If you’d told me that one day I’d have a giraffe living in my suburban Brisbane backyard, I would’ve laughed and wondered what on earth you were thinking. And yet… here we are.

Tall Black — my majestic, caffeine‑fuelled, eco‑friendly giraffe — now stands proudly in the garden, shimmering in the sun in his coat of repurposed coffee pods. He’s tall, he’s colourful, and he’s a daily reminder that creativity (and a little community spirit) can turn discarded bits and pieces into something unexpectedly joyful.

How It All Started: The Broken Christmas Giraffe

I’ve always loved the idea of a giraffe peeking over my garden fence. Something about the absurdity of a rogue giraffe in suburban Brisbane appealed to me. But it stayed a fantasy… until 2024, when Bunnings released a Christmas lights giraffe.

My daughter surprised me with a giraffe delivered in a compact box. My husband and I eagerly assembled it and threaded the Christmas lights through the frame. We positioned it to peer over the fence exactly as I’d imagined.

Then we read the instructions.

“Indoor use only.”

Where, exactly, does one put a 2.1‑metre giraffe inside a house? The lights died not long after Christmas, and while the frame still stood tall and proud, my beloved giraffe had lost its sparkle and flamboyancy.

The Coffee Pod Epiphany

I knew my giraffe needed a new coat — something fun, something colourful, something that would bring him back to life. Coffee pods suddenly seemed perfect.

There was just one problem: at two coffees a day, I’d be in my 90’s before I collected enough pods. And they’d all be gold and purple, which is what we drink at home.

So, I did what any resourceful person would do: I begged my community for their used coffee pods.

People looked at me strangely at first — “You want my rubbish… for a giraffe?” — but then they rallied. And oh, did they rally.

Pods arrived from all over Australia:

• Friends and family stored their used pods and collected more from their friends and families
• My Nia dance teacher (who collected a stash from an Airbnb)
• My parents‑in‑law
• My husband’s workplace
• My niece’s hairdressing salon
• Even my dentist, who contributed beautiful lilac pods every week

Suddenly, I had a rainbow of colours and a steady supply. Tall Black’s new wardrobe was underway.

The Poddling Process (Yes, It Became a Verb)

Transforming thousands of coffee pods into a giraffe coat is not for the faint‑hearted. Here’s the process I perfected (or maybe endured):

• Empty the pod — first, I used nail scissors to cut the foil open; then I discovered a purpose‑built tool (thank you, Amazon) that made the process easier.
• Compost the coffee and discard the foil
• Wash the pods
• Flatten them — 4–5 hammer hits each
• Punch four holes in every pod
• Attach stainless steel wire to the frame using swages and clamps (the fiddliest part by far)
• Weave the pods into a giraffe coat

By the end, I estimate Tall Black was wearing around 2,500 pods. A true caffeine couture moment.

Tall Black Today

Now Tall Black stands in the garden, shimmering with colour, personality, and a touch of mischief. He’s become a conversation starter, a sustainability ambassador, and a daily reminder that beauty can come from the things we usually throw away.

He makes me smile every time I look out the window. 

Help Me Find My Next Project

Tall Black has been such a joy that I’m itching for another challenge. Maybe a dragon. Maybe a peacock. Maybe something I haven’t even imagined yet.

The only thing I’m missing is a frame.

So, if you ever spot a large, slightly ridiculous metal animal frame looking for a new home — you know who to call.