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EUREKA! NANCY SANDER The Year That Never Was G


reetings, survivors. My heart goes out to all the people who make their total living by the performing arts. This year, the year that never was, has put a lot of small busi- ness performers out of commission. Especially, we bid goodbye to the Denver Puppet Theater, a fixture for 28 years.


Great Catalogue


How strange…just this week I called Dick Blick (not the man but the company) to inquire about a modeling material that works like Plasticine clay but is good for outdoor sculptures (I want to make a Punch garden gnome). This is the very product that they suggested. They said that it’s easy to carve and especially easy to add to. You do know Dick Blick, don’t you? This company is a major source for all art materials, from paints to tools, brushes to clays. If you give them a ring, they will happily send out their catalogue.


Fabric Storage


Dave also shared, “Fabric storage always seems to be a problem in my shop. After I am finished cutting a pattern, I cut off the small bits that are not useful and then fold the fabric as tightly as I can. In the case of any fabric that can be ironed, I use my steam iron to press it as flat as possible. I find it allows me to fit a lot more fabric in a drawer or storage bin.” I had to laugh. I have hired some help to organize my “stash” (yeah, like, I’m going to need all that stuff!). Now, if anyone goes in my basement, unless they know me, they would be creeped out. There are bins marked HAIR, SKIN, HANDS…


Marionette Joint Joining I heard from Rick Morse of Ellenton, Florida, who sends this


Guild Meetings We here at the Puppetry Guild of Northeastern Ohio are very fortunate that we are still meeting once a month by Zoom. As we met yesterday, I came away with renewed energy and wanting to get into a project. I strongly urge other guilds to do the same. Puppetry can be a very lonely business, as we all know. We need inspiration; the guild provides that.


Repair Wood Mistakes One of the meeting’s exchanged tips came from Bradford Clark of Bowling Green, Ohio. He shared his use of J-B Weld Kwik- wood. This two-part epoxy, once cured, can fix any mistakes that you make in your woodcarving. Once cured (one hour time), it is easily carved and can be drilled, tapped, sanded, and stained. It dries a light tan in color. It can be bought through Amazon at the price of a mere $5.78.


Apoxie Sculpt


And speaking of epoxy products, Dave Herzog of Chicago writes, “I have fallen in love with the material Apoxie Sculpt. While too heavy for full puppets, it is great for all kinds of repairs and rework- ing. It’s also great for setting in animation parts in marionette heads. It is a two-part epoxy putty, which I buy in a two-pound kit, but it is available in larger and smaller amounts. It’s great for reshaping noses, making cheeks larger, and reworking ears. Regular ears can be turned into elf or Vulcan ears, for example. It sets rock hard, and has a good working time while holding its shape. It can be purchased online at Amazon or from independent suppliers such as Aves Fine Clays www.avesstudio.com.”


good tip: The best material for joining knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists of marionettes is the old-fashioned product called trunk fiber. This material will not rot and wears well with many years of use. It can be purchased from Franklin Fibre, 903 East 13th Street, Wilmington, DE, 19802, 302-852-3821. If you give them a ring, they are happy to send samples.


Patterns


I heard from Mel Biske of Bolingbrook, Illinois. After 50 years of performance, he says that one of the most important things that made his life easier is keeping patterns of his puppets. He said that originally he made the puppets “snip and tuck” as you go, but later, when a cherished puppet was worn out, it was very difficult—almost impossible—to recreate the beloved character to look like the first. It was only logical to create patterns, which he makes out of cardboard. I agree, Mel, about the patterns, but I got a better idea than cardboard. I use report covers, the kind made specifically for spiral bound reports. They come in black—perfect for shadows—or white, ideal for tracing paper patterns. I punch a hole in each piece and use a brad to keep all the parts together. Goodness! Where does the time (and space) go? When I write this column and hear from all of you, it makes me want to get up and build something! Keep ‘em coming, folks!


This year, the year that never was, has put a lot of small business performers out of commission.


23


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