Something only a Whovian would understand....

******Spoiler Alert******

I may or may not go a bit rambly in this post.  Oh who am I kidding, we all know I will.  I mean seriously.

It is no secret among those who know me well that I have a wild imagination. Always have.  And how could I not, being raised in a family that consisted of teachers, musicians, artists, builders, fixers & sci-fi/fantasy lovers?  Especially the sci-fi/fantasy lovers.  

Yet if you ask some of my friends, there was a time when I rebelled against the sci-fi/fantasy.  I wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything Star Trek & only tolerated Star Wars because, Ewoks & light sabers.

In fact, it really wasn't until a few years ago that I started letting go of my self-imposed ban on all things sci-fi.  Yes, I had a few family members who were disappointed that I did not keep up with the Star Trek franchise past the STNG (Star Trek the Next Generation) tv series (bigger disappointment, I didn't even watch that until the series finale).  They could no longer call me long distance to discuss the latest movie.

And then last year, the Squab started watching Doctor Who.  And I watched it with him once.  And I got hooked.  And I now think everything is connected through  "...a big ball of wibbly wobbly... time-y wimey... stuff."   I secretly keep hoping everything is "...bigger on the inside!"

Anyway, not long ago the Squab started redecorating his room.  It started with a Dalek poster.  Then he bought himself a sonic screwdriver.  Then I saw a jar...

The jar that started it all.

Suddenly an idea popped into my head & I knew.  I just had to figure out a way to make my Squab his own personal Dalek.  So I bought some glass beads & some polymer clay.  I had absolutely no idea how I was going to make this Dalek or it's weapons, but I knew I HAD TO TRY.  

This is how my wild imagination works.  I get a thought or an idea & it just starts wandering off on it's own.  No path, no clear plan, just a vague idea or blurred picture of the finished product.

I spent months thinking about it.  I selected the perfect beads to make bulbs on the panels & started searching both in stores & online for tiny little whisks & plungers.  I begged the Chicken to give me some of the Legos he doesn't use.  I imagined exactly how I'd craft this thing, day & night.   

Finally, I started him.  And then I finished him.  And then I kicked myself in the okole for not taking work in progress pictures.  But both the Squab & I are pleased with the end result & as soon as I can find a small enough battery operated l.e.d. light, it will be the coolest lamp/nightlighty thing ever.

Please excuse the poor quality of the pictures below.  I was so busy laughing maniacally that I didn't exactly take steady, high quality pics.

I used a wooden craft spool, leftover wooden shelf dowel (colored with black permanent marker) & a clear glass bead to make the eye. All of the extras were secured with Superglue before the clay was attached.

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The plunger was made from a leftover wooden shelf dowel colored black with permanent marker & a bolt cap from my office chair. I made the whisk myself out of paperclips.

I was not able to completely smooth the clay out all over, but I think that makes him look battle worn. When lit, the light shines through the sense globe beads.

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The Lego lights on top & the bead eye are painted with glow-in-the-dark paint. When he's lit, the Legos glow from the inside. He's really quite awesome.

After everything was completed, I covered the weapons, eye, lights & the rubber stopper on the lid with aluminum foil.  Then I "baked" him on the Stork's bbq grill at around 200 degrees (the clay directions recommended 275 at 15 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness) for about 30 minutes because I really had no clue what I was doing.

Yeah, so that's him.  I'm still evilly giddily pleased with myself.  Am currently working on a backstory for him.  Leaving the naming of him to the Squab.

What kind of wild things does your imagination come up with?

Aloha,
-Clare