As you can see, I made some progress over the weekend! We’re beginning to get to the “adding features” phase of development. I just need to complete the body, arms, and hands, and then I’ll move on to adding facial features. I need to carve a nose and ears, and attach hair.

I’m moving a bit slower than normal due to life issues, and I’m currently working on two projects at once.

I know — excuses, excuses!

As you can see, the Beatnik is coming along nicely! I’ve completed most of the foam work for the head and am just about ready to do the fleece “skin.” I have marked in sharpie where I plan to add features. The last steps in this process will include building up the cheeks a bit with foam to add some character, and maybe building up the chin a bit as well (haven’t decided).

After the foam work is complete, the sewing machine comes out to make his turtleneck and vest. He’ll have a corduroy shirt, and I purchased some fun woven fabric in remnant form for a vest. I also have to make a cloth “sleeve” to give his head movement apart from his body (so when you turn his head, he doesn’t move his whole torso).

His skin will be hand sewn to hide the seams as much as possible. Then it’s on to adding features. His nose will be carved from upholstery foam and then added on separately. I’m still thinking the eyes will be painted onto the insides of dark sunglasses, and hair and goatee will be a terrific black curly fleece I found.

Stay tuned as he progresses …

It’s time to create another puppet. For some reason, a beatnik character keeps churning around in my head. As with any puppet, creating a character on paper is the first step. I use MS Paint to “draw” my characters, since you wouldn’t be able to tell my puppet design from a bunch of shapes drawn in kindergarten class otherwise!

My plan is to use the Project Puppet Punto pattern for my puppet’s elongated head. I’m going to use non-pill fleece for this puppet’s “skin” since antron (Muppet) fleece is a bit expensive and harder to come by. I’m on a budget and mainly doing this puppet for practice. His hair and goatee/moustache will be fake fur in a dark color, and his turtleneck a fun courderoy fabric I found. For his vest, I’m going to use a tapestry-type fabric I found at my local fabric store.

My initial plan is to paint his eyes onto the back of the glasses so they show through as slits. I may try a few tests to see how this works. If I don’t like the effect, I can always make typical ping-pong ball eyes and put the glasses on over them.

I also want him to have a bongo (as he should) so I plan to either purchase a small toy drum, or make one out of a plastic container. It depends on availability of materials.

He’ll have removeable arm rods, so I’ll be able to have him hold the drum, or have his arms free to move, whichever I choose.

This weekend is build time! Wish me luck!