Every side show needs a Fat Lady, and Freaky Fingers is no exception to this rule.
Fatima Toubafore is not so much a finger puppet as she is a fingerS puppet.
Created her body form by wrapping/wet-felting wool roving around all four fingers instead of just my index finger. Her legs are also finger puppets.
Click on images to see them larger.
Above, left: Stitched on felted wool balls to create Fatima's cheeks, which are resting on her eyes just a bit to heighten the chubby cheeks effect.
Eyeshadow is light blue felt glued behind the googly eye.
"Eyeliner" is a stitch over the eye with at least 3 strands of black embroidery floss.
Extra chins are suggested with rows of stitching. (Pulling harder on your stitch makes the felt "plump up" nicely.) (Yes, pun intended. Who do you think you're talking to here?!?)
As always, shading done with real blush.
Above, center: Fatima's earrings and brooch are from a collection of doll's jewelry that I got at a tag sale.
Her bun is a black felted wool ball to which curly hair was attached. She needed Higher Hair; she has that kind of personality.
Above, right: Fatima's dress was made from hot raspberry sequined material that a friend gave me, suggesting I use it to outfit a transvestite puppet...
And speaking of Men in Drag -- right before I started making this finger puppet, I had seen the movie Hairspray, and was mesmerized by John Travolta's/Mrs.Turnblatt's gigantic caboose.
Wanted to emulate that, so BIG felted woolen balls were attached to the back side (appropriate placement), then carefully molded the sequined fabric to them using Fabric-Tac. Wanted to play up the disco ball-like effect, and I think I achieved that. 
Fatima's friends call her "Fatty Fatty". She doesn't mind. So don't get all defensive on her behalf.
Remember this playground taunt:
"Fatty, Fatty, 2-by-4,
Can't get through the bathroom door!" ?
Now it should be painfully obvious how this puppet got her name.
I'm not one for subtlety.
Set up my childhood dollhouse (Creative Playthings) to take this photo.
Looks like Fatima wandered into an IKEA showroom.
Above, left: Once-white shoes are a Barbie doll's that I colored with a gold leaf pen. Stuffing Fatima's legs into these too-small shoes gave the ankles that blumpy water-retaining look I was after.
Lyrics: apologies to Rod Stewart.
Above, right: Fatima can kick, strut, and kick! With help of fingers, of course. You can also operate her by putting your four fingers into her body. Options! We like options!
To see her in action, go to the Fatima YouTube music video I made.
It's my very first effort, and in no way can it be considered "good", but I can guarantee at least ONE chuckle.
When I first linked my sister to the video, her comment was, "Fat Gal, you're makin' me dizzy!"
Heeheehee... Yeah, Fatima's plus-sized, but man can she shake her thang.
Especially when I'm operating her.
Ping & Pong are suspicious that Fatima is harboring another set of Siamese twins.
For other sideshow puppets:
These puppets: their concept & design are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Fatima is too cute, she kind of reminds me of ME!!
Posted by: Esperanza | February 22, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Amy: Glad you like & that "they" caused mirth!
Dave: Would you believe a ... fivesome? If you've got a crush on Fatima, just wait 'til she crushes YOU!
Doug: It's true, isn't it? The UNusual is pretty usual these days. I sometimes feel odd by having no tattoos and just my earlobes pierced. One time each. Like the good little girl that I am.
Posted by: megan jeffery | February 21, 2008 at 08:17 PM
You used to have to go to the circus side show to see the fat lady and the tatooed man... now you can see them at the mall... and beetlegrass.... :0)
Posted by: Doug | February 20, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I got a crush on Fatima. Great work! So are Ping & Pong and Fatima a couple (or threesome)?
Posted by: Dave Lowe | February 20, 2008 at 03:01 PM
They just keep getting better and better! The twins and the "twins" just kill me. Thanks for the giggles!
Posted by: amy | February 19, 2008 at 05:49 PM