CarrotLegs

Is the name that was given to this character after one of my workmates saw the original of the sketch in the last post. The name has just kind of stuck since then. So here's the puppet that I made from that sketch.

He's (Yes, after much debate at our house, it's a he... apparently) certainly got that 'hand-made' quality of a prototype but what do you expect from a little fella made from an old work sock (washed of course!).

I don't think much of his stripes. Some of which where wet when this photo was taken making them a little messy looking but they contract as they dry. So rather than use fabric-paint as I did here I'd probably get them sewn on before the 'sock' became a puppet. Either way, I still think he's terribly cute for a minor character... well, as cute as a 45 minute puppet making effort can be any way. I have about twenty or so designs of these types of puppets all based on various birds and animals and so forth but I'll probably only make one or two more, just to illustrate their use in the show. I don't think sewing is really my strong point.

CarrotLegs

Besides being an old sock he's actually a birdy-spirit of one of these fellas, or at least their cousins, who live not to far from my place. The ones that actually fly over my place, about three times a year (they're rare birds), tend to be the Short Bill Black Cockatoo which have yellow cheeks and tail. But hey, I thought red looked cool!

Red Tailed Black Cockatoo

Like all Black Cockatoos, CarrotLegs can be terribly cheeky and likes to make loud squawking noises for no other reason than it gives people a fright when they're not expecting it. But this is usually just to cover up the fact that he is really very shy and likes to hide away very high up in trees where no one can find him. He usually takes your car-keys with him, which is where they go when you think you've misplaced them, and will only return them when you're completely frustrated or when you ask him nicely for them back.