Content warning: this article is going to discuss the making of a puppet, with many pictures of the process. Some people have a fear of puppets or dolls (and my puppet is of a rather curious appearence), and may be caused distress, so reader discretion is advised.
This article is a continuation of the story behind the puppet I made, when through my wonderfully supportive friend GL, I was offered a place on 6-day glove puppet workshop at the Hancock Museum as part of the Moving Parts Arts Puppets on the Green Festival. The course was being run by the amazing Raven Kaliana, who is just phenonenal. I fully acknowledge the privilege of being able to attend this workshop.
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1) Image description: The cream calico head has a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. On Amy’s head is a very fancy plaited pompadour hairstyle in pink wool. There is now a tiny wooden peg sewn to her nose (as a reminder of the one she used to put on her nose in the book, a reference which I hope will make fans of the book/film smile). There is a brown cardboard tube in her neck to act as support. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
2) Image description: The cream calico head has a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. On Amy’s head is a very fancy plaited pompadour hairstyle in pink wool. There is now a tiny wooden peg sewn to her nose. I have made the inner sheath that the puppet operator can out their hand and arm inside. It is made from cream calico and comprises of a long skirt, two sleeves and a neck, which is attached to the head. At the end of the In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
3) Image description: The cream calico head has a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. On Amy’s head is a very fancy plaited pompadour hairstyle in pink wool. There is now a tiny wooden peg sewn to her nose. There is a cream calico inner sheath that the puppet operator can out their hand and arm inside which comprises of a long skirt, two sleeves and a neck, which is attached to the head. I have now made a pair of calico hands and sewed them to the sleeves. The hands are very big and in this picture are crossed in front of the body. I have painted fingernails, knuckles and lines on the hands in brown paint. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
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4) Image description: The cream calico head has a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. There is a wooden peg on her nose. On Amy’s head is a very fancy plaited pompadour hairstyle in pink wool. The head is turned to the left. Amy’s arms are held upwards and I have made a pair of sleeves from fabric. The fabric has a white background with brown and navy blue patterns upon it. There is now a tiny wooden peg sewn to her nose. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
5) Image description: The sleeves I have made are now attached to a bodice. The fabric has a white background with brown and navy blue patterns upon it. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
6) Image description: Image description: The cream calico head has a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. On Amy’s head is a very fancy plaited pompadour hairstyle in pink wool. There is now a tiny wooden peg sewn to her nose. Amy is now wearing the sleeved bodice made from fabric with a white background with brown and navy blue patterns upon it. There are small white pearl buttons sewn down the front of the bodice. She is holding her arms and hands upwards. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
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7) Image description: The cream calico head has a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. There is a wooden peg on her nose. She is wearing the sleeved bodice made from fabric with a white background with brown and navy blue patterns upon it. I made a fancy ruffled collar for Amy from many layers of blue and white lace. I had a black cameo with a cream head on it, which I made into a brooch by sticking pearls and gold braid around it, then fixed it to Amy’s bodice. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
8) Image description: I have begun to make a skirt for Amy. I made a triangle shaped pattern and cut pieces of fabric. In this photograph there are three triangle pieces in cream fabric with red, yellow and green stripes and red and blue roses on it, and two pieces in pink fabric with white dots on it. I have sewn them all together as I begin to make the flared skirt. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia, and some drinking receptacles.
9) Image description: In this photograph there are four triangle pieces in cream fabric with red, yellow and green stripes and red and blue roses on it, and two pieces in pink fabric with white dots on it, one piece of yellow fabric with green leaves and a red bud upon it, and two pieces of fabric with a white background with brown and navy blue patterns upon it. I have sewn them all together as I begin to make the flared skirt. In the background is art and sewing parephenalia.
10) Image description: This is a photograph of Amy being held by the course tutor Raven. Amy has a cream calico head, a prominent nose, two round blue eyes, two eyebrows sewn with black thread, long, messy black eyelashes around the eyes, a pink heart shape on each cheek, a pink-lipped mouth and white teeth. There is a wooden peg on her nose. She is wearing the sleeved bodice made from fabric with a white background with brown and navy blue patterns upon it. I have sewn white lace around her cuffs. She has large calico hands with detail painted with brown paint. Amy has a fancy ruffled collar of blue and white lace, with a black cameo with a cream head on it, which I made into a brooch by sticking pearls and gold braid around it. She has along, multi-coloured skirt to which I have sewn a gathered fabric ruffle. Raven is operating Amy — one of Raven’s hands is inside the puppet and the other is touching the skirt. Raven has cream skin and brown curly hair. She wears black-framed glassed and is smiling. Raven is wearing a brown peaked cap, a balck scarf, a brown jumper and black jeans. There is a classroom behind with white walls, a window and a grey floor.
This was the last day of the puppet course for me. Amy was not completely finished but she was well on her way to being. Raven very kindly gave me some great tips on how to operate Amy. I was very sad indeed to say goodbye to everyone on the course, as the intensive time we had spent together, we had shared much of ourselves and had some truly wonderful conversations. I felt safe and valued. It was wonderful to be in such a stimulating creative atmosphere. I knew I would miss this contact very much. As I said my goodbyes, I went to the bus station with a heavy heart indeed, and many a sigh.
I still had jobs that I wanted to do on Amy, some of which I have since done. I will discuss these in a further article but for now I will take a short break from this, in case you, dearest readers, are feeling a little tired of so much Amy, and it is getting a bit sAmy (silly joke)!
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I hope you enjoyed reading my latest article. Thank you so much for spending some time here with me.
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