Tag: puppets

It’s Spring in Aberdeenshire! Two wonderful storytelling sessions on one lovely warm day!

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I’m not bragging or anything… but I’ve had the most wonderful day!
It’s truly spring in the NE and today i had two wonderful storytelling sessions which were full of fun and joy!

First I was at the Broomhill Primary School Spring Fair where Fizzy and I told some of our favourite folk tales from around the world… to an amazing audience of bairns and their grown ups!

Then it was off to a private party at the GORGEOUS Ballogie House

Oh wow I was seriously in awe at the Fantasy, Mythical and absolutely Legendary costumes! 🥰
Fairies! Faun! Atlas, Medusa, Icarus , a rogue Anubis, Green Men, Green Women, Green Bairns, Mushroom Fowk and all round wonderful people!

(I seriously need to up my headdressing 😂🥰)

Thanks so much to both events for having me (and Fizzy the Fairy) along to tell our tales! 🤩😘😍🥰

Puppet Workshop at Whitehills

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A wee photo fae last wik’s Bring A Puppet To Life workshop at Whitehills Playing Field !
The bairns (and their grown ups!) worked with the puppets learning to make them talk, move and most importantly… come to life!

We then had some stories and songs before a Scots Variety Concert in the village hall in the evening.

Thanks to the organisers for having us along!

Week 3 with my Promise Groups

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Here’s Strawberry Moose enjoying a day trip on Wednesday – My two Promise Groups were enthusiastic, creative and joyous puppeteers!

Both groups started off with a story (the classic Stone Soup) and then had a lesson on how to effectively bring hand puppets to life. It really is SO tricky, when first picking up a puppet, to make it open its mouth for each syllable. We had a lot of fun with that.

Then both groups started creating their stories with me. They’re going to be very different from eachother and displayed in a different way – one will be a film and the other will be a storyboard (maybe with animated drawings!) watch this space!

@we_care_aberdeenshire #PromiseGroups #KeepThePromise

Kaimhill Primary Ripple Visit

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What a lovely visit I had to Kaimhill School on Tuesday as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s Big Scottish Story Ripple. I told stories to two P1 classes and two P2 classes who were fantastic listeners! They really got in to stories of a king and a bee, a woman who could stitch the most amazing things, and… an affa thirsty puddock!
#sisfstoryripple2025

Post edited to add:

Talking of frogs…. (see my last post)
I was so happy to see this book in the P2 classroom – It used to belong to Wee Imp and she donated to Kaimhill a few years ago when she was having a clear out!
The teacher said it was a favourite 🙂

Promise Group Progress!

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Look at this suspicious bunch hanging around on a Wednesday morning… What were they up to?

Well! Seeing as you asked… They were waiting to film the introduction to my Promise Group’s story! All the pupils contributed SO well today!

– best fist bumps!
– finishing last weeks shadow puppets
– cutting out a few new shadow puppets and scenery
– drawing some magical items for the story
– recording the story introduction with the hand puppets
– starting to record the audio for our film !

In doing ALL THIS today, they showed their outstanding
– creativity
– drawing and cutting skills
– courage to speak out
– voicing of characters
– attention to detail
– ability to learn and pronounce new words
– clear and audible speech
– willingness to have fun

10/10 you lot! ❤

#wecareaberdeenshire#KeepThePromise#ScotlandCares

Promise Groups with We Care Aberdeenshire

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A new project for a new term! When my pal Sarah and I over at Windswept Stories Photography were out for a walk the other month, she was telling me how she was working with care experienced children – teaching them photography skills, increasing confidence – and having fun!

“Cor. Someone should do storytelling with the groups! It’s what gave me confidence” was my response.

So a couple of months down the line, here I am working with my first group for We Care Aberdeenshire https://thepromise.scot/ #KeepThePromise #ScotlandCares

We’ve planned to

1) create a new story

2) learn to use hand puppets

3) make shadow puppets

4) film our story for the pupils ‘ grown ups, friends, and school to see.

I was so excited I had to have a lie down in the library carpet afterwards

Storytelling at the Craigston Carnival

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Coming up this Sunday! I’ll be telling stories at the Craigston Carnival from 11.30am!

The event is taking place at Craigston Castle walled gardens near Turriff and runs from 10am to 4.30pm. I’ll be telling tales of bees, seeds, gardens, naughty fairies and thirsty frogs!

There’s loads more going on though – have a look at the Facebook event here https://fb.me/e/5RaPcQhgz
🙂

“Family Fun Day in the Walled Garden in the grounds of Craigston Castle!
In aid of Crudie Playgroup
Join us for a magical day in the beautiful Walled Garden at Craigston —packed full of activities for all ages!

What’s On?
Live storytelling with the wonderful Pauline Cordiner at 11:30am
An all-day scavenger hunt to keep curious minds busy
Traditional games for kids (and grown-ups!)
Local arts & craft stalls – perfect for finding a unique treasure
Hands-on craft experiences – get creative with clay, painting & more
Hot food with The Cod Father available throughout the day

Special Touches:
Buzz by the on-site bee hives
Access via gravel and grass.
Three lengths of beautiful woodland walks ready to be explored, open all year.
Portaloos available on site

Please note: no disabled toilet facilities available

We open at 10am – come early and make a day of it!
More exciting details coming soon…

please note; the Castle remains private property and we ask that all visitors and vendors respect the privacy of the castle and it’s occupants.”

Aberdeen Tall Ships 2025!

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Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic time I had today at the Tall Ships!
I had three sets on the Family Stage at Blaikies Quay and despite a rainy start, there was soon a super audience for my first set! Elsie the fishwife joined me to tell the story of a grumpy fishwife and there was time at the end for a tale from the Arabian Nights of a fisherman and a genie!

Then for the second and third sets, I was joined by Sam Stephen, Makaton interpreter extraordinaire!
Fizzy the Fairy had to get a story in there of course – with her help (and Sam’s!) we told a version of Mark Fraser’s Flotsam Fairy which went down very well!
After that it was… plain sailing. And we had a whale of a time. (And many other fish related puns)!

Thanks to The Tall Ships Aberdeen for having us along to perform and to WeToo for organising Sam’s interpretation for the audience!