Clarity of Vision

Building puppets is like riding a bicycle after not doing it for a while and finding oneself in major traffic. There is some wobbling but you are peddling as fast as you can and you know you can do it. I have an idea for a shadow puppet I want to make for a friend’s puppet set that I have not added to in about 10 years. I want to make him 4 more puppets to complete the set. I have been doing research on Indonesian Shadow Puppets for the project. I have found lots of great pictures but not much on how to make a version that is not on thin animal skin. I found one for Karagoz for Kids, which involves tag board and vegetable oil but I think that the puppets would rot over time. I thought about a plastic sheet but haven’t come across one that is thick enough and will hold paint or pen for a long period of time without smearing. I am also researching how to make a light box for the puppet so it can hang on a wall. I want the frame not to be too thick so it doesn’t stick too far out in the room. These sorts of creative problems interest me and keep my mind occupied.

This morning has been a fuzzy eye morning. My vision has a lot of floaters in it as well as some extra film that is natural eye protection but I have an overactive gland sometimes and get lots of eye crud (eye sand). This morning was a literal peel the eyes open. I have seen several eye doctors about it but there is nothing that can be done for it. It is not harming my eyes in any way. It is just very annoying. It will probably clear up by afternoon.

I am grateful that my mother-in-law gave birth to my husband on this day.