Start 2012 with the "Beginners' guide to puppetry", a quick list of references to articles that will help you on your journey in discovering the world of puppetry! From definitions to theory, you'll find it all here.

• Puppetry events, Feb 2012
• 4th National Puppetry & Animatronics Summit (AUS)
• Back from holidays; many updates made
• Comments fixed
• Comments temporarily closed

• Free muppet-type puppet patterns: A list
• What types of puppets are there?
• Basics of puppet design and building
• How to make a muppet-type puppet: Round Head Foam Puppet Pattern
• Free sock puppet patterns: A list

One tip I learned from MR. Puppetvision in person: shrink tubing over puppet rods, both for the rods and for the handle. Although the more common type is very fine and short, some of the tubes are quite long and large. It is not as common to find in a regular Hardware store, at least around here. Bigger surfaces sometimes have it in the electrical department. Of course, there is likely more choice with electrical supply places.