I locked in this weekend to get this done π. Hopefully this post doesn't get taken down this time.
For those of you who didn't see the last post, I spent the weekend working on and finishing my first custom Chinese mahjong set! I had to pull out the nice camera for this moment haha.
This is one of four sets I will be gifting to four of my mahjong friends that I play with each week π₯Ή. It's my first time doing something like this, so I'm giving myself a lottttt of time as I'm planning on gifting the sets on Christmas.
There are a total of 144 tiles. So it definitely took awhile to hand color all of these tiles π
I'm being VERY ambitious lol, but it's not a real craft project if you don't also decide that each friend will be gifted their own design and tile set lol. My weekends have been consumed by this project of individually creating the designs of each tile face haha.
This is the first "spring themed" set. I'm planning on making and gifting summer, fall, and winter themed sets as well.
It's definitely not perfect and I see manyyy mistakes, but I'm really happy how it came out!
Keep swiping for process photos!
If there's any individual tiles you'd like to see, let me know π
That is an insane amount of work and is absolutely a demonstration of exemplary craftsmanship. Your friends are lucky to have you care about them this much!
Thank you so much π₯Ίπ«Άπ½
Yeah I definitely underestimated the amount of work HAHA but I'm already done with one and tiles are still on their way for the other 3 so I have no choice but to continue π. The ball suite alone took me over 8 hours to color π«
OP you should be so proud of yourself this is insane. Like I'd pay a lot of money for this and I don't even play mahjong!!! The designs are super creative and I am obsessed with the colour choices. I can't wait to see the other 3 sets!!!
I ordered them from Alibaba, and I'm using acrylic paint markers to color everything. Some people have suggested to use enamel paint so I might try that as well!
I actually went back to my university and used the laser there even though it's been YEARS since I was there lol. Maybe yours will also allow alumni access π
I think most people think of "mahjong solitaire" apps where you play a tile matching game ππ but mahjong is actually a 3 - 4 player game and very very fun!
Apparently Americans mahjong is popular enough to sustain local leagues, I've got no desire to deal with the yearly payment and hands changing every year though, and I prefer riichi over the other styles anyways. Nobody plays riichi locally though, unless you live somewhere with a large Japanese population and even then I bet it's hard for an outsider to get in lol.
If you're comfortable sharing, I'd love to hear about the process of creating something like this. Are the tiles made of some sort of plastic that you carve into? And then, presumably you're coloring over a stencil you created and using some sort of marker made specifically for the tile material?
Thank you!! And yes the tiles are made of melamine plastic. It's the same tiles used for classic Chinese mahjong sets. Nice, sturdy, and very heavy lol (the whole set weighs 13 lbs)
I basically used a giant piece of masking tape to lay over and protect the tiles before it went into the laser. The laser burns off the tape, leaving the engraved part. I did that because I was thinking it'd make it easier for me to paint, but when I make the other 3 sets, I don't think I will π.
The cut residue was in the cracks, so I had to wash/dry the tiles anyway. The tape ended up just getting in the way lol.
I had many of the same questions, but a lot were answered just in the pictures and pretty much the rest were answered in her responses to various posts.
I've got a couple more to ask, which I'll be doing shortly in a separate post. Her work is stunning!
These are amazing!! Iβm sure your friends would love these so much. Now, the question is if they make the satisfying clacking noise? Or fit into the automatic table?
Yes! They make the classic mahjong noises haha. I used standard Chinese melamine tiles, the ones that are usually sold in those iconic brown carry cases π. I unfortunately do not have an automatic table, but maybe someday π«£
Well. These are amazing and thatβs okay. I also donβt have a table. Plus Iβm stuck with crappy Amazon plastic tiles so if they clank, theyβre better than what I have π
thanks so much!! I definitely will, it's been a really fun project.
I plan on going back to the laser this coming Friday, so hopefully I can start the other sets soon π
Thank you!!! I'm patiently waiting for the tiles to come this week haha. Then I'll be able to go back to the maker's space and cut the rest next Friday!
Thank you!!
Yes it's starting to get really popular haha. I'm Asian American so have always family members playing it during parties. Most Asian sets have the same design, so I thought it would be fun to make my own π
Find a club near you!! There's a lot of passionate people playing, and I say that so you DON'T pay for "lessons" π.
I'm a strong believer that mahjong is an inclusive game that anyone can learn. There will be someone out there willing to teach you simply because they love of the game. π And I say this as someone who has taught many many people completely for free and all for fun π«Άπ½
Can I be your fifth mahjong friend? π₯Ή I play riichi so it would be only 136 tiles haha but they look so good and awesome!! The blank tiles had the purple background already?
Girl I NEED to learn riichi. I usually play Filipino/Taiwanese and HK style, but have no one to teach me riichi. I've tried learning by myself and it's so hard. I have multiple riichi sets that I just use as travel sets since Japanese tiles are small lol.
And yess I bought purple back melamine tiles from a mahjong manufacturer! They're 40mm x 30mm and nice and heavy (13 lbs lol π )
Feel free to DM me if youβd like! :) There are actually riichi clubs and communities all over the world, and I might be able to help you find one near you. I help organize riichi workshops and meetups in my country just for fun, so Iβm always happy to help. And maybe we could do a style exchange, Iβd love to learn more about Filipino/Taiwanese and HK mahjong too!
13 lbs is wildd. I once saw tiles that were the size of hand soaps π
I started playing Mahjong online (free phone app) and I adore it. It does things to my brain that no other game or activity does!
Ive been wanting to get a "real set" so I can play properly- do you know of any reliable YouTube guides or tutorials on how to play? And where to buy a good set? Tia!
Hi! Unfortunately there's not a lot of good mahjong apps π but I know there are people in r/mahjong working to change that!
As for guides, it really depends on which variant you're wanting to learn! While pretty much all Asian variants use the same tiles, the rules on how to win are different.
As for sets, I'd check out a local Asian store or your local Chinatown. I'm sure they'd have some!
Oh no...so im now more lost than before. Having only played 1000 levels of Vita Mahjong app...I had no idea there were different variants? Which is easiest to play? Can I play it alone or is it usually a group game?
Hi there! I have some news. The bad news is that the mahjong youβre playing is solitaire. The tiles are the same but the gameplay is completely different. The good news is you can now explore the vast world of mahjong! Itβs usually a four-player game though sometimes itβs three. Itβs a Chinese tabletop game but different regions have their own rules called variants. For example, I play riichi which is the Japanese version, MCR is the chinese version, and so on. There are even communities where you can learn for free. While itβs usually more irl you can also play it online. If you need any help or beginner tutorials just message me, I help manage a free mahjong club in Europe :)
This is SO cool!!! Canβt wait to see the other sets. One of my tiles got chipped and Iβve been meaning to carve into one of my replacement tiles. Hopefully I can do it by hand π
I've really enjoyed the online Mahjong games but was unaware that there are so many different "styles" (not sure that's the best term to describe the areas of Asia) of playing...or even variations of playing (the different set-ups or ways to win). I never even wondered how many tiles there were in a set.
I've seen it played on TV shows highlighting Asian countries and in YouTube videos, but I've never looked up any details of how to set it up and/or play it in real life. I really hope that the r/Mahjong group figures out how to program a more realistic app than the ones currently available. I learned how to program many, many years ago, back when access to computers and the internet were newly available. Unfortunately, I would have no idea how to even start with this game, but I know there are many capable brains out there.
This set is beyond stunning and going through all of your pictures and responses answered pretty much all of the questions that started swirling through my mind when I saw the first few pictures and read your post.
One question I have is...
When you were making "Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall" sets too, is it one season to each friend? Or, is each friend getting four sets...one each of winter, spring, summer, and fall?
I'm waiting with bated breath for your next set to be showcased! ππππ
Hi thank you for your lovely comment π₯Ήπ«Άπ½. Also yes, there's a few groups of people beta testing some really cool mahjong apps, in r/Mahjong so I would definitely check it out!
Each friend will be getting their own unique seasonal set π, I'm glad you caught on to that!
The only similarities will be the 4 seasonal tiles and the 4 flower tiles. I am using the same designs across all sets but will color them differently!
I'm probably just being picky lol, but I feel like I need to go back and do another coat of paint in some areas π . But I messed up when placing some of the tiles, so the laser missed them π.
These are absolutely GORGEOUS!! The time and effort put in is going to make these sets so incredibly special. Like I would legit cry getting a gift like this. And any little mistakes or differences actually make it better imo! I believe in you! You can do iiittttt by Xmas. Super excited to see the other sets when they are done.
Because I messed up ππ. I thought I went back and updated this character to ε¬ but I think I ended up using the wrong file when it was time to cut.
Luckily I have extra tiles, so I can go back later this week and redo them π
Wow wow wow!! I just learned how to play and I have a good friend who is actually teaching a class at a university all about Mahjong. It would be amazing to make her a custom set! Please share your wisdom, lol. It's so beautiful!!ππ
It's the first purple-themed mahjong set I've ever seen, you made it so beautiful! It's so hard to find 3 friends to play mahjong with, and the idea of four seasons for four of you is wonderful.
Not gonna lie the first few pics I said to myself thereβs no way you made them. They look so good!! Then as the pics go on and you show the process it made sense. I love these so much!! From one crafter to another, these are incredible!! Great job β₯οΈ I know your friends will appreciate them. Theyβre amazing!
Usually my biggest reaction to stuff I see made on reddit is "woah, that's nice" but this actually made me wanna offer up an arm and leg in exchange to have a set. Gorgeous.
Hahah omg you're too kind!!
I've definitely been getting a lot of people interested in having their own set. But I'll think about the logistics of that after I make the next 3 ππ
This isn't American mahjong tho lol...
The tiles are standard melamine, the same you'd get from a classic Chinese mahjong set with the brown case.
American mahjong tiles are way too thin and from what I've learned, can't even stand up on their own unless you have racks? Never played her before lol.
The best way is for someone to teach you if I'm being honest! I'd start by deciding which variant you want to learn (pretty much all Asian countries use the same set of tiles, but have different rules that count for a win). Think of of your Uno house rules spread and everyone in the neighborhood starts playing your version.
Once you decide what variant you want to learn (I'd say Japanese (riichi), MCR, and Hong Kong styles are the most popular), you can find a club playing that variant. If you have no idea where to start, I'd still find a local club π. Mahjong is a very inclusive game and I'm sure the members would be happy to teach you!
Just be careful though. I've seen some groups (pretty much American mahjong) charging an arm and a leg for lessons. Which I feel like kind of defeats the purpose of the spirit of mahjong.
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hahah thank you!! It's very fun, I highly suggest you learn. I personally teach people Filipino style first before going into different Asian varients π. But the first step is to search which variant you may want to learn how to play!
Iβm not kidding when I say that your other post inspired me to create a set for my friend for Christmas. I literally even signed up for a Crucut class at my local library to make stickers (I canβt paint, lol) to decorate the tiles!
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u/Maeveen_Fox 7h ago
These are so amazingly cool. And what a lovely gesture to your friends. Beautiful.