They eyes are starting to get lost.  Can you make them bigger.  I am speaking about the eyeballs themselves not the lids.  The other option would be to re-work the eye lids so they where not as full. What fabric are you using for the eyelid? Does it have stretch?

There is no stretch to the eye fabric. It is just plain felt. Don't let the eyes full you right now, these eyes are "Blinking Eyes". do to the way they sit while not being used, they look more closed then they would be. The reason for using the felt on the eyes was to give it a wrinkle, I am still working on giving it an old wise look, but for some reason it keeps shaping itself and telling me something different.

OK, I believe I am done with the head. I will post pics soon. Using the Cookie Monster style pattern, I am going to start adding the body. I have one problem I am starting to see arise. This was originally supposed to be a long haired monster with full fur, but now is smooth fluffy felt skin. It makes the puppet look naked. If I build the body and don't find some way to offsett or something, then he may look like a ghost. If I put clothes like a shirt on him, the Cookie Monster style may not work. I don't want to continue further till I know where I am going. HELP! I don't know what to do.

OK, I believe I am done with the head. I will post pics soon. Using the Cookie Monster style pattern, I am going to start adding the body. I have one problem I am starting to see arise. This was originally supposed to be a long haired monster with full fur, but now is smooth fluffy felt skin. It makes the puppet look naked. If I build the body and don't find some way to offsett or something, then he may look like a ghost. If I put clothes like a shirt on him, the Cookie Monster style may not work. I don't want to continue further till I know where I am going. HELP! I don't know what to do.

Why not contrast the skin with patches of fur in different shapes , textures, all over the body.
You can either sew fur patches on to the body or use a hair like yarn and hook it in to the fabric like you would do in rug making.
Forgive me my mind just goes wild when creating.

Billy D.

Creativity is wild. I think I just might play around with that idea a bit. Maybe grey and blue to match the goatee I haven't placed on yet and the blue feathers on his head. That just might work.

I'm getting a little confused.  I think you are doing this as a mock-up, but feel that with the pictures and what you are saying, this will be a final piece.  Could you clarify for me please.
One of my concerns is the seam straight up front.  Use the Antron muppet fleece, or try to change the seam to the sides.  I don't know if the video camera will be forgiving of the seam.  Also, the eyes seem like they are too covered.  I understand they are the blinking eyes, and kudos to you for trying them, I have yet to try them.  With my not being familar with their operation, I would think that the current position is the more natural for the puppeteer to operate, meaning have them open more when you don't have to do anything with the controls.  Does this make sense?  Antron fleece is well worth the money.

You are doing a great job.  Hang in there.  Like I said, kudos to you on the eyes.  One of these days I'm going to try.

I just looked at your pics once more, and other than the seam, I love the straight on look except for the eyes.  Have them be wide open all the time, like Gonzo's, and your eye control let you close them.  Not sure if all you have to do is just bend the position.  Just a thought.  Looks great though for having modified a pattern.  For some of us, it's not as easy to do as you'd think.     OH!  Just a thought.  You were talking about old age wrinkles?  You can take and pinch or bunch up some material and sew it from one side to the other at the base of the bunching.      Keep going, you're doing great.

That is a lot of info. Thanks for everything. Your right, this was a test, but then started to become a final. I wish I had more money. Time is not a problem since I have till next year to complete all the puppets for the show. Maybe some money will come in. The fleece munitioned must cover the seams better then what I am using. I hand stitched these from the outside using the pine to the middle scenario. Technically this is still my first puppet I have made. I did finish one after I started this one for the Rocky and Helping Hand show using the old Women's day magizine 1960's style puppet design, but I don't think that counts. Here are the most recent pics I took last night. I'm starting to run into problems with the body.

The seem up the front my not be such an issue if you are giving him a nose. He really is looking good.

 I always use regular fleece and don't have any real issues with it. I do use a sewing machine though.  It doesn't show less of the seems when the coverings are sewn, but they are more even and intentional looking.

Fur shows a lot less too. That can be glued on.  I called with a credit card to the people Billy recommended and for five bucks (shipping cost only) they sent me the hugest box of fur scraps.  I can make puppets and teddy bears for ages.  It's also great for puppet hair.


Here they are.. Axtell puppets. They are awesome and super friendly.  Billy found out about them and shared the info here one time.  I think it must have gotten lost in the spring.

http://www.axtell.com/

(805) 642-7282 - I had to leave a message and they called me back.  I didn't want to leave my credit card info on their machine. 

order@axtell.com <order@axtell.com>

God bless you Magenta, I will be checking that out. I have been pulling my hair out trying to find puppet hair. I find stuff, but man is it expensive. Thanks for the compliment on the puppet. How can you use a sowing machine on a puppet when your doing the skin? I wrapped the material around the head, pined it to the head tightly till I reached the nose from both sides, cut the access material, and hand stitched them together. Is that wrong?

I am making 2 puppets for the first time. I almost finshed. For the hair I used pieces of cuddly animals I bought in a second hand shop.