I just found the Bill DeMar video clip of Mr. DeMar with an axtell standing frog. EXCELLENT manipulation! I recommend people click on to see it. It's worth the download wait. Go to axtell's home page and click on new stuff. Then click on the educator's page. Down near the bottom left of that page you'll see a link to Bill Demar's video. Nicely done!
Remember to click on pictures of the characters you have to get possible ideas for that character. Take an hour to go around the site and you'll probably come away with more ideas than you could get at a convention.
Here's a direct link to Bill DeMar & Feldon the frog (which was a custom puppet) you can use the Axtell Frog or Toad for this....or any puppet. It's all manipulation without ANY VOICE!