The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!
 Quilt Adventures

Old Puppets on the Quilt

6/13/2013

2 Comments

 

​Scary Things in the Closet

Picture
I recently found a collection of puppets, when going through a closet.  Even though some look a little creepy, I do have fond memories of crazy puppet shows with my siblings. Don't ask me why I still have them, but at least I sometimes follow the "Use or Lose" rule.  I decided I had to use them or get rid of them.  I figured I'd find a way to use them with the Quilt Groups... even the adults.

Puppet History
​

Picture
I can get away with doing lots of strange themes with my adult groups, if I add a little history.  We talked about the history of shadow puppets in China.
​
Italy
​

We talked about the history of puppets in Italy.  The story of Pinocchio was written in Italy... and Sicily is known for amazing puppet shows, with marionettes in shining armor! 
Picture
 

I shared a lot of puppets, but I didn't lug my old, not-so-shiny Sicilian Knight puppet. I brought a photo instead and told the story of my family buying him in Italy, years ago. He's been an odd part of our family for since 1969.
​
From Italy to the US
Picture
Punch and Judy also began in Italy... but folks at the Senior Center were more excited about what puppets are well known in the States. They reminded me of Howdy Doody.  I reminded them of my favorite TV puppeteer growing up, Shari Lewis and her Lamb Chop.

Picture
 I reminded them of my favorite TV puppeteer growing Of course the kids I met with reminded me about Kermit!, Shari Lewis and her Lamb Chop.

​Of course the kids I met with reminded me about Kermit!




​The Best Part
​
Besides all the puppet discussion, it was the playing that was fun. We had an extra good time in my afternoon group, since a young friend joined us.  ​
Picture
I expected this sweet little girl to just dig in and enjoy the "toys" herself. But she went around the table sharing the puppets. She helped her older friends, fitting their hands and fingers into the puppets. She showed them how the marionette knight could wave his arm.  The seniors seemed pretty delighted with the nostalgia of the puppets, but even more delighted just watching the enthusiasm of a young face.
​

Picture
Just Socks!

I told the group a story about my younger  brother and my dad, years ago. When David was two, my dad would come home from work and take off his shoes and entertain my eager brother with his sock covered, puppet feet.   We talked about the more common fun of turning a sock into a hand puppet. Then I brought out a collection of old socks and beads and a glue gun.  We set to work making sock  puppets for the kids at the Shelter.  

Finished Product
​
Picture
We ended up with 20 very odd looking sock puppets.  Some were much more elaborate than others. Many just had 2 eyes and a nose.  I was a little worried that the kids at the Shelter might find these a little odd.  It is 2013 after all. Who knows about sock puppets?

Sharing at the Shelter
​

Picture
It was the first week of summer at the shelter and the kids were pretty wound up by late afternoon.  There were also lots of kids, so I was worried there might not be enough puppets to go around. But what an amazing surprise. Every child from age 
3 to 12, wanted a puppet. There was no fighting over "the best ones" and we had exactly one for each child.  Not one child commented on the odd faces.  
​

Puppet Show

Picture
At one point, some of the older girls rushed to get the bead bracelets, that they'd made earlier in the morning. 


They finished up decorating their sock puppets, then added their homemade jewelry. I had to smile!
​

What I Learned:

There are still "summertime kids" in the world.  The kids at the shelter remind me of my childhood, free of schedules and video games.  These kids were eager to play with some silly sock puppets... that were made by some sweet older folks... who also remember summer days packed with more free time than planned time. 
​
I like starting my summer with that thought.
2 Comments
kristi@runkwrun.blogspot.com link
6/17/2013 01:18:53 am

I love that you are mixing the two groups. Good idea and who doesn't love an odd sock puppet with mismatched beads.?

Reply
Beth
6/21/2013 11:38:49 pm

Kristi, I love your appreciation for a good old sock puppet! :) And yes, mixing groups has been fun. Wish I could actually get the groups together sometime!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    The Quilt

    For 20+ years children have called it the Magic Quilt.  They've danced and pretended all over these colorful squares.  I've dragged it to schools, shelters and studios where children have climbed on top to hear Magic Quilt  Stories and to act them out.

    I still regularly use the story telling quilt with children at a nearby  Shelter, but 7 years ago I started using the quilt on a table with a group of Alzheimer's  folks.   I was blown away by what these incredible people could share and enjoy, so I started up "Quilt Groups" at other centers.  

    In 2013, motivated by the warmth and generosity of the friends I've made through this quilt, I decided to start taking the quilt with me, when I vacation. So far I have met some wonderful adults and children while traveling and sharing the quilt in Mexico, N. Carolina, Utah, California, Mississippi, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala New Mexico, Bermuda and Honduras.  

    In this blog I will share about some of the adventures I've had near and far with the help of the quilt.  Mostly, I'd like to share some of the things I've learned along the way.

    Archives

    April 2022
    September 2021
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!