I just realized that in the last year, I've only made two posts to this blog. That's simply not enough. At all.
I was told by a customer today that he misses seeing updates on the site, and he mentioned that "Life goes on." That is true, and in many ways puppets were out of my mind for a little while.
I had a particularly difficult time building the Yeti, Jr that I sold last year. Nothing wanted to go together right, no matter what I did. It was frustrating enough that I wanted to take some time off of building, and that I did.
When I went back to it, I found that I didn't seem to have much creativity going. The ideas that were coming into my head were really just rehashed ideas of puppets I had already done.
However, I did manage to get a couple of good ideas going...and I wanted to finally show a few updates.
For those of you that do come to the site, and think that I may have forgotten about puppets???
This is my dining room table...yes, my formal dining room table...as it stands today!!! Notice that it is, quite literally, covered in puppets that I have made, purchased, and worked on variously. Some were bought, others were made, and that pink one?? I made it, but it was so complex that I probably won't ever try to make another one!!! It's a flamingo, and it's wings actually flap with a mechanical device mounted inside of them. What you can't see in this picture is that there are other puppets behind these ones, which means that the table is pretty much completely covered in puppets. What isn't covered in puppets is covered by puppet making things, like a sewing machine and a tool box, and then radio controlled car stuff. One of these days, I'm going to get that table cleaned off and get a proper workshop set up!!
Anyways, I still have a few things that I need to do. Last year a customer bought a dinosaur that turned out GREAT. I need to still make myself one to add to my collection, and then add him to the site so that he can be made for more customers. Also, I still need to make my own Yeti, Jr again as the one I had was sent to a customer. Finally, I still need to add the Wise Old Frog that I have made for the same customer who bought the dinosaur, so I can add him to the site!!!
So, that's on the To-Do List...and yes, I know that those things have been on the To-Do List for a while...
But now, on to some other things...a few character teasers.
First up?? The replacement for Rabbit. I never really liked the way Rabbit looked. He just didn't come out as good as I expected. So what to do?? How about downsize him, base him on a pattern that I'm more comfortable with, and come up with this cute little guy???
His ears have weights in them so that they hang down like that all the time, but the weights are actually magnets, which allow you to stick them to each other if you would like. It makes for a pretty cool look with his ears hooked to themselves below his chin. He's really cute, and once he gets a body he'll be a GREAT looking puppet!!!!
Next up?? I've been teasing about Otserp for a LOOONG time. Otserp is a monster puppet, but he's a friendly monster. Otserp has been through a lot, as far as my design aspects go. I originally designed a puppet with smooth fleece as Otserp, but just didn't like the way it came out. The main problem was the stuff I used for eyes was very one off, and I couldn't find any more of the...so I would never really end up being able to make another Otserp. I ended up selling Otserp as a one off puppet to a friend at work for her children, along with the Rabbit that New Rabbit up above replaced. So anyways, after a redesign I came up with this...and I think it looks pretty cool!!!
His fur flows well, but the best part is the fur around his eyes moves all around with even the slightest movement or wind. Really interesting. Again, with a body, I believe he'll look fantastic!!!! You could set his character up as either a monster, or a furry alien from a distant planet who's here looking for Cheetos.
Finally, this was a character that I just kind of came up with because I hadn't done anything in this color fleece yet and I wanted to see how it came out. This is Albert.
Albert has crazy hair, and beady little eyes. He's also red...really red. His eyes are red, his skin is red, his tongue will be red. Albert is an inventor and scientist. He keeps telling me over and over that he's pretty sure that E=M^2C, but thinks that something is out of place. I'm sure by now you're getting my corny joke and get where the name Albert came from. Anyways...Albert will look great when he's finished...and I'm thinking that he could be a great character for many things. Mad scientist?? Check. Crazy old man that lives in the scary house at the end of the road?? Check. Homeless Vagabond out collecting cans?? Check. His possibilities are endless.
I hope this coming week to get the Characters page rearranged in the way that I plan, and hopefully I'll be seeing you guys soon!!!!
