Make a simple puppet.

“For me, the pressure of making my first puppet the one I would perform with was too much. It filled me with anxiety about needing to make something quite polished, y'know? So I made (and still make) what I call "proto puppets"! Basically I shed the need to make something "finished" looking and just experiment with easy/free materials, like socks, old sheets and blankets, cardboard, etc, and I just play around with making expressive faces, not really worrying about actual mouth mechanisms and the like unless I really vibe with something I've made. As I do these experiments, I imagine what they might sound like, how they might move, and that gives me the confidence to find/make a pattern to craft a more solid "finished" style puppet without all the initial anxiety.”

“My first puppet was a sock puppet with googly eyes taped onto its head, then I got into cutting fabric and hot glue, then I taught myself hand-sewing and then how to work with foam. Your first puppet is the start of a long and fun journey, but it's important to use the materials that are within your comfort of building. Don't be ashamed to use a sock or hot glue or even tape because the main point of the character comes across in the performance.”