B.A.R.K. Production Journal: Puppet Ears and Tongue, Step 7

Now I'll attach the puppet's ears to the head.



First find the proper placement. You want to make sure the ears are an equal distance from the top of the head, and in line with one another. If you are having difficulty centering them, take the puppet to a mirror. This is a technique I use when sculpting, it helps you to see imperfections. Once you've got the ears in the right spot pin them down.



Using the same stitch I described in a previous post, sew the ears to the head.



The head is nearly finished. Next I'll begin work on the puppet's body.

B.A.R.K. Production Journal: Puppet Ears and Tongue, Step 6

Pin the pink Muppet fleece to the front of your puppet's ear, and the orange terry cloth to the back. Using the stitch I detailed in a previous post, sew the fleece to the terry cloth. Do not sew the bottom of the ear - we'll be sewing that to the puppet's head.

B.A.R.K. Production Journal: Puppet Ears and Tongue, Step 3

Use foam to apply a thin layer of Barge Cement along the outer edge of the puppet's ears and tongue. Once the glue dries, this usually takes about 30 to 60 seconds, pinch the sides together. This creates a nice round edge.

B.A.R.K. Production Journal: Puppet Ears and Tongue, Step 2

Using the pattern as a guide cut out fabric for the puppet's ears and tongue. For the back of the ears I'm using the same terry cloth that I fabricated the head with. I'm cutting the shape about a half an inch larger then the pattern so I'll have enough fabric to wrap around the ear.





The inside of the puppet's ear and the tongue will be covered in Antron Fleece, also known as Muppet Fleece. The fleece has been dyed pink with Rit Dye.

B.A.R.K. Production Journal: Puppet Ears and Tongue, Step 1

Now it is time for me to make the puppet's ears and tongue - I'm going to be making them at the same time. Just as with every other part of the puppet, I begin by drawing the desired shape on a piece of butcher paper. The pattern is cut out and traced onto a sheet of foam, and then it is cut out with an exacto blade.