JillyPuppets

Well, life on a farm is kinda laid back -OR-How I wrote the farm show part 1

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

I was hired earlier in the Fall to perform a puppet show at the Greenburgh Nature Center on "A FARM."
So, just wondering, how does a topic, like "A FARM" become a fleshed out, cohesive and satisfying puppet show?

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.

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."
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!
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!

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.

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.

That's all for part 1~ See you around the farm! yeehaw.
peace, Jilly

SQUIRREL MUSIC VIDEO BUZZ

2011-11-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

Oh! You've heard about the upcoming squirrel music video? You must be "in the loop", because these squirrels have declined to comment!

A day in the life

2011-11-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

*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.

*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!

*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!

*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.

*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.

Happy 4 year anniversary Jilly Puppets

2011-10-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

This picture is from my first first public puppet show ever! And today,
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!

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.

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.

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. :)

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.

love,
Jilly

Reflections and reflecting

2011-09-27T14:06:00.001-07:00

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.

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.

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!!!

Holy scenery Batman!

2011-09-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

And so it begins.....scenery. Ah. I love it.
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!
I am in the process of painting a fantastical tree, to fit in with the JILLY PUPPETS tree-hugging show!!!
Let me know what you think.
Love and acrylics under my fingernails.
Jilly

Tarrytown Third Friday show-sweaty and fun

2011-08-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

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.
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.)
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!
People, I gotta tell you, Tarrytown Third Friday ROCKS!

Summer Summer Summer FALL!

2011-08-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

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
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!!!
Hope to see you all at some shows. I will be publishing Fall show dates on my website soon. www.jillypuppets.com
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!
May the force (air conditioning) be with you,
Jilly

Oh, trees.........

2011-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

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!"

Trees

2011-07-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

So I am preparing mentally and puppet-ally for two TREE-HUGGING puppet shows coming up-this Sat. July 9 at 10:30 Greenburgh Nature Center and the following Sat. at the Warner Library in Tarrytown-11:30 am.
I am thinking about trees a lot these days (shade, beauty, the seasons, trees from my childhood, fruit, bugs and animals living up there, oxygen and carbon dioxide...), looking at em-lush and fragrant in the summer, having puppets tell me stories about them, designing costumes(costume changes!!!)...I actually have a lot of work to do before this weekend!!!
But what I focus the most on is how to communicate the essence of what this show is about, which is-APPRECIATING AND LOVING TREES.
I am also on a new kick to get more sleep, so I'll sign out to go have some tea.
If you read this blog and want to be a Jilly Puppets facebook buddy, give a shout out!
peace, love, tree-hugging and using the back of school flyers to make lists,
Jilly

Girl Scout Puppet Badge Workshop

2011-05-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I conducted a PUPPET BADGE workshop yesterday for some second grade girls and IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! The girls were super enthusiastic and creative. The Girl Scout leader had a serious collection of crafting supplies-popsicle sticks, bags, googely eyes, confetti,pipe cleaners.....! I took the kids through my process of constructing puppets from supplies found in my environment and then incorportating movement and character into the puppet that emerges from the creative experience. I showed them about 10 puppets and showed them the differences in how they are used as puppets and how they help me grow as an artist.
They asked me great questions, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with them, spending the afternoon doing art together.

I love the pipe cleaner bracelets that they made me!
Pictures to follow. :)

warm fuzzy

2011-04-12T08:26:00.001-07:00

I am sitting here on my sofa snuggling with my youngest child on a rainy day. I'm reflecting on a show from yesterday that was a total warm fuzzy. First of all, I didn't use a microphone. I felt lighter, less encumbered...getting set up was a breeze. Secondly, unbeknownst to me, the audience primarily consisted of children diagnosed with special needs.
Before the show began, I had decided to move slowly through transitions, to take my time and really interact with the children and the puppets. The kids were incredible-they laughed so hard throughout much of the show, which made me clown around more and exaggerate my facial expressions and silliness. The more they laughed, the more gratified I felt. I am smiling right now, thinking about it.
About 2/3 through the show, a little boy in the front row began crying, and I mean CRYING. He was probably as loud as any small human being could be. I waited for a minute or two before asking him if he wanted to come up in front with me. He stopped crying. I kept my left hand on his shoulder and my right hand continued with the puppets and the story. He stood next to me for the remainder of the show-it was a very special experience for me.

My fabulous Dad and monkeys

2011-03-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

My father came up to visit today from Philadelphia and we wrote a story together-about monkeys.
I have always found monkeys (and mice, unfortunately), hilarious. I used to sit at my father's desk for hours, drawing monkeys and mice, in little outfits-nurse monkeys, ballet mice, short monkeys, fancy mice.... I'd zerox the pictures and hand them out to friends. My friends would be making out behind the bushes as I handed them a picture of a farmer monkey. Neighbors would be watching "Thundercats" and eating Doritos as I drew hundreds of mice on an 8x10 piece of paper, all dressed in different outfits- all possessing a variety of characters and nuances that only my mice and my monkeys could embody.
So today, my father and I wrote a monkey story together. I can't tell you the story just YET, but let's just say that it contains (but is not limited to)the following: pop music, vines,sisterly relationships, responsiblity vs. freedom, bananas (of course), community celebrations and jungle antics. Sounds fantastic? It is-because I wrote it with my Dad, and he's a cool monkey. xoxojilly

And here are some photos...in reverse!

2011-03-08T09:47:00.001-08:00

the CREATIVE PROCESS...super fun!

2011-03-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

So this is why being a puppeteer ROCKS. I thought I would be making a skunk-they are cute and fuzzy, "Skunk on the Loose" is my fave Bossy Frog Band song..I mean it all makes sense! But what is emerging is not a skunk! Let's see how the next 45 mins treats us!!!!

Faux Fur...what to create?

2011-03-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hi puppet folks! I found this Faux Fur at Filene's Basement...they were kind enough to bequeath it to me. What should I make? It's lying in a clump on the kitchen floor and I am going to see what develops. Stay tuned! love,
Jilly

or, a slightly different version for the funkster puppets

2011-02-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Winter Blues? How about a Jilly Puppets dance party?

2011-02-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a little puppet dance party to cheer a gal up. I hope that you enjoy this and remember.............Spring is coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!

Snow and Ice and Puppet Tools

2011-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hello puppet fans. I have a new puppety instrument, the PUPPET-o-SCOPE, which helps me find birthday children, babies who are in need of a puppet snuggle, and hidden chocolate! If you'd like to make your own Puppet-O-Scope, just head to the bathroom, use up the toilet paper, and then paint the toilet paper roll. I used a glittery gold paint and then glue gunned beads for decoration. Oh my gosh! I was going to show you the original Jilly Puppets Puppet-O-scope, but guess what? I gave it to a birthday girl last week! I will have to make a new one today! I have a captive audience-the kids are home from school!
Stay tuned! love, Jilly

Puppeteer in pink union suit spotted assembling hand puppets!

2011-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

You know it's winter when....!

New Year, New Brain

2011-01-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

Hello puppet fans,
It's a snowy day, it's the new year, and I can feel it churning...the new ideas the new changes and progressions and permutations and challenges! What puppet will emerge? What ukulele song will develop? What shift can I make in the next set of shows?
I have some dance-y ideas to bring in. I have been focusing on a lot of disco, but I can feel something else on the horizon. A great place to be creatively. Please stick around and see....
Email me at jillypuppets@gmail.com to be on my mailing list...it's COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love,
Jilly

Boy Scout Puppet Workshop!

2010-11-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

What a great experience tonight! I had the honor of leading a Boy Scout workshop tonight in Ossining!
I started off the workshop by explaining how I came to puppeteering...trial and error career-wise, and then showed the first puppets that I made-Baby, then Gertrude...on to Fishie and Encephalopod, then Wormie, Bluebird, KooKoo, Parrot, Nicey Nice....through the whole gang. It was neat for me to see all of the puppets lined up (Rainbow Wiggles was absent tonight. He had a gig).

The Boy Scouts were amazing listeners-engaged, funny and sweet, and then they had a chance to take the puppets for a ride. The rule was-no puppet fights. Gentle puppets. After the boys had a chance to play with my puppets, it was time for them to do some creating.

At the craft table, the boys experimented with materials as they developed their puppets. I was MAJORLY impressed. Some of the materials that were used were: egg crates, chopsticks, plastic cups, pipe cleaners, an oatmeal container, tights, socks, feathers, (did anyone end up using the yogurt containers?) polyfil, plastic gloves, shoe boxes, paint and markers, pom poms....
I am probably missing a few!
Their puppets were masterful. I am truly blown away by their creativity. The boys in the Boy Scout Puppet Workshop in Ossining tonight are fantastic puppeteers.

Preparing for shows

2010-11-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hi there! I am next to my youngest child, who is curled up on my left shoulder. She woke up just as I was wrapping up a lovely puppet hospital session with the puppets. I am performing at a birthday party tomorrow afternoon,and felt that certain puppets needed some tender loving care before 'going public" again. So, KooKooBird received some GLOW IN THE DARK paint decoration and some new chest hair (a kid innocently ripped that off one day). Parrot, whose plumage melted in the brutal summer heat of 2010, was adorned with some translucent purple tile pieces and a beautiful yellow retro necklace! She looks like a new bird. I can't wait until she gets a look at herself in the mirror (once the glue dries). And then I added some leaves and beads to the MAGIC MIRROR. And yes, they were glittery leaves and luminescent beads!

I wish that I could have been writing earlier before I was so sleepy, because I love this part of the process. It reminds me of when I watch my kids with stuffed animals, and it's not all fantasy, because the children genuinely care about their animals while they are playing with them. They cultivate a relationship as they play-act, just as I truly love and care for my puppets. And I don't feel nuts about this! It's a relationship with an artistic creation that is intended to be brought to life to enchant and entertain young children. I am excited to use these puppets tomorrow because now they have a slightly new dimension to them. I doubt that any of the kids will notice, but I have a more developed sense of the puppet as it moves along this new trajectory. I feel like Parrot will be thrilled about her facelift! Whaddaya think?

As Fall approaches....

2010-08-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hi puppet folks. Sorry no blog for a while. I was on vacation in beautiful, tree-filled Vermont (did a fun puppet show at a lovely wedding on a farm-I love wedding puppet shows because the adults are in the mood to party with the puppets too!) , and now we're gearing up for Fall! This morning at the Pleasantville Farmer's Market show, the children in the audience and I made a special make-believe "soup" with carrots, a dog bone, a chocolate crossoint (sp?) , muffin crumbs, iced tea, and pretend string beans. Yummers! I also spilled a container of body glitter on me before the show, so I was EXTREMELY sparkley this morning!

This evening, I am performing at the Brittney Rae Fitzgerald memorial fundraiser. Brittney, a high school senior, passed away last year after a long fight with stomach cancer. Her family has established a college scholarship fund. Come down to Kingsland Point Park this afternoon to support this worthy cause.

In other Jilly Puppet news, I am gearing up for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur puppet services. I have written some original uke songs, and have lots of fun stuff planned. If you are interested in attending services, please contact me privately (jillypuppets@gmail.com).

Have a beautiful day.

love,

Jilly

Melting puppets

2010-07-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hello party people. I have been having melting issues with my puppets. sniff sniff. The intense heat has been melting the glue off the puppets! Eyeballs peeling, seams opening! But the puppet hospital is always open here in the Liflander household!

And did you know, that in addition to the PV-2000 Puppet Vest, which has been a huge hit in the European vest market *just kidding* AND my new Sennheiser cordless microphone which I have used 3 times; AWESOME and a little daunting, I have A NEW FANTABULOUS ADDITION TO THE SHOW!? Folks at the Greenburgh Nature Center Show, on August 7th will meet and behold this new Jilly Puppets sensation!!!

NEWSFLASH! I have also been performing with the Bossy Frog Band, as the Bossy Frog! I wear a GIGANTIC frog costume and bust out my jazz moves as my froggy persona. It's INCREDIBLY FUN. Come check us out!

TREMENDOUS DEBUT

2010-06-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

PUPPET FANS...PREPARE FOR THE DEBUT OF THE PV 2000 PUPPET VEST~ AN INVENTION THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE, um...it will revolutionize.... VESTS as we know them! And you don't want to miss that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

puppet production phase initiated!!!!

2010-06-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Summerpuppet Muse has infused this puppet momma with some groovy puppets in the making! Not only that,but I think I have finally figured out how to import pictures to my blog! (technical muse?)It worked! And I'll see you at a show! June 26th 3pm Warner Library-Tarrytown...it's my home turf library-a special show indeed!

Summer puppetin'...having a blast....

2010-06-07T16:30:00.001-07:00

Hi puppet fans! I have a puppet idea germinating in my head-I think I am going to start working on a new puppet tomorrow. And what will that puppet be? Stay tuned! I'll post a picture when I am done. :)

Summer shows are being booked-YAHOO! Warner Library show-3 pm June 26th....Hope to see you there!

Love-Jilly

night before show

2010-05-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hi there. I have a show tomorrow at the West Harrison library, a small, cozy library-much like my hometown library-the Warner Library. I have two new skits to try out. It's a young group, so hopefully they will like Hugs with Heschie, Row Row Your Boat, Magic Eggs, Pretend Candy (who doesn't like pretend candy) and the Bluebird Song...plus some Rocky shenanigans.. and maybe the Wish Fish! My kids want to come, but they'll see me do a Shabbat children's service on Friday night with lots of singing, noshing, and storytelling.
Goodnight puppet people.
love,
Jilly

Homage to my roots

2010-05-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

Hi all. I just sent out a new video-'Spring Training with Jilly Puppets!'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyaW4v07Q_0
I grew up outside of Philadelphia, so it's only natural that Rocky Balboa (the music is the theme from Rocky) is one of my heroes. I listened to the theme from "Rocky" about 10 times a day after Ruby was born.
Enjoy the video. love-Jilly

Harrison Library show-ROCKED

2010-04-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of the kiddies and the excellent adults that attended the Wednesday show at the Harrison Library (librarians included!). The audience came up with some fantastic names for our new parrot friend: Shibbo, Rainbow, Alyssa...(why not use 'em all?) and I can't remember the rest! If you were there and you 'named' the parrot, write to me at jillypuppets@gmail.com and remind me! I think my favorite part of the show was doing exercises with Elmo. I can't describe this rivoting scene in too much detail-you'll have to see it for yourself tonite at A Nu Toy Store-IF I can perform this daring feat one more time. :) Have a great rainy one hour, sunny one hour day.
love-Jilly

Spring Has Sprung! Yeehaw!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-04-09T11:49:00.000-07:00

Hi all of you in puppet-land! I have discovered my new best friend, the glue gun! Wait until you meet my 3 new glue gun-enabled puppets! They are so awesome, so new, that they don't even have names yet! Come to Third Friday in Tarrytown-April 16th, on Washington Street next to the firehouse-at 5 pm for an exciting and vigorous show! Get ready to dance and sing, my friends! (rain location-in A Nu Toy Store)

Rockin' with the Bossy Frog Band 12/30 Nyack theater

2009-12-31T04:57:00.000-08:00

Ooh, was that fun. I have wanted to jam with the Bossy Frog Band for a few years, ever since Lily and I started being 'groupies' 2 or 3 years ago. I introduced the band with a little Big Bertha 'warm up' about listening, dancing and sitting as audience members, and then told a story in the middle (Baby wanted to 'accomplish' some things before the year ended-like climbing a mountain, riding on a giant fish's back, and putting her head into the mouth of a tiger) after a quiet song.
I introduced Big Bertha, a larger puppet than I usually use. I am in love with her-she's so squishy and bouncy. She definitely reminds me of my late Bubbe Lena. Big Bertha is a good dancer too! She has been riding around with me in the passenger seat of my car (seatbelt on of course) so that I could get used to her in different situations.
I was working from the stage, which is different than my usual audience immersion. By the second show, I think that I started to get the hang of it more-I have grown used to having the puppets interact intimately with the kids-shaking hands, coming right near their faces, and I can read the audience's reactions better.
I am super grateful that Jeffrey Friedberg invited me to work with him and the Milk and Cookies theater, raising money for the Rockland Parent Child Center. He's a truly gifted performer and sharing a stage with him and his band members was an honor. What a way to close out 2009! Happy New Year!

Cure for the Winter Blues...

2009-12-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

Now that I'm 39....

2009-12-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hi party people! This upcoming week is going to be chock full of puppet fun. I'll be performing 2 shows at Lily's school (she has requested my Beastie Boys Chanukkah homage), filming a video, THEN-the Warner Library Chanukkah show, a joint show with the Gimmel class at the Hebrew Congregation of Somers on Sunday and another show that afternoon in CT! Yipparee!
And did I mention that Pete Kahn, from HCS, is helping me build a website? So exciting!

Third friday Show at Tarrytown Nursery School

2009-11-20T17:09:00.001-08:00

We had so much fun dancing in the lobby at the nursery school. Tiger Tweetie practiced sharing with Mousie and Miss Rosie, we danced to some MJ's "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough"-those preschoolers are DISCO princes and princesses, I tell ya'!-, we learned how to make a sock puppet, and Baby told us her favorite things about Tarrytown Nursery School! Good night from Jilly's puppets!

New shows coming up!

2009-11-11T15:53:00.000-08:00

Hi there puppet fans! I am in 'production mode', making some new puppets, refurbishing some older ones, gearing up for my favorite show of the year-The Warner Library Chanukkah Show on December 12th at 3 pm. I will also be at the Tarrytown Nursery School open house on November 20th...stay tuned for the time.

I also am working on some instructional videos; I can't wait to show you! You won't believe 'em~
love,
Jilly
PS-I will be airing a summer show soon...just when you start to get depressed about winter coming!

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur at Hebrew Congregation of Somers

2009-10-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

Puppet children's services were so much fun-the synthesis of puppets and the holidays and the music and dancing-what an incredible experience! Here's what one congregant had to say:

I just wanted to say a heartfelt "thank you" for the amazing job you
did leading the children's services this year at HCS. My 5 and 7 year
olds were totally engaged by your energy, enthusiasm and creativity!
The puppets were awesome and your storytelling was fantastic. My kids
came away from the services with a stronger understanding and a really
positive feeling about Judaism. I couldn't ask for more! (Except to
beg you to do the kid's services EVERY year forever and ever.)

Thanks again, Jill!

Mindy
Sydney and Matthew's mom

PS. I will always fondly remember the "Jonah got Vomited by a Whale Blues!"

BEACH PARTY PUPPET SHOW

2009-08-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

Come frolic with me for a rockin' puppet show and DANCE PARTY at the beautiful Millwood Swim Club. It's an oasis of fun, with toys and shade and cupcakes to decorate. Sat. Sept. 5th 2-6 pm
18 Sand St. Millwood, NY $7 per child...and VEGGIE BURGERS!!!!!!!

Third Friday at 'A Nu Toy Store'

2009-07-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

Come at 5:45 (well, come earlier so that you can get a seat) for a Summer Show!!!! Word on the puppet street is that there will be puppet swimming, human swimming (imaginary, of course), dancing, and puppet behavior modification charts!!!

2009-04-14T12:54:00.001-07:00

This Friday, for Tarrytown's Earth Day themed First Friday, I will be performing at the Nu Toy Store-a venue which inspires FUN and liveliness. What better place to play than a toy store! Have you met Bookie Bird yet? He just returned from his winter travels with a new dance to teach us! C'mon, let me see you shake your tailfeather!

2009-03-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Jillly Puppets is a Green business!

Zero Emissions Travel!

2009-03-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

I'm performing at the Elizabeth Mascia Childcare Center's winter festival tomorrow (3/7) at noon. The event is raising $$ for the playground renovation. Meet TWO new puppets!!!

Nu Toy Store Puppet Show

2009-02-05T18:49:00.000-08:00

Toy Store 1

Toy Store 2

Toy Store 3

2009-01-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

Chanukkah Puppet Show Video! Warner Library 12/20

Chanukkah Show Part 1:

Chanukkah Show Part 2:

2008-12-29T05:50:00.000-08:00

Chanukkah Puppet Show! Warner Library 12/20

We lit the menorah. Now is it time for latkes?

Rainbow Wiggles and the audience sing and dance to 'Ocho Kandelekas' (the best Chanukkah song EVER) together!

2008-12-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

Do you want to light a candle on the menorah?

Pitzeleh sings 'Al HaNisim' with Maya.

2008-12-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Rainbow Wiggles loves lighting the menorah with the children at the Warner Library!

Bubbe Latke sings 'Oy Chanukkah!"

2008-12-15T15:23:00.000-08:00

Today, I performed 2 shows at Lily's nursery school! One more tomorrow and another on Wednesday at the Robin's nest! I am adding a dance number with Bubbe Latke and a dreidle song with Rainbow Wiggles! Come to the library show on Sat! 12/20 2:30 Tarrytown!

2008-12-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

CHANUKKAH SHOW! 12/20 WARNER LIBRARY, TARRYTOWN 2:30 PM

Jilly Puppets Rocks!

2008-12-07T12:43:00.001-08:00

"Fun, creative, wacky, informative. The kids were captivated from beginning to end!"

Glenn Berger, LCSW

"Jill Liflander, puppet extraordinaire, is a portal from our world to the magical land of the puppets!" -Gabrielle age 12
"A charming imaginative show that will delight and educate your kids and will make you laugh and sigh."-Kate H. Muchnick-New Haven, CT.

"I couldn't stop watching the delight on the children's faces!"-Leslie grandmom of 13
"Best entertainment I've seen for preschool children. My kids were enthralled for the entire hour." --Pam L. Greenwich, CT

Bugs Puppet Show Part 1 - June '08

Bugs Puppet Show Part 2

Bugs Puppet Show Part 3