Sounds crazy!  But did you get anything good???

Like I said it was really musty.  I purchased some 1/2 foam to use just to test out a few new designs.  Smells funky, but it won't be anything I sell only use for scrap 24" X 94" $1.  Some ostrich feather plumes that I hope to dye for a few projects $1 each.  We recently started dyeing our own feather boa because the blacklight colors we were getting were limited to two pink (most like hot red and salmon) under the blacklight.  We have gotten really lovely results.  Bright Fluorescent yellow, orange and green.  Hope to have some true pinks soon also.  Just have to make time.  Lg. clear plastic ornaments the kind we puppet makers use for eyes.  Whole box about 10- $4.  It was a shame that it was that musty.  Not sure how most people were going to deal with that especially with the items that could not be cleaned. 

sorry MsPuppet...not to hijack this thread.

Julie

Julie
No problem!  I had the same thoughts as you, every thing was very musty and people were crazy at the checkout.
I did not know about the shop either, and I've lived here a long time.

My daughter and I went back today. Actually we went to Galveston to eat seafood at Caseys, and decided to stop. I thought maybe if some of the stuff had been moved out, then perhaps I could find some other stuff.  It was around 4 pm when I got there and the house was still FULL of stuff.  The commercial machine and sergers were gone.  So many costumes, fabric, etc. still there. I think most of those are a loss.  Most of the plumes were gone.
Tomorrow everything is half price.  The older gentleman that was working the sale (he worked for the costume shop) said that the only living relative was a brother in El Paso. He is supposed to come in this week and talk to the estate sale people.  There may be another sale in a couple weeks.  

Shawn - as Julie said, we've known each other for about 10 or 12 years.  She attended a workshop we did years ago, and we see each other around town and at Puppet related events.  

I'll try to post some pictures.    

I'm sure you two will come up with a solution to your problem in no time. With two talented and creative minds attacking the problem it doesn't stand a chance!

I just posted the finished puppet in my gallery album.  I learned some stuff  and will do a few things different on the next one (like gluing the shoulders, I just made a tube, which I did not like when completed. I pinned them for the picture). I ended up going back to a pattern I use for another puppet and adapting it.  Julie and I both tried to make a different head, but in the end this is what they wanted.

The curriculum publisher (Sunday school and Children's Church curriculum) is very happy with the finished product.  It was a challenge to keep the cost down and still make a puppet that at least somewhat resembled the sketch.  This is a company I worked for as an editor for about 13 years.  They do not commission me, instead they put my contact info in the book so the teacher can buy a puppet if they wish.

The puppet skits call for the puppet to do some things that puppets cannot do (this happens when a non puppeteer writes skits -LOL).  It also called for no eyes, (the teacher is supposed to add them in a lesson).  Rather than try to do that, I cut two fabric circles to cover the eyes. These pin on and can be removed at the right time. 

Thanks for all your help and feedback. 

T.

Well done! I love the finished product and it sounds like you did your best within the provided parameters. Impressive. Thank you for sharing your journey.

Wow!  Where did you get that tiny pith helmet?  He's soooo cute.  What publisher?  Or maybe you're not supposed to say??? I hope you get lots of orders. 

Looks good.  So cute.

Fantastic job!  He looks great.

Hi MsPuppet....I saw your photos above and also the sketch of the worm.  In order to achieve the foam structure that you want, maybe you could create a new foam head according to the attached puppet head tuturial below and then modify the shape to your personal preference (adding a nose)...i hope this is helpful...