And remember, Dave donates a portion of the proceeds from his video sales to the ISFA, so don t hesitate to buy an extra copy for a friend. The following biography of Audrey Small was written by columnist Ann Doro. It first appeared in the January 1999 issue of Senior Lifestyle, Oroville, California. Audrey Small with Two Ptarmigans from Alaska. As a child in England, Audrey Small learned Tallow Dips, a series of string figures based on an old British folk tale of a man who stole tallow dips from the market and was arrested for this minor offense.
Tallow dips are wicks dipped in melted animal fat.
Her mother taught Audrey several string figures and thus was born Audrey s continuing fascination with telling stories or poems while accompanying them with string figures. Over a ten-year period, Audrey s mother, Paula Collinson, studied folklore and string figures, guided by her father, Professor W.E. Collinson of the University of Liverpool. She entertained at clubs, schools, and library societies. It is only natural for Audrey to hold an audience spellbound with her magical strings. I remember when my mother said, You re on your own now.