Lol, not at all would be an accurate answer... more when I can...
Scoob

Hey Na,
Get a lincraft card as well as the spot light. Yes they're a little more expensive (not really that much) but a different and sometimes bigger range. Also They have member only specials and the newsletter tells you when they have 50% off fabric days. Even if it's only once a year, I bought enough for easily a year or more at the last one, then bought more fleece a month after that when they had a fleece sale.

I haven't been in Lincraft in years - last time I looked, it was too 'wedding stuff' for me, and the craft section wasn't as good as Spotlight or Riot Art. It does help too that I'm closer to both of the latter stores, but I'd have to head into town just to go to Lincraft. (Single bus ride to two Riot Arts, one north and one south of me! And the bus stop is just half a block down the road. It's even the same bus route to either one. Two buses to Spotlight, but it's still pretty quick and easy)

I know you make a lot of shadow puppets and stuff but if you are using much foam you might find that clark rubber just too expensive.

Which is why I buy foam sheets from Spotlight. I have about 5-6 of them in storage containers, and I'm not planning on much foam building in the future. I may do another muppet-type pattern, but I find them so frustratingly time-consuming it won't be for a good long time.

Before I left melbourne, the pauppet master for Avenue Q put me onto Foam Suppliers in Dandenong.I saw the foam he got for $50, plenty more than you'd get at Clark Rubber. They deliver but I think the price is a little negotiable, it's probably worth the drive (I dropped in when I was out there at a wetsuit manufacturer, but I know that's a fair drive to "drop in" otherwise.

Thanks for the info! I'll look into them. Dandenong is on my side of town, so it's not that bad of a drive. (I do like heading into Sassafras, just to go to the puppet shop there. Best selection of puppets I've ever seen in our country)

Interestingly, I got a large-ish block of foam, maybe 50-60 cm tall, 10-15 wide - rectangular - for $5 from Clark Rubber. I think at the time their scraps bin consisted mainly of things less than $20 and decent sizes too. But this was several years ago.

how do you find the time to respond to every word of everyone's post!) :p I Have to go and catch up on chores I've neglected. I shall have to shun you all again for a while in order to make some puppets instead of reading about making them.

Actually, I have a tough time keeping up with most correspondence, not just this site. It does help however, that I'm on the net a lot, and so are more able to read/reply to things than say, someone who isn't near their computer all day.

I've been 'shunning' this thread only because I've been hunkered down trying to sort out my book-keeping and it's a right awful mess. Hopefully I'll have it done by end of next week at the latest; I have a new shadow puppet almost finished and am hoping to post it here to get some feedback on sizes.

Thanks again for the info on the supplier!

It's a brilliant site Na! I haven't had a chance to delve much deeper yet but will keep the feedback coming! Like Scoob said, you blow my mind with your willingness to share your time and knowledge. Thanks!

Thank you *bows*
It's getting there slowly. Do post any feedback you have, it's rare that my visitors leave it. As for sharing, it's paying it forward. So many people here and elsewhere have given their time, knowledge and effort to guide me (like you, I was new to this once and in so many ways still am). It's important to me to keep that going, and give something back to the community.

Many people have already mentioned attaching fabric, personally I find it best to create a paper pattern for the foam, then resize the pattern just a skoosh for the fabric. You'll find it fits pretty perfectly over the top without having to lay the fabric over and nip and tuck where necessary. Less chance of making mistakes too. I did this for my Human Foam Puppet pattern:
http://www.schoolofpuppetry.com.au/tutorials.php/how-to-make-a-muppet-type-puppet-human-foam-puppet-pattern

If you're looking for Foamies, you have to head to an arts/craft store like Riot Art. Spotlight really only sells them depending on location I think; they also do that with doll joints.

Now, your Kookaburra puppet... is pretty awesome!!! The fabric on the head/beak looks like velvet? I love the fur, you're right, it's worth the price

Hi Guys,

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I've been working on my newest puppet! I wanted to say thanks for the Puppets 101 link. Seeing the process stepped out was really helpful (I read the blog detailing the construction of a cat). As a result, I am building this current puppet completely by hand. I'm really enjoying being able to refine the design as opposed to making a machine sewn 'skin' fit - but it is very time consuming. I also took your advice and purchased some fleece. The seams are visible but I'm kind of liking that look! Also loved the price compared to fur! 

I did want to ask the Aussies... I'm using a foam adhesive that comes as spray. It's super messy and after sculpting the head, it took a couple of days to get it all off my hands. Are there any particular products you would recommend that aren't quite so messy?

Hope your worlds are awesome!

Lizzie

Na, I love your human puppet! Out of interest, when I was researching methods used for my first puppet, your website (and that specific puppet) was the one I referred to most. I didn't purchase the pattern but was able to garner the general gist from what you'd provided. So thank you for all your help!  I have been trying to use the process you referred to however I'm really bad at accurately adjusting changes I make on the foam to the paper pattern. Hopefully I'll improve with practice.

And yes, it was velvet on the bird puppet. I only brought 20cms so it was affordable. Really glad I took your advice and bought fleece this time though. Hard to beat $4 a metre!

Thanks again

Lizzie

Selley's (spelling doesn't look right but you know the brand I mean) Contact adhesive. The toxic stuff is definitely the best if you have a well ventilated workshop. You spread it on with a spatula, paddle pop stick or what ever you like but it's a thick liquid not a spray so there is more control. Follow the directions but part of that is letting the stuff dry so a hairdryer is recommended. Not just for the impatient, but for those easily distracted ( so you don't let it over set)
I've recently experimented with the water based, less toxic contact adhesive, but it REALLY takes ages to dry. I'm not sure that it hasn't gone a little off in the tub so it's not really working for me and I'm thinking of going back to the nasty stuff. I guess I'll give the waterbased one more try now that I have a cheap hairdryer in the workshop...
Depending on the application you can use hot glue gun on foam too of course. Best done just a little at a time and have water standing by, wet your fingers if you need to touch the seam to squeeze it together. The water will give you a buffer from the heat. Make sure you use a container that has a wide opening to get your fingers in and a low centre of gravity so you don't knock it over if you suddenly have to plunge a burnt finger in there! (ALWAYS have the water standing by)
Have you got a glue gun? I'm getting pretty good with my Bostic (original brand) but if I bought one again I would look for one with more of a needle nozzle.
$4 a meter is a good price, there is fleece and there is fleece of course. Is your fleece "track suit" fleece, a bit fluffy on one side and smooth on the other? The best, (but more expensive) fleece is low pill polo fleece or (I think) arctic fleece. But really anything is good if it gets you the look you want. The grey and yellow fleeces on the rabbit in my gallery are polo and arctic fleeces but I got them as scraps in a St Vincent de Paul shop! Happy with that but watch they're not selling for the same price as the fabric shops. Tell them and they'll usually mark it down. I was in a lifeline the other day (getting a hairdryer for the workshop) and they had a bigger more elaborate one but it was CHEAPER to by a new one! That day I didn't want to haggle in a Charity shop, but really they do need to be reasonable...
I'll apologise again for no pics yet, I have made a little progress recently but no photo's taken I'm afraid. Like right now I have to go as I am working way out of town early tomorrow... Hope I gave you something to research re glue's, I'm sure there'll be more input and opinions coming your way soon anyway.
Enjoying this thread
Scoob

I did want to ask the Aussies... I'm using a foam adhesive that comes as spray. It's super messy and after sculpting the head, it took a couple of days to get it all off my hands. Are there any particular products you would recommend that aren't quite so messy?

Hope your worlds are awesome!

Lizzie

Sprays really aren't good; not sticky enough to last over time. At least the ones I've tried.

I swear by a glue called "Foam Glue". You can find it in both Riot Art & Spotlight, it's literally called "foam glue", made by Helmar's. If you look for the name, double check the label has a picture of a marionette on it - that's it. (Definitely just a coincidence, but really, it's got a marionette on it!)

It's like PVA but ten times better. In fact, I don't buy PVA anymore, just this glue. It's slightly more watery than PVA, but with proper pinning and gloves if you don't like mess, it works really well. Dries fast: 10-15 minutes for a good hold and in one hour it's super strong.

I have found a few of the American recommended glues recently (Green's contact cement I think) but haven't had the time to try them yet.

We tend to avoid glue guns: it's not only dangerous, but does leave unsightly seams as well as being less durable, especially if left in sunlight.

Hmm foam glue huh (No I didn't go to bed, I'll regret this tomorrow) Is it a wet bond glue or contact? For curved surfaces you really need a contact or fast cure glue or the "spring" in the foam pulls it apart you'd need an awful lot of pins to keep a whole head in shape long enough with all the edges meeting properly... does this stuff come off the pins easily like pva? I'm intrigued given my recent disappointment with water based Contact...

Na, I don't know about you but I have never given myself a burn that gave more than a slight red mark for ten minutes with the glue gun. I wouldn't let my kids near it but dangerous? No worse than an iron, a kettle, a stove, a toaster, a sandwich press, a ...
You don't leave it on you have water standing by and you use it carefully on a clear bench. Basics. Even in direct brisbane sunlight i doubt you'd get the temperature needed to really make it melt (something in the order of 130 Degrees C for Low Temp gun more like 190 for high temp) if you mean UV breakdown, ok perhaps but inside a puppet?...
I can certainly see it might be less durable. "Fully toxic" yellow contact glue will stick the foam stronger than the cohesive bonds of the foam, so it can not be questioned for durability. If you glue with that stuff and try to pull the bond apart the foam will tear before the glue comes apart!

Na, I love your human puppet! Out of interest, when I was researching methods used for my first puppet, your website (and that specific puppet) was the one I referred to most. I didn't purchase the pattern but was able to garner the general gist from what you'd provided. So thank you for all your help!   I have been trying to use the process you referred to however I'm really bad at accurately adjusting changes I make on the foam to the paper pattern. Hopefully I'll improve with practice.

Thank you! I'm both flattered and a teeny bit annoyed; glad you liked it and found it useful, but annoyed that I didn't get a sale out of it! (Since tone is lacking in text: tax time is making me a bit paranoid about income. Looking over last year's sales, I can see I'm making a loss, but not as much of one as previous years. I don't know whether to be heartened or depressed! In context, I wish fewer people would pass the patterns over for the freebies, but am similarly happy to see I can provide any modicum of help to people interested in puppetry)

On a slightly related note, that human puppet pattern has never quite gotten much feedback, and I've given a few freebies out over the years in order to encourage a bit. I'm tempted to offer one to you, but the last few times I've given one out, I've not heard back from the people again...

Maybe there's a way you could sweet talk me into it ....

And yes, it was velvet on the bird puppet. I only brought 20cms so it was affordable. Really glad I took your advice and bought fleece this time though. Hard to beat $4 a metre!

Next time try to find 'velveteen'. It's the same basic material, but lighter in weight, and much cheaper. Can't think of pricing off the top of my head, but velvet is definitely a lot more expensive than velveteen. You may have to ask the staff for help locating it in the store, it might not be clearly differentiated from the 'real' stuff.

$4 a metre! Must be on sale... don't tempt me...  But glad you found something suitable that's also cheap.