Welcome to the Pubbets Lab – where ideas, coffee, and probably too many kinds of fur get turned into awesome puppet characters. I’m James Marshall, founder of Pubbets, and I want to give you a peek into how we bring your puppet to life.

Back in 2018, I started Pubbets on my kitchen table because I was a teacher who couldn’t find puppets that were big or bold enough to keep a classroom full of kids engaged. Fast forward to today, and we’ve got a proper workshop, a growing community of puppet fans, and most importantly – a team.

Brian Zimmerman joined the Lab as a full-time builder and immediately found his happy place among wigs, glue, and puppet blanks. He’s been doing everything from sewing wigs and attaching glasses to full puppet builds. He loves this work so much that we’re planning for him to take over the Lab 100% in the future, freeing me up to focus on the admin and retail side of Pubbets. For now, we’re building together every day, and we’ll be documenting more of the process on social media so you can follow along.

Step 1: Your Idea

It all starts with your vision. You submit your design and order, and we turn it into a build sheet that maps out color, outfit, and features. You’ll get this by email along with an estimated finish date – and most likely a link to this blog post. (Hi from the future!)

We send this build sheet to you by email soon after your order is placed, including the estimated finish date.

Step 2: Prep & Materials

Once everything’s locked in, we grab the right puppet blank (we’ve got eight body colors ready to go) and get to work. Brian usually leads the prep – sewing wigs, attaching glasses, and making sure every piece is ready for the next step.

From Vision to Reality: The Timeline of Craftsmanship

Each puppet is a one-of-a-kind creation, and so the journey from concept to completion may vary. The table below represents the average time spent on each stage of the puppet-making process.

An Example Build: Bringing Your Vision to Life

Let’s walk through an example build to illustrate how a unique custom puppet, "Charlie," comes to life in our workshop, from selecting the perfect white fur  hhair to the final photo shoot.

1. Puppet Body Selection from Storage: Our journey begins in the storage room, where we select the perfect body for Charlie based on the colour chosen in your design.

2. Hair Attachment: Charlie’s distinctive look calls for white hair. We sift through our collection of wigs and fur fabrics, selecting a shade of white fur that’s both striking and soft to the touch. The hair is then carefully sewn onto the puppet’s head, ensuring it’s secure and styled just right.

3. Adding Glasses: You have designed a puppet with a scholarly yet approachable look, and hhave chosen to  add a pair of white square glasses. We select tthe chosen frames, attaching them securely at 4 points to ensure your puppet can withstand countless stories and performances.

4. Dressing the Puppet: Charlie’s personality is further brought to life with the adorable teddy overalls set —a grest outfit that sets him apart. We tailor the outfits to fit our puppets perfectly, adding tiny buttons and pockets for that extra touch of realism.

5. Place Puppet in Queue: Charlie takes his place in the queue, eagerly awaiting the next steps. This pause in the process allows us to gather the remaining materials and plan for the intricate details that will soon adorn his face.

6. Eyes and Nose Preparation: Choosing the right eyes and nose is crucial for expressing Charlie’s vibrant character. You selected round eyes with blue eyelids - nice choice! Each piece is hand-made for quality and expressiveness.

7. Adhesive Application and Puppet Assembly: With all the pieces ready, we begin assembling Charlie’s face. Using a high-quality adhesive, we carefully position his eyes and nose, ensuring they’re set just right to bring out his lively personality.

8. Drying Time: Charlie is left to dry for 12 hours, ensuring all components are securely attached and ready for the final stages.

9. Photo Shoot and Digital Editing: Now fully assembled, Charlie stars in his own photo shoot. We capture various poses and expressions, highlighting his unique features and the craftsmanship that went into creating him. These photos are then edited to add whimsical scenes and props, showcasing Charlie in his best light.

10. Certificate Creation: As a finishing touch, you added a commemorative certificate for Charlie, certifying his authenticity as a one-of-a-kind Pubbet. This document is laser printed, sealed with a holographic sticker, and embossed with a gold seal, ready to accompany Charlie to your home.

11. Packing: Charlie has glasses, so his head is carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, focusing extra protection around the glasses - which are securely sewn on to the puppet at 4 poiints. He’s then placed in a drawstring carry bag and ready for his big trip.

12. Shipping Preparation: Finally, Charlie is boxed up with love and care, ready for his journey home. Depending on the location and shipping preferences, we prepare him for his voyage, ensuring he arrives safely and ready to bring joy and creativity into your world.

This is a look behind the scenes at the love, care, and craftsmanship that goes into each custom Pubbet. From the initial concept to the final touches, every step is taken with the utmost attention to detail, ensuring that all our puppets will be treasured companions for years to come.

The Pubbet Promise 🥇

Every puppet we make is treated with the same level of care we’d give to our own. From the first sketch to the final stitch, we put love, precision, and just the right amount of mischief into every build. Whether you’re ordering a puppet for performance, play, or just because you can, we’re honoured to be part of the story.

Thanks for trusting us to bring your character to life - we can’t wait for you to meet them and start telling their story.