Meet Melinda! Known as ‘Haventhornfalls,’ she is an artist and fandom member from California.
Describe yourself in three words.
Reserved. Hardworking. Carefree.
How did you get into making Funko Pops?
A while ago, I had YouTube on auto-play and came across a video about making custom Pops. I didn’t think twice about this until the end of Season 1, and I decided I would give it a go and make a single set of Shadowhunters Pops to put on my desk. I was still in the process of completing my first set when I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to re-create a scene from the first season?’ As you can see from my Instagram, one scene became many scenes [laughs]. I think, for a lot of people, it’s scary to put your work out there for everyone to see, so for a long while, I contemplated whether I even wanted to post it.
Tell us about the Pops you made for Kat. How did that come about?
My Etsy shop had been open for about a month when I received a message inquiring about whether I would be able to make three sets of the main characters and have them arrive in Canada in three weeks. Believe it or not, my first reaction to this was that this had to be someone that was involved with the show. Sure enough, it was, and from there, I went straight into work-mode because making 21 Pops in such a short time was definitely a challenge. On a side note, I hope she didn’t mind that I shipped them in trash bags. They are definitely not trash. I just thought that it was a good way to ship them to keep them safe from potential water damage in transit.
Thanks @HaventhornFalls for creating these&helping me surprise the @ShadowhuntersTV cast wthem for theholidays!By the angel,you’re an angel! pic.twitter.com/1ZIvsHNolY
— Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara) November 23, 2016
Tell us a little bit about your process. What’s involved? And how long does it take to make one?
The process is pretty straightforward. First step, I have to decide which base Pops would be best suited for the character/look I’m creating. Second step, I swap the parts around and do some clay sculpting if needed. Third step is to paint it. It takes about two to six hours to make one depending on complexity.
How did you get involved in the Shadowhunters fandom?
I read the books many, many years ago and saw the movie as well, but I wasn’t involved in the fandom. I was ecstatic when I heard that it would be made into a TV series. From there, I stumbled across some fan edits on Tumblr. Then, I started posting Season 1 scenes with my customs and somehow, I became a part of this fandom.
Who is your favorite character to make and why?
Magnus Bane is my favorite character to make because he has so many looks and they are all so fun to do. He led to my demise, and I mean that in the most positive way possible. Even before I had finished my first Magnus, I already had the urge to do a Funko-fied version of as many of his looks as possible.
What has been the best part of your fandom experience so far?
I would say that the best part of my fandom experience so far is being exposed to so many talented fans who share their beautiful edits and fanart everyday. All of it is truly inspiring to me. For me, I wanted to put something out there that was fun and positive for the fandom, and it seems that people enjoy what I am doing. Also, as a fan, I couldn’t have asked for a better cast, because they are all truly amazing, wonderful human beings.
Like what you see? You can follow Melinda on Twitter and Instagram! Also, you can check out her Etsy store.
