Hero Puppets take over Artelle Puppets website!

With a few Hero Puppets projects on the go, I thought it was about time to update the Artelle Puppets website. Check out the new look: http://www.artellepuppets.ca/

Ottawa Nostalgia & Collectible Show

Well it's time once again for me to thin out some my collectibles. I'm quite the horder when it comes to vintage toys, and so I try to sell off some of my collection now and then to reduce the amount of "stuff" I have. This time I'm going all out and will be parting with some of my duplicate Muppet Show collectibles from the late 1970s, made by Fisher-Price!!! In addition, I'll also have a variety of action figures, PVC figures, and other nifty collectibles from the 70s and 80s up for grabs. So come on out to see me at the Nostalgia Show later this month!

Ottawa Nostalgia & Collectible Show

Nepean Sportsplex

1701 Woodroffe Ave.

Sunday, March 17th, 2013

9:00 am to 3:00pm

$6 admission

Children under 12 are free

Free admission for all after 2:00pm

For more info visit http://www.antique-shows.ca/nostalgia.html

Perseus Puppet Show at Greek Church Hall

Artelle Puppets is happy to annouce an upcomming performance!

Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa
A Puppet Show

This is a performance of the popular story from Greek mythology about Perseus' quest to slay the evil Medusa, performed by Artelle Puppets. The "Hero Puppets" are realistically modeled to resemble superheroes or fantasy characters. This Artelle Puppets presentation received a Commendation for Design in Puppetry Theatre from the Arlyn Award Society.

Suitable for ages 7 and up, including families, teenagers and adults

Sunday, March 3, 2013 – 3:00 PM
Greek Church Hall – 1315 Prince of Wales Drive
General admission $5

The event is organized by the Parnassos Hellenic Cultural Society.
For more information please contact: Costa Kapsalis 613-726-1808 kapsalis@sympatico.ca

Ottawa Winterlude Ice Hogs Collectables!

Winter is upon us once again! Ottawa is now covered in piles of snow and it is feezing outside. In the Nation's Capital this means only one thing... Winterlude will soon be underway! Of course we couldn't have Winterlude without those awesome mascots, the Ice Hog Family. Oddly enough I've never seen them live and up close, so I've yet to snap my own photos of them. Hopefully I can do so this year. In the meantime I'll share a photo of my favourite mascot collectables...the Ice Hog plush toys!

Shown above on the left is the new 15 inch Ice Hog plush doll from 2010 (wearing the scarf). He is still available by mail order through the official web site for Winterlude souvenirs:
http://www.e-boutiquecanada.com/Winterlude/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=20&Itemid=95&lang=en
If you plan to attend Winterlude, they also sell some of the souvenirs at the Winterlude festival, so you might be able to find the plush toy there as well.

Next to the 2010 Ice Hog plush toy is the plush toy from 1994 (with the light blue and pink shirt). This one is no longer available. I found it second hand at a thrift store a couple of years ago and was quite happy about that! This 1994 plush toy was sold the same year that the "new and improved" Ice Hog mascots were unveiled. From 1980 through to 1993 the Ice Hog mascot looked very different....

Here is a small lapel pin of the 1980s version of the Winterlude Ice Hog mascot. I bought this on e-bay! As you can see he is quite different than the Ice Hogs we know today. To me, this earlier version of the mascot looked a lot like a beaver! A plush toy of this earlier version of the Icehog was also available sometime during the 1980s. Before I had started my Ice Hog collection I had found one of those original plush toys at a thrift shop but left it there, and have been kicking myself ever since!

I'm looking for the 1980's Ice Hog!
If anyone out there has an original Ice Hog plush toy from the 1980s and would be willing to part with it, please contact me! I would be happy to buy it from you (if the price is right). I recall the 1980s Ice Hog plush toy was wearing a blue hat with a white pom pom. It may also have a blue scarf, but I'm not certain. If you have one to sell please e-mail me: info"at"artellepuppets.ca

UPDATE JULY 2022!!! I found one!...

For more info about "The Legend of the Ice Hogs" here is a link to the official Winterlude website:
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/winterlude/ice-hog-legend

Update July 2022: Here's a picture of the entire collection so far!

Doll, Teddy Bear and Miniatures Show...and Puppets!

Artelle Puppets will be selling some original hand-made puppets as a vendor at the event listed below. Hope to see you there!

Doll, Teddy Bear and Miniature Show

Sunday, November 25th 2012

Travelodge Hotel

1376 Carling Ave.

10:00am - 4:00pm

Admission: $3.00 for adults

(Free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult)

Door prizes!

"Today's Special" Muffy Mouse Toy Puppet

Here is an awesome puppetry character collectable that I found at a thrift store a few years ago. It's a Muffy Mouse toy puppet, from the TV Ontario program Today's Special produced during the 1980's. The tag has a copyright date of 1990 and it says "Imported exclusively for TV Ontario". The dress is removable, and the body is stuffed just like a plush toy. I e-mailed puppeteer Nina Keogh who performed Muffy on the program, and she confirmed that Muffy was the only character from the show to be made as a toy puppet. Other Today's Special collectables that were offered include a child's wrist watch, a record album, and a set of six VHS videos.

 

Below is a photo from Nina Keogh's website: http://www.ninakeogh.com It shows the original Muffy Mouse puppet wearing the dress that the toy puppet is based on. (Muffy had an extensive wardrobe and was seen on the show in many different outfits). Also in the photo are (L to R) Jeff Hyslop who played Jeff the mannequin, series creator and director Clive VanderBurgh, and puppeteer Nina Keogh.

Sleestak Wacky Wobbler by Funko

I attended Ottawa's first Comic Con this past weekend and had a great time. Although I didn't go there to buy stuff I couldn't pass up this awesome Bobble Head. Made by Funko in 2008, this is a Sleestak from the original 1970s Sid and Marty Krofft TV series Land Of the Lost. Funko did an excellent job with the detail on this figure. I've also included the back view to show the Sleestak's tiny tail!