Rachel Maksy, sewist, crafter, goblin and professional Hobbit is now a puppeteer!

Okay, I know you spent an entire video explaining how you made this puppet, but when the reveal came, I was totally blown away! All I see is Dany and Drogon - well done!!

Despite watching the whole video, my brain refuses to see the arm as fake. I’m just like ‘of course, that’s Rachel’s third arm. That’s how she makes amazing things so quickly.’ Also, I am ASTOUNDED by how incredible this magnificent creature is. Definitely one of the best things I’ve ever seen anyone make! 🐉

Rachel: "I am not oft good at engineering and big brain thinking" Also Rachel: proceeds to build a WHOLE ASS DRAGON PUPPET from SCRATCH using a BAZILLION different materials, tools & techniques GIRL WHEN ARE YOU GONNA ADMIT YOU'RE FRICKING AWESOME

Rachel: buys a house with a whole extra building for crafting. Also Rachel: still sews at her couch 😂❤

Can we please take a moment to appreciate Rachel’s editing, copy/story telling, and filming skills? They’re all, just 👩‍🍳💋? It’s so thoughtful, funny, well done, and just freaking charming. I imagine the planning, doing, and editing to make these videos has to be a mountain of work. Thank you for pouring yourself into these videos. You’re such a fabulous creative/creator. 💕

Puppets are magic like that. Any flaws just kind of disappear when you put on the puppet and it comes to life. So neat.

It feels like your production quality has just SKYROCKETED lately!! The lighting, the equipment, the skill!! I’m living for this

Those creepy little shoulder dragon puppets at ren faires are one of the best parts, honestly. So I'm in full support of this enormous cousin. What a charming, strapping young fellow

As a young aspiring puppeteer who has made too many shoulder dragon puppets, I am very impressed by your dragon! Realistic puppets are complicated, but it came out incredible! I am currently working on my senior year Halloween costume of Toothless from HTTYD and this is just the inspiration I need!

Rachel, you are a treasure. And a goof. “I don’t know what I’m doing!” - Proceeds to create amazing work. I have been making Dragons for 25 years, and you blow me away. Have fun at DragonCon!

As someone who has used, and made, MANY puppets, I compliment you on this project. It looks great! The head and mouth movement is terrific. And your puppetry in the video and still images is very life-like and natural. Well done! The arm illusion at the shoulder is seamless! If you want a bit more realism in the fake arm, you could try adding a touch of red/pink here and there- elbow, fingertips, knuckles.. Your coloring is a tad rosy-er than the fake one, though it's pretty close. Also, if you can find a way to close the fingers, rather than the default "fingers spread open" position, that would look less awkward. Try holding your hand in a closed but neutral position, and copying that. You can probably glue the fingers together with contact cement (hot glue might be too messy?). Make sure to add some curve so it doesn't go from "fingers apart hand" to "flat karate chop hand." Perhaps an elastic strap on the tail end, rather than relying on velcro? Possibly both for good measure? As always, though you are constantly pushing your own creative boundaries, trying new things, making it up as you go, the end result is wonderful. Every project you do, you find a new tip, a new technique, add more experience and practice, that adds to the next project, even if it's a new technique or material. I applaud you, and can't wait to see what you come up with next!

As someone who always finds 2,956 distractions while cleaning/adulting, when Rachel said “and I took it out of the dryer and just started wandering” I felt that to my core.

I have to pause the video after the reveal because OH MY GOD you need to participate in cosplay contests. This costume is just one of the coolest things you've ever made (and I don't say that lightly!). I absolutely love it, good job

As an experienced dragon puppeteer, I think this is a creative and fun way to upgrade normal dragon puppet! Love your style of sculpting and painting, and hope you have a successful year! 😊❤😁

Hello! I am an Occupationnal Health and Safety Officer and chemist and I couldn't help but notice your respiratory protection struggles through this video. You might want to consider buying COV or multi-contaminant cartriges for your mask instead of using the P100 ones you have. Those should help with all the chemical smells, such as liquid latex or heated foam. I also have been a huge fan of everything you do for many years now. I really loved this one.

Honestly the way you interacted with the dragon at times was so affectionate in the ending was really mesmerizing. Love it

Your winged son is absolutely INCREDIBLE! The most handsomest good boi ever! We are all just blown away by the reveal - all those amazing details! I hope transporting him will work and he arrives safely and intact... all this hard work is just amazing!!

As I'm watching this in absolute awe and obsessing over how amazing this is, my husband leans over and says "can we buy it? How much??"

Girl does more physical action in a week than I have in my entire life

This woman's skill, perseverance and creativity will never cease to amaze me.

As someone who practically never wears make-up, I'm terrified by how I just can't recognise Rachel as the same person when she is in her Danearys make-up. That's a whole different woman sitting there with the voice of Rachel. I'm impressed by her skill at shapeshifting.

Rachel is halfway to being either a puppet maker or a fursuit maker … ❤

This video was a delight from start to finish. From your outfit at the start to your sheer joy at the success of each step to how amazingly realistic Drogon looked in the reveal! I kept forgetting that there was a hand in there!

I used to be kind of obsessed with trying to make one of these boys but was too intimidated... Now the desire for a big dragon child is back ten fold!

This is next level fantastic! Incredible! Also, and this is speaking as a sewist, if anyone gives you crap about your garment construction after watching how much time and love you put into this project, they need to appreciate you don't have the same goals with a costume as any other type of garment. Give them a Spartan kick with a "This. Is. Cosplay!"

every project has brought rachel to this project, gaining skills like a dragon boards gold and i truly have no words. omg the illusion!!! the movement!!! so simple but incomprehensible and truly astonishing

Holy cow this looks so cool. All hail the Rachel Stormborn, first of her name, mother of dragons!

Frodo trying to run off with the Jessica arm was too cute. Definitely my favorite blooper! 😂

Hot tip for any seamstress who needs to stuff something: SAVE YOUR FABRIC SCRAPS! It’s cost effective and environmentally friendly. Ofc you would need a lot for a glorious puppet such as this but it works great for stuffed animals.

I believe that dragon of yours is actually technically a wyvern, since it's wings are part of / attached to its forelegs. That being said, this is still incredible!

Quite frankly the BEST thing I have ever seen! I will be back to watch every 5 minutes.

That head turned out SO GOOD! And it cracked me up how you were holding the fake arm while you were talking and putting the tips of your fingers to the tips of its fingers. The end with you and Tommy laughing made me laugh too!😂😂😂 And of course Frodo is the snuggly-est, cutest best boy ever! Great video! When and where is Dragon Con?

I love the massive enthusiastic chaos energy of "I don't know but let's do it!" that Rachel puts into all her projects. Rachel gives confidence for those of us intimidated by the Bernadette Banners and Nicole Rudolphs of the world. I love their videos and expertise, but Rachel is just so damn accessible and adorable.

You are unbelievably talented and so fun and delightful to watch! Thank you for letting us see into your amazing creative world!

My favorite part is the creative techniques like making the hinge with the plastic tube!

After the photo shoot i kept being weirded out by Rachel’s voice and mannerisms coming out of dany’s face 😅 this project was so cool and fun to see!!

I am not into cosplay and I have never watched Games of Throne but that costume is fantastic.

That would be really fun to see people reacting to at a convention.

Omg Rachel you should never apologize for not doing enough in a week ever again. Like this would have been enough content for a month, like the different parts of the costume could have very well been standalone videos. I very much want to have an arm puppet dragon now please.

This might actually be the most badass thing you've ever done! GO RACHEL GO!!!!

YOU MADE A FREAKING DRAGON!!! This was amazing!!!🎉 The prodution quality and editing is top notch too, such a fun watch 🙌

What a stunning reveal! Beautiful puppet! Thanks for sharing the journey.

That would be so cool using it for a movie and you could tale the shots of you moving with both areas before and the edit the dragon on top so have full use of both arms

I’ve been watching you for 8 years. This is the best thing you’ve EVER done. I keep saying that with every project, because you keep knocking it out of the park, but this is seriously next level!

Holy crap, Rachel, this is a whole other level. I’m blown away with the final result, and your ingenuity to get there. 😲

WOW that is one freaking well made dragon! Really amazing! And you look nice as Dany too.

The thing I like most about these videos is that the worst possible problems that she discusses are all really tame. It's just a nice light fun thing to watch at the end of a stressful week.

The Drogon head is so perfect it’s insane, and you are so good with his movements! I think the fake arm got a little bent out of shape whilst you were working on it because it looks a little curved and rubbery in the final reveal. But that’s not your fault and I’m sure you could reshape it! Overall one of the best projects you’ve made in a long time! Truly amazing!

I’m learning sewing and your videos have been keeping me going! I’m also a chaotic sewer and I have trouble with measurements and instructions so my makes so far have been terrible. I’m glad to see someone willing to show both the good and bad in their sewing and helping me remember that only by doing will I eventually get better. Hope you keep making more videos!

After watching your videos for 3+ years it is so damn inspiring to see how these projects have grown in complexity. I always love the "what works well, what didn't" sections. As someone who is starting to get into costuming/sewing clothes that's so helpful!!!

I FEEL Jim Hensons spirit smiling beyond the grave knowing theres a whole new generation who will NOT Ever let this craft die out.

I hope 2023 Rachel can look back at, like, 2020 Rachel and see how far she's come and what she's learned because quite frankly this was an outstanding project

Dragon and costume fantastic BUT hands down this is the best makeup transformation I've EVER seen you do! You don't even look like you!!!!! 10 out of 10 amazing work

Wowowowow!! Rachel! This is truly amazing. A work of art! You’ll be the star of Dragon Con!

I had a miserable week and desperately needed this wonderful boost of serotonin. Thank you, Rachel! Also, your puppeteering skills are really impressive.

On the subject of contact cement: one of my first jobs included occasionally printing and creating posters. I was asked to make poster on foam board for a court case, so I got to work. Having never used contact cement before, I took no precautions and paid quite the price. It was really, really embarrassing to call my mom to pick me up and bring me home because I was too incredibly high to function.

It is absolutely bloody brilliant. The illusion is amazing.

Really feel that comment about constantly losing stuff. It is the story of my life and yup at this point I try to just think, yup go figure or that makes sense. Helps to not be constantly angry about something I have a difficult time controlling.

Ahhh I'm so glad you were able to find use in my dragon puppet videos! I super appreciate the shout out ❤ And Drogon looks amazing!! LOVE the details on his head and his stunning wings ❤ (PS I also added velcro to my hoody and dragon to keep him on me as well!)

Just to let you know, you can add flour to your liquid latex to thicken it and make a paste. That might help in a situation like you were in with the legs.

As a fursuit maker, when I saw the misery from the pile of foam scraps I could HEAVILY relate. XD

Your ability to adapt & your creativity are top tier. Well done. As always

I can't imagine the amount of work that actually went in to this video, and to do it only a week?! I would've spent like 3 days hyperfixating on it, and then given up entirely. You are a truly incredible artist and cosplayer. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos!! You're a real inspiration to me!

Rachel! This episode left me speechless!! Your dragon is utterly amazing, beautiful...the total look of the reveal is fantastic!! You are so talented......

OMG THIS LOOKS SURREAL ITS AMAZING

Rachel, thank you for fulfilling childhood dreams. Watching your content warms my heart always 💕

We don't deserve you, this whole video is amazing!!! Not only the undertaking of such a big, new, technical project - so impressive! But the editing is SO good! All the little whip pans and standing up into frame like 2005 Elizabeth Bennet - it's so well done! And the cinematic reveal - wow! So much goodness!!!

The logic part of my brain: Wow, Rachel did a really good job, and her skills should be commended! You can see the artistry and ingenuity that went into the illusion. The other part of my brain: ✨dragon!!!✨

You can get small programmable sound units for model trains. Bear with me! Put one in the head of your dragon with a battery pack and activation switch and download some sound files from the internet and mix them up a bit, lions roar, elephants etc. Then your dragon can "speak"!

Such a great illusion - works really well!

TRULY INCREDIBLE JOB Rachel! You & Drogon look amazing, what a cool project and thank you for sharing this journey with us!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ME THE FRIDAYS WITH RACHEL!!! Nothing brightens my day MORE than watching Rachel make something. ANYTHING! But this was truly EXCEPTIONAL!!! That head was amazing, love ALL your videos. ❤❤❤❤

Absolutely Amazing! I love this idea and your skills! Thank you for sharing!

Incredible project! I liked how it turned out, the dragon puppet looks and moves like it’s alive. Smoothly done, I can’t even express how much I liked this.

I was not expecting the fake arm to look SO realistic, I thought it would be so obvious knowing the "trick" but it still looks really good in all the test shots!

Your puppetry skills are absolutely an unexpected but significant talent! :) (A tip from someone who makes dragons- although usually not this chonko- it may help to take a bit of the stuffing out of the base of his tail near the body so it'll hang more down and less outward. Have unfortunately learned this lesson by nearly de-eyeballing a friend at faire with a dragon puppet previously.)

I think this has to be one of my favorite projects you have done! Drogon is such a precious boi! 🐲🐉

i love the energy you have and put in your videos

I love how much of Frodo we can see in the interaction between Rachel and the puppet.

can i just say i love seeing the bloopers at the end of these videos! i love seeing the natural craziness and mistakes , the laughter and just weirdness that goes on...we dont get to see it often. thank you Rachel!! xxx

To keep the arm in place when you aren’t holding it, you can put a magnet in the palm, even put it in those hand wraps, and one somewhere under the costume on your hip

Very awesome puppet! And very entertaining crafting!

10:05 Petting Frodo with the arm. It caught me off guard!! I coughed, I weezed, I snorted! Bless you, Sweet Sweet Madam Maksy! May everything you build make you this stinking happy 😂 We love to see your joy!🐉

Congrats Rachel. Your son is beautiful. A week is not very long. This is so good😻

So glad to see someone else make one of these, I tried to make one a few months ago but I couldn’t figure out how to get my arm and the stuffing so I’m glad there’s a video of someone making one now!!!

How?! Just... HOW do you stay motivated all the way through a project like that? I suppose being so talented at making physical things will make it a little easier, but I"m not sure I could ever stay motivated on a single project that big, all the way to completion! I am in awe of that, even more than the finished result!

the fact this was only a week, i am mind blown. So good, thank you for taking us along the ride Rachel!

This was excellent - because we know of the illusion our eyes are pretty critical, but this was creepily realistic... I’d wear a sleeved blouse or jacket to disguise the difference in your upper arm size…right now your left arm looks like she’s a bit withered . Otherwise, you and your boy are going to SLAY at the Con.❤

Bloody hell I wanna make myself a shoulder dragon now (or a wyvern) Unrelated but thank you so much for being chaotic in your sewing journey, because it helped me find the confidence to actually throw myself into sewing a few years ago. I finished a huuuge project a couple of days ago (I've been working on it since december) and I'm not sure I would have even survive without the confidence boost your journey gave me.

The dragon is amazing!!!! The arm is giving slight healed by professor Lockhart vibes

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the Even Stevens movie's VFX, absolutely stunning

Sometimes, you totally blow my mind. This is one of those times. Incredible work.

This might be your greatest project yet.

it makes me so happy that you referenced keep drawing charlie! theirs was my first big inspo for my dragon puppet and i lvoed their tutorial

The amount of raw talent this woman has in literally everything she picks up 😭

Make sure you can rest your dragon head hand on your own head to give it a break from the weight and maybe try a clip on the palm of the fake hand to secure it to your waist or pocket if you want it to have more intention. Great job on this! As a kid who made a disturbing number of marionettes and walked around with a similar raven puppet, this beautiful dragon made me very happy.

I think this is my favorite thing you've ever made. The time, thought, and effort you put into this really comes through.

bloody brilliant Rachel... you did an awesome job...look forward to seeing your footage from Dragon-con..

OMG! I want to do this with Astrid and Stormfly now! Amazing video as always!