Making Puppets With Jim Henson

Bonnie Burton pointed us to this awesome video of Jim Henson’s puppet-making tips and tricks from Iowa Public Television in 1969. It’s one of the most charming and endearing how-to videos I’ve ever seen. He goes through making puppets from “various and sundry” materials, including socks, wooden spoons, paper envelopes and even fruit and vegetables. I think what I love best is how as soon as he gets a puppet finished and situated, he instinctively turns on a “voice” for them. It’s so much fun to watch him at work in this way, and the puppets are beautifully simple. Do yourself a favor and watch. I’m certain you can’t get through it without grinning like crazy.