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Builder:
Pam Groom
Pattern:
The Roly Puppet Pattern
Character: "Tip and Spark serve as outside observers to the main scene of any show. Our resident butterflies go unnoticed by the main characters (because they are just bugs, right?) but make observations which the audience but not the main characters can hear. Tip usually sides with the behavior and ideas of the wayward or emotional antagonist while Spark lends useful insight or logic to the conversation." - Pam
Technical: "Both puppets were made using the Simple Series' Roly Puppet Pattern. (The easy downloadability of the Simple Series patterns made it possible for me to make a puppet on vacation using simple tools that I brought along.) I made the mouthplate using the Mostro Pattern idea of gluing the perimeter only of the mouthplate foam flush and exterior to the foam core edges (see photo). The remaining scrap center is cut in half and used as upper and lower hand-holds. The foam core that I used was something I hadn't seen before. Manufactured by Elmer, it had a sticky side which ment I could pull off the sticker backing and place my completed handhold right into the sewn puppet without the use of hot glue or rubber cement. It was reposition-able as well meaning I could fuss with it a bit to get the seams straight. The adhesive doesn't have the best hold, but it sure was easy to use!
I coated black teddy bear eyes with glue and dipped in black glitter to make the eyes look multifaceted. Pipe cleaners are substituted for arms, and wings from an import store are glued on the back. The antennae are black feathers that have been trimmed. These two butterflies were quick and easy to make even without the aid of a sewing machine.
If you've made a puppet using a Project Puppet pattern and have yet to submit an entry to the gallery, I'd encourage you to do so. The exercise of writing a description for the entry helps to clarify and crystallize the personality of the puppet. The process of photographing a finished puppet allows for observations and ideas for refinement that you would otherwise not see. You'll also begin the process of building a nice little portfolio of your work!" - Pam
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