I just figured I needed to introduce myself as I've never formally done so on this forum.  I guess I've been around for a month and a half now, so It's about time I do so!  At any rate, my name is Bobby Murray, and I'm the children's pastor at Victory Worship Center in Sulphur, LA.  I'm on here to pick up techniques and tricks on puppet making so we can begin manufacturing our own custom puppets.  Purchasing pre-made puppets can get expen$ive (first quote I got was between $3,000 - $30,000 dollars!!!) so we're learning to do this on our own.  I hope to be able to contribute useful information as well as we expand the puppetry division of our children's ministry.  I'm also a member of the Puppets and Stuff page on facebook, so feel free to friend me there as well.  God bless!

Bobby,
    Glad your here! Welcome, welcome.  Just right in and ask away.  You might be interested in the Christian Performing Arts Festival in Mississippi Feb. 25-26.  http://www.mbcb.org/church_growth/dfm/arts.aspx  Click on download CPAF brouchure.  We'll be there along with Ferrel Marr, Woody Holyfield, Iris Stuart, Tim and Amanda Cowles, Eliese McAllister, Christy Watkins and Missey Wright.  We'll have a booth.  Come by and say Hi, we'd love to help in any way we can.

Julie

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff....................... make yourself at home and jump right in.

Billy D.

Hi! nice to see a new member. puppet ministry is very close to my heart because it was the first time i was in a puppet group. check out projcectpuppet.com they have patterns from the very basic to more complicated as well as sewing tips, working with fabric and improving your puppet building through materials the patterns are  a great price and i cant say enough good things about them. they also respond to any questions and help you out as long as you email! those up top are some examples: the MELON HEAD, the two in the middle are the ROLY pattern and the last is the Glorified Sock Puppet Pattern they have an alternate body pattern that is made of foam kinda like kemit as well as a leg pattern the simple series runs from $15.00-$25.00 the add ons are 15 the actual main puppet patterns run from 19.99-24.99. GOOD LUCK and WELCOME!!! 

OPPS! It's 19.95-24.95 sorry!

Haha, yes I have discovered ProjectPuppet.com  I actually have several of their patterns and have started work on a glorified sock puppet to basically learn to sew and keep my 3yr old out of the other puppets lying around church.  The trick is finding the time to work on the patterns.  I actually purchased the kit for the larger puppets, but haven't found time to work on one, nor attach those HUGE patterns to foam or plasticore so they don't ruin.  I'll get around to it eventually I hope!  Glad to be here though!   

WELCOME!! Always glad to meet new family members!! We will be eager to see pictures of what your team does!

Haha, well right now it's just me!  I'm in the process of finding people to train to do puppets.  It's amazing how all people think that they don't have a "voice."  Honestly, I tell them that we all have a voice.  We use different voices to address different people every day.  We don't talk to peers, our spouse, small children, authority figures, etc. in the same tone and timbre.  At any rate, I'm looking to recruit some teens to do some other things so we'll hopefully put together a team before long.  Right now it's just  me heckling our stage coordinator, which our children love.  The latest thing I built was a wearable puppet stage for our Christmas production.  You can see pictures of it under this gallery.  Video of the production can be found here:

www.vimeo.com/18065590

Other videos from the actual production can be selected on the same page.  Of course, we stole the idea for the video sketch from "Church On The Move" who did it last year.  Incidentally, their puppet guy can be found on the Puppets and Stuff facebook page, one Tim Cox.  He's a great and talented guy, who's Majunga character is a riot! 

Good video!