Making Puppets Just Made Sense

A creative imagination belongs to every child. These attributes can extend into adolescence and beyond if one is appropriately encouraged. Michelle Puhl-Price took her dream into adulthood and demonstrated a love of design and creativity through her unique puppet characters, each with a story.

     Michelle connected to the characters on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. Michelle tried many times to duplicate puppets like the ones she so admired. Impressed with her determination, her parents finally purchased a commercially made 'cookie monster' puppet. After examining the construction and deconstructing it, her enthusiasm soared, and she grew to desire to become a puppeteer/maker like Jim Henson, creator of the Sesame Street Muppets. Although her professional path led to her becoming a middle and high school art teacher, her interest in creating grew in many directions and media. She continued to feel the need to create puppets. After having her children, Michelle reinvigorated her passion and began making puppets for the young ones in her life.  

     Using materials such as vintage fabric and fur, funky sunglasses, or costume jewelry, she opened her studio, featuring extraordinary, imaginative, and functional puppets. Her unique collection, which includes paper and fabric finger puppets, mittens, sticks, socks, and giant hand puppets, has been shown at many local festivals.