Handmade3D Blog

Often people wonder how I make what I do, so welcome to “The Making of a Tardis!” First I start with the wonderful Tardis blue fabric and cut 6 panels for each Tardis.  The Tardis is basically a box, so hence it needs six sides.Once they are cut I first stitch the side door panels with straight lines to define the door frames.

Well, wait. I’m out order. While I am cutting the panels, I actually have my embroidery machine working.  I created the Police Box top panel in my embroidery software and then set my machine to stitch out 10 pieces at a time.  10 may sound like a lot but it only makes two and half. Remember the four sides of a box?  Each side needs the police sign on top.

Ok, so once the door frames are stitched, I cut out and clean up all the embroidery pieces. I then stitch them to the top of the door frame.

Once the top panels are stitched on, its time for the windows.  I usually cut these out when I’m cutting the panels.  Each door needs two windows, so that’s eight tiny squares per Tardis.  They are about 1 1/2″.  First I do a straight line across and up down for the panes.  Then zig zag stitch around them to keep the windows on.

After the windows, it’s time for the Free Call Sign.  This I have already made as well.  I made the design in Photoshop, after finding a picture of the Tardis online to read the text.  I then print the design onto special fabric that goes through my printer. This fabric has to dry for ten minutes and then gets set with an iron so the ink will not bleed.  Ok, time to stitch them on!  Luckily there is only one per Tardis, as that fabric is expensive. 

Ok.  Once the windows and Call sign are done, its time for the rest of the doors.I have to do it by eye, but I stitch on the rest of the door panels.  Those Tardis doors are not flat you know!

Now for a little handwork.  Each Tardis needs a light bulb on top. I use sparkly mini pom poms.

Ok, the most time consuming parts are over. Smooth sailing from here!  I first sew together the four walls, inside out of course to hide the seams.

Then I sew on the top and the bottom pieces.  The top gets completely sewn down.  The bottom I leave one side open so I can flip inside out.

Now the Tardis is about 7″ tall so it needs some stability.  I cut cardboard bases and tops from cereal boxes to sturdy it up.  I place one cardboard piece on the top and stuff stuff stuff.  Then I place the bottom piece and hand sew the opening closed.
The whole process takes about an 1 hour and 30 minutes to create a single Tardis. Now whenever I make my plush for shows, I never make one thing at a time.  In this instance I was working on four Tardis’. (es?) Anyway, working on multiples I would complete one whole step for all of them before moving on.  I would say for these four I worked on them a good 6 hours from start to finish. After really studying the amount of time these take and the work they are, I do still love them. But I just might have to raise their price. I know the Tardis doesn’t look that big.  But now you know, it is bigger on the inside. ;)

It’s Wonder Woman!  At MegaCon and Tampa Bay Comic Con I had multiple people ask me if I had a Wonder Woman. Here she is!

And no, I did not make her Lasso of Truth.  I want my plush to be welcome to all ages and that wonderful lasso as cool as it could be, could be a strangulation hazard and it’s left off. Check the Shop page if you are interested!

While at MegaCon and Tampa Bay Comic Con (which both went awesomely – I still have to do a write up) a few people asked for Wonder Woman and Dead Pool.  So hence the sketch, they are next!  I drew these a few weeks ago but needed to find a blue star fabric for Wonder Woman.  Not sure what I will put on her back, but her ‘costume’ sure is complicated!  It took a few sketches to figure out what to include and what to drop.  I also drew a fun little sketch of Magneto but not sure if there is enough of a demand to make him or not.

Wonder Woman & Dead Pool

Target is a wonderful place. You can find nearly everything there.  Did you know they sell Super Mario pajamas for boys at clearance for $6 a set? Welcome to today’s project! Hope to get two complete today.

Doodle for Mario Monster

It’s almost Easter so we decided to take Zoe to see the Easter Bunny. She will be four months old next week, I can’t believe how fast time has gone by! She is our big little girl and is absolutely wonderful. She was so happy with the Easter Bunny, I am so happy with her picture! My maternity leave is over but I had such a wonderful time off with her. Only the past month or so was I able to get any actual sewing done. It took us a while to develop a routine. But I loved every minute of it. I made some soft books for her and joined the Stuffed Team. Below is my contribution to our calendar which will be coming out later this year.

I am currently in the Stuffed Bunny show in St. Pete at the Eve N Odd gallery. I also have work hanging for the “Hip to Be Square” show at the Bricks in Ybor. Local peeps check it out! During my maternity leave I started experimenting with my 3D modeling, printing on fabric, and quilting. I think it turned out great, we’ll see if it sells!

This past weekend was the opening of the “Six degrees of Kevin Bacon” show at The Bricks in Ybor. This was another project that took a long time I was keeping secret. I didn’t want anyone to know I was making the Great Gonzo! The show contained 18 artists making portraits of famous actors/ characters that can be tracked back to Kevin Bacon. Most actors can be tracked back in three or less moves, but we had to come up with six moves exactly.

If you are interested, The Great Gonzo was in “The Muppet Movie” with Steve Martin who was in “Sgt. Bilko” with Dan Aykroyd who was in “Sneakers” with Robert Redford who was in “The Sting” with Paul Newman who was in “The Color of Money” with Tom Cruise who was in “A Few Good Men” with Kevin Bacon.

While I was making Gonzo, I had a clear picture in my head of what I wanted. I was first going to make him in his caper outfit that he gets shot out of the cannon with. But doing some research and Muppet Show watching I realized he actually didn’t do that that often. He was usually wearing a suit. I found a photograph of Gonzo in a maroon suit almost in a ‘Kramer’ pose. I thought this would be perfect! Jason (my husband) had the brilliant idea to add the chicken feathers around himdue to his love of chickens.

When I finished Gonzo, I was happy with him but not 100%. I was afraid he would look ‘crafty’ compared to the other fine artists that were accepted into the show. Well apparently I had nothing to worry about! Gonzo sold the day of the show, even before the opening, in the the middle of the afternoon! While at the show I sat in an area where I could watch my piece, partly because I was afraid someone would bump his nose, but kept seeing great reactions to him. People smiled, laughed, and kept saying how much they loved it.

Apparently I am doing something right!
Gonzo with his magical red “sold” sticker. My husband and I only stayed to 10 pm, and at that point were the only two that sold! Below is his piece which sold while we were there.

This past week I received an order for 20 dolls from the Florida Museum for Women Artist’s gift shop. Check them out, it looks like a wonderful museum I wish I lived closer to go take a peek! Here are the first ten cats!
They have also asked for ten quilted dolls, which two are completed so far!
Everything is going great in Babyland! Baby girl is currently 22 weeks 5 days. Energy comes and goes, and have started the wonderful side effects of pregnancy swelling! This picture was taken at 18 weeks. We had out first baby shower last weekend in NY and received tons of goodies! There are just too many cute baby things that come in pink!