Yoda here is what I call a "thumb puppet", because he sits on the very top section of that digit. The challenge with this puppet (OK, ONE of the challenges) was to make him smaller than the Ewok finger puppets, because a Google search for the question: "Which is bigger, Yoda or an Ewok?" revealed that indeed, Yoda is much smaller. In my world, he's only slightly smaller. BUT THAT'S LIFE IN THE FAST LANE, BABY!
Yoda's head and hands were needle felted, and then were stitched into. I like that combination, and frankly cannot resist pulling a stitch through felt. Not only does it give the piece more texture and color, but there is something v. pleasurable about that act.
Yoda's outer robe is linen, made by cutting into a cross-stitch sampler that I had purchased at an estate sale. The work wasn't extraordinary, and it wasn't getting use sitting at the bottom of a trunk, so it was called into service! His inner duds were made from brown velour and brown velvet ribbon. I kept the fraying on the outer robe in check by brushing on some white glue. I have used a fray check product in the past, and it remained sticky after application. Not desirable. Sometimes simple is best, and white glue is simple. A small running stitch in brown embroidery floss ties the robe back into the clothes and is a nice finishing touch. The hood was created by just playing with folding and then gluing. I learn the most by playing. Knowing what your materials can do is probably the most important thing you can learn as an artist.
Speaking again of Google searches, it's amusing that I didn't even have to finish typing, "What is that thing worn around Yoda's neck?" before the Googs auto-completed my sentence. Means someone else has wondered the same thing! Turns out the item is called a "blissl flute". So now I have taken one step deeper into Star Wars geekdom.
I will (hopefully) be making a light saber for Y. soon -- a pair of earrings that I had off-loaded when I moved, which my sister then moved with HER, are now making their way back to me via UPS. I have a sneaking suspicion that their chartreuse-y/yellowy plastic glow will make a perfect light beam.
"See soon we will."
Other puppets in this series: Admiral Ackbar Ewoks
The designs of this puppet and its images are © Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
"Love matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my love, do you? Hmm? Hmm."
Thanks, Dave! I had fun making him -- adding the needle felting into the mix has really added a lot to the puppets.
Posted by: megan | June 14, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Love is too small a word for how I feel about this one!
Posted by: Dave | June 14, 2011 at 03:23 AM