The Happy Crocodile!
Some time ago, I was given a wooden puppet of a crocodile – perhaps an alligator, but I saw a crocodile.
I’d been thinking that I’d like to make lanterns from things I could hold in my hands, rather than use books and online images for inspiration and reference. Also to make things that I like on a more whimsical level. Enough of being in awe of nature! This coincided with Sara (Wonder Made Wild) introducing me to neon-coated LEDs, which give smoother, light-changing transitions and have more vibrant colours than the LED strip lights I’d been using.
My first experiment with neon LEDs was a 2 metre tall chilli. I discovered I didn’t need to use coloured tissue paper, as the lights provided all the colours I needed. On one of the settings, the chilli changed from green to red, which was exciting! I was happily making a coffee pot when I got the bite to make a scaled-up version of the crocodile. I could hardly contain myself! It made a change to be making lanterns purely for the love of it rather than for a specific event. I started the crocodile in November and continued steadily over the winter without rushing or pressure. Such a good way to work.
The neon LEDs I bought were 3m long, so I carefully scaled up the wooden puppet so the light could run through from tip to tail. Despite my attempts to be in control, the crocodile grew an extra metre.
I considered suspending the croc from a tree bough and operating it with pulleys, but then the idea of walking about with it won over. This was fine, but I had to rethink how to operate it: i.e. from below, not from above like a giant string puppet.
Evolving as making
I found that one neon LED wasn’t enough! I used four sets of ‘3 metre, colour-changing LPDISPLAY Smart Neon LED Light Strips’, each with its own power bank tucked away on the insides of the legs. I thought I was being neat, but it was fiddly and frustrating to connect the USB and synchronise the colour-changing sequences. I had to manually set each unit (pressing the button three or was it five times past the disco setting?!) and then stop, take the beast off and run around the legs, resetting to the disco setting and later back again. What a farce! I’ve promised to get to grips with coding and probably invest in an Arduino kit. We will see!
Sharrow Lantern Carnival was approaching and an ideal opportunity to take the crocodile out. Now the pressure was on to get it finished in time (and I still hadn’t got its jaw opening!)
A quick test before the carnival
I made the crocodile at Abbeyfield House, where I booked a room to use weekly, joined by friends working on their projects. This proved invaluable: sharing advice and resources and keeping each other motivated and lighthearted. On the last night of making, Green City Action was having its AGM upstairs and on finishing their meeting, met me struggling to don the croc to take a selfie. They promptly helped me outside and took the crocodile for a stroll in the park and a photo shoot. Where would we be without a little help from our friends?
Snap Snap!
The night before the carnival, I made some adjustments and soon had the jaw opening and closing!
Sharrow Lantern Carnival
It’s over 20 years since I first walked into that unforgettable lantern-making workshop for Sharrow Lantern Carnival, and what did I make? – A crocodile!
Sheffield General Cemetery
Instead of taking to the streets of Sharrow and ending in the cemetery, as in the past, this year’s carnival took place entirely within the cemetery grounds. I’m a big fan of reclaiming the streets with magnificent lanterns and was a bit miffed to hear that wouldn’t be happening, but as it turned out, this worked out great. The procession weaved through the length of the cemetery, along with Sheffield Samba Band, Sheffield Youth Samba Band and Jasper on his bike-sound system, blasting tunes to dance along to.
The fun we had!
The crocodile was great to carry. I’d attached a couple of branches to the framed rucksack, which slotted into capped tubes in the body. I found I could control the head and open the jaw easily while Christine and Sarah took turns holding the tail and getting swished about every time I twisted!
Special guests
Being the custodians of Amalie, a giant leaping frog, Skye the soaring kestrel and new lanterns made by Jo Veal, we simply had to take a van load over to join in the fun!
Many thanks to Richard of ‘Man 2 Van‘ for the considerate transporting and to the Friends of Parkwood Springs for their support – We’ll be back there on Saturday 18th October for the Parkwood Springs Community Lantern Procession!
We positioned Amalie so she could be viewed by the procession as it passed from above and then a second time when she could be seen more closely. I think this is the best I’ve seen her!
Skye the kestrel. Seen here with Jo and the kestrel bearers, Tamara, Zoe and Richard.
Theo flying his UFO, Jo’s Chinese lanterns and Gary with his mushroom. Quite magic!