The Adventures of Patches

In a forgotten corner of New Orleans, beneath the flickering neon of Bourbon Street, there once lay a little voodoo doll named Patches. Made long ago from scraps of cloth, tangled thread, and a few bright beads, she had seen more adventures than most folks ever would.

Years of wild magic and whispered wishes had left Patches without her arms and legs. At first, passersby thought she was broken—just another relic tossed aside in a city brimming with ghosts and stories. But Patches wasn’t broken. No, not at all. With an eerie little smile stitched onto her face and a heart that glowed faintly in the dark, Patches thrived on imagination. Whenever the moon hung low and the jazz floated through the mist, she would rummage through forgotten toy boxes and cracked trinket stalls, borrowing new arms and legs for her next grand adventure.

One night, she snapped on robot arms, and with a clank and a whir, became a mighty machine from the future, zipping down alleys and saving stuffed animals from certain doom. With muscle arms, she arm-wrestled the even the strongest of spirits with ease. She donned some tentacle legs, and roared to life as a fearsome sea monster, battling ghostly ships down at the bayou. And of course, on special nights, she fastened on her pirate limbs and sailed through puddles after rainstorms, captain of a paper-boat armada.

No matter who she became or what wild dream she chased, Patches’ glowing heart never changed. It pulsed with pure joy—a beacon for anyone willing to believe that even the discarded, the patched-together, and the different could live the brightest lives.

Now, at NolaCon 2025, Patches invites you to join her adventures. Choose your own limbs, light up your badge, and remember: You’re never missing anything if you’ve got heart.

From the Badge Maker:

For the past three years, the NolaCon badge has been a centerpiece of our “Learn to Solder” activity, and I’m proud to continue that tradition with Patches.

Patches is part of the “Voodoo Heart” badge series, designed exclusively for NolaCon. When combined with last year’s badge and next year’s final piece, the series will form a synergistic collection of voodoo-themed creations that I hope everyone will enjoy.

This year, I once again focused on unique ways to celebrate individuality. Patches is built to be as unique as you are, offering more freedom than ever before to customize and create. Whether through a mix of limbs, LEDs, or your own personal flair, no two badges will be alike.

Despite my absence this year, I can’t wait to see how you bring Patches to life! Please tag me if you share your creation on social media (Twitter @CylentK, Instagram @cyl3ntkn1ght).