Michelle Puhl Price
Outta Our Minds Puppets
A creative imagination belongs to every child. If one is properly encouraged, these attributes can extend into adolescence and far beyond. Michelle Puhl Price took her imagination into adulthood and demonstrates a love of design and creativity through her unique puppet characters, each with a story to tell.
As a child, she was drawn 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, her enthusiasm soared and a desire to become a puppeteer/maker for Jim Henson, creator of the Sesame Street puppets, was her dream. She become an art teacher instead. But after having her own children, her passion was reinvigorated and she 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 own studio featuring extra-ordinary, imaginative, and functional puppets. Paper and fabric finger puppets, mitten, stick, sock, and large hand puppets make up her amazing collection, which has been shown at many local festivals. Her recent collection will be on display at this year’s Takoma Park Folk Festival.
A resident of Frederick County, Michelle encourages people to stop by her booth, try out her puppets, and take one home.
Laurie Summers
