Karen Andrews

Once, there was a girl named Karen. She was born and raised in a frigid dystopia, referred to as Michigan. Her career began with Crayola’s, and any blank or freshly painted wall. Much to her young surprise, she soon found herself surrounded by stacks of blank paper. That my friends is, how I “truly” began creating. First copying the pictures from the Sunday Funnies my father would discard, after its weeklong visit to the bathroom. As I think back on it, I giggle as I remember the horrible stench that seemed to cloud those funnies, like a halo around the full moon.

My mother, aunts and grandmother were always creating, so seeing half the living room being taken up by supplies and building tables wasn’t uncommon.

One Saturday while riding with my father to preform a “Honey Do”, I saw something my young eyes had never seen before. A JUNK YARD! I was amazed at all the great things people just threw away, and from then on, I was officially hooked. From tree forts, to fireworks (Sorry about that fire in the shed Dad). I not only wanted to know how everything worked, I wanted to make it and see it work.

Over the years I admit I have built some crazy, wonderfully odd things. Taking time to not only learn but nearly master any craft I could find. This would ultimately work in my favor when I found a New love… Puppets. I signed up for Stan Winston and it blew my mind. My only problem, I was working so much I couldn’t give it the time I wanted. The “IT” happened… COVID. In an instant, I had nothing to do. It was like a time fairy appeared and said… “time granted”. I dove into puppets. I joined Facebook groups and starting spending 40 hours a week building, learning and incorporating techniques I’d learned in other crafts to my puppet builds. But sadly, it didn’t take long for me to realize, puppet builders were only being given very limited information. I mean sure, folks have tricks they take to the grave but, to not share basic knowledge…. I didn’t understand. Another thing I noticed was that a lot of the builds had the same base patterns. And a light bulb went off in my head. A new fire was burning inside me, and I was going to not only help people learn to build, but I was going to design fun, new patterns for builders, incorporating techniques I learned while creating completely different types of art.

Over the last two years, I’ve set out to do just that. To create fun new patterns for builders, that contain exciting versatile techniques that will help them grow and hopefully inspire them to be the puppet builders of the future. The ones that change the world of puppetry as we know it.

Thank You for allowing me a front row seat to your success and creativity. ~ Karen

Karen teaches puppetry classes at the Scott Land School. For more information, click on this link: Puppet Build Class