On the Road Again, Finally! (June 2019)
By: Lynn Nelson, Creative Director
We have have had a rough road during the past few years as we attempted to provide quality programs without a third puppeteer. But this past year we finally figured out that thinking outside the box can really come in handy. We decided to try "time-share" puppeteers for the third performer. After an unsuccessful year of trial-and-error internship programs, it seemed our only option. Little did we know how well it would work for us.
Essentially it goes something like this: Diane and I hold down the two core positions in the performance troupe. Then we have two folks that take turns filling in the third spot; Angelina and Elena. Fortunately, both are completely comfortable being in front of crowds and they have just enough of their own quirkiness to, well... fit right in. What an amazing gift these two are!
So, now we are able to return to our regular performance schedule of at least two shows per month, Trust me, we can't cover our list of clientele in a year with that schedule, but we do make it around a lot of San Diego County. Of course, we can also add in some extras during the holiday season, and we have a couple of standby puppeteers to help out with the extra shows during that time.
The bottom line is, that we are back to full strength and ready to share some laughs. So, if you see us out there, give us a shout out. If you'd like to watch a show, give us a call or email us--we'd love to have you along for the ride. And if you'd like to support what we do, there are many ways to do that, too. Check out our support page for some ideas, and feel free to call or write us to help out.
Welcome aboard Elena--Hold on to your seats--this is about to get good!
We have have had a rough road during the past few years as we attempted to provide quality programs without a third puppeteer. But this past year we finally figured out that thinking outside the box can really come in handy. We decided to try "time-share" puppeteers for the third performer. After an unsuccessful year of trial-and-error internship programs, it seemed our only option. Little did we know how well it would work for us.
Essentially it goes something like this: Diane and I hold down the two core positions in the performance troupe. Then we have two folks that take turns filling in the third spot; Angelina and Elena. Fortunately, both are completely comfortable being in front of crowds and they have just enough of their own quirkiness to, well... fit right in. What an amazing gift these two are!
So, now we are able to return to our regular performance schedule of at least two shows per month, Trust me, we can't cover our list of clientele in a year with that schedule, but we do make it around a lot of San Diego County. Of course, we can also add in some extras during the holiday season, and we have a couple of standby puppeteers to help out with the extra shows during that time.
The bottom line is, that we are back to full strength and ready to share some laughs. So, if you see us out there, give us a shout out. If you'd like to watch a show, give us a call or email us--we'd love to have you along for the ride. And if you'd like to support what we do, there are many ways to do that, too. Check out our support page for some ideas, and feel free to call or write us to help out.
Welcome aboard Elena--Hold on to your seats--this is about to get good!
New & Improved Patch Works (April 2016)
By: Lynn Nelson, Creative Director
Well, we are all pretty excited at Patch Works. Over the past 18 months we have completely reworked the feel of our organization, including total re-branding. That means everything is fresh and new. You will see it in our logo, (left), business cards and correspondence, and of course, our redesigned website! We hope you like new the new look and feel of Patch Works. The board collaborated in a big way to make sure our mission was clear and that our image matched the mission. Our mission is the same, but we now have a motto that helps define our vision. In the past you have seen and heard, "We love to laugh." That remains the hallmark of our approach to everything. But now, our logo and motto reflect the three things we have "stitched" together to form our purpose, "Live large, Love others, Laugh often." Although laughter is last on the list, it remains the foundation of all we do. You see, during all the collaboration that took place over the last year and a half, we figured out the formula for what truly makes Patch Works tick. It's quite simple really; just think about who we are and what we do and see if it isn't obvious to you, too.
Well, we are all pretty excited at Patch Works. Over the past 18 months we have completely reworked the feel of our organization, including total re-branding. That means everything is fresh and new. You will see it in our logo, (left), business cards and correspondence, and of course, our redesigned website! We hope you like new the new look and feel of Patch Works. The board collaborated in a big way to make sure our mission was clear and that our image matched the mission. Our mission is the same, but we now have a motto that helps define our vision. In the past you have seen and heard, "We love to laugh." That remains the hallmark of our approach to everything. But now, our logo and motto reflect the three things we have "stitched" together to form our purpose, "Live large, Love others, Laugh often." Although laughter is last on the list, it remains the foundation of all we do. You see, during all the collaboration that took place over the last year and a half, we figured out the formula for what truly makes Patch Works tick. It's quite simple really; just think about who we are and what we do and see if it isn't obvious to you, too.
First and foremost, we seize life with gusto. Each of us, from the officers of the board, to operations staff, to performers, live our lives as fully as possible. So much so that some of us are known as "infectious" with positive energy. Hey, that's a great way to be thought of! But we also know that if we want others to be positively affected by us, we need to live large by example. And who doesn't want to fully enjoy their own life?
Secondly, without exception we are driven to care of others--to make their day and brighten their future. In every action we take, we strive to love each other better, and love others always. Whatever it takes, every single person involved with Patch Works has a personal desire to make a difference in this world. We all want to leave the world a better place and change lives along the way. As a group we are totally committed to that idea and to helping each other accomplish it individually, and together.
Secondly, without exception we are driven to care of others--to make their day and brighten their future. In every action we take, we strive to love each other better, and love others always. Whatever it takes, every single person involved with Patch Works has a personal desire to make a difference in this world. We all want to leave the world a better place and change lives along the way. As a group we are totally committed to that idea and to helping each other accomplish it individually, and together.
Third, we live by, and thrive on, the principle of laughing as often as we can, and encouraging others to do the same. We see a lot of anger, despair, and sadness in the world. We can reduce all three by sharing laughter. It works for us and for others, and well, to be honest, we just can't help it! Patch Works was built upon laughter 15 years ago, and our guiding principle remains; laugh often!
By the way, you may have discovered that our new website has an added bonus--we are now able to receive donations online! If you haven't seen it yet, look for a link or button on several of the pages (most prominently on the "Support" page) that you can click on to donate. We still need support, especially since we no longer have the La Mesa Village Merchant Association to depend on. So, if you can find a few dollars to spare, make a donation today and help us share your gift of laughter with folks who need it!
In the mean time, please take a moment to check out what has changed, and what has stayed the same. Contact us for more details if you like. You will find a form to send us your thoughts on the "Contact" page, or just drop an email to director@patch-works.org. We hope you agree that the new and improved Patch Works is bigger, brighter, and bolder, with a focused vision and clear sense of the many great things awaiting us.
Stay tuned & Laugh often!
In the mean time, please take a moment to check out what has changed, and what has stayed the same. Contact us for more details if you like. You will find a form to send us your thoughts on the "Contact" page, or just drop an email to director@patch-works.org. We hope you agree that the new and improved Patch Works is bigger, brighter, and bolder, with a focused vision and clear sense of the many great things awaiting us.
Stay tuned & Laugh often!
The Latest Scoop (July 2012)
By: Lynn Nelson, Creative Director
For those of you that have known us for a while, you also know we started with three puppeteers. This year one puppeteer moved several states away, so we are now down to two. That's okay though, because with just two puppeteers, without "day jobs", we schedule easier and travel lighter. It does make performing more physically demanding though. So cheer us on when you see us out and about. And contact us for a schedule if you'd like to come to a show. They are by invitation only, so you will be our guest! Soon we will look for additional performers and start an internship program with a community college for the holidays. Stay tuned & Laugh often! 
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Making Do (December, 2015)
By: Lynn Nelson, Creative Director
If you have been following the action, in 2012 we lost our 3rd puppeteer and had to rework everything to allow our shows to continue. That was no easy task, and the holiday shows could not happen without additional hands, arms, knees, backs, and brains. We began recruiting part-time puppeteers and trained them for a single show, "Christmas Beats Everything." Fortunately, Chase (photo on the left in the center), helped us out for two years. His second year we added Angelina and Jerrid and had puppeteers everywhere. That was truly a wonder-filled experience! In 2015, we found out Chase would not be available for the holidays, so we reworked the holiday show again. By dusted off an old favorite, "Holiday Hoedown", we were able to retool it focusing on the skills that Angelina and Jerrid brought to the table. We also had a donation for a set of "Christmas Lights" puppets; you have to seen them to believe them (Thanks Kim!). By that October we were ready to take the show on the road. About that time we learned that "La Mesa Christmas in the Village" was not going to happen as it had in the past. The good news was that Diane and I weren't up to pulling off 6 shows in 2 days at that time. The bad news was that the Merchant Association had been our primary supporter for the previous 10 years. They covered our expenses without fund raising. Losing that donation hit us pretty hard. It all worked out in the end when we received a single donation after the 1st of the year amounting to more than 80% of the typical donation from the La Mesa Village Merchant Association (Thanks Anne!). With the help of some amazing support and the willingness of everyone to pitch in and make it work, we made it through 2015 with our heads held high, but in a state of transition. Watch for the next update to find out what happened during the transition--I think you are gonna like what you see. Stay tuned & Laugh often! 
When the waves crash big; and the wind blows hard; and the sun burns hot; and the day gets long; do what I do... ....Just Keep Paddlin'! |