Hi, Happy New Year every onel!
I’m starting off with a look back at a highly secret project that took a chunk of my creative time last November – December.
So, for that lovely Holiday Season just past, I designed and made a Christmas gift for a Whovian. It was kind of a mad idea, seeing as how I had never really seen the show and had no idea how I was going to make the vision I had in my head a real three dimensional experience. It sure was a chance to get really creative!
I wanted to somehow indicate the whole spinning through the galaxy thing that apparently goes on in the show and give a feeling of the whoosh of time travel……
What these photos don’t readily reveal is the three dimensional thing that is actually going on……….
There’s a wee glimpse in this shot
And a touch of it’s fabulousness in this shot
Man these things are hard to photograph! I had already called in the Official Photographer who managed to get the full length eventually ……
It is designed to be viewed in the round and hung away from the window for maximum rainbows. When it was being photographed it spun out a kaleidoscope of colour through my living room.
The Whovian Light Catcher is made with two straight strands and two curved strands that circle around the outside. Four AAA faceted crystal balls hang from the end of each strand. Faceted glass baubles, acrylic octohedrons, silver beads, tiny oil beads and six lapis-lazuli gemstones make up the strands. Lapis Lazuli is known as a sacred stone, said to be older than time itself – just like the Doctor! 🙂
Of course the charms include a weeping angel and a dalek, the Tardis, two red hearts and a sonic screwdriver – all things pertaining to to the story lines and the Doctor himself.
I had such fun making this light catcher and it really does give the feeling of spirals and vortexes and galaxies and such like which the Whovians of the family assure me is what it is all about!
What do you think?
I hope your year has gotten off to a good start and that it will unfold with fun, learning, new opportunities and much love given and received.
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
I actually have heard of this program and the phenom that is the phone booth. I’ve seen cookie jars and such designed as phone booths too. But I’ve never watched and I’ve never seen commercials for it either. So I’m guessing it’s on a channel that Jim and I don’t subscribe too. I’m guessing you are part of the Whovian club then to create such a masterpiece. So is he a time traveler? Wouldn’t that be a fantastic way to go? I love all the rainbows, does Orlando find them on the wall? xo K
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Reading through the comments and to hear how this incredible project came into being and why just endorses what I have read you mention elsewhere about the importance of valuing and understanding the person. If I were a Whovian or any other kind of creature and my Mum made something so personal for me that show such a good understanding of who I am, I’d be ecstatic. You have done that. Brilliant! xx Rowena
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My daughter does love it – thanks for these kind words Rowena.
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You’re welcome. I thought of it when we went to see Star Wars today. Dr Who, Star Wars…I know they’re different but…
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goodness, here I am, with the 93rd comment! And having to admit that I had to google Whovian to learn what it meant.
I loved seeing the beautiful colors on the wall! I have really not gotten the magic from my light catcher yet! It’s a whole new year, and I will soon!
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The way you created your first 3D mobile light catcher is amazing, Pauline! I stopped by to see if there was a reply to respond to, late again! 🙂
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Better late than never Robin 🙂
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I cannot believe you posted a week ago and I missed this gorgeous display for a “Whovian,” which I have known a few who follow the many cast changes and plot lines of Dr. Who. You are so clever and creative, Pauline. He will be absolutely thrilled! Thank you for being patient with me not coming to see your post and sticking with me, through thick and thin. :);hugs to you and the babies ♡♡♡
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We haven’t heard about the Whovian, Pauline. Still not sure what it does mean excactly. Granny knows Dr. Who…and Catwheazle… 😀 Anyway..we like your lightcatcher and the gem stones. Lapiz Lazuli is one of our favorite stones and it makes the lightcatcher just purrfectly purrfect. Pawkisses for a happy week and two Extra for Orlando and Siddy 🙂 ❤
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A ‘Whovian’ is a fan of the TV show ‘Doctor Who’. I should have explained that in the post, there are so many who do not know of it and I thought it was global! 🙂
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Pauline, this is totally awesome! I can’t believe your collection of charms. Your Whovian must have been totally rapt to receive it. It must have been difficult to work on it in secret, containing the pleasure and joy in making it. My friend, Robin, who received one of your charms for Christmas is totally delighted with it, and I have to say it is absolutely beautiful. I love that it has different strands to hang and catch the light and charms that are so personalised for her. I am looking forward to receiving the one you have made for my daughter. Your photographs and descriptions of the charms are brilliant. They match her personality extremely well. You are a clever lady and I’m pleased I stumbled upon your awesome blog shining positive light throughout the world.
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Pauline, this is fabulous! Lucky Whovian…wow, where did you find those daleks and phone boxes? Just wonderful, and of course, so beautiful too. What a thrill of a gift for the lucky recipient 🙂 Happy New Year to you my friend, I hope that 2016 is fillied with light and beauty and joy, surrounded by family and friends ❤ xoxox
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Omigosh, seeing this post this morning reminds me that I dreamed about your lightcatchers last night. That is so amazing. It’s just coming back to me now. A co-worker knew a blogger who was a crafter that offered to exchange their craft for something from him. So he bought one of your light catchers and sent it to the crafter. The scene in my dream was when he came to my desk at work and explained the whole story. In his hand, he held his exchange that he had just received: a very poorly made craft, and he was expressing his disappointment that it wasn’t something as wonderful as your light catchers. Now isn’t that a funny thing to dream about? I’m sure it must translate to something I am disappointed about. Whatever it is, I wish it would be as stunning as your light catchers! ha ha!
The idea behind this one is so creative and it totally works. If you ever get in a rut and need to earn some fast cash, I’ll bet there are legions of Who-fans that would line up to get something with this theme.
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Oh! This is so beautiful, Pauline, and you are so talented. I think you did a fine job of photographing it.
Happy New Year! 🙂
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Happy New Year Pauline! I hope you had a lovely Christmas with your girls. Wowsers, that’s amazing! I love that you incorporated a spiral so it can spin the rainbows around the room – and how you have used dark blue beads to match the colour of the Tardis. You have definitely embraced the Whovian spirit – it’s brilliant!
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Thank you Jem – I’m thinking I may have opened a whole new realm of ideas for playing around with my light catchers with that spiral! Watch this space 🙂 When I was tumbling about in my stash looking for the right beads to use, the lapis lazuli jumped out at me – said to be ‘older than time itself’ which is, I’m told, the same for The Doctor – made it the perfect (and correctly colour coordinated) choice. 🙂
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What a perfect choice! I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
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Yes, will email you. I had a feeling there might be some heart sinking on your part, such a huge undertaking I would understand if you said ‘no thankyou’.
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Hi Nanette – I fixed my spelling mistake 🙂 [gah! Where is my head?].
I’m not saying ‘No’ straight off, let’s just see what we think after we email.
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Hi Pauline. Happy New Year to you and your. I love the light catcher – definitely captures a sense of space/time travel. Although I’m not sure I’d want a darlek aiming at me from the light catcher 😉
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Hi Bekki! Quite so – I think you have to be quite the enthusiast to want that!!
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It’s so pretty. I like the 3D effect. You did a great job CC.
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🙂 Thank you ET .
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Happy New Year Pauline, Siddy, Orlando, and your daughter who is a fantastic photographer. While I don’t know Dr. Who, I can say that your light catcher captured the sense of interstellar space. A beautiful creation.
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Thank you SS – join the club, it seems most of my reading community have no idea – we are obviously not very geekish hereabouts! Happy New Year to you too!
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You did such a good job taking these pictures I really got a sense of all of the incredible detail that went into this work of art. I was in awe as I studied each little part. It truly is another beautiful success. How long did it take for you to make this? I have never heard of Whovian. I guess I will do what Marlene did and look it up haha. It really is incredible. I continue to be amazed at your talent. You will have to work really hard by starting the year with the bar so high for yourself with this beauty!
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It’s a very long running TV show Jan that has been going for pretty much the life times of my daughters. It’s out of the UK and you have to be quite young in the US to know about it – or a serious ‘geek’! I had a lot of help in the making of it as I am only aware of it because of my girls and although I watched two programmes as part of my preparation I haven’t felt called back to watch more. I’ll continue to play with the spiral idea and see what comes though 🙂
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Happy New Year, Pauline! What a grand start to it. I had to look up Whovian. No idea what it was. I didn’t watch much television. But the light catcher takes anyone’s breath away. It’s stunning! I don’t know how you did it but I’d bet they will flying off the proverbial shelves now that we’ve seen what you are capable of doing. You just keep outdoing yourself with each and every one. There is so much heart in each piece. Words fail me here.
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It was a bit of a major undertaking and the charms were very expensive too – more a labour of love than something I am likely to want to repeat again Marlene. Though I shall probably play around with the spiral idea a bit more 🙂 As Kerry said, it is more of a mobile now than a light catcher! Aren’t you glad you waited 😀
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Everything has it’s right timing.:) I love how you are so inspired and creative. It’s amazing what comes out of your mind.
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I’ve never seen Dr. Who but I still love this light catcher! I like the understated colors and the fact that it relies on movement so much–like a mobile, sort of? You must’ve had some good input from Whovians in order to include all those details–the Tardis is the only one I would’ve known about. You’ve really taken this customization of danglers to a new level!
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I have haven’t I 🙂 I’m sure there are others out there playing around like this too – it is fun and the ideas are just growing like Topsy. And it is like a mobile! Thank you for making that point Kerry – it never crossed my mind. The Whovian’s sister directed operations for the charms and was head consultant on progress and completion of the thing. Plus she took the photos – I should have given her credit! Duh!!
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The Whovian is a very lucky gal. If the light catcher is still in your immediate universe may I suggest that the Official Photographer upload a little sparkle of a video for you, and us, of course. Happy New Year. Catch as much light as you can. It has already started to travel to our Northern Hemisphere friends.
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Maybe the Whovian will read this and take a wee video, as the catcher now resides in Wellington. Don’t know why we didn’t think of that ourselves!! 🙂
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🙂
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Excellent; the charms as well chosen as those you sent The Head Gardener
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Thank you Derrick – these ones not so universally attractive however 🙂
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That is a wonderful project Pauline. I am not familiar with the Whovian Doctor or any of its stories and characters, nevertheless, my eye went through the intricacy of how you did the project and how amazing the twinkle it produces as light catches it. You definitely captured that 3-dimensional look.
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Thank you Carrie, it really only makes sense to those who follow the series. It was such a challenge [and a fun] experiment though.
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A stunning piece of work Pauline, no wonder it was on the Top Secret list. You’ll be planning the next one soon.
Have a Fantastic New Year full of fun and success.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Thank you so much David 🙂 xoxo
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I am among those who know of the Doctor but that’s it. Your creation actually transcends it’s spark, because I get it! Time travel and light made physical. You are a magician, Pauline. xo
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Well, this has made me smile! Hurrah – exactly what I was going for – thank you so much Christi xoxo
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Like you, Ms Pauline, that whovian light catcher is one of a kind! What a magnificent opus to Dr Who in his many guises. I love how you wove the beads and story line through crystal time. I am sure the recipient was dead chuffed. Where did you get those lovely charms? What a magnificent gift indeed 🙂
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The recipient has just posted an effusive comment on the Contented Crafter Face Book page which made me laugh! The charms were hunted for over two months or so and very foolishly I did not keep notes of where I finally got what I wanted. [It was incredibly foolish because if I ever make another one I have to start from scratch!] I googled for them in the end as there are no Whovian shops in this vicinity.
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No Whovian shops in your vicinity? “Come ON New Zealand, get with the times!” OBVIOUSLY we have a Whovian shop within walking distance of Serendipity Farm (HAHAHAHA!) 😉
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There’s one in Sydney you know – the Whovian went there!
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🙂 I saw the comments and I can’t believe how many people DON’T know who Dr Who is! 😉
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Yes, I am amazed as well – and I think the poor Doctors will be heart-broken!
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I think it’s just your audience to be honest Ms Pauline. I think they are up for some ejamacation from The Master 😉
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What are you saying Narf? My friends are a pack of non-geeks? [There must be a noun for a non-geek!]
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I think so Ms Pauline. I think it is now, officially, your duty to geekify the lot of them! Would you like my pattern for how to make a crochet dalek? 😉
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Why not! The Whovians would love one each I’m sure!!
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http://lucyravenscar.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/dalek-amigurumi-pattern-free.html
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Thank you – got it!
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You could crochet a version of the light catcher!
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HAHAHA! I guess it would certainly be cheaper to make but no-where NEAR as beautiful :). I found a pattern for how to turn glossy coloured magazine pages and paperclips into bead curtains. I got very excited. I do this at least once a day. If I made everything that excited me I wouldn’t be able to fit into my house 😉
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Oooo that sounds good too 🙂
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http://www.bohemianhellhole.com/bohemian_hellhole/2011/03/what-i-learned-on-wednesday-night.html
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Wow! Well, I’m not going THERE!! 🙂
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My favourite yet Pauline, this is stunning! I hope you had a great Christmas and Happy New Year to you xx
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Thank you Wendy – it has to be seen to be believed really. We had a wonderful Christmas and the New Year is off to a flying start 🙂 My thoughts are with your little family too – I’m hoping for the best for you all xoxo
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Thanks Pauline, i think everything will turn out fine. Pleased to hear you had a nice Xmas and New Years, it certainly feels it is going to be a better year this year 🙂 xxx
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Happy New Year to my favorite Kiwi! A beautiful design, but I just don’t think it would look good with me wearing it.
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Happy New Year to my favourite Cincinnatian! I agree, it simply would look silly on your noble head!!
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Thanks for supporting my worry. 😉
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that would have been enormously hard to plan out! love the dalek charm!
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It was easy in my head 🙂 The charms are great – big and solid and sure of themselves!!
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I am sure there is no way to totally capture the beauty of this that is evident in person! I can imagine it makes quite a beautiful rainbow effect! Lovely
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Thank you Lynn – it is very round and moves a lot – impossible to convey in a photograph 🙂 Thanks for stopping by xo
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Yes I had that feeling, no way to show every wonderful detail! xo
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Wow! I don’t watch the show (well not since about 1980) but I recognize the characters and can grasp the concepts. I’m so impressed with how well you translated those abstract ideas into this lightcatcher. The rainbow reflections are marvelous too.
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It was a fun challenge Laura – the rainbows are an added attraction of course.
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Just Wow! I love my own light catcher very much and the Dr Whooy one looks lovely. I bet the Dr Who big fans will swoon. I haven’t seen much of any show really but I think I would enjoy watching the Doctor. 😀
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I keep saying I am going to watch it – and I have seen little snippets here and there thanks to my girls, but I haven’t been caught in the Whovian web – yet 🙂
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That is absolutely gorgeous! I have a sun room so I am in love with light catchers. I don’t know that much about Dr. Who, but I know that the whole Who movement is a big deal because our library had a Dr. Who night for Whovians. You are so creative and so talented! I hope you also have a wonderful and enjoyable new year 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂 It is apparently a very big deal!! Happy New Year to you too!
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Oh heavens I’m in love! I love that! I am old enough to remember the first episode, mid 1960s sometime in scratchy black and white. William Hartnell as the doctor, and hiding behind sofas when the Daleks first appeared. I Lost the plot rather in the 80s as did the show except when Douglas Adams, he who became famous for the HHGTTG. But I’m back there on Saturdays loving my latest impenetrable fix. Silly really but you’ve captured a real essence there. Brilliant, Pauline.
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See now, when a real Whovian makes comments like that I am really happy! Thank you very much Geoff!
You are either a decade too soon with your dating or my kids were watching reruns in the mid to late 70’s and also hid behind the sofa screaming for me to come save them when the Daleks appeared…… And they tell me the same thing – when Douglas Adams started writing, he saved the show. And, from their point of view, David Tennant didn’t do it any harm either I understand 🙂
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These are so beautiful, Pauline. I especially love the angels and the heart that reads, “My heart belongs to who.” Happy New Year! Hugs to Siddy. ❤
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Happy New Year Jill – Siddy duly hugged on your behalf ❤
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Happy new year and spectacular work as always Pauline, what fun to make something to a theme! I think you really captured it well and I bet the recipient was thrilled. 🙂
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The recipient was my eldest daughter and the person who suggested I make it for her was her sister – both of them enjoy the show but the elder might be described as a true geek – A real Whovian! It was received with cries of delight, which is all a crafts-person really wants to hear, yes? 🙂 Happy New Year Bianca!
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Pauline, what a magnificent creation. I know just a few bits and pieces about Dr. Who, enough to know that the show has a cult-like following…but in a good way. You’ve sourced amazing charms and the addition (creation) of the spirals is brilliant. Your creativity is boundless.
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I wondered what ‘Whovian’ meant but it becomes clear in the end. Is it a real word or did you make it up. Whichever – the light catcher is quite brilliant.
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Nope, it’s a real word used to describe the fans of the show. It’s a show that has been going on and off for nigh on 40 years I think, with a long break earlier and a renaissance in recent times. It’s certainly a very different light catcher 🙂
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Wow thats fantastic, so creative.
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Thank you Denise! 🙂
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Oh I had to Google Whovian – and I’ve never seen a Doctor Who so I feel “very tomorrow”, i.e. ahead of my time! But the lightcatcher catches beautifully!
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You are so far ahead of your time Bruce! 🙂 And yes, it does have the special characteristic of spreading many hundreds of little rainbows about – it’s quite successful from that point of view! .
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This. is. so. cool. I love those little rainbow comets and the telephone booth is perfect. And there’s such a lovely transparency to the whole thing. Wowsers!!!! What a great creation. And you already have new orders!!!!
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Are you a secret Whovian too Lisa? I was trying to create those sparkly trails you see left behind when something whooshes by at hyper-speed and you have kind of picked up on that 🙂
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I think you did it. I am not a Whovian, though I think Dr. Who is a hoot and with Peter Capaldi playing the Doc, perhaps I should watch a season. Alas, not too likely…
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To quote The Doctor: “There’s a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive… wormhole refractors… You know the thing you need most of all? You need a hand to hold.”…..and I say: it wouldn’t hurt to have a gorgeous light catcher like this one either. Will you move into the fourth dimension next? 🙂 Looks like you have a good start on a happy new year, my friend.
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Good Lord – you can quote the Doctor!! Is there no end to your interests and talents? I think the fourth dimension is woven into the thing given the many hours it took to get the design to work 🙂
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Be still my madly beating heart! what a wonderful creation. I admit being unashamedly a Whovian…..if you’re up to making another, please can I commission one from you? Perhaps we can talk about it in emails?
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I do thank you for such a lovely compliment Nanette, even as my heart sank to my boots 🙂 Let’s email though as it was quite an expensive undertaking due partly to the cost of the charms. Do you still have mine?
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