Free! Simple Mechanisms

To launch our 2026-27 Automata Fundamentals Online Workshop, we are offering the first session for FREE! Learn how to make simple mechanisms for Automata and learn about our plans for the entire year. Learn how to make beautiful automata in Simple Mechanisms that you can easily make at home with scrap wood, clothespins, and other materials that are easily sourced. On September 20, you will get guidance from expert toymaker/puppet maker Mirek Trejtnar on the basic principles

Leah Gaffen

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Workshops

A Frog is Born

I was so excited to make the Frog Marionette Recipe. Mirek provided detailed diagrams with proportions and dimensions. In the video he guides you through the making. This recipe offers three different controller designs which I particularly like as it gives you options as a maker to learn different styles and choose what best suits the needs of your puppet. My frog is a little smaller than Mirek's due to the sizes of wood I had to hand.

Student Blog

Apr 33 min read

Recording, Simple Mechanisms 1

See the first session of our Simple Mechanisms Workshop, the opening of our 2025-26 Automata Fundamentals Online Workshop, which took place on September, 2025. Learn to make several simple automata that you can easily make at home with scrap wood, clothespins, and other materials that are easily sourced. Our Automata Fundamentals Course will run from September 2025 to April 2026. It will be taught by Mirek Trejtnar, expert woodcarver, toymaker and automata builder. You can j

Workshops

Nov 18, 20251 min read

Marionette Controllers Workshop: November Puppet Recipe

Make your own at our next 2-hour online Puppet Recipe. November 9, 7-9 p.m. CET / 1-3 pm EST What do you need to consider when making a controller for your marionette? We will start with the basic Czech-style controllers for a human marionette, including the differences between a puppet on a wire vs. a puppet on strings. Then how to adjust your controller for special movements of hands and feet, moveable jaw, special controllers for trick variety puppets, how to design a cont

Workshops

Nov 4, 20251 min read

Make a Waves Mechnism!

Learn the techniques for making this intriguing mechanism at our upcoming Waves Workshop. It is part of our full-year Automata Fundamentals Onlike Workshop, but you can sign up for an individual module. Mechanism by Chesley Cannon, made in our 2024-25 Automata workshop WHEN: November 23 + December 24, 7-9 p.m. Central European Time / 1-3 p.m. EST WHERE: Zoom platform Find out more here!

Workshops

Nov 2, 20251 min read