Kermit the Frog replica puppet (Kermit meets STAN LEE! pg4)

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

Thanks everybody for your supportive comments! Glad our lil green muchacho is getting so many positive reactions from you guys! I'm so psyched about getting this puppet finished and putting the performance into him. I'm so glad you like the work so far, cos this is my FIRST puppet, and I really wanna do him justice because he's one of my favourite characters from the show.

And I agree, there's so much personality that goes into the hand and the voice. I think it's REALLY important to nail both. I've found myself singing "Rainbow Connection" and "Happy Feet" in the shower in Kermit's voice, and my friends who've seen the impression so far are really impressed, so hopefully you guys will be too.

As for that photo of Kermit and Jim, it gets me teary eyed too. You totally forget they're the same person. I'll never be able to replace Jim, or even Steve Whitmire, who's done a fantastic job continuing Jim's little green legacy, but I'll do my best to make my homage as accurate as I can.

 

[woozelmom]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

Callmemilo,
I have every confidence that your Kermit is going to turn out fanastically because your heart is in the right place. Way to go

 

[PredatrHuntr]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

Very cool! Now give him some eyes so he can see dang it!

 

[thefish]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

...As for that photo of Kermit and Jim, it gets me teary eyed too. You totally forget they're the same person. I'll never be able to replace Jim, or even Steve Whitmire, who's done a fantastic job continuing Jim's little green legacy, but I'll do my best to make my homage as accurate as I can.

Amen, and great job so far. I've been wanting to get hold of a Kermit for much the same reason, I do a mean Kermit, (and my Rowlf, Ernie, and Dr. Teeth ain't bad either.) But there is no replacing Jim or Steve. About a year after Jim died, I was GOING to sing a solo version of "The Rainbow Connection" during a choir concert, but I couldn't do it because I was doing it in Jim's memory, and would choke up EVERY TIME.

There IS a great story that Steve Whitmire tells about him taking up Kermit when Jim passed away. He didn't want to do it. It scared him. It felt wrong to him.

He'd performed Kermit for YEARS. His first puppet had been a self-made Kermit as well, and when he joined Henson as a Muppeteer, he'd often performed Kermit in "Crowd Scenes" when Jim was performing a featured character. Steve was Jim's choice for whenever that needed done. But when Jim passed, and it was evident that everyone, (including Brian,) was expecting Steve to step into that role, he was still hesitant.

Then, one night Steve had a dream that Jim came to him and said, (and I'm paraphrasing. This is all from memory,) "You need to perform Kermit. Keep him alive for me."

And that was it. He did it.

Believe what you like, but it's a powerful story...And it just shows the amazing heart, talent and love that a man can portray with a piece of felt stretched over his hand, because here we are...grown men...getting all choked up over it.

You'll notice that Kermit had more of a supporting role in all the "Muppet" features for a while, (with Gonzo, Rizzo, and Pepe the King Prawn stepping into the leads in many ways, in "A Muppet Christmas Carol," and "Muppet Treasure Island." But in "Muppets from Space," Kermit was back again, and it almost felt like Jim was there, just below camera frame.

Just wanted to share...

All the best in your endeavors, Callmemilo...Keep us posted. It's looking great.

-Dan

 

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

Thanks Dan, that's a really heartwarming story. I'd never heard that before. Hope my steadily improving impersonation comes close. I do other characters better, like Piggy and Gonzo (WISHING I had the vocal range to do Fozzie too lol), but I'm working on Kermit's voice almost every day, haha.

Maybe I'll get to build more characters when this one's done.

And don't worry Pred, the eyes and torso are the next things on my to-do-list. Got the ping-pong balls trimmed and sanded, and the template prepared already.

 

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

After a long time leaving Kermit on the backburner (so to speak), I've come back to him, aiming to finish in time to take him to Dragoncon

The seams on the head are blended almost invisible, a foam-padded torso with sleeve and felt collar attached, and half the seams on that are blended now! Next step for me is getting the ping pong balls sprayed up gloss white, while making the hands and arms. I think for now Kermit will be without legs, but when I get back from Dragoncon, I'll almost definitely wanna make some for him, just because.

Here's the only pic I've got for now.

Quick question for you guys though. For attaching the arms to the body, would the Henson stitch be best?

 

[ecl]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

very glad to see this update, it's looking great!! Wish I could buy one!

 

[woozelmom]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet

He looks fabulous!!!!! You are doing a wonderful job and I can't wait to see him with his eyes in place

 

[MrBarlow]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

I'm not an expert, but I've done a combo with a whip stitch to secure it and then a Henson Stitch for the blend. I'm sure that's overkill but it worked out for me.

Your Kermit is looking great!

 

[GBrittelleJr]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

I'd love to know what you mean by "blending the seams"?

 

[Mr.Spider]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

henson has a stitch he used that pulled the seams of material together, and using the type of fleece they used, it hid the seam altogether, for instance Kermit has a seam running down the middle of his head... and you would never know it from pictures or from movies, because the seam is hidden so well.

Jim believed that by hiding the stitch, it helped his muppets be more human and real and less like puppets on a hand.

The Puppet Stitch or Henson Stitch - YouTube

 

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

GBrittelleJr.... typically, as Mr Spider says, Muppets are made out of a specific type of fleece, called Antron. It's AMAZING for sewing up seemingly seamless puppets.

I however could only get hold of regular anti-pill fleece until recently, so to blend the seam I had to take a pin/needle, and painstakingly go along either side of the seam, pulling up trapped fibres. This allows them to puff up a little, essentially bridging the trench left from sewing, and that's just enough to hide the seam.

 

[Alric]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

He's looking good but please give the poor guy some eyes, he looks weird without them.

 

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

That's my next job

 

[Chris Fields]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

Awesome! looking forward to seeing him at dragoncon!

 

[Laffo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

While you're here in Atlanta you should visit The Center for Puppetry Arts. Huge Henson collection from the first LaChoi commercial to The Muppet Show to Dark Crystal to Fraggle Rock. You can check out a Kermit up close.
Great place!
Laffo

 

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

Sounds tempting, I just might if I have time. Can you PM me the details?

 

[Onlyalad19]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

Amazing work so far. I can't wait to see it finished. Keep up the good work.

 

[Trap Joe]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

very well made so farthumbsup:thumbsup
I love the collar. Can you tell me what it is and where you got it from?

 

[callmemilo]

Re: Kermit the Frog replica puppet (update pg2)

The collar? Oh it's just a light green felt. I used some math and reference pictures to design and cut a pattern for it, then stitched it by hand onto Kermit's fleece neck.