Marionettes: How to Make and Work Them

So I love puppets / marionettes. I bought this as a bit of a splurge item because I really just wanted to see what goes into making them and then I'd decide whether or not I wanted to take on a new craft or not.This book is a good starting point. It did give me a good idea of what goes into making a marionette. As others have said, the images are a bit dated, but that's okay, while simple it's done well.My only real gripe is that there is a large chunk of the book taken up by a play and how you would put it on. I'd really rather see that space used for more advanced tricks and techniques on how to make even better / more advanced marionettes. For example - there is little to nothing on how to handle eyes in this book (I can sum up all it says on the subject with they should be larger than normal and shellac them after painting them - when I wanted to know about making moveable ones). Same with mouths - the only really details information on a mouth is one page on making a dog mouth open. I'd really rather have had all of that space used on that play given to those kinds of things. You'll surely want to supplement this with other books or information found online - possibly even when making basic marionettes but still, as a beginner guide it does offer a fair amount of information.

Ordered as a gift he seems to like it

I remember this book from years back, after I became a puppeteer and traveled in NYC in a troupe led by two professional puppeteers. It is quite explicit. It has so many great illustrations and patterns. It is quite clear and terrifically thorough. It even tells you things such as how to make gesso--I may have been happier when I didn't know! :)I had wanted to own it since I first saw it in another millennium, far far away. I'm glad it's in my library now.

I am glad I got it, because I like puppet books, but the line drawings are sometimes difficult to understand, and the book often makes things seem very quick and simple, when in fact it can take a long time, for instance, to carfully cover a small puppet hand with paper mache, then finish it. I like the book because it specializes in marionettes, and I love the cover design.

The greatest things about marionettes is that they were born in the age of hand craftsmanship...what other option was there? Having Helen's publication means having a throwback in hand and seeing marionettes through the lens of another time. Very resourceful and Very useful how to for beginner's and beyond.

A very out dated book that references a lot of unusable methods such as wax moulding. I mostly wanted to learn how to make movable interlocking joints but this was mostly using cloth or metal eylets for the joints. However it was helpful in teaching me how to string a marionette in various ways.

A great read for people interested in the history of marionettes and other puppets and how to use them. Very informative and interesting. Would recomend for pupet fans.

At my level of puppet-making, this book will suit my needs. I have already made rod puppets and hand puppets, but needed a guide for how to make marionettes. I haven't yet constructed my first marionette, but the book has clear illustrations, and clear directions, so I don't expect trouble. Money well spent.

one of a very few books that deals with this subject. I feel this is for a younger audience or a schoolteacher, but it does deal with most of the aspects of marionnet and puppet making including how to put on a show

Hoping to run a course at the U3A in Ferndown on making marionettes

Great book easy to follow going to enjoy making my own marionettes

This is a great reference book for anyone who wants to make marionettes. While some have considered the techniques like using bee's wax and paper-mache as an old technique. The fundamentals remain the same, even if you instead use modelling clay to form your parts.The stage craft section gives wonderful tips on setting your stage and presenting your puppets, even if you don't ever plan on putting on a show.Can't wait to put this all into practise in my workshop.

As a beginner in making puppets I love this book as it explains in detail everything I need to know to get started and be successful. The sections are as follows: Making heads; making hands, feet, legs, arms, and bodies; Stringing and manipulating; production and stagecraft. I am still reading this and the directions appear simple and complete.