Refurbishment

[Tony James]

It's that window of opportunity time again. I've this week clear so this morning I have stripped Punch of all his clothes and his head, hands and legs are on the kitchen table. The crocodiles head also. He was easy. Punch was not.

A surprising complex costume right down to the hidden stitching which holds the trouser padding in place, so it doesn't descend and end up all of a lump in the knee area, where the leg is tied in. Thick linen thread is used as the binder to tie in and it's done twice, just in case anything happens to the first thread. Don't want a leg flying off and troubling my insurer.

Something I can't really account for. Punch's left leg and foot simply need a rub down and repainting. But the right leg is always very much the worse for wear. Far more worn than the left. I touch in regularly during the season but it's almost always the right leg that needs the paint. The result is too much paint in places.

Commonsense tells my it's probably down to the way I flick his legs over the playboard.

This afternoon I shall start the filling that has to be done. The tack holes for a start. Then rub down. Once painted and dry I can take them over to my lady to apply the costumes.

And wouldn't you know it? Whilst in the middle of removing the costumes I've had a call from a school doing a puppet project. Could I come in on Thursday this week to do a show!

I could do next week. Ah................ high level discussions are required to change to next week. Why? Next week they'll be on to another project. Will the children have forgotten about puppets by then?

I don't think she got the point!

[Nick Jackson]

And wouldn't you know it? Whilst in the middle of removing the costumes I've had a call from a school doing a puppet project. Could I come in on Thursday this week to do a show!

Which sort of links back to an earlier thread of having spares to hand. But I'm trolling!

[Tony James]

Touché, Nick!

[johnstoate]

Psst, - Anyone got a 'spare' set for Tony to hire??

[Tony James]

Undercoat's on and I should be through by Thursday. Thank you for your concern John!

I have been trying to shift a weekend in may which has stuck and managed it on Saturday. Yesterday I had two enquiries for the same weekend, both who had seen me work so knew me.

I wish people wouldn't leave booking so late this year. I'm confident the dates will go but quotes from last autumn are still 'pending', the committees not prepared to commit till nearer the time.

[Tony James]

I was out working yesterday. Full day show. Not bad for a Wednesday in March. It was indoors though and wouldn't you know, the sun shone all day. It's good today too.

Punch handled almost without any difference to the previous dress. perfectly balanced. Just the legs where there was a slight weight/balance that was noticeable. By the end of the day I was used to it.

And the Crocodile was similarly easy. In his case justs the jaw opening which is a fraction stiffer than before. That's easily remedied. It's the hinges themselves, or one of them. I suspect butt hinges don't have this sensitivity.

I was delighted with my rebuilt cat which was originally made by Tony Green for Supreme. I've used it a lot more of late and it really needed some extra personalisation and it works even better than before. Funny the tiny differences you can notice with a redress/rebuild. I found it easier to pick up the sausages but, strange to say, just a tiny bit 'deader' in the finger tip area, due to the slightly thicker fabric of the paws.

Sometimes, some redressing has more marked differences which take a little longer to get used to.