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First day of competition

February 24, 2013 //
4

mouse alien sush

“And, and, and…?” Alien asked excitedly when Mouse started up the computer this morning.

“What?”

“Do I have a new story?”

“Not yet!”

“What do you mean? Are you telling me nobody has written in?” Alien’s face dropped.

“I knew it will be a disaster” Devil interrupted. “We should have gone with my idea!”

“Give it time! It can take a little while to come up with a new story” Mouse replied calmly.

“Where I come from….” Alien started.

“Shssh.” Mouse put her hand over his mouth to quieten him. “you are not allowed to say anything until next week. You don’t want to influence anybody in their writing.”

“At least tell the readers they can find the rules for the competition in yesterday’s post!” Alien begged.

“C’mon, our readers are not thick!” Mouse replied and left it at this. “A bit of patience wouldn’t go amiss.”

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Categories Art, Competition, Creative Writing, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Story-telling competition

February 23, 2013 //
6

alien competition

The anniversary is drawing closer and the Dedes are still trying to come up with a catchy idea to celebrate.  Mouse suggested writing  a summary of the highlights of last year. She loves writing and would be happy to do the extra work. But Devil couldn’t see how the readers could participate. This was the most important requirement – our readers should be able to take part. He suggested having a gallery of the best images on face book and asking the viewers to vote on which one was the best. This idea didn’t fly at all. Mouse pointed out that there are only 14 fans on face book, and anyway, the celebration was clearly about the Dede puppet blog being one year old.

Alien listened to their argument and said: “Why don’t we combine your two ideas? Look, we know that my photograph was the best one last year anyway.”

“Who says?” asked Devil. “I know a few images of me which are equally good!”

“Don’t start arguing again, Devil” Mouse begged. But Alien held his hand up and explained: “Leopoldine said so. She won the postcards in the Super Dede competition. One of the postcards had this photograph, and she told us that I am her absolute favourite.”

“So what do you want to do then? I can’t really see where you are going with this…”

“I didn’t like the story that went with the photograph” Alien continued. “Let our readers invent a new story for it.”

“Ha, that is so silly. You can’t just invent a new story. What has been, has been!” Devil laughed out loud.

“Can’t you? Where I come from we do it all the time. If you don’t like your history you just re-write it!

“That is rather an alien concept” Mouse said. “But why not give it a go?” All the Dedes present turned their heads towards me and waited for my approval. After all, it was my story in the first place. “Go for it” I said. “I think it is a brilliant idea. It’s definitely worth a try!”

Mouse made a few notes on her pad. She is not the most creative one, but she is really good in picking up ideas and seeing them through. “Okay” she said after a while and ripped out the page from her note pad to pin up on the wall. It outlined the rules for the competition. Mouse’s scrawly handwriting is difficult to decipher, so I’ll type out what she had written here:

We would like to invite all our friends to celebrate one year of Dede puppet blogging by having a story-telling competition.

Rules for the story-telling competition

Everybody who wants to take part should copy the image above onto their blog and invent a new story to go with it.

Please send us a link to your blog, so that the Dedes and all our fans can read your story.

First prize: an autographed copy of ‘Hermit’s Web’ the original Dede puppet book.

Second and third prize: One set of 10 Dede puppet postcards each.

The stories can be written in English or German. Should a German story win, we will translate and post it on this blog here for all our fans to read. If an English story wins, we will re-blog and translate it on our German blog.

Competition ends 4th of March 2013 (midnight NZ).

We are looking forward to your stories!

—

“Oh I am so excited, I am so excited” Alien danced around the table “I will get a new story!”.

“What happens if nobody takes part?” asked Devil

“We have at least tried!” Mouse replied.

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Categories Art, Books, Creative Writing, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Tears of a clown

February 22, 2013 //
5

snippedy complaining

Snippedy, the clown, also had a suggestion for the anniversary. He wanted all the Dede puppets to have their own dedicated post. A post in which they are described in more detail. More than the two sentences on the “Characters” page, which he describes as a joke.

“This is too impractical” Detail said. “There are 46 Dedes. This would take more than a month.”

“It is easy for you,” Snippedy retorted. “You feature strongly in the story, but for me… I have been around since September and I have only been mentioned once or twice”.

“Hang on,” Devil pointed out. “You were one of the contenders for the ‘Super Dede competition’ before Christmas!”

“Yes” Snippedy admitted very subdued. “But I didn’t make into the finals. Absolutely nobody voted for me.”

“You should have been more active then” Harvey said. “You should have rustled up all your friends, like I did!”

Snippedy’s eyes got all watery when Harvey said this. We suspect it is a bit of a problem for him. He seems to be convinced he has no friends. True, the Dedes avoid him a little as he always tells the same stories, just like a broken record. When he first appeared they all laughed at his jokes. But once they had heard them for the third and fourth time, they weren’t quite as funny and their response was more a cringe than a laugh.

“What’s the use of being a Dede when you don’t get mentioned…” he said desolately. “I’ll tell you what, if there is an opening somewhere else, I will be the first one to hold my hand up to leave! Nobody will miss me anyway.”

“Cheer up!” Devil recommended, “Who wants to have a sour face around!”

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Annoying Harvey

February 20, 2013 //
2

harvey angry

The hardcore Dedes put their heads together again to come up with a good idea for the anniversary. They were having a very animated discussion when Harvey burst into the room airing his displeasure about last Saturday.

“How come” he demanded in a very upset tone, “that you warmly welcome any Tom, Dick and Harry, or Lil’ Sculpture for that matter, but give Pavlova the cold shoulder? Lil’ Sculpture is not even a Dede!”

“That is so unfair” said Mouse. “I tried very hard….”

Devil just looked at her and shook his head to indicate she shouldn’t take the bait. Not an easy feat for Mouse as she has a strong sense of fairness, particularly when it comes to how she treats other Dedes.

Philosopher observed the whole scene from his favorite spot on the sofa. “Give them time, all of them. You should know by now you can’t force friendship!” he said quietly. “Pavlova is a bright young thing, she will find her way! Let them sort it out.”

“You know Lil’ Sculpture might be a bit naive, but he talks to everybody. You just have to love him” added Mouse. She really needed to have the last word.

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Running out of ideas?

February 19, 2013 //
5

devil serious talk

Devil is the self-appointed spokesperson for the Dedes. Whenever they are worried about me, he pops around to have a “serious conversation” with me. Last night he turned up again. I had just settled on the sofa, when he tugged at my feet.

“So,” he said. “One year of blogging and you ran out of ideas?” Devil is not known for beating around the bush.

“What makes you think that?” I asked.

“You left it to us to come up with an idea for the anniversary!”

I burst out laughing.

“It’s not a laughing matter” Devil said indignantly. “You know what that means… don’t you? If you run out of ideas, that is the end of us, all of us!”

“Oh no, don’t worry” I apologised and told him a story about what happened to me once when I was teaching. Each week, I started the period by asking my students what we had done the week before to get them to focus their minds on where we are at. One year, the lecturer’s evaluations came in and one bright little thing had commented: “The lecturer doesn’t seem to have a good memory, she always asks us what we were doing the week before!”

“And how exactly does this fit in with your lack of ideas?” Devil asked a little annoyed.

“Of course I have a couple of things up my sleeve, but I wanted to know if you have anything in particular you would like to do. After all, it is about you, isn’t it? Not about me!” I explained.

Devil rolled his eyes and said he would go back to the others to ask them again. As he turned round he said: “But you know you scared the shit out of us… we really thought that is the end for us!”

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Are they friends?

February 18, 2013 //
4

mouse and pavlova

It was interesting to see how Pavlova got along with all the others at the get-together last Saturday. In the beginning she was just sitting in the sun by herself, watching the Dedes arrive. She is not an outgoing character by any means, and it is obviously very difficult for her to start a conversation. So, she waited around until someone came up and talked to her. Mouse is really welcoming, particularly when she feels at ease. She invites everybody to partake and she engaged with Pavlova for a while. Later she told us Pavlova was hard work. She didn’t answer in full sentences, she only said yes or no and wasn’t forthcoming with any stories of her own. Mouse is none the wiser about who Pavlova actually is. Everybody else said pretty much the same thing. Pavlova isn’t unpleasant at all, but very difficult to have a conversation with.

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Coming up soon…

February 17, 2013 //
4

devil thinking

It was such a great evening yesterday. Really, it was wonderful to see the Dedes  having fun together again. We have come such a long way, haven’t we?  Mouse reminded us that our first anniversary of blogging is coming up soon. I had forgotten when we started, as for me it is such a normal part of my daily routine now. So I had to check whether Mouse is correct and indeed, I published my first post ever on the 27th of Feb last year. So it is ten days to go before the first year ends. Anniversaries are such wonderful occasions to stop and reflect about what you are doing, aren’t they?

When the puppets were still asleep this morning, I indulged in re-reading some of the stuff. I can truly say, the whole blogging process is a very interesting experience. The blog has changed considerably throughout the year . In the beginning I wrote much more about the background and processes around the puppets, rather than what the puppets are experiencing in their daily life. It started off with the publishing process of  the puppet book “Hermit’s Web”, then I had a period where I posted my other artwork, before I finally settled into the continuing puppet story.

The Dedes said last night they really would love to celebrate the anniversary in style. They want to have another competition of some sort. I agreed but put the ball back in their court. They can’t expect me to have all the ideas, so I left it to them to come up with a feasible concept. But I will be happy to donate a set of postcards as a prize again.

Nobody was forthcoming with any ideas yesterday. Devil thought hard for a while and finally said maybe our readers have a wish or idea? The Dedes would be delighted to hear your suggestions for how we should celebrate this remarkable milestone!

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Categories Art, Books, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Ah, that’s the story…

February 15, 2013 //
4

lil skulpture

Last night when I sat down to check my blog, a little voice called out to me from the bookshelf: “Hey, what’s the story with Valentine’s?”  I looked up and saw Lil’ Sculpture sitting between some junk. I have to admit he looked very settled. He can’t hide his rubbish-background. As he is very new to the world I explained to him that Valentines is a day when lovers send cards and presents to each other. Like so many other celebrations it has a valid historic background, but unfortunately is now exploited commercially.

“Sorry,” Lil’ sculpture said apologetically.

“What are you sorry for?” I asked.

“For causing a fight yesterday… I don’t want my friends to quarrel!”

“So it was your rose then?”

“Yes!” he said coyly “But it wasn’t a proper Valentine’s. Maybe it was, sort of… it was for all the Dedes and of course for you as well. Remember, we met exactly one week ago.”

He explained he had left the rose on the doorstep as a reminder of his induction into the Dede world a week earlier at the same place. He is so happy that the Dedes have taken him in with open arms even though he looks totally different. He now feels such a part of the community.

“But where does a little fellow like you get a golden rose from?” I asked.

“It was just sitting here on the bookshelf! It is pretty isn’t it?”

I didn’t want to spoil his enthusiasm, so I didn’t have the heart to tell him he can’t just take things he finds in the house without asking. I will have to leave this for another time.

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Valentine’s battle

February 14, 2013 //
6

valentines

I could curse the secret admirer who left a single rose on our doorstep this morning. No card, just a single golden rose! While I assume he had the best intentions, he obviously isn’t familiar with the dynamics of the Dede household.

In a flash all the girls were out there haggling over who’s rose it is. Everyone was so sure she was the intended recipient. I know who could have given it to Skeleton, or Esta Blished, or Minor, though I had no idea Socialite and Mouse had admirers too.

Esta tried to grab the rose as only her lover, Devil’s Advocate would have so much spare cash to buy such an precious gift. Socialite immediately had a screaming fit. She said Esta wouldn’t have a clue about how well-off her admirers were and she had many, so the chances were the rose was for her. Minor on the other hand knew that Rob doesn’t need any money, he would just organise a lovely gift one way or another if he wanted her to have one. And she was sure this was the case. Skeleton didn’t lay any claim on the rose, but was sure it was from Lou, her love-sick stalker. She wished so much he’d stop doing this to her. And Mouse was confident that, as everybody loves her anyway, surely there must be one Dede out there who would think she is the special one.

I watched them for a while and wondered, what made them all so sure it wasn’t intended for me?

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network

Kept waiting

February 13, 2013 //
2

harvey mouse

Mouse wanted to know more about Pavlova and waited to catch Harvey on his own. “So, when are we going to meet your girlfriend then?” she asked, trying to be casual.

“I don’t know” Harvey shrugged his shoulders.

“Are you sure she is your girlfriend?”

“Of course she is!” was his angry reply.

“So why don’t you introduce her to us then? Are you embarrassed?”

“Why should I be?”

“C’mon, we saw you guys yesterday… She is a rat!” Mouse pointed out.

Now Harvey exploded: “So what! She is very special!”

Then it all poured out of him. She is from a long line of sewer rats, but she wanted to educate herself. She put herself through school despite the total lack of family support. They didn’t understand why she wanted to go through all the trouble, as there was enough food down there in the sewers. They all said they were born to be sewer rats and there is absolutely no need to study. But Pavlova didn’t want to sit out on the ledge of a pillar and watch the water drip down the pipes all day. She had the strong feeling there was more to life than that. She worked very hard to get where she is now. And it did pay off. She is now a research assistant and works in a lab. He, Harvey, thinks she has done really, really well indeed, and is terribly proud of her.

Mouse became more and more  embarrassed while Harvey was telling her the story, but at the same time she was very intrigued and proud that, once again, it was her who had the hottest news first.

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Categories Art, Fun, Hand Puppets, Life, Relationships, Social Network
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