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[Afke]

In case you were wondering what I had been doing all those years I wasn't really drawing that much... One of the things that kept me busy was making puppets.

I started with an idea in 2018, and found the tutorials of Adam Kreutinger on YouTube to be very helpful in making it a reality. Along with the videos he also provided several patterns (some for free). My first two builds I posted lots of in-progress pictures on Instagram, and Adam's enthusiastic comments on those felt very encouraging and kept me going. He was really cheering people on to go take those puppet patterns and techniques and make them their own.

In August 2022 he announced he had brain cancer, and unfortunately at the end of February 2025 he passed away. It is so sad, because the world lost an awsome human being who has touched so many lives in such positive ways.
Making puppets and just playing with them, puppeteering, has gotten many people out of their shell, has made people who were silent talk, has helped people through depressions, has given people jobs, has made the world just a little bit more cheerful for many of us.

I don't know why I never posted pictures of the puppets I've made in my Deviantart gallery before. Perhaps I thought the pictures weren't that great. But seeing many people share their puppets and how Adam helped them, just feels like a little push to start sharing mine as well.
To celebrate the man who helped make them a reality. Thanks, Adam. ♥


Get to know more about Adam Kreutinger: www.puppetnerd.com
His Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PuppetNerd
First time building? Make a snoof: www.snoofsoftheworld.com (free pattern)

Sonny Salmon (2019), info https://www.deviantart.com/afke11/art/Sonny-Salmon-1181185402


Zara Zombie (2019), info https://www.deviantart.com/afke11/art/Zara-Zombie-assistent-chef-1182722870


Flip (2020), info https://www.deviantart.com/afke11/art/Flip-1187279367


Morris (2023), info https://www.deviantart.com/afke11/art/Morris-hanging-out-1191282326


Slightly annoyed cake (2024), info https://www.deviantart.com/afke11/art/Slightly-annoyed-cake-1215180449


(I understand the Puppetnerd website isn't working properly at the moment. They're working on it so that all the patterns are available for people again. Please be patient, I'm sure it's back soon.)

[Marl]

These are so awesome! Especially the slightly annoyed cake!

[Treefox]

Whaaat??? These look so professional! I love how making them has given you joy. I love Morris and his EXCELLENT stache! And the slightly annoyed cake! You're so creative and talented in many fields!

[Afke]

Heehee, thanks.
I'm very proud of Morris' stache! It's very fluffy! I made it from leftovers from that wolf head.

Zara really kicked things off with this hobby, she's also been used the most, four Halloweens already. She also got a couple of upgrades already like legs, and eyes (well... not really, but something equivalent). She's VERY energy intensive though, so I think I'll leave her be for a while.
Morris was very chill to do, works best when we're indoors and use the sofa; those arm rests are exactly the right height for me to lean my elbow on so I can keep my head-arm up for 2½ hours, and I can hide his "body" behind the backrest.
I think for Halloween this year I'll use Flip. He's small and I can easily walk around with him (and walk away from annoying kids, haha, there were too many of those last year). Easier to take breaks in between with nobody missing me. Zara had candy duty last year, so that was rather difficult.

I'm glad I already knew how to sew, but really Adam's tutorials are so clear, they taught me everything else! I also have only used patterns provided by him so far. All of the above are free patterns, except for Morris. I don't feel confident in making my own patterns yet, plus I have tons of ideas for the ones I have right now, they're so easily adjustable. And I have at least two more paid patterns I need to use.

[Marl]

Monkey brain see, Monkey brain do.
I got inspired by Afkes lovely puppet and made my own!




Meet Tina ! She was crafted using the pattern that Afke mentioned and the help of my moms art supplies. 

[Afke]

Yay, she's got a name now too!
She's very lovely and let's say; bright eyed.

Did you use old fabric? I seem to detect some flowers there. Sometimes the fabric choice creates part of the characteristics.
Both Zara and Sonny were made with old fleece blankets!

[Marl]

Yeah Tina‘s body was made from some old pyjama pants from my grandma‘s.

[Treefox]

Gosh, Tina is such a cutie! Wow, great work!

[Afke]

Oooh, I love that. Now Tina will forever remind you of grandma.