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Finding success in the shadows

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Sisters Meredith Wolff (l), and Robin Stephens had the opportunity to show off their shadow puppets on The Martha Stewart televison show recently. Stephens of Milton and Wolff of Madison operate Orange Moon Toys to sell the puppets.

MILTON — When sisters Robin Stephens and Meredith Wolff started their online puppet business, the last thing they expected was to make national television in the first year.

But there Wolff was last week, showing Martha Stewart—the queen of do-it-yourself projects—how to make a polar bear shadow puppet.

Stephens, 31, of Milton and Wolff, 27, of Madison appeared on the Jan. 12 episode of "The Martha Stewart Show" promoting their business, Orange Moon Toys.

The two started the business in April 2008. Wolff designs and creates the shadow puppets with the help of family and friends, and Stephens handles the business end, they said.

"We made toys with our dad growing up, and I played with shadow puppets as a kid," Wolff said. "I guess we were feeling nostalgic."

Wolff creates the puppets from laminated construction paper or cellophane. She has designed 24 sets totaling about 85 puppets ranging from Barack Obama and John McCain to anglerfish and giant squid.

Wolff and Stephens recently released a set of Arctic animals and a set of mythical Thai animals in honor of Stephens' adopted son, Thanu, who hails from Thailand.

Each set includes a fact card to teach children about the puppets. Do-it-yourself kits also are available.

The sisters heard from a producer of "The Martha Stewart Show" in September asking if they wanted to go on the show.

"We were really excited," Stephens said. "It was a really good opportunity."

The process was quick, chaotic and fun, they said. They didn't meet Stewart until the segment filmed Jan. 7 in New York. Dogs were running around backstage for a doggie fashion show after the puppet segment.

Wolff showed Stewart how to make a polar bear while Stephens watched from the audience.

"I'm older, so I got to raise my hand and say, 'Not it!'" Stephens said.

Wolff explained to Stewart that they named the business "Orange Moon Toys" because the moon turns orange from the shadow of the Earth during a total lunar eclipse, creating a giant shadow puppet.

At the end, she presented Stewart with shadow-puppet versions of Stewart's three dogs.

The sisters' Web site has seen a huge increase in hits since the show aired, Stephens said.

"We're hoping that the people who looked at us (online) will remember us when it's time for birthdays and holidays," she said.

And they hope to grow the business in the coming years. They plan to start appearing at craft shows this year and hope the business eventually makes enough money to provide a living for the two.

"By the time it's all done, especially if you're developing new products, it's practically a full-time job," Wolff said.