Tula Hoob (Live hands puppet)

This whole project has been pretty experimental but its definitely been a learning curve!!

(I'm not treating it as a proper replica, more as a fun project: then if I try the same build later on, when I'm more experienced, I can compare the results)

I started off by crafting a full-size model head with newspaper and sellotape.

(Not the best technique, I know but I had lots of sellotape that I wasn't sure what to do with and no pva glue: still, it seemed to work.)

Once I felt I had the right shape, after looking at lots of reference images, I decided it was time to pattern the head. I covered the head with duct tape and drew the lines in wherever it folded. Then, I cut out along the parts I'd marked and carefully peeled off the pattern peices and stuck them onto some newspaper and cut around those shapes.

I did consider other methods of pattern making such as sculpting a clay maquette then pattering onto that but I Don't have any close access to a printer or print shop so I couldn't enlarge the pattern pieces. (Which is a shame because I would've liked to have sculpted Tula)

Next, I started on the foam head:

I traced the pattern onto 0.5" upholstery foam (although I thinned it out a bit because it was that bit too thick)

I then started on the mouthplate using a combination of techniques I'd learnt.

I knew that she would be a pretty big puppet so I used a sturdy foamboard for the mouth pieces and stuck them together on both sides duct tape, naking sure to leave the middle the same width as both moth pieces combined so the mouth can close properly.

To attach the elastic and reinforce the duct tape, I cut some smaller parts out of a plastic container and drilled some holes and sewed thd elastic on through them. I attached both pieces to the foamboard using contact cement.

(The elastic was measured over each my fingers)

I next started furring the head: for this I used the draping method. I realised that the foam head could use a little more shaping so I took the fur off and sculpted it some more.

(Pompom nose as placeholder)

I added another thin layer of foam to the muzzle and pinched the middle in a little to make the head look more bean-shaped. I also added some little mouth creases to each side.

I then made the head plug:

cutting out a circle of foam the width of the top of the head and glueing half in at the start(of the top of the head) then Stuffing it with polyfil and glueing the other side of the foam plug in.

The inside of the mouth is easy. Just felt.

The nose is also felt because I couldn't find fleece in that colour. (I'll have another look soon)

Stuffed semi firmly with polyfil and stitched up at the back.

Now for the twizzletuft feathers:

I noticed that on the official puppet they were made with thin wire, which I already had, so I tried this technique.

I carefully glued each feather onto the ends of the wire.

It came out pretty nice but on closer inspection I realised that the newer version of the official puppet used naturally long stemmed feathers, which seemed to work better, so I ordered some. Just waiting now...

I can see why they switched them over:

The wire works great but it's a little too sensitive to movement. Not right for Tula.

The long stemmed feathers are perfect because they still add character but have a much more flowy movement.

She also has long fur for the rest of her twizzletuft, which her prototype version didn't have (that's why I could see the wire) so I've now ordered some of that in a matching colour to fill the rest out.

Now starting on the arms and body:

For the puppet's hands I just traced around my own hands and wrists going up and drew the puppets arms out the side (it's hard to explain but you know what I mean)

except I had to do a "Live long and prosper" sign to get the 3 fingers effect! I am very used to doing this because I have already made mascot suits in the past which use the same technique.

I made inners for the arms and stuffed them with polyfil, then put them inside the puppet arm.

This is another trick I've learnt from costume making that can be applied to puppets:

When I make mascots, I usually start with a "bucket head" where I measure around my head with foam, cut it about 4.5" from the top of my head, glue both sides together then pinch the top in to fit my head cut off the excess and glue together what's left.

I did a very similar thing with the body here except I left a hole at the top for my hand, of course.

Then I made a net with wire to go around and shape the body some more. (I added to it later)

She was looking pretty good now but some things weren't quite right: I realised that her body and arms were too short🤦‍♀️

I worked out that the arms needed to be about double the length so I went back and added some more material. Thankfully the outcome was pretty seamless.