Hi!  I'm new here and pretty new to puppet building.  I'm looking for some patterns by Pat Lewis from a company called Sonrise Soft Crafts.  I found and ordered several patterns from the puppeteers.org, but they are out of the giraffe, the lion, and the large spaniel with arms and legs.  I'm also curious as to what other patterns they may have had.  Any info on this company or anyone selling these patterns would be great.

Thanks so much,
Dresda

The only place I have seen them or at the puppetry store. I bought one Ryan the lion and it is quite difficult to sew. If you are good seamstress and understand patterns well you will do good.

Did you order recently because I see many are in stock.
http://store.puppeteers.org/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25&sort=1a&page=2

I tried to find out about the company and did not come up with anything. when I bought my pattern last year I noticed it has a new sticker over the old one but still no luck with locating them or Pat Lewis.

Did you try the staff from the POA board to see if they know the location? If I remember correctly when I ordered mine the store had the giraffe,lion.cat,Samoyed ,horse,and unicorn, na de the bear,poodle.

Billy D.

I'm not sure what their entire collection was but I have the following:
15" Scot T Mcgruff
20" Horse-Unicorn (Prince Valdamir)
Daniel Le Spaniel
Ryan O'Lion
18" Nan De Bear
Puddles Z Poodle
24" Flod De Samoyed
11" Miss Kit T
18" Giraff

I'm not sure what the legalities are for items that may no longer be printed or for sale... anyone else know? I would be willing to provide you with copies of what you need if it's not a legal issue. I'm sorry that I can't just send them for free, but I'm experiencing financial harship so I would have to charge you the cost of making copies at Staples as well as shipping. I can provide you with receipts and would only charge what I had to pay to get them completed for you.

-Michele

I'm not sure what the legalities are for items that may no longer be printed or for sale... anyone else know?

You would have to explore who holds the copyright. If no one holds it anymore then it would be public domain. More then likely since PofA is selling it they now hold some type of control of the copyright.

I have to agree with you Shawn............... way back when I was going to promote the " Puppets with Personality Pattern" I called them to discuss about what was required to sell the pattern in the store. I was told if I signed a contract with them that I could sell the pattern in the store and on my personal website. I would not be able to sell it at one way street or outside exhibits. They would have exclusive rights to selling the pattern. I did not want to limit myself at the time and neither did Jo Ann owner of the pattern. Things may have changed since then.

Billy D.

Michele's' list seems right, but I believe a couple of them came in different sizes (They are great patterns) Steve

Wow!  You guys are great!  I didn't expect such a response.

Since I'm new here, I should tell you a little about myself.  My mother, who's been a teacher for more than 20 years, and I are starting a preschool in which we create total learning environments similar to what you'd find at Disneyland.  My family ran a kids camp in Arizona for about 10 years, so we've had a lot of practice and a lot of fun creating these types of thematic learning experiences.  I've built a lot of sets and props utilizing a lot of different mediums, but puppets are new to me.  I feel I have so much to learn, but puppets are so exciting, and I feel they can really add to our program.

About these patterns, I have the Nan De Bear pattern and I just ordered the 15" Scot T Mcgruff, 20" Horse-Unicorn (Prince Valdamir), 24" Floyd Samoyed, and the 18" Miss Kit T patterns.  Puppeteers of America list that the 20" Ryan Lion, 21" G. Raff, and the 18" Daniel Spaniel are sold out (and those, especially the giraffe, and the one's I want). 

I called the phone number I had for Sonrise Soft Crafts from my pattern of (800) 668-0959 and was told by the lady who answered that the number belonged to a different/new business.

The address I came up with for them is:
Son Rise Soft Crafts
#8, 17 Canso Rd.
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9W 4M1

But when I googled the address, it says it is now a screenprinting company called Global Safety Identification.

I did find a puppeteer in the Ontario area named Pat Lewis, but I emailed her and it wasn't the same person.

I've been checking eBay, but haven't seen any of these patterns listed there.

Anyway, that's what led me to you folks.  And, again, thank you so much for the response.  And thank you to Michele, I would love to take you up on your offer, but I'm not completely sure of the copyright status of these patterns, either.  The pattern I have is copyrighted 1984, but I'm not sure how long it takes to go into the public domain.

I hadn't thought of contacting the Puppeteers of America store directly for information, but that's a good idea.  I noticed they have a library-type system available to borrow puppetry DVD's.  I wish they had something similar for patterns, particularly those that are out of print.

Again, thank you so much.  I will get ahold of the Puppeteers of America store and post what I find out.

Thanks again,
Kathy
dresda@yahoo.com

Wow... threads like this is exactly what I love about Puppets and Stuff. Great job everybody!

Welcome to the group Kathy, it sounds like you have some exciting plans!



Ron G.

I did find a listing that had a Son rise craft pattern for a stuffed bear. It says the pattern is dated 1984 so it could be a good chance they are out of business.
300291949254

Billy D.   

If the company was out of Ontario then the copyright would fall under Canadian law I would think. In the the US 1984 would mean that the copyright had not expired. The thing is that if there is no one to "claim" the copyright, i.e. the original owner is deceased and the copyright did not go to an estate or was transferred  to anyone, then I think it would be just fine to pass a copy on of the original.