LICORICE ALLSORTS JOEY
There is a simple method for making puppet faces in wood.
​
Somebody else made the top right Clown here using this simple 'jigsaw-puzzle' method.
​
This is my current favourite carving technique, especially for Clowns.
The shape of the wooden nose really alters the whole look of the character.
As always, I like to use a sympathetic fabric for the lining of the body - this is the part I see the most when the puppets are hanging up in the theatre.
Birmingham Rag Market turned up some lovely Licorice Print fabric and bright braids.
In recent years I have abandoned going to Birmingham to Fabric shop.
​
Not only has Parking got expensive, but also the Council have implemented a Clean Air Zone with a financial penalty charge.
Congratulations Brum Council, you have priced shoppers out of your city.
​
I now buy everything at 'The Hole in the Wall' in Walsall.
Getting the sweets themselves looking right was important.
​
Good old Fimo !
This was actually the first time I had ever used Fimo clay.
Getting the pink sweets looking right was a bit tricky.
The original ones I made were just too dark.
They didn't look right.
Before this puppet I had made hands individually from separate bits of timber.
Here I had the brainwave to cut and carve them as a double ended pair from a single piece of wood.
It worked really well and is now my regular method of carving hands.
Head and hands were then joined to the glove body and given a base coat of bright pink paint.
​
Ready for a trip to France !
A wonderful trip to Lyon to visit fellow Punch Clubster Damien Weis.
The padding and costume work on this Joey was all done in Damiens puppet making workshop in the mountains 2 hours outside of Lyon.
Back in the UK after a wonderful trip. Finally the sweets are sewn to his trousers.
And I decide to change the neck ruff : white suits him better I think.
Joey has on his Painting-Smock. A bit like going to the barbers, this ensures his costume doesn't get covered in paint.
This drummer puppet was being built at the same time as Joey.
As of 2025 the drummer still isn't finished.
Puppets not getting finished does seem to happen a lot.
They always make it into the show in the end though.
Some Pom-Poms and Maribou feathers make super silly hair - and he is DONE !
