Did you notice early on in the video that he was "pushing" the blade instead of pulling it?  I have heard that this allows for better control when cutting stuff like this with and exacto blade.

Love your Mermaid, she is wonderful and magical!

Na:
I think you found your speciality.  Looks great!

I saw it before but it is amazing what they do with lether and an exacto knive. Paint with a tick brush very small lines.
I heard when they sell this they almost nothing for their hard work..........

Did you notice early on in the video that he was "pushing" the blade instead of pulling it?  I have heard that this allows for better control when cutting stuff like this with and exacto blade.

No, I didn't actually. That's interesting, I would never think of that. Although I doubt it would have the same effect on cardboard...

I heard when they sell this they almost nothing for their hard work..........

Funny, I was thinking the same thing when watching the video. There are always heaps of these shadow puppets available on ebay, and it makes you wonder whether there's a shadow puppet sweatshop out there.

Na:
I think you found your speciality.  Looks great!

Thanks! I agree; I think I've found my particular puppet. Only took me about 6 years 

She is beautiful!
Brenda

I have literally just finished my puppet and video:

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https://youtu.be/j9bRPtphjYI

The puppet itself is now on sale at my website.

... Oh, and yes I'm going puppet screen shopping in the next few days. My screen fell over three times during filming - and that was after I spent an hour trying to get it to stay up in the first place!!

I also tested out a new lamp, but it wasn't any better than my old one. Oh well... 

I like it very much!
The rods you can detach, and attach at the other side too? For example, if the puppeteer needs to turn the puppet the other way...
What is that you glued into the mermaid arm? It is metal? I am about to make the rods for my shadow puppets, so I am really interested. Thanks

I actually haven't provided attachment for both sides; the shadow puppet looks quite 'ugly' from the back (although it would appear just as a reversed version, I'm guessing most customers would see the back and not want to use it - see first images).

I have glued a piece of plastic tube to the puppet, to which you insert the end of the rod. However, I'm going to change this method, as I've discovered after making the video that the glue is not strong enough and the tube can come off after some use.

NA,

I really liked the effect with the light and screen that you are using.  It really added to the mystical feel with the puppet.  I truly love the work you did with the video and hope that you keep making them (and selling them). 

Keep up the great work.....

Daryl H

Which effect?

Thanks! Though I'm totally not happy with the video... if only because the screen pissed me off.

I had no where to film (my work desk is re-di-cue-lous!) so I actually set it up in an odd place.... on top of an ironing board. I figured it was easier than cleaning      Well, the whole screen is made out of balsa, and has no weight to it, so in order for it to work, I had to tie it down... not as easy as it sounds. So the screen kept pitching over from time to time.

I'm currently working on plans for a new, proper screen. ... And I've got my next shadow puppet designed in my head