Just a dream?
I have decided to blog about something completely different.
I used to make puppets!
Yes me, and my niece Sindie, made puppets and sold them from the web. Sindie used to make and sew all the skins and I used to build them. It was hard work. I always ached after a three or four hour stint. Then I would look at our latest creation and it was worth it.
It all started because Mo and I ran a puppet theatre and put shows on around the country. Sindie was also a puppeteer with us. We felt we could probably make better puppets so we gave it a go.
One day I received a phone call, and was gob smacked to hear it was a programmer of a TV station. They said that they had heard of our puppet theatre and would we like to do something for kids TV. We, of course, said yes.
What I hadn’t realized was that they just meant one performance. Meanwhile we had gone off on a tangent and come up with our idea. Actually it had been something that we had been working towards from day one really. They thought our idea was very original and asked if we would write a thirteen part TV series.
I couldn’t believe it all of my dreams coming together – Scriptwriting, song writing and music, and I was actually going to direct it. Me! Directing a TV programme!
Thirteen parts were written, along with thirteen songs. We created the characters for it, along with merchandising for each character. I recorded all the backing tracks. It took best part of a year to do.
We had the contract, just waiting for our signature, and a sponsor in the US. This was so exciting!
You know when you get that gut feeling that something isn’t quite right? Well we had that, so we didn’t sign the contract, we just held on to it. The programmer wasn’t pushing us for it so we waited. We didn’t have to wait too long before discovering that the programmer had left the company amidst a court battle. It seems, we were right not to sign.
That was about three years ago, and our lovely puppet characters lay in plastic bags in a cupboard.
We came so close to a dream.
I haven’t posted pictures of our TV characters – just in case ;O)
Stumble it!
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Drowsey Monkey | 25 June 2008 at 5:17
Wow! They are so adorable! You’ve very talented. Maybe it’s time to send a proposal to a the Programmer again?
Kathy | 25 June 2008 at 12:06
Oh! So close! I’m sorry to hear they’re in plastic bags. They’re so cute! Can they breathe in there?
Babs (Beetle) | 25 June 2008 at 13:54
Drowsey: I don’t have the same enthusiasm now. I blog instead ;O)
Kathy: When I last checked they are all still alive.
Samantha & Mr. Tigger | 25 June 2008 at 15:28
Awwwwwwww…..that’s too bad. It sounded wonderful. You could make your own short pieces and put them on You-tube! Tigger and I were looking at Mom who was taking our picture from the floor! (hehehehe)
Your FL furiends,
Daisy | 25 June 2008 at 16:13
Those puppets are amazing! I am so sorry your show did not work out, it sounds like it would have been a dream come true.
Mo | 25 June 2008 at 18:04
That’s a great story – and I love your puppets!
There are so many cable tv shows geared to kids now, I would love for you to pursue your dream of a show!
Babs (Beetle) | 25 June 2008 at 18:49
Samantha & Tigger: Our puppet team has disbanded now, so it wouldn’t be possible.
Daisy: Yes it would have been but that’s life eh?
Mo: It was a dream that wasn’t to be. We look to the future now :O)
weechuff | 25 June 2008 at 23:51
You wouldn’t believe what a talented lot my brothers,sisters and children are, and I am very proud of them all!
Sandie, (Babs’s sister)
muffinmidi | 26 June 2008 at 1:50
Those puppets are beautiful. You should try and sell them online. The whole story was amazing. If you came close to yor dreams oncee maybe it could happen again.
Tracy
Babs (Beetle) | 26 June 2008 at 2:50
Muffinmidi: I’m a bit to old for second chances I think ;O)
Lauren | 28 June 2008 at 16:15
OMG they are gorgeous. I will have to get your contact info and put on professional site of mine. Please ask Carrie for my email address.
JD at I Do Things | 29 June 2008 at 15:36
They’re so cute! A heart on the tongue! There must be a way to get the word out about these adorable puppets. I’m sorry you came so close to your dream, but glad you didn’t sign. It wasn’t meant to be. Something better will come along!
JD at I Do Things
Liudmila | 29 June 2008 at 21:00
I liked to make puppets for my theater too. But they were very simple and I did them from everything was under my hands. And my theater was a theater only for me. I told me incredible fables about these puppets and it was my preferite way to pass time.