My New 3D Printing Project!
Do you have a 3D printer? Trust me: You’re gonna want one!
Many years ago while I was working at Geek and Sundry, I got a random email from someone asking if they could build me custom 3D printed armor. I had no idea what they were talking about (isn’t all armor in 3 dimensional to fit our bodies?), but when free armor gets offered to me, I tend to jump at it. Turns out Lumecluster was (and is) a breathtaking creator. She designed this work of art that I did a photoshoot in:
Amazing. And for a while, that was my biggest exposure to the 3D printing world.
Cut to this year, when my daughter started attending a school with a Maker studio. The week they started using the 3D printer was a magical day for her. Just thinking about her coming home and talking about it makes me smile. “Mama mama! Look, I made this!” She held up a small green rectangle with some amorphous blobs on it and the raised letters “Calliope” on it. It was a simple little thing, but her joy thrilled me to the bone. And I told her, “Baby, we’ll have to get one of those printers for the house so we can play with it together!”
Well…look. I didn’t tell her WHEN I’d get it…Sigh. In my defense, I don’t do A LOT of things I say I’ll do when I say I’ll do it! But for this promise, fate decided to force me to make good on it anyway.
In March, I met a guy named Paul at a convention in Indiana. We got to talking about his company, Thangs, which is a resource to help people find 3D prints to make, and they also have exclusive models on their site. Neat. We chatted for quite a while and exchanged info because, as I said, I INTENDED on getting a 3D printer, I am a good mother and not a liar! :P And no, I didn’t ask Paul to send me one, lol, but next thing I know I’ve got a Bambu Carbon X1 on my doorstep and he’s asking me if I want to collaborate on my own collection of 3D items.
Wut?!
I mean, I have 1000 projects I’m working on right now and a novel I’m about to start (MAYBE!) but Thangs said to me, “We’ll pair you with artists so you can design and create 3D prints together.” Which MEANT that I’d be able to make pretty things, and have a legit excuse to watch hours of YouTube videos on how to use the printer and, were something to go wrong, I would get to use my Allen wrench to fix it, and because of THAT I would then feel prouder of myself than I’d ever felt before because then I would become an official “hands on fixing person”. How could I say no to that, ya’ll?!
So it is with great pleasure that I present to you: FeliciaDay3D! Where every month I’ll upload at least FIVE creations that I’ve developed with a handful of incredibly wonderful designers. Your response to this project will dictate how far we can go!
I wanted to offer items in three main creative areas: Cosplay/Jewelry, Making With Your Kid, and RPG items. This month, I’m touching on all of those categories.
The fantastic designer Moonlight Minis worked with me to develop “The Guild” characters in miniature form. (They’re so tiny and amazing!)
BEFORE PAINTING:
AFTER PAINTING:
(The award-winning mini painter Cara Curley painted these for me, thanks Cara! 🎨Fun fact: she also did the graphic design and branding for our FeliciaDay3D page!)
Codex and Vork are releasing this month, two more characters will be released next, etc. The Guildies are just waiting to be printed up and jump right into your new RPG game!
Seeing the characters in RPG mini form has definitely given me other ideas too… Gah, if I only had time to homebrew some stories! Anyway, next design!
I wanted to make an object that would delight my kid when we print it together. Mimetics3D has an innovative technique they’ve developed to lock the joints on 3D printed objects so they don’t flop all over, and he kindly agreed to use that technology for this next print we designed together: An adorable spider with a dashing hat on!
Webmaster Fred is the life of the party! He’ll make you squeal in terror, then ask for a dance after. Love this little guy!
Lastly, I worked with the incredible 3D textile artist Kaizen3DPrints to make not one, but TWO jewelry items.
First, is a gorgeous Horoscope D20 talisman. About 3 inches top to bottom. As a Cancer sign myself can’t wait to wear it, squee! And yes, we intend on making one for each sign if people respond well enough.
For the second necklace, as a mother, I wanted to make something special that people could print for Mother’s Day. So we came up with this statement piece.
Check out those colors!!! The 3D gems are printed on tulle so it looks like it’s floating, right?! Of course, depending on what filament you use, your necklace could have a completely different palette. You decide! That’s what’s so cool about 3D printing, you nab the blueprint from us, and you’re free to put your twist on it when you print it!
I hope some of these designs speak to you. To get the prints, just subscribe to FeliciaDay3D and get 5 downloads for $10 a month. Or you can buy designs individually for $6.99. (If you want to print and resell them, there’s another license for that, FYI.) Check the website for more details. And at the very least, hit follow on the Thangs page to keep in touch with all things FeliciaDay3D. (Subscribing helps the project keep going, so if you decide to do that, it’s much appreciated!)
In addition, if you purchase a subscription, you get access to a special role on the /fd3d-printing channel on my Discord where you can chat with me and fellow 3D Printers, and help influence what types of prints might be designed next for the collection. I want this to be collaborative and fun for all the supporters (and me too)! :)
Make no mistake, this is a hobby with a learning curve. But I’ve discovered, weirdly, that the learning curve is one of the most rewarding parts of it? Figuring out how to MAKE things and tweaking stuff to work properly is so empowering. Solving problems and using your creativity is also a huge part of it, too. 3D printing really has it all!
At the end of the day, I love introducing people to activities and entertainment that could become an cool part of their world. From Tabletop games, to Magic the Gathering to D&D, I’ve loved making videos in the past to lower the bar to entry that that keeps people (including me at many points in my life!) out of a rewarding hobby. That is exactly what I want to do with this project and 3D printing, too. I hope some of you join me on this journey!!!
Interesting Links:
With all the depressing climate change news out there, it’s sometimes nice to see that we can make an impact. The Great Green Wall project is one of them.
Recording of the largest living organism in the world, the Pando aspen forest? This is the coolest white noise sound ever.
They deciphered a scroll about Plato’s death thought lost to time which is cool, but turns out he was a pedantic dude even on his death bed, lol.
I’m learning Polish in dedication to the memory of my grandma, and Readlang is a wonderful program to help my visual learning in the language and many others.
Personal Links (Also Interesting):
My 2024 convention schedule is totally updated on felicia.day. I’ll see ya’ll next in May in Philly and Detroit. :)
REMINDER: I narrate Ernest Cline’s new YA novel “Bridge to Bat City”! It’s a wonderful love letter to Austin, TX. Lovely story for all ages.
You hear about my new Feliciaday3D project? ;)
See you next month, and on my Discord channel in between for chatting and friendship! <3
oxxo
Felicia
I have been wanting one for years! Maybe Santa, this year, will find me worthy.
So cool! We recently got a used 3D printer so the timing couldn’t be better!