Christine Poe is an animated woman who launches into character mid-conversation.

She's the creator of Patty Cakes Puppetry in Burlington. It's a travelling interactive puppet show geared to children's birthday parties, corporate functions and fundraisers.

Her full cast of fuzzy friends has grown since she started the small business in 2004.

"I love them. They are real to me," Poe said.  "They take on their own personality.  I put them on my hand and they come out with their own voices.  I can't control it."

She first caught a glimpse of Patty Cakes, the pink-faced redhead who inspired the company, at the annual One of a Kind show in Toronto, which attracts more than 200,000 people.

You can see Poe and her team at www.pattycakespuppetry.com.

She can accommodate up to 150 kids when clients like Neilson Dairy in Georgetown and Campbell's Soup in Listowel book her for annual holiday events.

In real life, she has two sons: Bryce, 8 and Dorian, 5. They always want to be part of the puppet show and stumble over one another to help.

"It might be a family business one day."

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