Prairie Dog Pattern

I am happy to offer the complete pattern for the Prairie Dog. When combined with the tutorial I've posted on YouTube you have everything you need to make you very own Prairie Dog. Or you could get creative and make some kind of other creature.

I'm asking $15.00 USD.

To order email me at bashfulpuppet@gmail.com. I will send you a reply via Paypal with instructions for payment and when I have recieved payment I will email you the pattern.

Prairie Dog Build Videos on YouTube

I'm pleased to announce that I have completed and posted a video tutorial for the building of one of my prairie dogs. Below I have embeded the first of that series.

Let me know what you think.

Jon

I've been at work in the Bashful Puppet workshop, otherwise known as my dining room, and have finished the three prairie dogs that are going to star in the Prairie Dog parables puppet show I'm currently writing.

Their names are Grandpa Horowitz, the green one with the beard, Jessie, the purple one, and Davie, the orange one.

The next character I will build is a grumpy Wood Chuck named chuck and then a little field mouse name Morgy

Round Head Building Video Tutorial

Several have asked questions regarding the construction of the round head puppet pattern. Below I have uploaded a video briefly describing how to put the head together and measure the mouth.

If this does not answer your questions send me an email at bashfulpuppet@gmail.com and I'll be glad to help you further.

Microphone Problems

I started building the next two puppets today and was recording the whole process with my web cam. I had recorded the assembly of the entire foam construction before I realized that the microphone had been turned off. So I had video and no sound.

This is what I have decided to do. I am going to be building a wood chuck next and the body is very similar to that of the prairie dog so I will now record the build process for the wood chuck.

Sorry about the change of plans but that's the way the ball bounces some times.

1st Prairie Dog Puppet

Over the last few days I have completed the first of the prairie dogs for the Prairie Dog Parables show I am working on and he is cute. I haven't come up with a name for him yet so if you have any suggestions I'm open to ideas.

I intentionally didn't take any pictures of the build process. Since I had never built a puppet this shape too much of the whole thing was trial and error for me to feel comfortable committing any of the process to picture or print. Now that I know what I'm doing I'll let you in the the process for the next one.

As I already mentioned I have two more prairie dogs to build. What I am planning to do is set up my web cam and video the process. I haven't decided if I will simply make the videos and then post them or record the process live on my blogtv account. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Ordered Foam For Prairie Dogs

I've decided for my prairie dog puppets, and the boy puppet, that I want to use a higher grade of foam than I have previously used. I have ordered some reticulated foam from an upholstery supplier in my region. I have been told by some other more experienced builders that reticulated foam is the most durable foam for building puppets. So I'm hoping that in a few days I'll have the foam in hand and can get started on building those critters.

I have already designed the prairie dog puppets and I have purchased the fabric for two of them. I'm going with terry cloth and I believe that it is going to be a challenge to get the fabric to fit right because it does not have any stretch. Always before have I've used fleece that has some stretch to it which made fitting fabric significantly easier. But the principles of covering are the same I'll just have to fuss with it till it comes out right.

For the colors I'm going with some cartoon type colors. Greens for one, purples for another and I haven't decided on the others yet.

I'll have pictures as soon as I get some actual construction done.

Puppet Theatre Build Update

The frame for the puppet theatre I've been working on is completed. The Base for this theatre is a large bin called a "Smart Bin." The frame work for the theatre is 1/2 inch copper tubing and the necessary fittings. I chose copper for three reasons. One, low profile when transitioning from fitting to tubing. Only about 1/8th of an inch. Two, ease of availability. In every community across the country I can get material to repair or modify the stage. And three, cost. Some may think that the copper would be an expensive alternative. The entire frame, excluding the bin cost me about $35.00. If you compared that cost with other options it's a pretty good deal.

The over all stage height is about 7 feet. The stage opening is 54 inches off the floor and is about 40 inches wide and 30 inches tall. The back drop will hang about 15 inches back from the front and the puppeteer(s) will stand behind with the drop hanging between him and the puppet. There are two arms extending out the front that will support the stage lights. All very securely supported by the smart bin. One thing I really like about the frame is that it is constructed so that you can still open and close the lid of the bin.

At this point I need to acknowledge that I based my stage design on the stage that Swazzle is currently using for their shows. I really like the versatility and and simplicity of their stage layout.

Prairie Dog Parables

I have begun plans for a new puppet show that I am hoping to use as a one man street show. For this I am creating five new puppets. Three are prairie dogs, one is a wood chuck, and the other is a field mouse. My plan is to adapt several of Jesus' parables and bring them to life in my puppet theatre. Check back to see the progress I make as I build these new characters.

For those wondering whether or not I'll be able to complete the boy puppet I announced a few weeks ago I want to assure you that I have plans for him as well. So its busy, busy, busy in the Bashful Puppet workshop.

Puppet Theatre Build

A few weeks ago I was given a rugged tool box that is roughly 36 inches long by 18 inches wide by 18 inches deep. I am going to convert this into a puppet show in a box stage and all. I am designing a stage that is somewhat patterned after the stage that Swazzle has been using this past summer. The stage will be about 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall. I plan to post pictures of the completed stage so that you can see what I come up with.

Little Dragon Shadow Puppet Video

I was watching Daryl Stiqman's PuppetLive blog, over a BlogTV, and he showed us a exerpt from the video, "The Little Dragon" performed by the Puppet Art Theater Co. This performance is a perfect example of the power of shadow puppetry and truly wonderful story telling.

I found it inspiring and am really thinking about how I would like to use shadow puppetry in the productions I'm working on. Because shadow puppets have different limitations when compared to hand puppets I think they would add to the power of a puppet show. I think they would also work well for dream sequences since they are two dimensional and monochromatic.

Regarding the boy puppet. I waiting for a chance to get to the foam store to pick up some reticulated foam so that I can get on with the building.

NEW POST - Boy Puppet

Well after a crazy busy summer and early autumn I am back and beginning a new puppet build. For this puppet I am leaving the world of insects and moving to people. A boy puppet to be specific. I haven't lost interest in my cast of insect characters I just think that as a builder and sometimes a performer I need to have a person puppet in my line up. The boy puppet is based on a character in a Max Lucado children's story, "A Hat for Ivan," that I think would make a great boy puppet.



I am using a modified pattern I purchased from Dr. Puppet as the foundation for the head and some building techniques I learned from his puppet building videos.

I should also say that while I am making the time to build puppets I still have many other projects that re demanding my attention so I may not be able to update as often as I would like. Have to keep my priorities in line. That being said I am looking forward to this build. I plan for it to be the best construction to date.

I'm Back and Hard At Work

Honestly I am hard at work,though admitedly most of the work has nothing to do with puppets. My house needs some work and thats taking up quite a bit of time. And then there's my work...that goes without saying. Fortunately for the puppets one part of my work is to prepare a program for 100 kindergarteners at a regional campmeeting.

The theme that I have chosen requires that I write several dialogs between one or two of my puppets and a leader. This means that I will be posting some puppet scripts in hte next few months so stay in touch.

Sorry no puppet builds at present. I would love to build but they take a lot of time and distract me from other things that I ought to be doing (like writing scripts and working on my house).