From: Choochclwn@aol.com
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 20:00:18 -0500
To: balloon@fooledya.com
Subject: Large Yellow Bird with an Obnoxious Voice

Greetings!

This is my first attempt at creating a balloon sculpture, although I find it
hard to believe someone somewhere, maybe on this list, hasn't come up with
this or something similar before. I brought one of Bruce Kalver's Elmo's to
my son's first grade teacher, and when he came home my son said a little girl
in the class (who he's kind of sweet on <g>) wanted a Big Bird. Not knowing
how to do a Big Bird, I set about trying to figure it out. I figure at 6
years old, showing up to class with a balloon Big Bird, after you've shown up
with a balloon Elmo, is the first grade equivalent of showing up at a high
school dance in a Trans Am.

Here's what I've come up with. I have tried to credit any individual portions
which are adapted from other twisters. In particular, the spirit and
technique draw heavily from Bruce Kalver's magnificent Elmo. (More than any
other balloon sculpture I've seen or done, when you do an Elmo for someone,
everyone wants one, so pack lots of red 260's.)

The following are required:
2 yellow 260's.
1 orange 260.
1 white 260
1 red dog ale, chilled.

Inflate a yellow 260 completely, then let enough air out to leave about 4"
uninflated.

Twist a soft 3" bubble at the nozzle end. Twist a 2-1/2" loop (a 5" bubble
looped around) and lock twist. At the first 3" bubble, twist a 3/4" bubble at
the knot end, and slip the remaining 2-1/4" through the loop to form the
head. (This is similar to Marvin's monkey head.)

Twist a 2" bubble which will be the neck.  Holding the 2" bubble in place
(you haven't lock twisted it yet, squeeze the remaining length of balloon
until it is inflated soft, leaving about a 1" uninflated at the end. Tie the
uninflated 1/2" at the base of the neck. Twist the large loop you just formed
into two even parts at the end opposit the head. Then twist that in half
again, so you now have four equal bananas, each 6"-7" long. Fold the botton
two bananas up, and tie the uninflated end at the base of the neck.

Inflate the orange 260, leaving about 6" uninflated. At the knot end, twist a

2-1/2" loop (a 5" bubble looped around) for a foot. Form a 1" bubble and
pinch-twist it, to hold the foot straight. Form a 6" bubble (for a leg), and
then another 6" bubble (for the other leg). Form a 1" pinch twist. Knot and
cut off enough uninflated tip to allow a 2-1/2" loop (a 5" bubble looped
around). This forms the other foot.

Carefully slip the orange foot assembly into the torso of the yellow
head-and-body assembly. Bow the legs slightly.

Inflate a yellow 260 so that 12" is inflated. Measure off the first 6" from
the knot, and squeeze the balloon so that a 1-1/2" uninflated portion is
formed between the two inflated portions. Tie a knot in the other end and cut
off the uninflated tip. (A moyel can be called in to assist with this step if
necessary.) Slip this arm assembly into the top of the torso of the yellow
head-and-body assembly. Give the body a nice shape by tucking the top of each
arm into the shoulder.

Inflate a white 260 till about 2-1/2" is inflated. Starting from the knot
end, form two 1" bubbles and lock twist. Knot the balloon behind the
remaining small bubble and cut off the uninflated portion of the balloon.
Wedge the small bubble into the loop of the head, above the beak, to form the
eyes. Use a Sharpie or Expo to draw eyeballs.

Remove the cap from the Red Dog ale. Empty the contents into the stomach.
This can be done with a pump, but I've found doing it by mouth is better.
Balloon Twisters use the bottle directly. Balloon Decorators may elect to use
a glass.

Twistin' the night away...Bennett/Chooch