Just wanted to introduce myself. Don't know how I haven't been here sooner! Faron Pieroni- I live in the Nashville TN area have 2 awesome kids and my wife, a nurse, who helps me with my puppets.  Im interested in puppets of all kinds but am really enjoying building hand/rod puppets with foam. I've always been intreged by puppets and have always been an artist. Have a degree in graphic design although sculpting, drawing, building models etc is more my thing. ANYWAY I always said I wanted to be a puppet builder but for whatever reason I didnt actually even attempt to until my wife started finding materials and videos and such online for me to have something to start from. So in other words Im very new to this but, quite pleased with my progress so far. Each puppet I have built impresses me more than the last and Im excited by what I've learned and am at a neat point where Im realizing that now that I have learned what I have through experimentation and trial and error, that Im fairly confident I can make any puppet I can dream up.  So glad to have found this group (of coarse that was actually my wife again, lol). Surprised to see so many other grownups with the same unique interest. Hoping to not only network and connect but learn from you all. Thanks for having me!

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff!  Glad you found us. 

I was in Nashville last Christmas season working with the Radio City Rockettes at the Grand Ole Opry. Really liked the city and was able to make it to a few of the local attractions like the zoo and a fair grounds.

Looks like there may be a problem with your Avatar.  I'll go in a check things out. If you had tried to upload one you may have to give it another try.

Thanks for the welcome. Wow, we go see the Rockettes when we can, what a great show. Would love to be part of something like that. And yes, I was having trouble with the avatar. Now seems fine. Thanks!

Very unique face on your avitar,not a shape I have seen on puppet before, I like it.  Can't wait to see more of your ideas.

Thanks, This is actually my first humanistic puppet, I was pretty thrilled with the results for a first and quickly starting on my second, just posted it to gallery. I think i hadnt realized how much my sculpting ability could be used until now, really, I will post some of my first attempts , Granted, I was still making my own heads from no patterns, I was just using very basic shapes. I feel suddenly realizing I can manipulate foam with my sculpters eye that the possibilities are endless. So super stoked and inspired/motivated right now. Great Site. Thanks

Love them.  If you get passionate about the mechanical workings of the puppets creating exciting movements along with your interesing shapes you will be unstoppable. This site helps you get farther along faster than you might on your own. Great resource.

Welcome! Snails right, you've got this nailed!

Thanks for that. Can't wait to explore/learn from this site.  This one discussion is thr most I have ever discussed my puppets with ANYONE that had any level of experience with puppet building. And the little bits of feedback just so far is definitely a confidence boost and adds to the flame of inspirayion for me.  Thank you!

Welcome! You'll find lots of help and info here - in fact, I just posted some in a new thread

Really nice puppets... don't be surprised when folks start asking you how you got that head shape. We get the question of how to make a pear shaped head ever so often.   Are you sculpting blocks of foam or using sheet foam to create the shapes?