Read part one here. (Video below)

But all of this is puppetry-related.

First of all, I’ve uploaded all my puppets to my membership on the site. I realised that there wasn’t anywhere on this blog to see all of my puppets in one place, and this was a convenient way of doing it without having to delve into web design to get it done here. So if you want to see my puppets in one place, please go to:

www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Secondly, at some point I will update my Puppet Resources page with my list of recommended reading. Until then, you can find it here:

www.collectzing.com/collection/242/

And thirdly - and this is the fun part! - David and Fiona asked me to work with a film producer/director to create a short web ad for the company. They used Doc, Jeff and Amy, and I performed part of the puppetry. (It’s why I had to make a new costume and wig for Amy) This is the first time I have ever been involved in a film project, as well as the first time any of my puppets will be used for a worldwide corporate campaign. The film is shown below.

If you are a collector, or someone who would like to be, please join our new site! collectZing.com! Joining is free and easy! (Puppetry and theatre people welcome)

For those following the saga that is my life… or something… here’s why I’ve been so busy. (Skip the explanation, just get to the puppets already!)

Some of you will know/remember that last year I worked for Arts Hub. I left in June 2006, in hopes of continuing work on - now defunct - The Prompt Copy, and setting up an online bookstore. As with half of my brilliant plans, they turn out… well, less than brilliant. By Dec. 2006, I had to get some temp. work - which I absolutely hated. I left that after a month, hoping that I could find something a little less permanent (it turned out to be a full-time permanent job, instead of a full-time temp. job) that would allow me time to work on other things. I got ready for the Comedy Festival, but by the end of Dec. decided not to do TPC anymore. The bookstore idea quickly fell by the wayside soon after.

The good news was that about two months before opening at the festival in April 07, I got a job offer. An excellent job offer. David Eedle and Fiona Boyd, the ex-CEOs of Arts Hub (having sold the companies just as I left last year), were setting up a new online company. And would I be part of it!

The best part of the job is that it is the balance of work that I need; steady income, flexible hours, and the freedom to do theatre stuff as well.

So what’s the job all about?

It’s almost really hard to explain. But only because lately it’s been ‘under wraps’ until the site launch. Which is today!!

The site, collectZing.com, is for collectors - of all kinds, from art collectors to coins, from dolls to … well, whatever really. You can upload images of your collectibles, create catalogues of them, link up with other collectors, discuss, trade, blog… The whole idea is that there is somewhere online where the collector in you can be free.

My job is part research, part marketing, part writing. First off, I got the enormous (to the power of like, a billion and one) role of being in charge of the catalogue area. Which means I’m the one who reads up on the types of collectibles, learns about things like grading, condition, what information is important to keep about the collectible, etc.

Next, I’m in charge of the content part of the site - like news and information about collectibles. We have a wiki, and hopefully over time it will become the best online encyclopedia dedicated solely to the area of collecting.

Anyway, the whole thing has been a really big chaotic mess for a while now, only because we’re all muddling through what we hope will be a successful business plan. A couple of weeks ago the site went into alpha testing for the company and web design guys; then it went into exclusively private beta test for friends and family. Now it’s public for everyone to join!

See part two here.

Read previous post - City Head on Youtube - here.

And a new - ish - puppet. The last couple of weeks I’ve been scrambling to get ready for the big beta launch at work. Which is supposed to be happening right now… Only my boss is sick at home, so it may be happening tomorrow and not today. Very disappointed, because I decided I would save wearing my new iPuppeteer t-shirt for the launch. It seems silly I know, but I was so looking forward to it. 

Anyway, my employer wanted to use Doc, Amy and Jeff from City Head for a new web ad they were making, so I spent pretty much all of my spare time for the past two weeks getting everything ready. I had to make new hands and rods because the other ones were too short to use for filming, plus a new costume and wig for Amy. 

So here she is (click on pic for larger view): 

She has a nice new pink sack dress, made with help from my free puppet costume ebook. The dress is pretty much made in three stages: 

1. Sew two pieces of the dress material back to back (top and bottom sides sewn only). Turn inside out. Sew other two sides. Join those same sides together, and you create a tube of material. 

2. Sew two ’sleeves’; each sleeve is a rectangular piece of material sewn right sides together, turned inside out. 

3. Attach each sleeve to each side of the shoulder of the tube of dress. (See following pic) 

As you can see, I’ve also given her a ribbon for her waist to give her body a bit of shape. 

Her wig is some brown thick wool, with the middle of each thread sewn to a piece of calico. The calico is then pinned onto her head, over her old hair. 

I also gave her some sandals, but they aren’t pictured here. They were just two brown felt pieces cut into the shape of her feet, plus some felt straps sewn strategically in place. 

Here’s a close-up of the shoulder, where you can see the sleeve a lot better. I also added some nice pink buttons just for an extra detail. Click on the pic for a larger view. 

Once the video is done, I’m planning on posting it here, so watch out! More on the video can be found here.

Read the next post - making the Lego city - here.

Read previous post on City Head - pics of the show - here.

Read next post - Amy in a corporate video - here.