Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 08:34:20 -0800
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
From: Bruce Chesse <bchesse-AT-imagina.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Foam Patterns to share



Elizabeth wrote:


>Mathieu,
>
>I would be happy to e-mail you a pattern I made for a sphere-shaped 
>head in polyfoam. As I recall, it may be a very slightly wider than 
>it is tall (to give it a cute, "fun" flair, since it was being used 
>in a workshop class), but if so, you will see how to modify it very 
>easily.
>
>The first puppet I ever built using polyfoam was a "Spongee", from 
>Bruce Chesse's book, illustrated by Beverly Armstrong (I think I was 
>12) and as simple, but ingenious, as the Spongee pattern is, it is 
>the engineering key to everything to do with mouth foam puppets.
>
>Let me know if you would like me to send the sphere pattern.
>
>Elizabeth
>www.lucedesigns.com



I reply:

Thanks Elizabeth so much for the kind sentiments. I am very proud of 
that book and it is still in print for those who want to by it. At 
$10.95 it is still a bargain. When I wrote the book I sent the first 
draft to Jim Henson for his approval prior to publication so as not 
to infringe on any copyrights. He gave me his blessing for which I 
was very grateful; speaking of those who would try to benefit from 
others labors and creativity. I met Bev Armstrong at a regional  in 
Asilimar in the late 60'sand asked her to illustrate my idea and 
recipe  for a book when I was ready. She came to my house several 
years later and roughed it out if in two days. Am amazing woman who 
is still producing fine work.

Many workshops later it is still a bible of sorts for teachers 
working with kids of most age groups. It was the first polyfoam 
construction book ever published (1975). It also came to life in a 
summer high school workshop I ran in Walnut Creek, CA. I would like 
to take full credit for it's creation but it evolved in those classes 
with the kids who taught me as much as I taught them. I was teaching 
profile puppet construction and the sphere method but the kids needed 
something simpler, a "Spongee". It's intent was to show children a 
simple way to be creative that was failure proof.

To know that your work has affected and motivated others and that it 
was capable of sending someone down a creative path they still 
continue in today makes this old heart very proud indeed. What else 
can you ask from life. Thanks Elizabeth.

Bruce







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