First off I love her she's fabulous!

I made the hair using two separate wigs and a process I read about here, wefting. It was simpler than I ever imagined it would be and heaps of fun, so once again, thanks guys!

Secondly, I still want to try this!  I have used yarn in the past, but want to use hair.

Grrr, just wrote a massive response and my internet crashed. So, due to sheer fatigue, please forgive the brief responses.

Angel in TX, thank you! Definitely give the hair wefting a go. I did it again this weekend as was stoked with the results. I can't wait to see yours!

Na, I'd dig a copy of The Foam Book. I will need to pay via direct deposit or money order so please let me know what suits best and how much.

As for Maldon, I couldn't see a price anywhere?? If I can do it on the cheap, I might try to make it down. Maybe fly to Wagga, borrow my folks car and tent and road trip it. If your keen you'd be welcome to hitch a ride.

Na, I'd dig a copy of The Foam Book. I will need to pay via direct deposit or money order so please let me know what suits best and how much.

Great! Either one is ok by me: do you have an email address I could contact you with? Then I could send an invoice.

As for Maldon, I couldn't see a price anywhere?? If I can do it on the cheap, I might try to make it down. Maybe fly to Wagga, borrow my folks car and tent and road trip it. If your keen you'd be welcome to hitch a ride.

I couldn't find prices either. Their site is pretty terrible, so maybe I missed it... Thanks for the offer; I'm not sure I'll be able to anyway. All my current funds are either going towards upcoming business expenses or food.

Although, if they did post prices, it would be easier to work out if I could go or not.

Hi Na, my email is lizzieslair@live.com. I have a hectic week at work so if I'm depositing money directly in to an account or getting to the Post Office for a money order, it may take me a couple of days to get there during working hours. I definitely want the book though so bear with me. I should have my newly ordered Visa arriving shortly so if you can wait a week and would prefer Paypal, that's cool too.

The website was totally shonky. If I had stumbled across it without your input, I would have discredited it particularly given I know little of the performers/artists. You would think they would at least post costs but I guess it's a first and perhaps they haven't quite got their act together. I'm looking for something totally different to do for my 30th and given my first plan (and second for that matter) is either dubious or is just too damn expensive, this seemed as good as excuse as anything to lash out. My hope is too either go down in a cage and feed wild white pointer sharks in Adelaide or stay at Monte Christo - Australia's most haunted house. A puppet festival seems a rather tame comparison really but there you go. We'll see what happens.

Product of this weekend. Got her finished in a day which I was pretty stoked with. A bunch of truly awful movies, a couple of beers and hello new puppet! I am loving this new obsession! 

Cool babe!!! Love her!

Nice work. Love her outfit!

I confess I cheated a little Shawn. Bought some cheap children's clothes then ripped them up a little and painted them. So much quicker/simpler! It's amazing as you progress all the short cuts you stumble upon!

I'm still not sure about completing facial features - particularly lips. More research is required for sure but I would love it if you could recommend any particular sites or blogs off the top of your head relating to facial features.

Maybe you could use satin to make the lips shiny? So she'd look like she used lipstick? And holster them up a bit with cotton or the like?

Hi Na, my email is lizzieslair AT live.com. I have a hectic week at work so if I'm depositing money directly in to an account or getting to the Post Office for a money order, it may take me a couple of days to get there during working hours. I definitely want the book though so bear with me. I should have my newly ordered Visa arriving shortly so if you can wait a week and would prefer Paypal, that's cool too.

I'm happy to wait until the credit card comes through - I'm in no rush, unless you want it sooner rather than later. I kind of feel jealous actually, as I bought their 'first' edition, which has a rather less pretty front cover.  I'm not sure, but it might even cover info about lips, although don't quote me on that. It's been a while since I flipped through and I'm too lazy to get up and check my copy.

The website was totally shonky. If I had stumbled across it without your input, I would have discredited it particularly given I know little of the performers/artists. You would think they would at least post costs but I guess it's a first and perhaps they haven't quite got their act together. I'm looking for something totally different to do for my 30th and given my first plan (and second for that matter) is either dubious or is just too damn expensive, this seemed as good as excuse as anything to lash out. My hope is too either go down in a cage and feed wild white pointer sharks in Adelaide or stay at Monte Christo - Australia's most haunted house. A puppet festival seems a rather tame comparison really but there you go. We'll see what happens.

Yeah, it looks like they just slapped it together using a pre-installed website builder that comes free with every web host. On the other hand, I bet they have very little funding so I can't blame them for not wanting to spend the money on a proper design, and I doubt they have the time or energy to worry too much about it. However, knowing who is organising the festival, I have no doubt the actual event is worthwhile. (Scratch some of the above: it looks like the domain name is owned by the Maldon community centre) If I recall correctly, it's being run by an ex-UNIMA Aus. president, and someone who's been part of many local festivals as well as being quite a big name in the puppetry community in general. One of the 'old hands' that was part of the 70s puppetry crop.

Anyway, I totally agree that not putting up prices was the biggest mistake ever; even if they don't have costs worked out entirely, they should have at least added somewhere "Registration costs to be announced" so people know to keep a look out. Not placing pricing info or similar confuses me and I wonder if the whole thing is simply free to attend. I doubt it though.

Something big for your 30th sounds great! I don't think I'd be going in with the sharks though  
As for puppetry being tame in comparison... I don't know: wait until dark when the puppeteers have had lots to drink, have their puppets out, and it's past 9 o'clock  

Product of this weekend. Got her finished in a day which I was pretty stoked with. A bunch of truly awful movies, a couple of beers and hello new puppet! I am loving this new obsession!  

Love the new puppet! The detail is fab, from her eyes, to her lips (which look great, no matter what you think. Certainly better than my attempts!), the piercings and the rouge on her cheeks. Speaking of which, how did you colour them?

I confess I cheated a little Shawn. Bought some cheap children's clothes then ripped them up a little and painted them. So much quicker/simpler! It's amazing as you progress all the short cuts you stumble upon!

That's not cheating! I find that most puppeteers recommend either sewing your own clothing or buying children's clothes; the latter is cheap and easy. Go to an op shop and voila, all you need for dressing a puppet. Tip: don't use real shoes though. They're heavy and weigh down the puppeteer. Learned that one the hard way  

But if you feel like doing it the hard way, there's an excellent free ebook available specifically for making puppet clothing and accessories. http://www.puppetpub.com/costumes.html
I found that whilst a few things may need clarification and/or editing, it's pretty much the best thing you will find on the subject. I've made lots of clothes with it, and it's certainly no harder than making the rest of the puppet.

I'm still not sure about completing facial features - particularly lips. More research is required for sure but I would love it if you could recommend any particular sites or blogs off the top of your head relating to facial features.

Hmmm... I seem to recall a blog that had a post on lips. ... Ah, it's actually something that was posted here:
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php?topic=2160.0
(will need modification of course)
Puppet Building no longer exists, but you can find the page still 'working' here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080131143955/http://puppetbuilding.com/puppet-crafts/make-a-simple-talking-lips-puppet.html
Maybe if you contact Andrew he'll be able to send you the pattern.

I could have sworn there was another one out there, but I can't seem to find it. If I do, I'll post it.