I made my first puppet when I was 11 years old. Her name was BOCA. Made out of felt material with a plastic coffee can lid for a mouth. She had painted eyes and sadly my First and Second Boca's have long since been worn out. Boca #3 is about 10 years old now. Her favorite color is Purple and she is a fashion diva. At one time Boca had more outfits than I did. She had her own "Story Time Puppet Show" at the local library. I made several 'friends for her including Harry a Grey furred and horned monster (who had two bodies one that used rods and one that was gloved so I could use one had for his mouth and one for an arm). There was a whole troop of rod puppets and I even dabbled in Marionettes (not very successfully I must add). I simply enjoy creating puppets.

Well I moved out to the country and stopped doing my weekly puppet show, gave away a bunch of my puppets and scripts but kept Boca, Harry and a few others. I still enjoy making puppets but find little market for them but continue to make puppets and dolls for friends and some time give workshops on building them.

I look forward to chatting with everyone and hope to enjoy the company of like minded puppeteers.

well hi and welcome

 
Hi and welcome you'll love this place.I have just joined recently,but I check back almost everyday to see what has been posted.I am new to making puppets.I have just finished my first puppet and hope to post a picture very soon.I have to wait for my daughter to come over to do the posting for me.

Wisersmom
 

Welcome to the family!  We are always happy to add more members!  You will learn a lot!  We LOVE pictures so please share them!  Would love to see a picture of Boca and Harry.  I know what you mean about your puppet having more clothes than you.  I think that my puppet Lily has more shoes and clothing than I do!!  I would love to hear more about what you did at the libraries!  I travel around to libraries doing shows but would like to develop something to do in a more cozy setting too.  How did you do story time with your puppet?  That is what I would like to try.   

   I'm so glad you found our group.  Sounds like you're no stranger to puppets.  I have to confess that I'm very curious to see what BOCA looks like.  He must be a very special character for you to have rebuilt him.  If you can please post some pictures.  Once again welcome.

Ok this is Boca -

Her hand attachment

and the grip to her arm rod.

Cute puppet and shes full bodied . Now how exactly did you do her arm rods I cant quite tell

Welcome and thanks for signing up with us.....please share your thoughts or ask any questions. 
 
Thanks for sharing your puppet with us.  She looks very cute and it looks like you have a great arm rod system there. 

I hope you can share it with others if you have the time?

Daryl H 

Boca's Arm rod in pictures

Materials Used. Fabric, batting, Paper Clip, Button, Sissors, Needle Nosed Plyers, Coat Hanger, Sculpt or Coat (or glue but the glue is not water proof)

Turn fabric furry side in.

Trace or draw the pattern (I usually make the hand and arm all in one piece but for this tutorial I only cut out a hand.

Cut a paper clip in half.


And push the two cut end through the fabric with the U end on the furry side.

And the cut ends sticking through to the back side of the fabrid.

Place a button over the two ends of the paperclip.

And bend the end over.

Push the U end up so it is exposed above the fur pile.


And snug against the button. You may add a spot of hot glue to hold it in place.

Place a piece of quilter's batting as show.

So that when you sew the hand it will look like this.


Follow the drawn edge of the pattern leaving the wrist open. 


Trim away the excess material and batting.



Turn the hand right side out. The paperclip will be exposed.


The arm rod is a stiff metal cloths hanger, one end has a cotton rope wound around it.  The end of the rope is held in place by creating a U shape at one end of the coat hanger and clamping it down on the end of the rope. While winding the rope around the coat hanger, I applied "Sculpt or Coat" (http://sculpturalarts.com/foamcoating.htm) to glue it together. Two layers of wound rope then the entire grip painted in a final layer of "Sculpt or Coat". The end attached to her hand is bent into a U with needle nosed plyers and can be removed if necessary.  I don't have any cotton rope or "Sculpt or Coat" in the studio right now so I am unable to take photos of the process.

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

Wow thats cool thank you for sharing