La Chatte Gitane (or The Gypsy Cat) was the name we chose for our cottage in France at the time. We chose it while on the road, moving house the first time round, from Ireland to France with 2 dogs and 7 cats in the car.
This blog began its insignificant life as a recipe book for friends and family who would ask me repeatedly for a recipe of this, that and the other.
Since then it has taken many different directions, like we did and like gypsies tend to do. Sometimes making a U-turn and revisiting familiar roads and taking a break when necessary.
You'll find recipes here, but also musings about the places we've called home, the gardens that we've established, not always successfully, the homes we've improved and the environments we've lived in. Currently, after yet another stint in Ireland, we're back in France @ Le Mas d'Ayen

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Puppet Theatre Makeover

 
I have a nephew - Mathias (5) and niece - Sarah (1.5) who are both cute as pie and misschievious in equal measures. 

My dilemma is what to give them on special presents days, like birthdays or christmas.  They have so many toys that I don't want to add to the pile unless it's educational, something that releases their creativity or something that they will treasure forever.
So I came accross this puppet theatre in a Recycle Shop. Bought it for peanuts and gathered up a load of second hand hand puppets at the same time.  We still had some hand puppets at home that once belonged to Bert from when he was a wee little lad.
I revamped the puppet theatre with a lick (or two) of paint and new curtains.  Some of the puppets got new clothes that I made with pieces of fabric that I had lying about (read : had been hoarding) and got their faces washed thoroughly with soap and water. The other puppets will be given to them in dribs and drabs over the coming couple of years - hopefully before they have outgrown the theatre (blushes)
So here are the pictures of the project.


 
A rather insipid and tired looking puppet theatre.
 
 


Transformed.
 
 
Meet the puppets.
Grandma & Granddad
 
Granddad & his dog
 
Granddad's dog.
 
The Twins (they were Little Red Ridinghoods, but I changed their profiles, seeing I have a whole tribe of them)

 
King and Queen
 
My guess ? Winnetou who got a real suede outfit.
 
We gave it as their Christmas present and boy did they enjoy it !
 

 Look at his litlle face
Granddad's dog has the most success
 
Not always used as was meant but fun nonetheless.


Their parents were going to leave it at ours till the next day, but Mathias insisted it traveled home with them that evening and he started lifting the theatre himself to bring it to the car.
 
Mission accomplished ! Could not have hoped for a better reaction.



Thanks for visiting.
Patricia xxx...x

1 comment:

  1. great post and a lovely set of photos so nice to see the children having fun

    ReplyDelete

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