This weekend the mystery behind them is revealed when the Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah offers classes for children and adults. Puppeteers, many of whom have been making puppets for decades, will share their secrets on how to create and manipulate them.

Jeff Cobabe, who has been making puppets since he was about 4, said he hopes the workshop changes people's understanding of what puppets are all about.

"The biggest thing is they begin to perceive puppeteering as more of an art, a real and viable part of art and theater, as opposed to a sock on the end of your hand," said the Salt Lake City resident.

Workshop classes will include construction, performance techniques, sound effects and ventriloquism. There will also be a performance. All the teachers are members of the Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah, a collection of puppet lovers who meet regularly to promote the art.

Some puppeteers are particularly passionate about their creations.

Millicent Lewis, of Springville, remembers how happy she was making her first puppet, an ant named Chamois, while a student at the San Francisco Art Institute. It felt like she was bringing something to life. When she's making puppets, she say she feels like anything is possible.

"I feel like it's the most creative thing I could do," she said.

Puppet-making can draw on different skills - whether it's sewing, sculpting or finding new uses for everyday objects such as tin cans or milk jugs.

Susan Neidert, of Mantua, was recently working on several puppets, including a large Einstein creation that will be nearly human-sized. She describes herself as the kind of puppeteer who will tell you the best puppet is the last one she made.

Some people can even become attached to their creations.

"The puppet is your friend," Neidert said.

Part of what draws her to puppeteering is her fascination with the miniature actors, she said, the little shoes, little hairdos. And then there are the smiles.

"The best part about puppetry is when you connect with the audience and see kids laughing, giggling," Neidert said.

At 73, Dona Price guesses she'll make puppets for the rest of her life - after all, she's been making them since she was about 5. When she was a child, she made puppets out of things like sticks and twine. These days the Salt Lake City resident is working on a new body for a Chinese dragon. When she's hard at work on a puppet project, she sometimes stays up until 2 a.m.

Lewis said she hopes the passion for puppet-making will be contagious at the workshop.

"I want them to be as excited as we are about what they can do," she said.

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Contact Julia Lyon at jlyon@sltrib.com or 801-257-8748. Send comments about this article to livingeditor@ sltrib.com.

WHAT: 15th annual Puppetry Workshop - classes and performances by Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah

WHEN: Saturday. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Workshops take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performance is at 4 p.m.

WHERE: Pioneer Craft House, 3300 S. 500 East, South Salt Lake

WORKSHOP COST: $10 kids, $25 adults. Some puppet-making kits are free; others cost between $5 and $20. Kids must be accompanied by adults. Lunch will be sold.

PERFORMANCE COST: $1 children, $2 adults, $5 per family. Those attending the workshop get a free ticket.

MORE INFO: Millicent Lewis at 801-489-9059