Making a miniature tutu skirt

I wanted to share the process of making Odile's tutu skirt, which I made from scratch. The best thing about this technique is that you can actually apply it to real people and not only dolls! I have a lot of tulle at home, and am planning to make a full size tutu for little moi in the near future.

I made the skirt from beautiful golden tulle I got from a friend, using a non-stitch technique I picked up on YouTube. It's actually very easy to follow, just requires some patience. It was quite a tedious task, and took almost two hours (while watching TV, I admit). Here is the tutorial, easy as pie!

So, I cut several dozens of thin strips of tulle and tied them to a satin ribbon, in matching gold color, which I later used to secure the skirt to Odile's waist.

Tying thin strands of tulle to a satin ribbon

The tying is complete, fitting Odile's waist

Placing the skirt over the satin bodice

That was the base of my work. After that came embellishments, jewelry, hair and makeup and tiny golden shoes I ordered especially et voila - the little ballerina was ready!

I am very grateful I found this simple tutorial, and am actually eager to make some more little ballerinas. My friend also gave me red and white tulle, which are waiting to be made into something beautiful.

Last but not least, I almost forgot! I got a flattering review of on custom made Flutterbride and Fluttergroom on Urban Brides Magazine. Here is a little excerpt for you guys (in Hebrew).

 

Have a nice week everybody! And please comment, I love reading what you guys think.

Yossef

Today, after reading about him on Yifat's blog, I came upon this sweet movie showing Yossef the puppet signing books on the last National Isreali Book Week. Yossef and his long time operator, Roni Mosenson-Nelken, who is an acclaimed puppetry teacher, wrote a wonderful book discussing the art of puppetry, the philosophy behind it, and the relationship between puppet and operator. The moment I saw it on the book store I knew that a - I must have it and b - I'm SO stupid I didn't write it myself (but I am not really angry, my book is in the works. I am simply sad I am not the only one who can write such a book so beautifully. Big ego you know).

Israeli puppetry and art lovers, this book is a must! I wish I could have my signed by Yossef.. I also think I should take a course tutored by Roni, maybe a summer school thing?

"Do you know how to sign? Simply scrabble something 
and say it's a signature, that's what grown ups do"

Fraggle Rock'n'Roll

Yesterday stumbled into a must addition for my wardrobe. Actually it's more of a uniform, being a puppeteer, so I had to buy one (okay, a couple) of the Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock collection for Zara! Look how nice it looks, and soft too not to mention fairly priced.

T-shirt Zara, trousers - Evans, shoes - Fly London, monster necklace - Shay Aaron

Go to this website the Henson company setup - they actually have remixes of the Fraggle Rock themes. So cool!

Here's a little reminder for you guys, enjoy!

Creating the illusion of life

The other day I was coughing about when I got an SMS from my friend saying "I didn't know you have a puppet in a movie". I SMSed right back "neither did I". He then sent me a clip from a 2006 Israeli kids movie titled "Little Heroes", which indeed features a puppet I made and sold, having no idea it will star in a film (lawyers already advised).

More than not knowing, more than not being credited or paid, I was shocked at the horrible way the poor puppet was operated. No wonder it looked so blue. Time for a puppet operating and handling 101 boys and girls, based on all the errors made in the movie clip my friend sent me.

Here we go - watch and learn.

The errors are:

1. Poor thing is being operated from the.. well.. butt.
   God (or me, in this case) gave your puppet an operating opening at the back of the neck. Use it! No need to sodomize your puppet, or hurt your arm. The operating hole is placed at the best place to provide optimal control of the mouth and head, and minimal harm to your wrist.
   
2. The puppet is not focused.
   His eyes are all over the place, which ruins the illusion of a real character talking. The eyes of the puppet, and therefore, the point which should be facing the audience, are on your knuckles. Make sure you are holding your hand with the knuckles facing straight and slightly downwards. Practice in front of the mirror, to make sure your audience, be it many or or a single person, feels the puppet is looking and talking straight at them.
   
   
   
3. He is moving his mouth too much
   The puppet's mouth is moving non stop. If you look at yourself speak in the mirror, you will realize much of the speech is pronounced with a closed mouth using your tongue and teeth. The puppet should not move its mouth more than twice per word. Practice your puppet saying "toilet sit" (or אזדרכת in Hebrew) while moving its mouth only twice.
   
   Check Erez singing Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix for reference. I'm moving his mouth way too much in this clip, but still it is about half the times the blue one is moving in the movie. This is, after all, opera!
   
   
   
   
   
   

In conclusion, here are the three golden rules for creating a successful illusion of life:

1. Use the tools the puppet designer gave you. Learn the advantages and minuses of your puppet, and the proper way of operating it. And practice practice practice.
2. Keep the puppet focused on its audience.
   
3. Move the puppet as little as needed. Mannerisms are nice on a puppet, but only in the right measure. Do not make it look as if it is possessed.
   

If all this made you long for a puppet of your own, I will gladly make you a small or large one.

Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix

Erez and Moti performing an aria from "Samson and Delilah" by Camille Saint-Saëns.

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