This puppet (still in process) was inspired by one of the first butterflies I’ve seen this year–a Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe). As my puppets tend to represent the spirit of a creature or phenomenon, this is not a replica of the butterfly but shares some of the coloration, and for me, the feeling I have when watching a Sleepy Orange flit rapidly (they do not behave in a “sleepy” way at all!) or rest briefly on a small flower. Her “wings” are a piece of tatting that was among the many pieces I inherited from my grandmother and great-grandmother’s work — likely a century old. Every puppet I am making this year starts with selecting one of these tatted pieces. While working on a puppet, I feel connected to my grandmothers, a sense of peace and wonder and gratitude.