Composer Stephen Sondheim once wrote that “art isn’t easy.” But Terri Hardin doesn’t believe that.
Hardin, a former Disney Imagineer as well as a veteran puppeteer for the Jim Henson Company, believes that everyone is capable of creating art. The only problem is — because of something that they were told back in grade school and/or because of all the negativity that they now have in their lives — many people (now that they’re adults) are reluctant to take that chance. To put themselves out there and try & be creative these days.
That’s why Terri is urging folks who have been having trouble getting in touch with their own sense of creativity to come take part of her artisan workshop, “A (Stitch) in Time.” Which will be held tomorrow at the Crown Plaza Resort in Garden Grove, CA. as part of the NFFC‘s annual Show & Sale.
“The worse that you think you are at art, the more that I want you to come take part in my class,” Hardin explained. “I want to show people how easy it is to create something. Just by using stuff that you already have lying around your house, you can create something that’s really fun.”
To prove this point, Terri’s going to teach people how to take a regular old stray sock and — in just three hour’s time — turn that household item into the star of Disney’s June 2002 animated release, “Lilo & Stitch.”
Terri Hardin and friend
(FYI: Terri’s the one on the right)
Of course, given the limited amount of time that people will actually have to work in her artisan workshop, Hardin has spent the past week doing all the prep work for tomorrow’s class. She’s been cutting out & pre-sewing eyes, ears, arms and teeth for all the students to use in her workshop.
“You see, the idea here is that I’ll demonstrate how to create that first arm or eye,” Terri said. “Then they’ll have to sew together and/or hot glue the other one in place while we’re together in class. So that — if any of my students runs into any trouble during the puppet-creating process — I’ll be there to help bail them out.”
Once the puppets are all complete, Hardin hopes to give the class the benefit of the many years she spent working for the Henson organization. Teach these people the proper way to put their puppet through its paces. Smile, frown and do a funny face.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what these folks will do with their own individual Stitch puppets,” Terri laughed. “The voices they’ll use. The way that — thanks to the different placement of the eyes, ears, nose and teeth — that all the puppets will look the same but will still be somewhat different. Oh, I can’t wait to get a picture of all those puppets and their performers together.”
Doesn’t “A (Stitch) in Time” sound like a lot of fun? Well, keep in mind that space is limited for tomorrow’s artisan workshop. That only 20 people will be allowed to take part in Hardin’s “A (Stitch) in Time” class. More importantly, that many of the spots in this workshop have already been spoken for.
But if you can’t get into tomorrow’s “A (Stitch) in Time” artisan workshop … Well, Terri’s already talking about possibly doing a follow-up class sometime later this year. One that might be held as part of the NFFC’s annual convention, which is typically held at the Crown Plaza Resort in mid-July. Only next time, Hardin hopes to show people how to create a sock puppet version of Figment. You know? That purple little dragon who serves as the host of Epcot’s “Journey into Imagination with Figment” ride?
And if you can’t make it out to Garden Grove, CA. in either January or July … Not to worry. You can still have Ms. Hardin help you recharge your creative spirit by picking up Terri’s new Pumpkin Carving DVD. Which is due to hit store shelves sometime later this year. So if you want to be sure to win this year’s Halloween contest, be sure and pick up a copy of this upcoming disc.
Beyond that … Please note that there is a $50 fee for taking part in Terri’s “A (Stitch) in Time” artisan workshop. But given that Hardin is one of the most popular speakers at the NFFC’s annual conventions, where she’s regularly lauded for her highly entertaining presentations … Well, it’s money well spent to get the chance to spend an afternoon up close and personal with this artistic performer.
The “A (Stitch) in Time” artisan workshop is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Folks who are interested in taking part in Terri’s class should make inquiries at the admissions table at the NFFC’s Show & Sale.
The Show & Sale will be held this tomorrow at the Crown Plaza Resort Hotel. Which is located about a mile and a half south of Disneyland in Garden Grove, CA. At the Southwest corner of Harbor Bouelvard and Chapman Avenue.
The NFFC’s Show & Sale (Which will be held in the Mazzatlan Ballroom) opens to the general public starting at 11 a.m. Members of the NFFC can get on the sales floor starting at 9 a.m. This event ends promptly at 5 p.m.
FYI: The admission price for the Show & Sales portion of this event is $5 for NFFC members (with valid NFFC membership card) and Disney Company Cast Members (with valid ID card). While members of the general public must cough up $6 in order to get into the Mazzatlan Ballroom.
However, JHM readers can actually get a break on this year’s admission price. If you print out this article and then bring it along Sunday to the Show & Sale, the NFFC rep working at the admission table will gladly knock a buck off of the cost of your admission. So that you can then get into the ballroom for the same price that NFFC members & Disney Company employees pay.
For further information on Terri Hardin’s “A (Stitch) in Time” artisan workshop as well as the Show & Sale, I suggest you drop by the official NFFC webpage.
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