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I’m proud to unveil my second incredibly nerdy plastic canvas project.
For those of you saying, “Ah, she made a little square man with blocks,” let me clarify. This thing is based on a video game called Minecraft. It’s a really interesting little low-resolution-graphics game that has a huge following. It’s pretty simple; you build literally anything you can imagine with cube-shaped blocks of various materials. You can also dig into the ground to create caverns and tunnels and things. (Oh, and sometimes zombies come and destroy your stuff and kill you at night.)
Image from The Independent Games Wiki
Minecraft utterly charms me because it’s so simple-looking, but it’s utterly addictive. Watch these kids build a model of the Taj Mahal in the game. Watch this other kid build a pirate ship.
It seemed to me that PC was particularly perfect as a medium for a Minecraft set because: a) the two things are equally blocky in nature; b) It would be a great exercise in translating video-game graphics to needlepoint patterns; and c) the whole idea made me giggle uncontrollably.
So I spent a lot of time in the Minecraft game on my phone, walking around and around the various blocks until I had the right angles and snapping pictures. When you’re in-game, you only see the “Minecraft guy” that represents you from the back, so I also did a lot of Google Image searching for a front-view.
I’m particularly proud of a tiny detail you can’t see: I was worried my guy would be too top-heavy, so I dropped fishing weights down his mono-leg. Now he’s nicely balanced and hard to tip over!
Here’s a scale shot. The blocks each measure 2″ x 2″. The guy measures about 4″ tall. The whole set used 47 pieces of canvas. And what can only be described as a buttload of floss colors.
…Oh. And his arms are articulated, so he can drop and give you 20. Which is something he can’t do in the game.
Next up, Tiki Gods.
Oh my gosh! My son would LOVE these! He’s only slightly obsessed with it. I’m going to have to dig out my stash of PC and try to make some of these. Thanks for the idea!
Awesome! Please, please, please make a tutorial or ebook and count me in on buying it! My kids are Minecraft fanatics and would love these! I can’t wait to see the Tiki Gods that you are working on. For all of us who love plastic canvas, we need to make it popular again. Keep the cool ideas and patterns coming!
I’d be in on a tutorial or ebook too. My daughter just saw them and she went crazy over them.
Aw, you two are so nice! Honestly, at the moment I don’t have any plans to make patterns from these PC things – I really need a creative outlet at the moment that’s purely for me. Sorry! But if either of you want to email me (craftypod at deepideas dot com), I’d be more than happy to share how I approached the project.
Wow. That’s so cool! I like the photo with the blocks in your hand, didn’t realize how big the cubes were.
Love these! My students are very into Minecraft – would love to make these for my classroom (which really looks like a big dorm room).
The geek inside me looooves this, Diane! ^-^ I love the fact that you made plastic canvas out of a game. Awesome! (Makes me want to check out this game… if I had a cell phone! :p One day, one day!)
Are you starting a shelf for your PC creatures? :) Great details on the blocks!
Oh these are awesome! Loved the recent robots as well. Thank you for sharing. I have loved making things with PC for quite a while and am so glad to see it resurfacing! :)
OMG Diane! OMG!
Amazing! Awesome! I can not wait til the end of the week when i will be able to touch this little guy and see your genius first hand!
I love your recent pc creations – totally. And I think what I love most is that they are not made for the blog or for tutorials or for sale – they are simply the happy outcome of “Diane at play”.
And boy do I have an idea for you! It should keep you busy for the rest of the year and into next! heeheehee
I’m with Elizabeth- a shelf to display all of these wonderful creations is a must! Wow- I don’t know what Minecraft is, but these are cool! Great work!
This is fascinating (the game, but especially your needlework take on it). I’ve always loved your needlework posts & this one takes it to a new level. Love how your different colours look like pixelation!
Thanks, Mel! I probably took about three years off the life of my eyes in the process, but it was worth it. :-)
My friend Jeremiah is OBSESSED with this game. I sent him this link immediately.
These are so grate! And yes I too have a kid that love this game. A tutorial or e-book would be appreciate! As I would like my kid to make them,this way he can learn some craft too.
EWian
Diane,
I absolutely love your recent PC projects. It s great to do things just for your own creative soul.