During the last week of the summer, there was an option in the Crafts activity to make Sock Puppets. Having no pressing groups or schedules to plan for the next week, I had time on my hands. Also, having donated a pair of washed socks, I was curious to see what became of these parts of clothing.
I went over to the gazebo, where Gabrielle, the “Craft-Lady” was instructing what materials were available to use, and what could be made. Not wanting to usurp one of the recently donated socks, (and besides, sock puppets are inferior muppets) I decided to construct my own puppet (which turned out to be a doll, but it is much closer to a muppet than a sock puppet).
Rummaging through the back room, I found many scraps of fabric that looked usable, and grabbed a bundle. I set to work, alongside some campers, and went to work cutting. As I went on prepping my material, I conversed with the camper next to me, who wanted to make a hasty puppet, and then proceed to the Archery range. I inquired if his puppet was finished, and if he wanted to add more. With a second thought, he went to work adding more to the old sock, making a more and more involved puppet.
I continued my work, which meant that I had to fold over and sew manually all the parts of my doll - arms, legs, the main rectangular torso/body. As I leisurely proceeded, I had put on button eyes, a yarn mouth, and stuffed the main body with some more fabric.
Groups came and went, and before I realized, I had worked the entire afternoon on this thing.
Well, Staff Meeting followed, and I went to it, with the doll in hand, with his arms stuffed and sewn on, and only his legs remaining to be completed. Then, shortly after the meeting began, I had finished! Triumph!
It was a thrilling experience to create something fun in a totally new way. I’m accustomed to sewing clothing, mainly patching; but making something entirely from scratch and scraps, that was a new feeling. People responded positively to that little thing. I became endeared to it, with its goofy yarn-mouth expression and single felt tooth. I named him Simon. He lived a life of a miniature celebrity for the next day and a half.
The next day I had used more fabric, and constructed a unique and green doll for Jeremy Wiebe (it was his birthday on the Saturday). Gabrielle also expressed interest in the concept of constructed/thoughtful birthday gifts. During clean-up I had grabbed some more fabric and created two dolls after the summer. One for her, and the other for Tim [Penner]. Then, in the thrill and huff of making cheap dolls out of rags and love, I thought “Self; why not make these for your friends for birthday and Christmas?” To which I soon answered to myself “Why that would take a lot of time, of course. And besides, you used a lot of rags just to make the last two dolls. If you pay for materials, you’d have to charge for the dolls.” And then, I realized how the market is already flooded with too many products, and endear-able, avante-garde dolls even have their own niche, but the founding artist had to carve it fairly strongly to attain it. Besides, if a few of these things are made, their uniqueness remains in tact.
What is Simon doing now, you might wonder?
Well, after drawing a rope for an eternity, I get to draw an object of my choice. Yep, I chose Simon. I could have forgotten an object like many classmates, and settled on drawing one of my shoes. But, I decided against that idea. And now, there are some charcoal drawings that await this little plush model.
Have I mentioned I don’t like charcoal that much?
i certainly think that i like simon.
and is he sitting beside a penguin in that picture? that would be even more fantastic. i have taken a liking to penguins lately… strange.
but i liked this post. i like you. and i like simon. all very wonderful!