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Back From FurTheMore!
2 years ago
FurTheMore 2023 was a blast!
It was the first furry con I've been to in a while, and even then, it was also the first time I've put stuff in the art show in about a decade (OMG has it been that long??), and the first time selling in Artist Alley since before the pandemic, even if it was just for one day.
The short of it....I needed this. I *really* needed this experience. And I've missed it, a lot. This entire weekend at the con has been a serious morale/confidence/esteem booster for me, and I loved every minute of it. Well, except for one part, but I'll get to that in a little bit.
I traveled with
kalika and her hubby Nace, the 8+ (9+...it was a loooong day!) hour drive from the Lake Champlain area, all the way down to the con. This was our Thursday, pretty much. We got to the hotel pretty late, but I managed to get my art in the art show while Kalika and Nace got their table set up in the Dealer's room.
To the two people who helped me out with putting my art in the art show (I'm so sorry I dont' remember your names!) if you're reading this, thank you so, so much for helping me out! And I hope I didn't put you guys on the spot while I cried when I saw my art all hung up. It was...not really over-whelming in a sense. But let's just say that, for once in a very long time, I was very happy and proud of my art, and seeing it hung up, whether it sold or not, made me very proud :) Thank you again, to the two of you, if you're reading this, I truly appreciated your help, and your very kind words :)
Friday, we were up, and had breakfast in our room. The whole weekend, I dressed up in dresses because I could, and because I wanted to, and because I usually *never* wear dresses and dammit, I wanted to feel pretty! XD I headed down to the line to get my pre-reg badge and, this was the only thing I didn't like about the con. It was a VERY long line. And with the bulging disc in my back that's been causing me pain and issues, standing for an hour was torture >.< Normally I can stand for about 20 minutes at a time and then I need to sit or stretch out my leg. But...I didn't have the heart to be like "Hey, can I cut in line for my badge? My back and my leg are killing me...", so I braved the hour of standing in line >.> I did it to myself, and it messed me up for pretty much the rest of the day.
But! Despite me being in pain, taken Tylenol for it, and having it do absolutely nothing for me (LOL) I still had fun! I looked around the dealer's room, hung out in the Zoo, attended the Sketchbook Swap panel (which was a ton of fun!), and took occasional rests to stretch out my leg. I had to skip an evening panel that I'd been wanting to go to though, I was just too much in pain at that point, and pretty much spent the rest of the evening stretched out in bed.
Saturday, I was able to get a table at Artist Alley! I knew I wanted to limit myself so I wouldn't be over-whelmed with doing commission work. I literally felt like I was starting completely over again, because I didn't have my cubes, my table set up, or anything. I had to make my own price menu on the spot because it's been so long... I had also brought a TON of buttons to sell there too, but at the last minute, I noticed that they didn't look....good >.> I had to throw them all out because it looked like mold had gotten into them, and I didn't notice it till I took them out of the bag! O.o So much for that! XD
I only took on 2 commissions (conbadges) for the day, and that was enough for me. I worked on a conbadge for blue red panda named Alex, and I had a great time drawing him up and colouring him :) I forgot my white pencils and gel pens at home, but I did what I could to make it look good for him, and I'm very happy to know that he loves his badge, and it really gives me a lot of joy to know that he loves it so much :) I'll put a photo of it up on my FA once I get this journal typed up. I only had enough time to get his badge complete and the other one (for Rain Oubliette), I'll complete here at home.
I also had the chance to finally meet my friend Eclipse in person for the first time! We've known each other since days of EZboards (I'm guessing 20 years, maybe?) and this was the first time meeting him in person. It was absolutely wonderful to finally meet him! And I'm glad to hear that he had a great time at the con, even if it was just for the one day he was there :)
Saturday night, we had drink vouchers, so we went to get some free drinks, and hung out with
thepurplehusky and her SO. I only had the chance to get one drink, and then we watched the hotel staff cart away the booze bar and I was like "but...but...I have one more voucher!!" XD Ah well, it was a good drink! It was a special FurTheMore cocktail, it was pretty good!
Daylight Savings Time sucks. At least, the "getting one less hour of sleep" part does. I value sleep whenever I can, but...what can you do when you're at a convention during that time? The hotel's breakfast buffet was soooooo good! They had the best bacon, too! =D Sunday was just a lazy, easy day. I spent my time checking out the dealer's and artist alley tables, got myself some things, hung out with Kalika and Nace behind her table so I could rest my leg and back, and that was pretty much it.
FurTheMore's theme for next year is Arthurian Legends, and....I kinda want to go back again, just for the fact that it's THAT theme. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I do medieval illuminations in the SCA, so that's the kind of stuff that's right up my alley. If I do go, will I have a table and vend there? I don't know yet (in which, that answer is a big step up from "no")...it's possible. I do have some ideas for things I could possibly sell at my table. It's something I would definitely need to have a good think-over for it. But, seeing as how the con was absolutely wonderful, the staff was absolutely wonderful, and how much of a fun time I had there, that also makes it that much easier to not say no, either. But it's something I'll definitely need to think about.
The long drive home was long, but we had Cracker Barrel for lunch, and Cheesecake Factory for supper on the way home (most people who have these restaurants in their area will not understand the excitement that comes from us whenever we go there, cuz we've got NOTHING up here!), so going to these restaurants are bit of an event for us in of itself ;) Once we got back to Kalika's, we got my stuff loaded into my car and I drove another hour back home. Good thing, too, because the weather hadn't started yet, and now, we're currently in a snowing frenzy today, and I'm glad I don't have to be out driving right now!
All in all, I had a wonderful time at the con; it was a wonderful experience, and...I seriously just needed this. I've missed this so much. More than I even realized. This weekend was like therapy for me, in a good way, of course! And it's just left me in a good feeling :)
To everyone I met and chatted with, both old friends and new, it was wonderful seeing and chatting with you! And I hope you guys had a wonderful time at the con (and for the artists I talked with, I hope you guys had happy sales at your tables!)
Again, to the staff of FurTheMore - if you're reading this, THANK YOU SO MUCH for such a wonderful con! =D My hat's off to you for doing all that you can to put this convention on, taking the time and patience to help people out, and especially watching out for us con-goers by having a mask mandate to help keep us all safe and healthy :)
To anyone who hasn't been to FtM yet, I highly recommend going to this con! =D
It was the first furry con I've been to in a while, and even then, it was also the first time I've put stuff in the art show in about a decade (OMG has it been that long??), and the first time selling in Artist Alley since before the pandemic, even if it was just for one day.
The short of it....I needed this. I *really* needed this experience. And I've missed it, a lot. This entire weekend at the con has been a serious morale/confidence/esteem booster for me, and I loved every minute of it. Well, except for one part, but I'll get to that in a little bit.
I traveled with
kalika and her hubby Nace, the 8+ (9+...it was a loooong day!) hour drive from the Lake Champlain area, all the way down to the con. This was our Thursday, pretty much. We got to the hotel pretty late, but I managed to get my art in the art show while Kalika and Nace got their table set up in the Dealer's room. To the two people who helped me out with putting my art in the art show (I'm so sorry I dont' remember your names!) if you're reading this, thank you so, so much for helping me out! And I hope I didn't put you guys on the spot while I cried when I saw my art all hung up. It was...not really over-whelming in a sense. But let's just say that, for once in a very long time, I was very happy and proud of my art, and seeing it hung up, whether it sold or not, made me very proud :) Thank you again, to the two of you, if you're reading this, I truly appreciated your help, and your very kind words :)
Friday, we were up, and had breakfast in our room. The whole weekend, I dressed up in dresses because I could, and because I wanted to, and because I usually *never* wear dresses and dammit, I wanted to feel pretty! XD I headed down to the line to get my pre-reg badge and, this was the only thing I didn't like about the con. It was a VERY long line. And with the bulging disc in my back that's been causing me pain and issues, standing for an hour was torture >.< Normally I can stand for about 20 minutes at a time and then I need to sit or stretch out my leg. But...I didn't have the heart to be like "Hey, can I cut in line for my badge? My back and my leg are killing me...", so I braved the hour of standing in line >.> I did it to myself, and it messed me up for pretty much the rest of the day.
But! Despite me being in pain, taken Tylenol for it, and having it do absolutely nothing for me (LOL) I still had fun! I looked around the dealer's room, hung out in the Zoo, attended the Sketchbook Swap panel (which was a ton of fun!), and took occasional rests to stretch out my leg. I had to skip an evening panel that I'd been wanting to go to though, I was just too much in pain at that point, and pretty much spent the rest of the evening stretched out in bed.
Saturday, I was able to get a table at Artist Alley! I knew I wanted to limit myself so I wouldn't be over-whelmed with doing commission work. I literally felt like I was starting completely over again, because I didn't have my cubes, my table set up, or anything. I had to make my own price menu on the spot because it's been so long... I had also brought a TON of buttons to sell there too, but at the last minute, I noticed that they didn't look....good >.> I had to throw them all out because it looked like mold had gotten into them, and I didn't notice it till I took them out of the bag! O.o So much for that! XD
I only took on 2 commissions (conbadges) for the day, and that was enough for me. I worked on a conbadge for blue red panda named Alex, and I had a great time drawing him up and colouring him :) I forgot my white pencils and gel pens at home, but I did what I could to make it look good for him, and I'm very happy to know that he loves his badge, and it really gives me a lot of joy to know that he loves it so much :) I'll put a photo of it up on my FA once I get this journal typed up. I only had enough time to get his badge complete and the other one (for Rain Oubliette), I'll complete here at home.
I also had the chance to finally meet my friend Eclipse in person for the first time! We've known each other since days of EZboards (I'm guessing 20 years, maybe?) and this was the first time meeting him in person. It was absolutely wonderful to finally meet him! And I'm glad to hear that he had a great time at the con, even if it was just for the one day he was there :)
Saturday night, we had drink vouchers, so we went to get some free drinks, and hung out with
thepurplehusky and her SO. I only had the chance to get one drink, and then we watched the hotel staff cart away the booze bar and I was like "but...but...I have one more voucher!!" XD Ah well, it was a good drink! It was a special FurTheMore cocktail, it was pretty good!Daylight Savings Time sucks. At least, the "getting one less hour of sleep" part does. I value sleep whenever I can, but...what can you do when you're at a convention during that time? The hotel's breakfast buffet was soooooo good! They had the best bacon, too! =D Sunday was just a lazy, easy day. I spent my time checking out the dealer's and artist alley tables, got myself some things, hung out with Kalika and Nace behind her table so I could rest my leg and back, and that was pretty much it.
FurTheMore's theme for next year is Arthurian Legends, and....I kinda want to go back again, just for the fact that it's THAT theme. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I do medieval illuminations in the SCA, so that's the kind of stuff that's right up my alley. If I do go, will I have a table and vend there? I don't know yet (in which, that answer is a big step up from "no")...it's possible. I do have some ideas for things I could possibly sell at my table. It's something I would definitely need to have a good think-over for it. But, seeing as how the con was absolutely wonderful, the staff was absolutely wonderful, and how much of a fun time I had there, that also makes it that much easier to not say no, either. But it's something I'll definitely need to think about.
The long drive home was long, but we had Cracker Barrel for lunch, and Cheesecake Factory for supper on the way home (most people who have these restaurants in their area will not understand the excitement that comes from us whenever we go there, cuz we've got NOTHING up here!), so going to these restaurants are bit of an event for us in of itself ;) Once we got back to Kalika's, we got my stuff loaded into my car and I drove another hour back home. Good thing, too, because the weather hadn't started yet, and now, we're currently in a snowing frenzy today, and I'm glad I don't have to be out driving right now!
All in all, I had a wonderful time at the con; it was a wonderful experience, and...I seriously just needed this. I've missed this so much. More than I even realized. This weekend was like therapy for me, in a good way, of course! And it's just left me in a good feeling :)
To everyone I met and chatted with, both old friends and new, it was wonderful seeing and chatting with you! And I hope you guys had a wonderful time at the con (and for the artists I talked with, I hope you guys had happy sales at your tables!)
Again, to the staff of FurTheMore - if you're reading this, THANK YOU SO MUCH for such a wonderful con! =D My hat's off to you for doing all that you can to put this convention on, taking the time and patience to help people out, and especially watching out for us con-goers by having a mask mandate to help keep us all safe and healthy :)
To anyone who hasn't been to FtM yet, I highly recommend going to this con! =D
A shame you can't be at Furcationland, which is much closer to you, we'll make an appearance! (and sadly not go through the Burl, that would be a detour). But yeah, the cons are a balm on the soul sometimes!
I...honestly never even heard of Furcationland till you mentioned it in your comment O.o I wouldn't be able to go this year anyways, but it's good to know that there's one in Maine! We've lived in VT for 23 years and we've yet to even go to Maine! XD
I'm not 100% back in the fandom yet, I just basically tested the waters out with my foot by going to FtM, but even then, I had a wonderful experience there that I'd like to go back again :)