I come bearing fursuit commission info!

I have added a new tier to my patreon which is entry onto my fursuit waiting list. You will be the first to be notified when I have new commission openings and it the ONLY way to receive a guaranteed custom commission.

https://www.patreon.com/Beetlecat

Why patreon? Because I like the communication opportunities on patreon and I think it'll be a good way for us to interact together and open good lines of discussion even before the project begins. Plus you can have a hand in seeing and directing the process. More input = good!

If you are interested in a fursuit from me but will/cannot pledge then that's okay! I will still be making various artist-designed suits and hosting auction opportunities in the future. These projects will be random and designed/decided by me but hopefully there will be something there you like ^_^

I posted this to my twitter and I'm going to say something similar here (but expanded past 140 characters..)

Since I get regular queries on this, I just want to make a general PSA for folks looking for more information.

Yes, I am currently closed to all new fursuit orders and I do NOT know if/when I'm going to reopen. I am NOT quitting but I'm just not sure I want to continue with the same customer/commission approach that I've been using and I am contemplating various alternatives.

I currently only make maybe 6 suits a year so, as you can imagine, there is significantly more demand than supply XD So I am closed so that I can spend my time working on my current queue plus so I do not lead anyone on or prevent them from pursuing other commission opportunities.

One idea I am considering will be to take commission only via auctioning off open slots. An example is holding an auction for a cat head. Or maybe for a full plantigrade suit. Or basically whatever I'm currently interested in working on/can fit into my timeline. It may be of a specific type or species or not.

Another possibility is having a set list of character design s that I want to make and then selling them as first-come-first-served. In this example I design a specific fursuit reference and put it at a set price. And you buy that design and then I make it for your measurements.

A third idea is to just make premade suits and then sell (either at a set price or at auction) then as a complete suit with no wait.

What's likely is that I'll do a little bit off all of these. Maybe I'll still take a commission here or there if I like a design.


So the TL;DR is that I cannot currently answer questions regarding future commissions and wanted to give a bit more of an explanation on why. I can still answer commission-related questions but anything specific to "Can I have a commission/How much will it cost" is going to probably just get dead air over here because I do not have an answer at this time.

This fall I expect to complete my current queue and I will spend some timed deciding on my future approach. I am not deciding that right now because I'm fickle and just want to make cool things ^^ So I will slowly introduce new ideas and see what takes root and makes me the most fulfilled while being as fair as possible to everyone.

Since I do not update this page as regularly as some others, here is where to find my work in 2017.

1) https://www.patreon.com/Beetlecat -
The bulk of my works in progress photos and videos go here as well as pledge rewards and so forth if you'd like to support me that way.

2) https://twitter.com/Beetlefursuits -
Small snippets of work. Photos and conversation. Sales. Bit of a hodgepodge but most public stuff shows up here.

3) https://www.instagram.com/beetlefursuits &
https://www.facebook.com/Beetlefursuits &
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/beetlefursuits -
Various wip and finished photos. I generally crosspost between these three so you can watch just the one you prefer and receive a similar experience.

Or My website gallery just receives finished works if that's your preference - http://www.beetlecatoriginals.com

FA (here) receives finished works and sales.

4) http://www.beetlecat.artfire.com - Where I sell my smaller items (mostly ears and tails) in between conventions.

As always, I will generally answer most questions/DMs but all business correspondence happens through email. Partially to keep everything cohesive/searchable but also for sensitive information/accessibility reasons. Since my commissions are currently closed, I may be slow to answer any commission questions as I work on making things.

My goal for 2017 is to have fewer active social media accounts, but to keep those updated more consistently, so these above are all you need to watch to see all my work :)

I have ears and tails back up on my online store.

https://www.beetlecat.artfire.com

Check them out! Foxes, wolves, cats, etc. I'm sold out of a few things but still lots of variety left ^_^

A quick note that I WILL be dealing at FC again this year!

My table is at the same place as last year, in the middle against the back wall (facing the entrances on the opposite wall). Table number 11 on this map: http://www.furtherconfusion.org/dealer-maps/

I am bringing a whole lot of tails and ears including the following species: wolf (grey, white, black), coyote (introduced last year and were such a hit I sold out), cat (tan, grey, white, black, red), snow leopard, fox tails in THREE sizes including a NEW XL fox tail that is a full 36" long (as long as my cat tails). Also new this year are HUSKY TAILS! I am only bringing a few of those to test the market but if they sell well then they will be added to my regular rotation.


My selection of ears is a bit smaller but includes most of the above colours/styles (except husky specific ears).

In addition to those, I'll have some Beetlecat promo merch including t-shirts, buttons, stickers, charms, etc.

I am considering bringing Digger (on the right) to display/auction off/sell outright but at this moment I am undecided.

I might also bring some cast foam headbases to sell.

Come say hi!

Time: 10pm

Date: Saturday the 16th

Meet near the official convention photoshoot area (aka Dragonscales).

If you have not already, please let me know if you plan to make it to the shoot so I know not to start without you. That said, I have never initiated a photoshoot like this before so I have no idea if Dragonscales will do the shoot at 10pm sharp and whisk us out of there or not so, please, do your best not to be late (early is always good).

I will be wearing my purple Beetlecat costume so gather around me for a headcount. I'll try to be there 20-30 minutes early just to hang out a bit :D

Okay so this subject has been going around for a little while - people being inspired by others and making similar things vs people just straight out copying.

Like most artists, I've been a subject of both (being copied/inspiring others) and being/my work being an inspiration to others to try their own thing is AMAZINGLY GRATIFYING. Seriously, nothing makes me happier or feel like I've achieved something in the world. In comparison, being copied feels really really BAD. This is something I made up. It's my personal world. And it doesn't feel good to have someone just appropriate it whole-cloth for themselves.

Anyways, here is what 'inspired' me to post this:

http://baarakka.deviantart.com/gallery/

I do not know this person, but they make ears. If you scroll to the bottom and read the comments, you can see they used my tutorial to begin with. And I can definitely see influences. But their ears now DO NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE MINE. and that is the beauty of being inspired. They used the same starting area as me and we have both gone in very different directions. And I love their work and I really enjoyed seeing it.

--

When people say "Oh it's okay to copy because they will find their style" what they hopefully mean is that it's okay to be inspired by the style and sources of an artist and then go from there.

[note: please do not take any of the following personally. I just don't know how to write in third person. lawl]

Yes, Recreating an old masterwork exactly and then using that to jump into your own style is a thing. But you don't then tell the whole world "I made this!" because it is disrespectful (and untrue). You experiment, and then when you are happy with your own style and your own work, then you tell everyone what you have accomplished. Because by this point, it's yours 100% and you can be proud of it.

Every artist wants to be an inspiration. We do not wish to see our work copied. If you are ever unsure where your new piece of art falls, then put a credit towards the artist (always nice to do this anyways. at least at first). Artists usually don't get offended over nothing - we don't have the time or mental energy to be angry over nothing - so if someone thinks you've crossed the inspired vs copy line then maybe rework the idea a bit until you've made it yours with your own unique spin.

Saying "oh you can't claim [source material]" is a poor excuse. Every single sculpture or drawing we put our own personal style and spin on it. If your copy looks like it stylistically fits better in our gallery than into yours, that is a big clue it maybe needs some reworking before you call it yours..

IMO, that personal expression/style/artistic spin is the clear difference between inspiration and copying. Let us be an inspiration for your own work! Make it awesome (in your own way).

I’m sure some of you have noticed that my queue is getting shorter and shorter and I have not been opening to take on new commissions like I normally would at this time to refill my depleted bank account.

So rather than continue to explain my future practices one-on-one, I am going to try and write up a more comprehensive account so everyone knows what to expect in 2016.

First off, I am NOT closing down my commissions! The main change for 2016: I will no longer maintain a ‘waiting list’ or queue. This means I can be available to take on new interesting projects without a long wait or a “sorry I’m closed” sign.

Here is my current customer queue: https://trello.com/b/rx9Hh7jB/beetl.....customer-queue

My current commissions plus making ear/tail stock for Halloween/Christmas and my FC dealer’s table will keep me busy until late January 2016 (when my FC obligations end).

Then, I am changing how I pick up new fursuit projects. I will not ‘open’ for commissions but instead will take the fun projects that cross my desk as they appear to me and as I want to do them. I will be ‘always available’.

In addition to commissions, I will do more artist-designed premade suits and more auctions of artist-designed projects custom made for the buyer. If I feel like I want to make a certain thing, then I will just go ahead and make it.

In short, not much will really change from how I’ve been doing business over the past year or two, except that you will never receive an automatic ‘closed’ sign.

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN TO YOU AS A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER?
Well it sort of means a lot of word of mouth. If you are a cool person with a cool concept that I want to do, and you can convince me that I should; then we can talk. My email is open always.
One thing I do want to emphasis is that this ‘no queue’ change means a lot of client-artist open communication will be desirable and needed. I WANT to have a close (professional) relationship with my clients and to keep them in the loop of their project always (as they should keep me in the loop).
Rather than saying “yes” or “no” based upon a drawing and a single email, I’d like to build a repertoire and discuss the project in sufficient depth to make sure it is a good fit for BOTH of us before any money exchanges hands. And after the project is over, I want to know where my fursuit babies go and what they are doing :D

How to get into the queue? How many projects will you take on?
Well, going into 2016 there is no queue (Yes, in practice there will likely be 2-3 people lined up, but I will not be ‘maintaining’ a queue). So this means that I do not have a simple answer for this question. You will need to email me and we will need to talk about it. If I want to do the idea and don’t have room to take it on right now then I will keep you in mind for later. If it’s been a few months, it will not hurt to remind me you are still interested. If I really don’t want to do it, I’ll let you know.
I also cannot simple answer the second question because it ‘depends’. If there are no current projects I want to make then I’ll make artist-designed premades to be sold/auctioned or work on something else like tails and ears (or non-fursuit-related art). If there are a lot at one time that I want to do then I may need to make some decisions and pick only those I really really REALLY want to make right now. If I pick one very complicated costume, I may want to then pick more simple costumes to balance out my brainload before trying another complicated one. These are all the things that can only be worked out through client-artist communication during the year.

**My supporters via PATREON will get first dibs on having their project accepted. This does NOT mean that you NEED to be a patron of mine or that I will accept EVERY patron’s project. But if I have to choose between two equally impressive projects, I believe that the person who is supporting my art, in return for basically zero physical or monetary profit for themselves, has earned some extra consideration from me.**

Deadlines, In general, will not be accepted. I will keep open the ‘rush’ options for guaranteed deadlines but otherwise you may be pushed forwards or back depending on where I need you to be at that moment. Since there is no queue, this will be within reason – I’m not going to push you years ahead (One year from payment is my max “needs to be done by” deadline) but if a company is willing to pay for rush service (and I want to take on the project) then that deadline will have to come first since being agile enough to take on new requests is the whole point of no queue.

I’ve never done commissions this way before so, honestly, it’s going to just take some practice and experience to see how it all pans out. I am going to be very VERY shy about taking on ‘too many’ projects though because every fursuit maker’s default is to just accept everything because everything is so darn cool and awesome and I want to do them all! But I just can’t do everything and so I need to limit myself until I know my new groove. I may only take 4-6 commissions for all of 2016. If no one has a good idea then I may take on zero (highly unlikely) and only work on my own ideas. Or maybe this will work out so amazingly that my production will skyrocket. We will see!

TL;DR: I am not opening for ‘general commissions’ in 2016 (or beyond). I will still take commissions on a one-on-one basis if approached with an interesting idea (and if I currently have the time to work on it).

----
---
--

EXTRA TIPS FOR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS/HOW TO GET YOUR PROJECT MADE:


PLUSES:
Articulate emails (you don’t have to be a master at the English language but full paragraphs and talking to me like how you’d talk to me in person is always nice)
Indicate how you know my work. (you don’t need to be buddy buddy with a previous customer but I want to know you are familiar with my style of work and why you need *it* VS any other fursuit maker you can go to)
Clear reference sheet. (not always needed but a nice bonus. This can come after I take the commission)
A cool idea (I’ll break this down later).
Ability to pay in full (since I will not be working with a long queue, I cannot take a long payment plan).

CONS:
Pretty much anything not stated above. Form letters. Chat speak. An impossible or very specific character design in a style I do not offer. Offering to pay me $100/month until it is paid off.

WHAT I PREFER TO MAKE
I highly prefer artistic liberty commissions. This does NOT mean I will not do character commissions though so read on.

What is artistic liberty and what is not?
If you have a very specific idea of what your character is and does and looks and want it to be EXACTLY like that down to expression and personality then we are probably not a good fit for each other. My costumes are an interpretation of your character seen through my eyes and hands, not a duplicating machine.
However, If I can look at the reference and eliminate everything but the marking pattern (and maybe change that around slightly to fit the areas and available furs) and you’ll be happy with the result because you like my style and just want a cool fursuit.. then welcome aboard and please read the below for my further definitions of art lib.

Full artistic liberty: I make anything I want to within a certain price point. I need to know that you will honestly be happy with ANYTHING or it can be a bit stressful trying to decide what the customer really wants out of the infinity things I can make lol. I prefer to only do these as heads right now so the customer can decide if they just like it or if they REALLY like it (it can always be finished as a fullsuit later).

Guided artistic liberty: This means that you give me *something* to start from (usually it is a species) and then I go from there. I do all of the animal research and decisions of what colour morphs etc. to use. These take more time since I have to make my own reference sheet, but they can be really fun too.

Reference artistic liberty: Artistic lib with a ref sheet. This means you have a reference for me to follow but that it is OKAY if I deviate from it in places. This can be my favorite type of commission if I like the character design.
--

Preferred costume types:

Fullsuits preferred. With padding or without it doesn’t matter.

I may take head-only commissions but it depends. I love making heads but they can also be one of the most stressful parts of the commission process so I’ll need to know we are on the same page with the look you want and what you will be using it for.

Partials with heads are unlikely but I prefer to just make a body so that I can complete the look. If you are familiar with partials and how to dress them and accessorize them (and prefer them to fullsuits for those and/or other reasons), then I will take that into consideration.

I will NOT take any ‘parts only’ commissions (paws or feet only. Etc) unless you are a previous customer who needs an upgrade or replacement.

I MAY take digitigrade legs+feet commissions for fawns, saytrs, etc. I do enjoy these quite a bit.

I’m open to make another quadsuit. It would have to be one of a very select number of species (boar, hyena, mammoth, etc. Something than can be interpreted with the correct proportions of a short/deep body & long thick legs) and I need to know it will be well utilized (worn a lot and loved) since it would take the place of several ‘normal’ fursuit slots (when I won’t be making very many total).

---

Preferred Species:
This is a more difficult section to write as it varies greatly on what I want to do at the moment (or can think up off the top of my head at the moment) so do NOT take this as the end all be all of what I will make.
--
Please note: brighter colours (the rainbow) in a more realistic fur style (what I use) can be few and far between so some ‘non-realistic’ coloured characters may not be possible for me. I have no issues using bright colours but having some wiggle room on the exact colour and/or where it is located can be useful.
--
Canines are always welcome. More unusual species or markings the better but I have no issues with run of the mill wolves and coyotes.

I am interested in making 1 or 2 more birds. Parrots. Raptors.

Big cats. I want to work on my small cats a bit before offering them as customs but I’d totally do a large lion or tiger with all that beastly protective neck fur.

Any North American mammal. A badger is an almost automatic yes.

It’s been a while since I made a horse. A donkey would also be a near automatic yes. I’d love a gang of tiny ponies :p

A bear. I have never made a full bear suit (panda bear doesn’t count) and it would be a great opportunity to try a full body padding.

A fully padded bull.

Fanciful made up species or hybrids.

Mammoth

Porcupine

Deer or unicorns

And lots more so please just ask.

I notified my Patreon and Twitter (and Facebook via Patreon) about the drawing results, but did not get a chance to do so here before I left for vacation 2 weeks ago.


The winner was Tiffany O'Bryan! (who was contacted privately and has already received the head)

Lucky number 49 (randomly rolled from 1-85 using Random.org) was your winner :)


A big thank you to everyone who entered; I had a lot of fun and I hope to do this again :D

My first Patreon Livestream will be this coming Monday (4/27/2015) starting at 2pm and lasting until 5pm PST.

Although future livestreams will be restricted, this inaugural one will be entirely open to the public! Come by and say hello :D

livestream link: https://youtu.be/3r3ZLJOAYPQ

Has anyone here live-streamed through Youtube? Do you recommend it? If not, who do you recommend as a host?

edit: I'll be streaming physical art via a webcam (not screen capture). This would be a monthly thing so I'd prefer free because I just wouldn't be using it enough to justify $15 per stream session :p

I found a surprise roll of this fur behind the rest of the rolls yesterday. A beautiful creamy grey with black tipping. I am keeping some but I have way more stored than I would ever be able to use.

For buyer ease, I added this item to my online store here: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/pro....._view/11705009 (click to view photos)

Since the fur is all one uncut length right now, I'm not doing individual price quotes on shipping. But if the actual shipping is less than what I'm asking then I'll refund the difference.

----
ADDITIONALLY,

I still have white seal fur for sale here: http://shar.es/1gNO63

I'm really excited about this so please come check it out!

https://www.patreon.com/beetlecat

As a special thanks to my early adopters, I am going to give the first 5 people to sign up and donate (at any level) a free Pathtag. You need to stay signed up (and pay) for the first month in order to receive this (so if anyone drops early it will go to the next in line). Certainly though I hope you will chose to stick around!

I have a lot of things I hope to share with everyone and I can't wait to see you there!

Yeah I had a GREAT time! Shout out to everyone who came by my table from my Kickstarter, previous/future customers. fans, etc. You were all so very kind and awesome and lovely :D :D :D

My ears & tails went over really well and I even sold a good number and shirts and pathtags!

A few fun ear stats from the weekend:

50% of all ears I sold, were sold as part of an an ear&tail set
I sold 100% of the red fox ears I brought (and could have sold more oops)
Only 20% of leopard TAILS were sold as a set and only 20% of kitty EARS were sold as a set. (ie more people bought leopard tails as a stand alone item and kitty ears as a stand alone item than bought them matched up in a set)
I sold 75% of the wolf ears I brought & 75% of the wolf tails I brought. But, even though those numbers match, only 67% bought them as a matched ear&tail set. (Wolf lovers love ALL the parts of the wolf!)

Neat! I hope to get more cool stats next year and see how they compare.

A QUESTION:

I did get enough requests for husky (and other curled tailed dogs) that I think I'm going to make that happen and add it to my normal line up. The only question remaining is HOW MUCH CURL? regular half curl? Super double curl? If anyone wants to weigh in then I'm listening!


The remaining ears & tails will be put up on Artfire tonight(?) for sale. I need to take photos and list everything up (which can take a while). If you are on my ear mailing list then you'll be notified through email when they go live. Yesterday I switched everything over to Mailchimp to hopefully make mailing list emails easier on me so I will have a sign up form as soon as I can figure out how to do that (I will take suggestions on this as well since this is 100% new to me).

I won't be taking any new ear orders for a while but I will have the remaining Kickstarter custom recolours to make and showcase. Excited for that!

I'm looking at getting my website redone and I need maybe half a dozen really high-quality photos of work that I have done to be featured on the front and center. Studio photos I have in spades but those are Boooring so I'm putting the call out!

1) High quality. They don't need to be RAW or anything but just not pixely when viewed full size on a normal monitor.

2) They need to be in landscape orientation or to be able to be cut down to that

3) Only Beetlecat Originals' fursuits visible in the photo please. If you just took the photo but do not own the suit and are unsure, I'd be happy to tell you if I made the suit or not.

4) A nice background! Nothing distracting or out of place. I'd prefer no con badges visible but it might be okay if it fits the feel of the photo.

5) You need to own the photo or have permission from whomever does! I may adjust them slightly to look more cohesive with the page so let me know if that is an issue

Even if you have already shared photos with me previously, feel free to bring them up again since that is easier for me than to track down permissions to make sure I can use it :p

I am going to look thorough my own stash, but with changing computers 3 times in the last couple years my photos are kind of all over the place XD

***

So! If you have something you'd like to be featured then either comment here with a link or email me at beetlefursuits[at]gmail.com

****

I think it's high-time for a new & updated fursuit construction manual, don't you?

Several of us have batted around ideas for a new fursuit construction book (myself included) but Mordrude is actually willing to put one together (a HUGE task) & is having an Indigogo campaign to raise money: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....nimal-costumes

Indigogo/Kickstarter/etc are crowd funding vehicles where you pay towards a future product by opting for special 'perks' (in this case various swag or a copy of the book or even full fursuits. Although Indigogo does allow flexible funding (in where all of the funds raised go towards the item) in this case, Mordrude has chosen 'fixed' funding. So if the goal is not met (the minimum amount needed to produce the book) then the book will not get made and all of your donations will be refunded.

So to get anything you need to hit the goal!

I don't know about you, but I'm certainly buying one :p I've had a lot of people profess interest over the years in buying a more realistic how-to manual such as this, so I hope (now that the opportunity is here) all that talking is now able to result in a real product :3

I have started up a mailing list for ears!

If you did not get in on the Kickstarter and would like to be emailed when I am ready to put fox, wolf, and/or kitty ears up for sale to the general public, please send me an email to BEETLEFURSUITS[at]GMAIL.COM with the subject line "EAR MAILING LIST" and I will add you!

I CANNOT add you any other way so please email or you will not be added

I have a new commission status page on my website via Trello. I've been meaning to do this for a while but finally a couple days ago I stayed up until 1am or so and hammered it out.

https://trello.com/b/rx9Hh7jB/beetl.....customer-queue

This replaces the old update page on my website which was always a bit of a placeholder for something better. I'd love to integrate it someday into my website (rather than just link to it on Trello) but, regardless, this is MUCH better! The look is basic but I can update it anytime anywhere and everyone will always know what is going on with their project.

The part I still need to refine a bit is the left - 'What I am working on this month' is not really accurate since it's not 'renewed' each month but basically means 'things currently on my brain/on my table'. I originally had it 'working on this WEEK' but thought that might be misunderstood as things being FINISHED this week.

If there is anything wrong/not understandable/could be organized better please let me know!

----

My Kickstarter stuff is still going well. Those of you who help to fund me can watch my progress on that via Kickstarter! (I also have a checklist on my aforementioned new commission status page) Otherwise I'm sure I'll upload a few photos here once ear production really begins ^^ And I will let EVERYONE know when my Kickstarter order have been all fulfilled and I can begin opening up new orders for everyone else (This will probably be premades in the classic colours/species at first. Custom recolours may come later though!)

----

My next full costume I finish will be a fennec! I have yet to begin the head but I'm pretty happy with how the body is turning out. Classic fennec but with my own super special spin on it. I'll probably leave the body to be unveiled with the fullsuit but I'm sure one or two photos of the head may sneak on here when I do begin working on it.


---

My daughter is now 10 months old! Where does the time go. She's not walking but that doesn't stop her from getting her little paws into everything. And she is so active! Starting to think the right thing to do is just barricade myself into my workroom and let her have the rest of the house to destroy :p

---

I am on Flight rising under the username 'Beetlecat'. I don't have a huge amount of time to devote to it (it has basically taken over where Candy Crush used to exist) but I enjoy poking around and looking at all the genetic combinations. And if you happen to have a male Skydancer with colours in the royal range or darker that you don't want...

---

I will remain closed to new fursuit commissions until the Kickstarter project is completed and my current queue trimmed down just a little more. Since that will likely lead into the fall and maybe winter, I'll (as like last year) very likely spend the months leading up to FC (assuming I can snag a dealer's table) building up some stock (tails and probably ears too this year) and maybe costumes to sell there.

If I did a some preorders for small fursuit pieces, (not right now. But in the future perhaps) what would you be more interested in? Hands ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/10584980/ } or feet { http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13095427/ } in these styles made with your colours/markings. Or is there something else?

EDIT: The requests are split about 50/50 feet/hands. I will be making some hands in the next few weeks so will check my schedule and may consider taking a couple 'hand only' orders as a test run. If so, I will post a journal when ready.

Then go back my Kickstarter!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects.....-on-a-headband

Goal has been made so there is no question that you will receive your product - All funds will go towards making my ears more available more often as well as making new and unusual species more likely. Pick yourself up some swag and support this worthy cause!

The first run of ears will be 10% off my normal pricing! (essentially you receive free domestic shipping).

Yeah! Ears!

I have created a Kickstarter with several pledge levels including t-shirts, kitty, fox & wolf ears, and ear and tail sets. And maybe even a full fursuit slot..

The first batch of ears will be at a discounted price (10% off). If it goes really well and I make my goals, then I may offer new pledge levels such as snow leopard ears. All of the money raised will be going back into my business and making it better and more efficient as well as paving the way to offer ears full time.

I will be launching that THIS Friday so here is your heads up!

--

I have a Dealer's Table at FC this year! Come find me at table 12 http://www.furtherconfusion.org/201.....alers_map.html It should be pretty easy as I'll be the one swamped by tails XD

I will NOT have ears with me (but I will have links to my Kickstarter at my table so you can preorder them from your phone). I expect to have a surprise head finished and for sale as well.

*Bring me an unopened bottle of Ginger Beer and receive a free pathtag charm!*

Baby is staying home this year! She gets too crabby when she misses her naps ;)

In the last update Kali was 10 days old.. now she is 5 and a half months! And I think I've been almost fall-over exhausted for the vast majority of the past half a year rofl.

It is certainly not easy being a work at home parent but we make it happen. K is at a pretty good age where her needs are still simple (eat/sleep/diaper/something to do) but she doesn't need quite the 24/7 hands on care that she did in beginning. Now she is a giggly, grabby, sturdy mass of baby fats who mostly sleeps well and eats well and has only the very rare tantrum freak out.

So it's December now.. Lets talk the future.

Yes. I am still accepting commissions. There has been concern from several places over the past few months that I've closed up shop and left but, if anything, my fursuit income has become even more important now. That said, I have something very special planned for early next year* that I do not want to spill quite yet and will (hopefully) be busy working on that for some of 2014. I will have more details soon enough :3

I will be dealing at FC this year! I have been very busy making tails these past few weeks (personal time? What is that?) and it is exciting to see them fill box after box! You will find me at the back wall. Only a half-table sadly as I was not quick enough to snag a full (I will know better for next year!) but I will be the one filled to the brim with fluff :p I am also bringing the last of my shirts and hopefully a few more odds and ends. And although I'm not opposed to bring K to a con in the future, for this particular one she is staying home with grandma.

That's about it! Since I doubt I'll have a chance for much around here with FC prep and Christmas and all, I will wish now that everyone has a good holiday season and I'll talk to you in the new year.


*aside from FC

Pokemon Y. I has it. It's my first go at this franchise so I'm not sure of everything yet but I think I got the basics of 'fight things' and 'try not to kill them if you want to capture them'.

My DS number is 1607-2624-5634. I also have Animal Crossing but k'know how it is.. letting the town go to seed while I'm busy with the new game lol.

Leave a comment with yours and I'll add you this evening. (If you added me once already my 3DS got wiped by Nintendo when they fixed the battery issues so you'll have to re-add me)

EDIT:

Added about 25 so far. Will do more later little by little top to bottom. The limit is 100 so I should be good :)

Skipping those who had not added me yet because I don;t want to type in a name ha.

So having a child has made me see how many other furry community folks have children. And of course the wider population of animal/cute kid-loving parents.

So I am wondering if there is an artistic (aka can't be mass produced in China for cheaper than I can make it for) furry/animal themed product for babies/young kids that you have been looking for/have seen that you really like.

The impetus behind this is that on a whim of cuteness I recently made a frilly diaper cover for my daughter (learning several new skills in the meantime) and it was a nice change from the normal. I followed a real store bought pattern and everything! XD

I'm not opposed to work with materials other than faux fur and (while I would love to do that) I am also interested in the idea of widening my skill base. I don't want to just make basic clothing or anything else that can be bought at Wal-Mart though. I'm not opposed to the idea of redesigning and making tiny fursuits but I'm not sure there is really a market for that they way there is for adult sized fursuits.

So yeah! Throw some train of thought my way and maybe we can come up with something unique and cool! My daughter is barely 4 months so my ideas right now all involve diapers ROFL