Okay, I love puppets.  Yes.  And although I am not always a big fan of ranchy humour I can always appreciate well made puppets and well made puppet videos.  I had a chance to watch a new online puppet series called *Time Suck.  It is definately not for children (*adult language and themes).  It may not be to the tastes of all but I quite enjoyed it.  The production value was very good, and especially liked the dog puppet (it was very well made).

The video series was made by Brooklyn based prodcution company Charged and included a familiar name in the puppeteers credits.  James Wojtal was listed as one of the puppeteers.  James is a fellow puppet builder and puppeteer and it is nice to see familiar names attached to projects that I have enjoyed.  I will definately keep tabs on the series and I look forward to more updates in the near future.

A big thanks to Alex for the heads up.

*WARNING: Contains Blood and Gore”

 Fellow Canadian puppet builder and puppeteer Matt Ficner has just posted his second video for his Creepy Puppet Project.  The video was made at local Ottawa, Ontario (CANADA) horror attraction called Saunders Farms.

I really like how Matt is breaking the “puppets are for kids” idea…er…should I say smashing and hacking the idea?  Althought I am not a big fan if horror movies, I do love Matt’s work and I found this video in particular very appealing.  Check it out, but be warned it contains lots of blood and gore.  It is definately not for children.

The Ontario Puppetry Association has some pretty cool things going on.  First of all they have a new website.  Secondly there are some really amazing new members that I have had the pleasure of meeting over the years.  Just recently they have started a new OPA group on Facebook, so if you are a Facebook person then go and join.

 It has been a while since I have been an active member.  To be honest I didn’t see the need to join, but there seems to be very exciting new things in the works and they may just get another member soon.

Alrighty then! I’ve been asked time, and time again for the pattern I posted on The Muppet Central Forum last March. I’ve see some of the really amazing things that came from it and thought that it would be great to now provide the fabric pattern to go along with it- It is now complete!

These are free!- If you feel guilty using them please feel free to make a donation to one of these: Center for Puppetry Arts, Muppetcast, or Camp Trillium.

All that I request is that you please give me credit if using them as a teaching tool, or for publishing purposes.

These are crude drawings, I apologize, they were never meant to be published in anyway to the public. Enjoy!

Ever since Philip Hatter came on the puppet scene this past year I have been a big fan.  I even bought a few of his puppets (what a pleasure to have hired him).  Well, Philip teamed up with fellow Puppet Buzz contributor and owner of Project Puppet, Pasha Romanowski, and redesigned his company’s whole image.  That is they have a new logo, website and even a new blog!

I think it looks spectacular and I highly recommend that people take the time to go and browse around.  Maybe buy a puppet or catch a show, but definately check it out.

I just received and email from some amazingly talented performers in Toronto.  Rob and Soli Joy are truly exceptional and I was very happy to see that they have launched their new website (which looks great by the way).  My family was also invited to their CD launch party for their newest CD called “Happy Birthday, Alistair Ant!” .  We will be there, and being that it is almost my son’s birthday I am sure it will be all the more special for him.

 Date and Time:  Sunday, November 11th, 2007 @ 11:00 am and 3:00 pm (This Sunday!!!)

Location:  The Berkeley Heritage Event Venue (315 Queen Street East)

 Cost:  $18 in advance and $19 at the door

If you are in Toronto this Sunday, I highly encourage you to drop by to see their show.  If you have young children then it is not to be missed.  For more information visit their website here.

You don’t need to be a seasoned pro to have fun with puppets.  No, in fact more and more I see new people online who are just having fun with puppet building.  One of those people is Jeffrey Barnes from Arkansas, in the USA.  Jeffrey has always been interested in puppets and puppetry and like many people had no idea where to begin building one of his own.

He was lucky enough to stumble across Pasha Romanowski’s fantastic website called Project Puppet, that helped to send him on his puppet building journey.  Armed this these super patterns and a book called The Foam Book from Grey Seal Puppets he bagan to build many of his favourite characters from television. 

See more of Jeffrey’s puppets here.  I think the puppets are cool and I love the fact that he is just building. 

So build I say!  Take a page from Jeffrey’s book and take the plunge.  Cool things can happen when you do.