In the ever-evolving world of tabletop gaming, Hannah Watson has made a name for herself with her unique brand of handcrafted dice. Known for her vibrant creations and imaginative designs, she has captured the attention of gaming enthusiasts across Canada and beyond. What started as a personal hobby in the basement of her mother's house has grown into a thriving passion, fueled by a welcoming online community.
“I started making dice because I couldn’t find the one’s I wanted for myself,” Hannah said. “I saw that you could make your own, and being the hobby hoarder that I am, I thought, ‘Oh my god, another hobby for me to acquire.’” Her journey began simply, with a desire to create dice that fit her aesthetic for tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons. Now, she is known for her inventive designs that often include hand painted inserts such as tiny skulls, rubber duckies, and even miniature Rubik's Cubes embedded inside the dice.
However, dice making isn't just about aesthetics; it requires a meticulous process that demands both creativity and technical skills. Hannah detailed the intensive steps that go into crafting a single set of dice, starting with the design and casting of molds, and ensuring proper safety measures with personal protective equipment. “Resin is a toxic substance, so you're going to need proper ventilation, gloves, and a respirator rated for organic vapours,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of safety.
The process involves everything from 3D printing custom master dice to hand-polishing the dice to achieve a crystal-clear finish. “It’s a labor of love,” she said, adding that the final step of inking the dice, which involves painstakingly painting numbers on each die, is her least favourite. “It’s so tedious. There are so many numbers, especially on the 20-sided die,” she said with a laugh. Yet, despite the challenges, she remains passionate about her craft.
One of the unique aspects of Hannah's journey is the supportive community she found within the dice-making world. When she first started, the community was primarily online and international, with fellow creators from the United States, the UK, and even as far as Germany. “The people that I have found in my corner of the internet have been such amazing people,” she noted. "The corner of the internet that we have found is very open, very queer, and very accepting.”
Today, Hannah has established a network of dice makers closer to home, discovering that there is a growing dice-making scene in Canada. “It’s not on the same scale as in the States, but Canada does have a pretty large community,” she said, adding that there are hubs of creators in places like Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia. Despite the growing market, Hannah emphasizes that getting into dice making should be driven by passion rather than profit. “The market is oversaturated,” she cautioned. “You should get into it because you want to create, not because you’re hoping to make it big.”
While Hannah has found success with her creative designs, she admits the challenges of managing her business, especially in the age of social media. “It’s hard to keep up with trends, and sometimes I get impostor syndrome,” she shared. “But then I remember that I’m doing this for myself, not to impress anyone.”
Her love for dice making is clearly driven by a desire to create something unique and memorable, both for herself and her customers. “I like to come up with unforgettable names for my sets,” she said. “It’s about having fun with the process.”
Whether it's experimenting with vibrant blues—her favorite colour to work with—or trying to work with more difficult colours like orange, Hannah's dedication to her craft shines through.
When asked about the name "Syzygy," Hannah shared an intriguing insight into its significance. “Syzygy is an astronomical term where three or more celestial bodies align in the sky. It connects directly to my logo, which is a sun, moon, and star,” she explained.
As it turns out, the name came to Hannah after she designed the logo, almost as if the stars had aligned perfectly.
As she continues to grow her brand, Hannah remains rooted in the joy that first inspired her to make dice. “At the end of the day, it’s about doing what makes you happy,” she said with a smile, and for Hannah, that means bringing a little bit of magic into every roll of the dice.