Two New Arthurian Themed Puppets:
The Lady of the Lake & Morgan le Fay

Puppets based upon two important female figures from the legends of King Arthur.

Morgan le Fay - Morgan was King Arthur's magical half sister, who plotted against Camelot and was mother to Mordred, who was destined to kill Arthur in battle.

The mythical Lady of the Lake - also known as Nimuë. She is an enchantress who lives in the lake which surrounded the sacred isle of Avalon. She is most famous for gifting the sword Excalibur to Arthur and is a vital element in the tales of Arthur's life.

Morgan is dressed in an ornate medieval style gown, cut from red velvet and lined with red taffeta. Her underskirt is duchesse satin overlaid with metallic, gold embroidery. The costume is embellished with gold metallic lace, pearls and red, rhinestone jewels. 

Her face - which has been remodelled around her cheek bones - hands and feet have been fully repainted to represent the character and her long dark hair has been specifically applied and styled over a red rhinestone band across her forehead.

The Lady of the Lake wears a watery medieval style gown, cut from pleated metallic silver cloth and shot blue taffeta layered with shimmering organza. 

The costume is embellished with silver metallic lace. She wears a pearl belt and holds a silver sword.

Her face (which as been remoulded) hands and feet have been fully repainted - and embellished with glittery highlights in order to catch the light. Her watery toned hair has been specifically applied and styled, then topped with a silver filigreed headdress.

These are both creations from the work-shop of 

Alexander Sanderson Designs

 A Pelham Puppet Redressed as

Glinda the Good Witch of the North

From the magical land of OZ

This gown was inspired by the Glinda bubble dress from the stage musical Wicked.

It is cut from a shot taffeta fabric and the petal layers of the skirt are embellished with hand applied silver glittered edges - under which are layered tulle petticoats. 

The boned corset bodice is also embellished by the glitter and silver lace. Her sleeves are puffed organza fabric, which help to show off her realistically moulded arms.

Her face has been fully repainted to suit the character and her blonde hair has been completely restyled. She also now sports a metal, diamante silver crown.

She has been strung on a vintage Pelham controller and the strings are in the original Pelham colours.

Alexander Sanderson Designs

 A Pelham Puppet Redressed as
Queen Anne Boleyn

A new design for 2025, 
now on public sale on eBay! 

Click here to view the listing

This Pelham Puppet has been fully redressed as the tragic second wife to King Henry VIII - based on her portrait held in Hever Castle, her childhood home. Anne was unjustly executed, by the sword, after only three years of being queen.

The gown is cut from a rich black velvet  - with red braided and metallic gold trim, studded with imitation pearls. Her full underskirt and undersleeves are of a gold patterned brocade and a red jewel hangs from her waist, on a chain. 

Her famous letter 'B' pendant hangs upon the front of her boned bodice. She wears a pearl trimmed French hood upon her head. Her face has been fully repainted to represent the Queen and her hair has been specifically styled from new material.

Her turned back sleeves are lined with red taffeta. 

She is strung using traditional Pelham colours on a refurnished controller.

 Alexander Sanderson Designs

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as 
Mary Queen of Scots

This puppet was created for general sale - her base being a Pelham Ballet Girl puppet. She represents the tragic queen wearing her red execution gown.

The gown is cut from red velvet and is trimmed with metallic gold lace, imitation string pearls and rhinestones. Her underskirt is of a gold patterned brocade. She wears a lace ruff about her neck and her linen and lace cap is trimmed with pearls, with a gauze, net veil descending from its back. Under her skirts she wears a hooped petticoat and her bodice is stiffened with buckram and boning.

Her face, feet and hands have been fully repainted to represent the Queen and her hair has been specifically styled from new material. 

She is strung using traditional Pelham colours.

To purchase, she can be found on eBay here:

eBay listing

Alexander Sanderson Designs

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as 
King Henry VIII!

This puppet was another commission piece.

His base is a rounded, moulded Pelham body and shoes, with a Pelham Prince Charming head.

The head has been fully repainted and the hair and beard created from long length fake fur.

His slashed under doublet and skirted sur-coat is cut from silver satin and taffeta, trimmed with braid pearls. His fake fur trimmed gown is cut from velvet and embellished with gold metallic lace.

The jewelled chain around his shoulders is made from gold gimp trim and studded with red rhinestone and pearls. 

A metallic, gold codpiece sits under his skirts, attached to silver taffeta breeches.
His black velvet cap is stiffened with buckram and finished off with imitation rubies, pearls and topped with feather trim.

This has been a fascinating and fun commission to work on and is a special one-off creation! 

Alexander Sanderson Designs

 Two Pelham Puppets Redressed as

Queen Jane Seymour

&

Queen Katherine Howard 

The Third and Fifth Wives of King Henry VIII 

A lovely review for these puppets from their purchaser:

"These 2 puppets complete my set of 6 wives & I am delighted. They are the most beautiful creations as are all the others I have purchased over the last year. The thought & care that has been lavished on these creations is truly breath-taking. Pieces of art , both."

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour

Katherine Howard

Katherine Howard

These two puppets were created under commission for a wonderful and valued patron.

Both use Pelham fairy puppets as a base - their faces, hands and face having been fully repainted and their hair styled newly for both creations. 

Jane Seymour's gown is cut from velvet whilst Katherine Howards was cut from shot taffeta. Both of their under-skirts were made from metallic, pattered brocade. 

Their costumes are embellished with rhinestone, jet bead, gold/red braid and imitation pearls.

Both have boned and stiffened (with buckram) bodices.

Katherine has a hooped farthingale to hold out her skirts. 

Alexander Sanderson Designs

A Pelham Puppet Redressed as
Queen Catherine of Aragon
First wife to King Henry VIII

A lovely review from the customer who purchased this puppet:  

"Another wonderful item from this very talented seller. I will treasure this puppet along with the others I have purchased. I can't praise the handiwork & craftsmanship highly enough, it really is of the top most standard. In time these marionettes will become family heirlooms & passed on down the family line, along with the others I intend to buy."

Catherine is dressed in a green velvet gown, with brocade underskirts and undersleeves with taffeta lining her inner over-sleeves. Her bodice is boned and the whole gown is embellished using metallic gold braid, lace and imitation strings of pearls. 

Her buckramed English, gabled hood is trimmed with gold ribbon and braid, velvet and green rhinestones. 

Her feet and face have been fully repainted.

This puppet is strung on a vintage controller using traditional Pelham colours.

Alexander Sanderson Designs

*Alexander Sanderson Design's Halloween Special*

A Pelham Puppet redressed as Princess Mombi from 'Return to OZ'

With three interchangeable heads 

Princess Mombi wearing her original head

Each year I aim to create a one-off, never to be remade Halloween special and this is the Alexander Sanderson Design's 2024 creation.

A Pelham Puppet redressed as the frightful and vain Princess Mombi from the film 'Return to OZ'. Famous for her cabinets of heads, which she swaps between on a whim just as this puppet can in seconds.

Head 2

This puppet is dressed in a gown cut from purple and black taffeta, red velvet and trimmed with gold braid, diamante trim, lilac stones and red ruby style jewels. 

Her three heads are interchangeable - one in her original red tone, one blonde and the other brunette - which hook and unhook at the puppet's neck; and clasp onto the two black head strings via two clasps attaching to the heads' side hooks. The faces of all three are fully repainted in an appropriate style.

Head 3

Her feet are of the moulded Pelham high heel design - re-painted and finished with glittered varnish.

The detachable neck hooks and head string clasps

Alexander Sanderson Designs

Two Pelham Puppets recreated as Cinderella's 

Wicked Step-Sisters!

A lovely review from their purchaser!

"Such charming and whimsical characters with beautiful and colourful costuming. The guests at my shows will be enchanted!"

These are two of my favourite fairy-tale characters and I couldn't wait to get started! 

I decided to use two Pelham Puppet fairies as a base and I joyfully sketched out my designs - deciding, very early on, to totally recraft the originals.

Their faces were completely remoulded using a two-part epoxy resin - to create the exaggerated features - then fully repainted. The hair was styled from fresh wefts and styled into their two tier wigs. Both are topped off with taffeta 'poufs' and trimmed with satin roses and faux pearl strands.

Their gowns are based upon a late 18th Century style, drawing the skirts up at the rear. The over gowns are cut from taffeta and trimmed with gathered lace and satin bows and their underskirts are crafted from a striped, heritage cotton range.

The bodices are stiffened with buckram and corset laced at the back. 

Under their skirts they each wear lace trimmed pantalets and their shoes are embellished with a pearl studded bow.

They shall go to the ball!!!

An Alexander Sanderson Design

A Pelham Puppet Redressed 

as

Queen Catherine Parr

A lovely review from this puppets' purchaser:

"An absolutely superb item. Obviously created with great care & attention to detail. This is my sixth purchase from this seller. All have been delightful & I'm sure more will follow."

This design is a commission piece and uses a Pelham Puppet Ballet Girl as a base; the face being fully repainted to replicate the features from her portrait (an image of the painting sits below.)

Her hair is a newly fixed wig and is left freely to hang down the puppets back, as requested. On her head she sports a red velvet French hood, trimmed with gold trim/braid and costume pearls.

Her gown is a metallic gold brocade - which was actually a bit of a pain to cut, but was quite satisfying to sew. It is trimmed with braid, pearls and a ruby style rhinestone. A pearl necklace and pendant hangs about her throat.

Her sleeves are lined with red velvet, with red brocade undersleeves below. Her underskirt is cut from red brocade, a pearl and bead chain hangs from her waist.

Under her skirts she wears a pair of taffeta pantalets and her feet have been repainted, using a rich red colour to compliment her gown.

As with all my puppets she was strung onto a vintage Pelham controller using traditionally coloured strings.

Portrait of Catherine Parr 

used as inspiration for the puppet

An Alexander Sanderson Design

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as Cinderella
In her ragged 18th Century servants gown

This is a Pelham Fairy puppet redressed as the fairy-tale character, Cinderella, wearing her 'ragged' 18th century servants gown. 

She holds a vintage Pelham broom that has been strung so that it has a sweeping motion when manipulated.

She wears a gown cut from cotton and gold linen, embellished with patches and trimmed with pleated lace. Her apron is decorated with imitation black-work

Her hair is a newly purchased wig, sitting under a linen kerchief. 

An Alexander Sanderson Design

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as 

Queen Anne Boleyn
Based upon the National Portrait Gallery Picture

This portrait puppet represents the tragic Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII, who was executed for high treason and adultery in the Tower of London by a swordsman from Calais. She was mother to the future Queen Elizabeth I. She is inspired by the National Portrait Gallery's picture of this tragic Queen.

I used a vintage Pelham Ballet Girl puppet as a base. I then selected the fabrics.

Her gown is cut from cotton velvet, with an underskirt and sleeves built from a shot taffeta overlaid with gold net embroidery. Her sleeves are lined with fun fur and then turned back to  create the famous Tudor look. 

Her skirt and neckline are trimmed with costume pearls and gold braid, and a silver initial B hangs from her fully boned bodice - which is corset laced at its' back. A pearl and crystal chain hangs from her waist.

On her head she wears a velvet and pearl French hood - a style which Anne helped make fashionable in England. It has a black taffeta veil down its' back. Under her skirts she sports pantalets edged with pleated net. She is strung on a vintage controller in the traditional Pelham colours.

An Alexander Sanderson Design