Why?
Do you remember your first taste of chocolate? That warm, deliciously melting, heaven-on-your-tongue? The delight of this new marvel in its shiney silver wrapper? The desire for more? … That’s how I felt at my first puppet festival, Puppet Rampage, Minneapolis 2007. I was like a kid in a candy store. Never before had I seen so many beautiful puppets, and such variety! Never had I spent such a glorious time, wrapped in the warm, welcoming arms of the big happy family that is the PofA.
On the flight back from the US, with a cosy feeling in my tummy and a satisfied smile on my face, I had an irrepressible desire to share all I’d learnt with people in the UK – but where was the liquid papier mache I’d seen Bill Lorenzon use in our sculpture class? Where was the liquid neoprene that some of the exhibit puppets were made of? And as for antron (muppet) fleece – couldn’t find it anywhere! So I started buying myself presents from the US and before I knew it people were asking me where I’d found it, could they have some, and what else did I have?
I opened my online business in June 2009 with a handful of different supplies. With virtually no marketing I was soon inundated with orders from amateurs and professionals, not just from the UK, but from France, Italy, Lithuania, Ireland.. I’ve grown to love the trip to the sorting office to pick up my big box of fleece or my crate of liquache. I even look forward to those little blue and red envelopes asking me to pay up for the import duty! All my christmasses come at once.
This year, we made our first profit. Ok I won’t be giving up the day job or buying that chocolate factory (lets face it, it will barely keep me in the style of maltersers I’ve become accustomed) but it has given me something exquisitely priceless. Instead of standing knee deep in snow, nose pressed up against the cold glass of the sweet shop window, whistfully longing for a quarter of sherbet lemons, I have an open invitation into the largest candy store this side of the Atlantic – The World of UK Puppetry.. and its raining hundreds and thousands.
Featured Products
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Lumina Air dry pol...
Lumina clay is an air dry polymer clay. It is waterproof, Translucent, Highly flexible, durable, acid free and non toxic.
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Permastone –...
Just add water and stir PermaStone mixture slowly until the consistency of heavy cream. Will not shatter when dropped. Fractured breaks are easily repaired. Carve and drill will produce crisp edges and a smooth surface. Buff to a high luster or finish with any stain or paint. Exterior grade when sealed. Low exotherm (generates less heat than comparable products). Embed hangers pin backs or magnets in wet mixture 2-3 minutes after pouring. Bisque white color.
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Rigid Wrap –...
Activa Rigid-Wrap Plaster Cloth is a versatile, high-quality plaster gauze product made to the specifications of artists and craftspeople. It is for use in sculpture, mask making, jewelry, craft projects, and more. Its even texture allows for fine detail and smooth work. Just wet it, shape it, and dry it. It may be microwaved, oven, or air dried. It accepts all finishes. When face casting, the use of a release agent such as petroleum jelly is recommended.
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Liquid Neoprene &#...
Liquid Neoprene, a latex based product which is fantastic for casting, very light and hard wearing and can be drilled and sanded and painted. Comes ready to pour into a clean plaster mould and is white in colour, drying to a ‘natural’ flesh colour (black version available also) Allow to stand for 1 to 5 hours depending on the thickness of cast you require, then the slurry or slip is poured out of the plaster mold. This excess is reusable. The lining or casting that builds up on the walls of the plaster mould is allowed to dry overnight then …
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Liquache Air Dryin...
LI-QUA-CHÉ is a paper-fiber reinforced, polymer based compound that is air-cured, not fire hardened. Designed to be used with plaster ceramic molds, it dries to a hard, durable, break resistant product. LI-QUA-CHE is light, versatile, easy to use and non toxic. It is great for making puppets, ornaments, scale models, dolls house and model railway accessories. LI-QUA-CHÉ should be poured approximately at the consistency of cream. Stir the mixture with a paint stir stick, making sure that any material which has settled on the bottom has been completely blended in. Pour slowly to avoid air bubbles. Once the mold is …