I love the Serpenter and Tomasito's chin and jaw. You show a lot of imagination in the types of materials you have used to bring personality and character to your puppets.

I thoroughly understand what you say about loving the puppets because you made them. You have nothing to apologize about. Nikole (PuppetsAndPals) is absolutely right about always cherishing your first puppet. MacGillicuddy is the first puppet I ever made. He's twenty-five years old, is still used weekly in church, and will always be first in my heart of the puppets I have created.

Thanks for your words pastor Carveson. I appreciate your comment. Any suggestions and help, will be welcome!

Miguel!

Congrats at the making of your puppets.....getting started is the hardest part and completing one is a big accomplishment....thanks so much for taking the pictures and showing us.  Keep up the good work and you will see yourself improving over time.  I personally like the gray shirt one as well.

Daryl H

Wow Migueland!  What a fantastic start for someone with no patterns!  I like Tomasito's strong chin! His upper head balances out his chin perfectly too.  The gray shirt puppet (IMG 2194) is very nice as well.  His face is pleasant and his head shape is nice too - kind of like a football.  I'd say these two are your  strongest characters.
As far as improvements go, I'd suggest taking a look at how others make their puppets and blend your custom head shape ideas with their construction techniques to make your puppets look more professional.  For example, the ears on the gray shirt guy could be made of two pieces of fabric sewn together and turned so that the edges are smooth and the ear has some more thickness to it.  A puppet mouth interior can be made several different ways.  If you add the pink (or whatever colour) interior before inserting the mouthplate assembly into the mouth, you are more likely to cover the edges. I'd suggest working on refining your mouth interiors.

If you  like Angel's avatar puppet, perhaps you could buy the glorified sock puppet pattern and try that pattern for your next puppet.  This pattern has a mouthplate construction that includes sewing your fabric or felt mouth interior into the puppet BEFORE adding the mouthplate assembly.  The simple series and monster series patterns at Project Puppet also have this type of assembly.  It makes for a very clean looking mouth.  The Forma series at Project Puppet has a different mouth assembly which may be closer to what you are using.  It involves completing the entire mouth assembly including covering the interior with pink or black and then gluing it into the puppet head.  

In my quest to improve my work, I have been trying everything I can get my hands on.  I've tried about 10 different patterns by different puppet builders and am starting to blend their ideas together to make my puppets.  
Keep experimenting Miguel.  This is good!  Even if you try the patterns, your willingness to experiment will take you much farther than if you relied on patterns alone.  This is a strength of yours.  See how others make their puppets and combine their techniques with your willingness to experiment.

Oh.. Materials.. experiment with materials too.  Antron fleece and upholstry foam are the standard for professional puppet builders.  Try these materials if you haven't already and if your pocketbook allows for it.

OK.

Angel.  question! Did you add foam at the head of your avatar puppet?

Yes I did.  I actually cut the foam from the head pattern but just made it a little smaller and I put it in the fleece head after the body was attached.  Then I folded back the body fabric and hot glued the foam to the edge of the neck.  This was to prevent your fingers from going between the foam and fabric.  Adding foam makes for a firm fit so if you have large hands it might make it a little hard to get your hand in.  The foam from the top of the head actually sandwiches your fingers between the head and top of the mouth.  I like the feel of it, my fingers don't feel like they're going to slide out, I also added finger tubes.  Just remember the more stuff you add the more room it takes up in side of the head.  The next one I make I'm going to add foam to the body, but of course I'll have to make the body a bit larger.  Hope this helps.


Angel

Miguel,
Another thing, I started an "Idea and Tip" book just from things that I've learned on site.  I just cut and paste it in MS word.  I have categories for, eyes, mouth, hands etc.  I find myself referring to it every time I make a puppet.  Try it. This site has a wealth of information, just do a search for just about anthing you want and you should be able to find it here and if you can't just post a question and some one here, especially Billy, will locate it for you.  Like Puppetlady I have also study other puppet builders and started blending ideas.  When I created my first puppet with my own pattern and with what I had learned in the "Foam Book" I feel in love with her, she my favorite.  So I know how you feel.


Angel

Miguel, you did a fine job on the puppets you made.  they show a great deal of creativity and personality.  I can see that you've already been getting a great deal of wonderful advice so I won't try to add anything.  Keep building and if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Thank for everybody. Your words make me take courage to improve the art to build puppets.

Thanks again (And of course I will need help to my next puppets, those are the ones before started here)

Miguel!

You are off to a terrific start!!  I agree with Nikole - I like that you used some non-traditional fabrics!  I like the black and white rope for the hair too.  Nice effect!! Keep it up and keep sharing pictures with us!!

Miguel

I'm sorry for not posting right away...................... I got side tracked with things at home. I was coming back later to post.
Your puppets look great, and I agree you are off to a good start. The fun part of this is that with each puppet build you will get better and better. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures with us, they are all adorable. Please inclued us in on your next puppet build................ I love seeing this process.

Happy Puppeteering !

Billy D.