechanical flying creatures, using telephone wire, hanger wire, thick copper jewelry wire and beautiful, textured fabrics. Only now do I giggle when regarding the botched and defective puppets, but while I was making them, I was beside myself. Hour after hour I labored, burning myself with the glue gun, twisting wire with wire cutters, stretching fabric, believing that whatever prototype I was working on was going to be the one that finally soared. My back ached from hunching over fabric scraps, my mind reeled with glue fumes as I wondered whether I was losing my touch.
I created a thinly wired gossamer moth beast that now lives somewhere in my discard box, a misshapen butterfly puppet strapped with safety pins onto a black bra with hanger wire protruding out of the akimbo right wing, and one navy blue amorphous BLOB attached with gangly wires to a badmitton racket that I found on the street.
But this morning,thankfully, finally, something happened. After a month and a half of soul searching (Am I JUST A SOCK PUPPET PUPPETEER??? DRAMA!!!)and questioning my career choices, something happened with swing music playing, the sticky rain outside and the quiet of my apartment, shades of green velvet strips and spoon eyeballs...I revisited the realm of verdant puppet possibilities and
this is stage one of the resuscitation of the triumphant flying BLOB puppet!
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If I were talking to my daughters, I would have said all along, "Honey, some art works and some doesn't. The important thing is to know that and to keep on making art...it will become something eventually. Or not." But to really live that as I bombed puppet after puppet and totally messed up a corner of our living room with my wild attempts was a DOOZY.
I am grateful for the whole process.
Thanks for reading.Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-72080707793145158272012-04-22T14:11:00.001-07:002012-04-22T14:11:51.291-07:00SPRING 2012Hello. It's fitting that I am working on a BUTTERFLY show for the Greenburgh Nature Center, because I truly feel like I too am in a period of metamorphosis as an artist. I am attracted more and more to the dance world and am searching for ways to bring more choreography into my puppet shows. Last weekend, I began working on a piece, all dance-and created a fairy-like costume. I don't know whether I will construct wings for the dance piece, or leave the movements to speak for themselves. But people come to my shows expecting to see puppets, so I am attempting to craft a whole new set of puppets for the rest of the show. I made one prototype butterfly puppet with wire and diaphanous fabric; I have A LONG way to go before it's breathtaking!
I am planning to include more instruments too for the children-I am smitten with a new affection for the tambourine-and definitely want to play around with it's sound and movement. But it's still all mostly in the inspiration ether-the puppets are somewhere in my unconscious, waiting to be crafted. I have a whole new batch of silky fabric from a friend, and spankin' new fabric scissors too (!) so I have the tools. I just need 5 straight hours of inspired art time, lots of music playing and dancing while I glue gun and try not to burn myself with the boiling hot glue.
Hope to see you at some Spring and Summer shows!
peace, love and METAMORPHOSIS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5htYv07SrkwZsDuWCyyHR5CMhwMg3-lljfc3G27Z8uFOhOT6pMg32DIckzXGD1oMKt2wGuHeg18JsMJDuKJaFUvGP7HfFHEfxHLyTRYw23aSpo1m-njp92FJ6uRmy3anmAVK7rG7Wmak/s1600/miriamtambourine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5htYv07SrkwZsDuWCyyHR5CMhwMg3-lljfc3G27Z8uFOhOT6pMg32DIckzXGD1oMKt2wGuHeg18JsMJDuKJaFUvGP7HfFHEfxHLyTRYw23aSpo1m-njp92FJ6uRmy3anmAVK7rG7Wmak/s320/miriamtambourine.jpg" /></a></div>
Jilly
PS-A special shout out to Ossining's Earth Day celebration. Thanks so much for having me. What a beautiful event.Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-31267147642532176742012-04-08T04:51:00.004-07:002012-04-08T04:58:49.360-07:00Wow~ Spring has Sprung!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs9WnXaxXGV58PgtiwH085LTI_lElSaYIWnz3TBLlzGivW8GxLlvIaqNs-BdtdR33ICsfbSFVaX0a1QmNS-DPamDcbYGq7YOen38VrVHTic7O1W2KGGKbpDNE_7l4xMoquPmVLtHoeS0/s1600/milking+the+cow.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs9WnXaxXGV58PgtiwH085LTI_lElSaYIWnz3TBLlzGivW8GxLlvIaqNs-BdtdR33ICsfbSFVaX0a1QmNS-DPamDcbYGq7YOen38VrVHTic7O1W2KGGKbpDNE_7l4xMoquPmVLtHoeS0/s320/milking+the+cow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728998033575925234" /></a><br />Hello! It's been a while! How did that happen! I have been BUSY with a grant-like application that took me a few months to pull together AND I was dancing with the Evolve Dance festival. Because of doing all of that writing and dancing (not bad things to do!!!), I have not made a puppet in a while-my juices are ready. Maybe next week when the kids are off I can shuffle away to my lair and make some puppets. Especially because..brace yourselves, my old and neurotic dog, Keira, got into my puppets and wrecked a few.She digs when she is scared, and my puppets were the scene of her crime. Even the puppet hospital could not save the sun. Earth Dragon is a mess, but can be rehabilitated. <br />I am doing a bunch of birthday parties-the next public show is at the West Nyack library next Friday. <br />I hope the sun is shining on you, and that I get to see you at a show soon! <br />peace,<br />JillyJilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-89523556331687721232012-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:002012-01-19T10:03:06.360-08:00Well, life on a farm is kinda laid back -OR-How I wrote the farm show part 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkQvuNHp58zmsFRW6VouD0W7JJOIbIAN8juR7PXKqhQ2gu5AiqpkyDqzb3AFFRnRZLnlbf25fGfRGqJAHtb6lAlFPnicyJ-dj61rEqwLUSS2N5jBFB4vFeUKD7dtskum2DZNGfOg-eQQ/s1600/uku.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkQvuNHp58zmsFRW6VouD0W7JJOIbIAN8juR7PXKqhQ2gu5AiqpkyDqzb3AFFRnRZLnlbf25fGfRGqJAHtb6lAlFPnicyJ-dj61rEqwLUSS2N5jBFB4vFeUKD7dtskum2DZNGfOg-eQQ/s320/uku.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699405015325626098" /></a><br />I was hired earlier in the Fall to perform a puppet show at the Greenburgh Nature Center on "A FARM."<br />So, just wondering, how does a topic, like "A FARM" become a fleshed out, cohesive and satisfying puppet show? <br /><br />Thanks for asking! When I receive a topic, I begin to "tune my dial" to that topic in the world around me, looking for inspiration. I browse children's books at the library, play with my kids relating to the subject, listen to all sorts of music to see what grabs me, and open myself up to whatever comes up. <br /><br />With this particular show about a farm, for example, I started with a song from my 5th grade chorus concert,"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver. I remember standing on the risers performing this song,the solo-ist belting out the country lyrics as we chanted, "Boom chicka boom chicka boom chick........boom chick."<br />As I learned the song on the ukulele, I imagined I was a farmer with a country lifestyle and I built the show around the song's sentiment "Well life on the farm is kind of laid back, ain't nothing a country boy like me can't hack, it's early to rise and early in the sack, thank God I'm a country boy!" YEEEHAW!<br />From there, I moved to another country song,"Momma's in the kitchen makin' shortnin', shortnin', Momma's in the kitchen making shortnin' bread..." a tune from a video that Lily used to watch when she was two. The two songs that I was practicing had so much character, that combined with "Old McDonald," "You are My Sunshine," and a slight adaption of the Pete Seeger song, "Bluebird Bluebird...fly through my window" I had the makings of the the musical sections!<br /><br />Now, I had to inventory my puppets and see what could be applied to a farm theme. I made a sheep puppet who was born to rap with Wormie, then a quick duck sock puppet for the bird number. I turned the squirrels into farm interlopers, who jump onto the fence of the horse pen to tease the animals. Sally (sockpuppet)with the awesome hair visits the farm because the various farm activities make her hair look 'excellent'. I changed Bertha's fancy blouse and made her the spirited farmer's wife who gives out eggs from the henhouse. <br /><br />Then, after components exist, I try to blend them into a form that makes sense to an audience. I created some movement segments, got my hands on a cowbell, painted scenery, drew a coloring page, wrote out the scenes and mixed them around to see what order worked best, put together a costume and....VOILA. A farm show is born. MOOOOOOOOOOOO. <br /><br />That's all for part 1~ See you around the farm! yeehaw. <br />peace, JillyJilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-4679829361691772932011-11-16T07:13:00.000-08:002011-11-16T07:19:36.641-08:00SQUIRREL MUSIC VIDEO BUZZ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpPeb0s52G3z-CY4Yi_sY81-SnlUHorGxIqYLyToeV3Pzy6iTN532DzJyYXvKPNMARORkAoPY2WWNFXyHJ92KCrxQBIDoC8pFulfLV0CIX-SL1PMoieIBvY0rEYCICfcTjM2iINgVlcw/s1600/015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; height: 239px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675612425791886370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpPeb0s52G3z-CY4Yi_sY81-SnlUHorGxIqYLyToeV3Pzy6iTN532DzJyYXvKPNMARORkAoPY2WWNFXyHJ92KCrxQBIDoC8pFulfLV0CIX-SL1PMoieIBvY0rEYCICfcTjM2iINgVlcw/s320/015.jpg"></a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzS3rbNFrvin8XUJqQ4wxF9Yt3eoQ2G4pSixZt4i3nwxQOAVJf-L_yP3up-sInDzAX8r2KN1_l_f4KrlZJZEw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh! You've heard about the upcoming squirrel music video? You must be "in the loop", because these squirrels have declined to comment! <br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYR43xh4CUXVutvOFyOCj3Pz_YCRsBWJVYzLWeYo78AhgRMvCS9Z__0E4HTXxshmQq6GQa9TxDQmhL8p26jw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-46462070442901582592011-11-03T10:21:00.000-07:002012-04-22T14:11:52.369-07:00A day in the life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapF-X9fhJ3HUw6G-_YBR8pdI_nWv69dPbEobUgGY2CZcVV5GvTIO2AY9DXk2wEXC5FZ63qj3ue4KOqpuJzwOPcQgqCjUiJ4SchYfcrrz2TAhPHSOncF85l8gZJUnuEKcPgUKk0RJZK2Q/s1600/new+uke.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapF-X9fhJ3HUw6G-_YBR8pdI_nWv69dPbEobUgGY2CZcVV5GvTIO2AY9DXk2wEXC5FZ63qj3ue4KOqpuJzwOPcQgqCjUiJ4SchYfcrrz2TAhPHSOncF85l8gZJUnuEKcPgUKk0RJZK2Q/s200/new+uke.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670826153315693330" /></a><br /><br />*I am now the proud owner of a tenor ukulele. I have been searching for a larger sound before taking the leap to guitar-land, and this uke is louder, more resonant, and not too hard on the eyes! It's a travel uke, so it literally could fit into my backpack and would be about as heavy as two apples and a bag-o-chips.<br /><br />*I am germinating on creating a puppet workshop for adults-"CREATE YOUR INNER PUPPET." I imagine a bunch of folks around a table surrounded by breathtaking socks and sensuous wool...overgrown buttons for eyes...skeins of brightly colored thread and swatches of fabulous fabrics...the thrill of grownups playing freely with puppets..the puppet conversations and revelations!<br /><br />*I have two videos in my head-will I ever make them? This is a huge question for an artist mom person--choosing what projects will get the juice and the go-ahead, and which ones will remain in the artistic ether as potential energy. If you are in a 7 piece brass band and would like to puppet-out with Jilly Puppets, give me a shout out and let's make a video!<br /><br />*My next puppet: Well, I found a racketball racket yesterday, so I'd wager that my next show will have something crafted from this. I like how the racket is held, how it moves in the air, it's potential for flight or travel. Stay tuned. <br /><br />*Thanks for reading my blog. Please email me at jillypuppets@gmail.com if you'd like to talk puppets or have me do a workshop or show at your school, synagogue, church or mosque, birthday party, or forest puppet adventure. <br /><br />Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-46515927507852276002011-10-06T06:37:00.000-07:002012-04-22T14:11:52.372-07:00Happy 4 year anniversary Jilly Puppets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1cLn1tbp8QHh3geykwcUNKoHItOtvtXndBqq_-QN2iaYFAKlrDihG-U99Y_uoaoe-EcPytusRYv1o1JCgS5DdW4gYmCyyzup2iQocJhvynn2w1_vCVyCtfYG0tg-vi7pmeX8UxmiaAI/s1600/jilly%252520puppets.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1cLn1tbp8QHh3geykwcUNKoHItOtvtXndBqq_-QN2iaYFAKlrDihG-U99Y_uoaoe-EcPytusRYv1o1JCgS5DdW4gYmCyyzup2iQocJhvynn2w1_vCVyCtfYG0tg-vi7pmeX8UxmiaAI/s320/jilly%252520puppets.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660441044000929426" /></a><br /><br /><br />This picture is from my first first public puppet show ever! And today, <br />October 6th, is the 4 year anniversary of Jilly Puppets! yahoo! Thank you Barry and Kate (my brother and sister-in-law) for asking me to perform at your wedding.xoxo It was the START OF SOMETHING FABULOUS!<br /><br />I was 6 months pregnant with Ruby and was up all night with Lily anyhow, so in the wee hours of the evening, I wrote my first show to celebrate Barry and Kate's wedding. I purchased Folkmanis puppets-Mr. Rat, Reubini the Border Collie, a Troll, little woodchucks and mice, a small mouse (yes, you guessed-named "Mousie")..and told stories of Barry and Kate's courtship. We danced with swirling ribbons to 'Brothers and Sisters' from "Free to be you and Me". I wore a Ren Faire queen smock over my belly and we called each other on 'Bananaphones' (Rafi)as we danced around the room. <br /><br />One of the best parts of this show for me was that the audience was composed of folks of all ages, and that there were lots of giggles and smiles. One of the highlights of the whole wedding weekend for me, a vision that I will never forget, is looking out into the audience and seeing my brother's face filled with laughter and seeing Kate smile and enjoy herself.<br /><br />I believe that the experience of realizing that I had the potential to make people laugh and giggle and dance and listen to silly stories was absolutely life changing. After the show, I said to Mark, "This is it. I love this!" A few months later, I asked Patty Cohn from the Warner Library to take a risk and let me perform a Mother's Day Tribute to the moms of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. But that's another story, and I have to drink my wheatgrass juice now. :)<br /><br />Thank you for supporting me these 4 years of puppet deliciousness. I look forward to many more years of laughter and joyfulness. I LOVE what I do. <br /><br />love,<br />Jilly Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-20380049550325045322011-09-27T14:06:00.001-07:002012-04-22T14:11:52.376-07:00Reflections and reflecting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpZ6yFpfFL6g00dANk51_XSGTqIge9j8W3in_2pLY5AvezFYh29SERGzCfY3EJ2n6dhAj3Z4M0VMTGIphTt_5y59dBMp2ZdasMM2CEMCoFOSn2gBRSgDKH_1Xmw5BF7oBt21UzttauCE/s1600/funk.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpZ6yFpfFL6g00dANk51_XSGTqIge9j8W3in_2pLY5AvezFYh29SERGzCfY3EJ2n6dhAj3Z4M0VMTGIphTt_5y59dBMp2ZdasMM2CEMCoFOSn2gBRSgDKH_1Xmw5BF7oBt21UzttauCE/s200/funk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657154050249247890" /></a><br />I finished up a fabulous weekend of shows-a Bossy Frog Band show at Kingsboro Community College in Brooklyn, then a full day at the Hudson River Museum-workshop and show. <br /><br />My tank feels very full of art and music and good vibes as we move into the Jewish High Holiday season. I always run puppet Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services, which to me are an awesome responsibility and honor. Rosh Hashana is my favorite holiday by far-I am salivating right now thinking of my grandmother's apple raisin kugel. <br /><br />So I am assembling my Puppe-shana show (hee hee). Here's a teaser: think synthesizer, think trampoline, think rhythm and movement, and of course wacky puppet funk and soul!!!<br /><br />Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-75019209831405989472011-09-21T18:06:00.000-07:002012-04-22T14:11:52.379-07:00Holy scenery Batman!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIC9bq_vSTY4lWRNaTIdSVYZMIbG38KEqOBA_JLXiS5wS0llxj5sjnjJ6EhytxjKuG02EnmTSEXHqGXlkdrMLe0TfjWVSN4TqysWZ909eBd_bOR_X2fiTYQOvb9gLfuOaDgQqqt-i2X4/s1600/IMG_20110921_071309.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIC9bq_vSTY4lWRNaTIdSVYZMIbG38KEqOBA_JLXiS5wS0llxj5sjnjJ6EhytxjKuG02EnmTSEXHqGXlkdrMLe0TfjWVSN4TqysWZ909eBd_bOR_X2fiTYQOvb9gLfuOaDgQqqt-i2X4/s200/IMG_20110921_071309.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654984764817552578" /></a><br /><br /><br />And so it begins.....scenery. Ah. I love it. <br />So I started small-two tiny paintings that I will prop up against the mic stand...will they contribute to the kids' enjoyment of the show? The children are sitting right in front of me, so they will be RIGHT THERE with the mini-scenes. We will see on Sunday, at the Hudson River Museum!<br />I am in the process of painting a fantastical tree, to fit in with the JILLY PUPPETS tree-hugging show!!!<br />Let me know what you think. <br />Love and acrylics under my fingernails.<br />JillyJilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-38650574439241912672011-08-21T08:58:00.000-07:002012-04-22T14:11:52.385-07:00Tarrytown Third Friday show-sweaty and fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_r-NXeLz3Dfi-PJDeCTUo33Z0G17sDjOQT_apia4bO0vCcAzdWZ9nQskOWl67G5d2KEQJuTlIvlgZ2V2X2poPs_cQzxrk2pK-2F2Qazs3dmsXlNGCKzauksoS5L_1CA72AZaCTEI_BM/s1600/3rdfri.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_r-NXeLz3Dfi-PJDeCTUo33Z0G17sDjOQT_apia4bO0vCcAzdWZ9nQskOWl67G5d2KEQJuTlIvlgZ2V2X2poPs_cQzxrk2pK-2F2Qazs3dmsXlNGCKzauksoS5L_1CA72AZaCTEI_BM/s200/3rdfri.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643339553021368402" /></a><br /><br /><br />This past Friday night I had the pleasure of a hometown show at Tarrytown Third Friday. The sky was ominous... threatening winds blew... "Is it going to storm in 15 minutes or 5 minutes?" I asked myself. How many songs am I going to get in before the deluge?" I set up my puppets under a tree-cave so that if it started pouring, I could grab my kiddies and make a run for it. I like being in a tree cave, being a confirmed tree-hugger and all. <br />I brought my cordless mic but unfortunately not the cords necessary to hook up to Greg's PA system. Argh! Luckily, I DID have my ipod with the "James Bond" theme music so with handheld microphone tucked under my armpit, we "drove" around (I found about 50 keys in our junk drawer for the kids to use, imagining that they were driving fancy James Bond-y racecars with), glue gunning baddies to the pavement. (Being compassionate spies, we did "unglue" the baddies so they could enjoy the puppet show and nibble on popcorn.) <br />It's always a treat playing in front of my townie buddies. So that even when my flying squirrel goggles melt down my face and sweat is dripping into my eyeballs, I am having the time of my life!<br />People, I gotta tell you, Tarrytown Third Friday ROCKS!Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-20867550972553432472011-08-10T18:24:00.000-07:002012-04-22T14:11:52.388-07:00Summer Summer Summer FALL!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCEpZP7c7FECFEWpNCq_erofVTs2Nupj5BBZiZa9edlOU9uVkts8pFvGa_bZVO-97R1p_8Sb8_b0W8qbHZvhAHfPwTw4v_f_ik7tTMboY7K9AfcL9nnOwmbAsE0_pJ2T6l84UgA12itQ/s1600/pressDSC_0168.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCEpZP7c7FECFEWpNCq_erofVTs2Nupj5BBZiZa9edlOU9uVkts8pFvGa_bZVO-97R1p_8Sb8_b0W8qbHZvhAHfPwTw4v_f_ik7tTMboY7K9AfcL9nnOwmbAsE0_pJ2T6l84UgA12itQ/s200/pressDSC_0168.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639405287410941730" /></a><br />Hello! It's like a puppet alarm clock! Every August 1st, I start crafting my Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur shows. I dusted off some uke music, have some ideas for new music..what's moving me right now? Ch-Ch-Ch Changes? This morning, as a super-inspirational charge-up, I watched Barbara Streisand singing 'Hatikva' to Golda Meir! http://youtu.be/8uPHaioopKM<br />I also am working on my Autumnal shows...thinkin' about pie:apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie...sweaters, socks, boots....I haven't even STARTED to think about leaves changing!!!<br />Hope to see you all at some shows. I will be publishing Fall show dates on my website soon. www.jillypuppets.com <br />Meanwhile, I am doing lots and lots of the Bossy Frog Band shows... (Did you know that I am the FROG?) www.bossyfrog.com Come check us out!<br />May the force (air conditioning) be with you,<br />JillyJilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-636336636414838340.post-15380730220742014762011-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:002011-07-12T07:37:49.934-07:00Oh, trees.........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEwjMtNRf1zG2I95WrhvHVGRzZu5Qx-XFLBt06OOC61jpn6_R-X-_9BtvyCPGA94YnJbJSxFxK0pcnibvLuzxH-183EveZvjWIueF8ASeINl1xbNccCVjZdqdi3yBsnr2IwMnzlO7hcM/s1600/991.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEwjMtNRf1zG2I95WrhvHVGRzZu5Qx-XFLBt06OOC61jpn6_R-X-_9BtvyCPGA94YnJbJSxFxK0pcnibvLuzxH-183EveZvjWIueF8ASeINl1xbNccCVjZdqdi3yBsnr2IwMnzlO7hcM/s200/991.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628474994734640882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQH8I1fyxOZu7YCJqDzgFGomscUjt4MpCLtzGJfON3ykvduL1RFM9EHjMHZCdvfD8SpDrTX-DKEV1bCX2r0lClXmJ0B3Vbnp_NKWev5pD1gzjcYo5w7VkVH0BcNPB5yZS3bTIa2CPpzg/s1600/954.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQH8I1fyxOZu7YCJqDzgFGomscUjt4MpCLtzGJfON3ykvduL1RFM9EHjMHZCdvfD8SpDrTX-DKEV1bCX2r0lClXmJ0B3Vbnp_NKWev5pD1gzjcYo5w7VkVH0BcNPB5yZS3bTIa2CPpzg/s200/954.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628472984597323650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0cv9csNySZZbo7ALh43-ClDigo-32C8y1zUy5Xpx6uyJcRhq9ibJfdcaWNULTwVggv8qxUMWVPW6yFOVJzfNgVsobRPrGjW4Dz6RoWxwgCANOxplGahd-4z81yDfoyMMsjOiMXK77GA/s1600/972.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0cv9csNySZZbo7ALh43-ClDigo-32C8y1zUy5Xpx6uyJcRhq9ibJfdcaWNULTwVggv8qxUMWVPW6yFOVJzfNgVsobRPrGjW4Dz6RoWxwgCANOxplGahd-4z81yDfoyMMsjOiMXK77GA/s200/972.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628472564661141602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkFVO1wGuVNlKQ16pmEFHxsAz2go8PggFLGZjf97M4GjlC_2OlSQ1FnPw0PzH4Z1TsmPoi5aeGUfOSSYKMukknSZ5ZvpOac0EpgWHHvZOsRW5sQ_UkPvbxPZ75sFmrYpWfxGRRRxyAaU/s1600/984.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkFVO1wGuVNlKQ16pmEFHxsAz2go8PggFLGZjf97M4GjlC_2OlSQ1FnPw0PzH4Z1TsmPoi5aeGUfOSSYKMukknSZ5ZvpOac0EpgWHHvZOsRW5sQ_UkPvbxPZ75sFmrYpWfxGRRRxyAaU/s200/984.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628472563670088354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffdutpvM73cGrkooGnNDIc40Q_azKeuOcUo5NB1kwvH1k1IX-hTsAMeToKPPP9z0BMy7-PHYQjfl_WRsOPVG1wsewd2jyuwAfCDLO58IawEfkHQvlHUYZS5AIqLiQyqso1vpni1cJwgs/s1600/997.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffdutpvM73cGrkooGnNDIc40Q_azKeuOcUo5NB1kwvH1k1IX-hTsAMeToKPPP9z0BMy7-PHYQjfl_WRsOPVG1wsewd2jyuwAfCDLO58IawEfkHQvlHUYZS5AIqLiQyqso1vpni1cJwgs/s200/997.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628472558077329778" /></a><br />Hey all! Here are some pictures from the Greenburgh Nature Center show. What a magical place. I mean, what could be better than playing a puppet show about "Trees" under a tent surrounded by trees and chipmunks? The audience at GNC is always really engaged and receptive...it's a joy, I tell ya! Here's some pictures that a very nice audience member shot for me with my phone. :) My favorite moment of the show was donning my flying squirrel costume, jumping up onto a picnic table and singing "We are family...I got all my squirrels with me!"Jilly Puppetshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09887067479651576196noreply@blogger.com0