I can't believe it! Again! Again this lazy SOB has messed up my package! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

This time he/she didn't even leave a notice that the package was being held in the post office. I had NO IDEA it had even arrived! It was an international package coming from a customer who needed me to do some alterations to their fursuit, so knowing how long international shipping can take I was only just getting worried that it hadn't been delivered yet. Then I get a message from my customer saying that the post office has the package is threatening to send it back at their cost. WTF?! Our postal worker didn't even attempt to deliver it, which is nothing new. (Last year I witnessed them driving up and sticking a notice in my mailbox without even trying to deliver the package) Both I and my mother work from home offices, so there is ALWAYS someone home and ready to sign for mail, but our worker doesn't even make it to the door.

This is unacceptable -.- I'm filing yet another complaint.

Hey guys, would any of you happen to know if there are any upcoming or ongoing dealer den registrations? I've already registered for FWA, MWFF, and Furry Fiesta.

I'm leaving on a camping trip with my boyfriend ( codywusky) and his family and will be back Thursday. I don't think I'll have much of any internet access until then, so if you don't hear back from me in the next few days, I swear I'm not ignoring you, I'm just lost in the woods . . . or eaten by a bear . . .

This year I'll be trying to get into a few dealers dens, so I've been thinking about what I'd like to offer at my table. I want to do something different that will help promote my commissions, sell pre-made suits, and spread the joy of fursuiting overall. The idea of rental fursuits just won't leave me and the more I think about the more I think its feasible. Since it isn't a readily offered service in the furry community, I feel like someone must have tried it and had it fail spectacularly, but all the reasons for failing I can think of I feel I have a solution too. I'm just going to do a little brainstorming here, and let me know if you guys have any suggestions or wisdom in this.


The Threat of Theft

The threat of theft is definitely a big worry, but I feel that taking proper precautions can reduce theft and help me recoup any loses if a theft does occur.

1.) Requiring the renter to had over their driver's license/id for the duration of their rental period. I have been required to hand over my license when handling puppies at a pet store so I don't feel this is unreasonable. Even if the thief leaves off with the suit I'll have a name and address to send the police to. Taking a photocopy of the license may also be sufficient. I'd also be able to give the information over to the convention staff.

2.) Fursuit parts will have a plastic tag, similar to the tags at clothing stores, which are hard to remove and label the fursuit as property of CityMutt. A large tag on the ear of the head can also double as advertising.

3.) GPS trackers hidden in the suits. GPS trackers aren't very expensive these days and would be worth the expense to track down any missing suits.


Keeping the Fursuits Clean

1.) With my development of machine washable heads, keeping the suits clean and disinfected will be an easy enough task. Finding a Laundromat in the convention's city won't be too difficult if the suits need to be washed between days.

2.) I could require renters to wear a balaclava whenever wearing the head.

3.) I could require that fursuit be kept within convention space and the renter could face a fine for taking it outside.

4.) I could require that fursuits be returned before dealer's den closing, to prevent any "unauthorized usage" of the suits.


Promoting Sales

1.) Not only would rentals create income, but they could increase customers in commissions since people will have the opportunity to "try before the buy"

2.) Rental suits could be available for purchase in the case that a renter wants to make it their permanent suit.

3.) More people walking around in CityMutt fursuits can only help increase brand awareness.


Damage to Fursuits

1.) Our new fursuit-building model has led to very durable fursuits which can easily take quite a bit of abuse.

2.) Fursuits will be examined when returned and if found to have severe or negligent damage done to them the renter would be held liable for repair costs. Small, easily fixed things like a loose claws won't be fined, I'm talking about significant damage that shows the renter intentionally damaged the suit or was incredibly negligent with it.

3.) Renters will have to pay for any parts they lose, such as a hand paw or a head. Losing a part would be considered negligent.



If I were to do this I'd certainly start small with just a couple partials and see how it goes. Can you guys let me know what you think, I'd really value your input on this :)

A new law is in the works to inherently change copyright law as we know it. Forcing artists to register their work through private registries which would charge lord knows how much money, and voiding our constitutional right to own our art the moment we make it.

I have already submitted a letter to the Copyright office. It is very easy and you don't have to write much, just let these lawyers and politicians know that we artists are NOT OKAY with this.

Forward and Post this to get word out. The deadline for sending in letters to stop this is only 3 DAYS AWAY

Submit your letters online here: http://copyright.gov/policy/visualw...../comment-form/

The copied post below came from here: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Artists-Alert--The-Return-of-Orphan-Works-Part-2---ARTISTS--LETTERS.html?soid=1102063090742&aid=DEeIBiwWgJ4

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Artists Alert: From the Illustrators Partnership
The Return of Orphan Works

Part 2: Artists' Letters

JULY 16, 2015
Two weeks ago, we warned that Congress is drafting a new US Copyright Act.

The new recommendations would resurrect the failed Orphan Works Act of 2008. But there are new proposals that go far beyond Orphan Works.

The Copyright Office says that these artists' issues are also "ripe" for legislation: copyright small claims, resale royalties, and other forms of secondary licensing which most artists have never heard of.

Many of you have already written. We hope many more will do the same.
The deadline is NEXT THURSDAY: July 23, 2015

American artists can submit their letters online here.

Non-U.S. artists can email their letters to the attention of:

Catherine Rowland
Senior Advisor to the Register of Copyrights
U.S. Copyright Office
crowland[at]loc.gov

Read the Copyright Office Notice of Inquiry.

Read the 2015 Orphan Works and Mass Digitization Report.

Please write the Copyright Office

Because of our past opposition to orphan works legislation, the Copyright Office has issued a special Notice of Inquiry on Visual Works. In it, they acknowledge that visual artists face special problems in the marketplace and they've asked artists to respond to five questions:

1. What are the most significant challenges related to monetizing and/or licensing photographs, graphic artworks, and/or illustrations?

2. What are the most significant enforcement challenges for photographers, graphic artists, and/or illustrators?

3. What are the most significant registration challenges for photographers, graphic artists, and/or illustrators?

4. What are the most significant challenges or frustrations for those who wish to make legal use of photographs, graphic art works, and/or illustrations?

5. What other issues or challenges should the Office be aware of regarding photographs, graphic artworks, and/or illustrations under the Copyright Act?

And we might suggest a 6th question of our own:

6. What are the most significant challenges artists would face if these new copyright proposals become law?

Since most artists have never written to lawmakers before, many of you have asked us for sample letters.

It is important that the Copyright Office receive unique letters.

Eight artists have provided their letters to inspire you to write. The letters are poignant examples written respectfully by artists telling their own unique story about their experience and concerns:

Letter 1: "I'm writing to stress that for me, and for artists like me, copyright law is not an abstract legal issue. Our copyrights are our assets. Licensing them is how we make our livings." Read more.

Letter 2: "As a freelance illustrator, I need to maintain revenue streams in order to make a living for my family. The resale of my past images is part of my day to day way of doing business." Read more.

Letter 3: "My art is reasonably well known since it has served the advertising, editorial, public relations and historical documentation needs of the aerospace industry, publications, the military services and air and space museums for 68 years." Read more.

Letter 4: "I am writing to you as an award winning professional illustrator of over 40 years whose work has appeared in many major publications, books and advertisements, both nationally and internationally." Read more.

Letter 5: "I have been a professional medical illustrator since 1975, and self-employed since 1981. During the course of my career, I have created thousands of illustrations..." Read more.

Letter 6: "Copyright is the basis of my income and ability to support my business. It is the only way I have to protect the accuracy and integrity of my work, and to negotiate an appropriate fee for re-licensing." Read more.

Letter 7: "My specialty area is fetal development and women's health illustration...The protection of these images is of utmost importance to my livelihood, and I have struggled to fight the rampant piracy of them, especially by political groups." Read more.

Letter 8: " I am writing to ask that you create policy to protect visual authors and their exclusive rights, and support a sustainable environment for professional authorship. Read more.

Remember no one is asking you to write a legal brief. Copyright law is a business law, and the lawyers writing these laws know little or nothing about our business.

Let's explain to them how the laws they're writing will affect us.

- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership

Please post or forward this artist alert to any interested party.

...But she charmed her way out of it XD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1GJxP6D7k



Note: Please let me know if you find Blurby in any pictures or videos! I saw a lot of those phelly-tones pointed at me so there must be quite a few this year.

I forgot to mention it earlier, but I will be attending the furmeet picnic at Pullen today in Raleigh. I'm planning on wearing Blurby, but I might have to go with Jack-O. Hope to see you guys there!

Note: Just some of my thoughts on the word "talented". You are absolutely entitled to your own opinion, this is just my opinion.



I've disliked the word "talent" for a long time now, and I don't like to be called "talented". When you're an artist, be it visual or performing, you hear the word talented applied to you and what you do very often. Most think of it as a compliment and I'm sure a lot of artists take it as a compliment, but it irks me to think of my skills, hard-won skills that took years of meticulous practice and refinement, reduced to the product of "talent".

Talent implies that a person is born with an innate skill to succeed at certain things. It suggests that a talented person is naturally gifted and so is somehow elevated above the normal and "mediocre", and that no matter how hard that "mediocre" person does, they cannot possibly be as successful as the "talented" individual. Most of all, it completely marginalizes all the hard work, training, practice, and struggle that each artist goes through in order to succeed and improve at their craft. No one is born with the ability to paint masterpieces, and I assure you every great artist started by drawing the same scribbly doodles that every child has the ability to draw. What makes the difference between someone who becomes an artist and someone who doesn't is how passionate that person is about their art and how much time they devote to it. I can not count all the times I've heard something along the lines of..."You're so talented. I could never do that." My first thought is..."Have you tried? So you failed? Did you try again? Did you fail so many times but kept practicing until you got it right? No? Well then how do you know that you can't do what I do?"

Athletes get the same treatment, though I think to a lesser extent. People usually acknowledge that athletes have to work very hard to be successful even if the have that elusive "talent". I've tried to make the comparison between athletes and artists to get my point across that art requires practice, but most people just don't equate athleticism as being comparable to artistic ability.

So when someone calls me "talented" I consider it insulting. As if I didn't have to do anything to be as good an artist as I am. I, and I think a lot of artists, would rather be described as "hard-working" or "dedicated" or "passionate". Are there any artists out there who agree with me?





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It's that time of the year again and I'm so psyched! Hope to meet all you amazing people at Anthrocon this year! If you see me, please come up and say "hi", cause I'd love to get a chance to meet anyone who enjoys my work ^.^

----

Where are you staying?

The wonderful Doubletree (I want two trees in my room this year! Doubletree, don't cheap out on me!)


What day are you getting there?

That will be Thursday.


How are you traveling?

By car. I'm planning on decorating the car for Anthrocon, so if you see us on the road give a honk!


Who will you be rooming with?

My lovely boyfriend and handler  codywusky


How is the best way to find you?

Follow the screams >.>

But seriously, I'll be in my blue toony sergal suit "Blurby" pretty much every time I leave the hotel room. Just run up and introduce yourselves. I'll be "in character", but if you'd like to have a legit conversation with me you can just ask and I'll probably break character to talk to you if there are not a lot of other people around.


Are there any panels you might be attending?

No idea...I'm not much for panels since I can never keep on schedule at a con...


What do you look like?

Blurby: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/16212631/

Citi: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/16127959/


Will you be suiting?

I'll be doing nothing but suiting!


What is your gender?

Female


How tall are you?

5 ft something


Can I talk to you?

Yes! If you'd like to just interact with my sergal character just come right up to me and say hi. However, if you like have an actually conversation with me you'll have to explicitly ask me to break character. I'll be happy to talk to you as long as I'm not around a lot of other people trying to engage with my character.


Can I touch you?

Sure, just don't get creepy about it.


Can I visit your room?

No.


Can I buy you drinks?

I don't drink alcohol and I'm taken. A sprite from a friend, however, is happily accepted!


Can I give you stuff?

if you really want to! I'll give you the biggest fluffiest hug in return!


Can I hug or snuggle with you?

Give me all the hugs! A snuggle, however, might not go over well with my handler/bf XD


Are you a cute dog?

Only at the raves!
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/16127959/


Are you nice?

I am! I swear I am!


How long are you going?

Thursday til Sunday


Will you be going to parties?

Probably not any private parties, but AC is one big party!


Will you be performing?

Nope


If I see you, how should I get your attention?

Yell "BLURBY!" or "SERGAL!" at the top of your lungs...That usually works!


Where will you be most of the time during the day/s?

I'll be walking around on the streets and in the con space. Just run up if you see me!


What/where will you be eating?

Probably that lovely restaurant across from the Westin.


Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?

If I know you, sure! You can also invite me and I might tag along. My boyfriend will have to be welcome as well.


Can I take your picture?

Please do so! Of course, ask beforehand so I can pose. And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me any pictures you have of me in suit! I hardly ever have my own pics at cons and I would love to see the ones you guys take.


What's your goal(s) for the con this year?

Meet lots of people and have fun!

---

If anyone with one of my fursuits is going to Anthrocon, please let me know! I'd love to meet up!

You gotta try them. They're Remington vacuum clippers and they rock!!! Sucks up every bit of hair and they are so light. My old Wahl pet clippers feel like a brick after using the Remington.

http://www.amazon.com/Remington-HKVAC2000A-Vacuum-Haircut-Blue/dp/B00OLV3UN8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434684726&sr=8-1&keywords=remington+vacuum+clippers&pebp=1434684726531&perid=1A51DR8HZQCQBE2R5CD0

This year I will be doing a photo-shoot at Anthrocon as long at least four of my fursuiters RSVP. So please let me know if you will be attending anthrocon in one of my fursuits and if you'll be available for photos :D

Would any fursuit artists out there be interested in doing a fursuit collaboration with me? I was thinking of maybe doing something like a head base swap. You make a base, I make a base, and then we trade and finish each others? That way we can decide to keep or sell our finished heads. I'm just kinda brainstorming here...

Anyway if you'd be interested let me know.

My business, CityMutt Fursuits currently has 16 slots filled on the wait list. Once work begins on June 15th, CityMutt will be raising its prices and any commission submitted after the change will be subject to the new price list. The new prices have not yet been determined, but will be influenced by a number of future factors including expenses and inflation.

In order to take advantage of current prices, you'll have to send in an application before June 15th.



Website: https://www.citymuttfursuits.com

Current Prices: https://www.citymuttfursuits.com/price-list

Info on Commissioning CityMutt: www.citymuttfursuits.com/commissions

Saturday, May 9

Winston-Salem Furmeet
Hobby Park MTB Trail
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27127
2PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/1592627150995539/
Fursuit Friendly

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So me and some friends will be attending the fur-meet in Winston this Saturday. This is the first meet I've heard of for Winston-Salem so I was on this like white on rice. I'll be in my sergal fursuit, Blurby, and would love to see all of you there!

I just recently acquired a red eared slider (turtle) and I need a larger tank to house him in for now. I'm looking for a used 20 gallon long style tank or up to a 30 gallon tank. I'd be willing to pay up to $50 for a 20 gal and up to $75 for a 30 gal. You would need to be close enough for pick up so somewhere in North Carolina, the closer to High Point the better.

A hood for the tank would be nice but not strictly necessary. I'm not interested in any matching aquarium stands.

Going to the bi-state meet in Charlotte this Saturday, and I'm not sure which fursuit I should wear. The choice is Blurby my blue sergal, who I'v never worn to a local meet, or Jack-O my wolf, who I've always worn. Blurby is fun, but I'm leaning towards Jack-O since the meet is in the park and he's my "I'll roll around in the grass, I don't care" suit.

Anyone going, who wants to see me in something particular?




NOTE: Please don't ask to wear one of my suits, they are very personal to me and I don't loan them out.

I've been getting a lot of timid notes/emails/and such asking me if its ok to ask me a question...YES, you can absolutely ask me questions. The only questions I find uncomfortable to answer are extremely personal questions (AKA "I don't answer questions about my sex life from virtual strangers, so don't ask!").

Other than that, I'm pretty open about everything. Whether you're interested in me as a fursuit maker, me as a fursuiter, or me as a person in general. Feel free to leave question for me in comments, notes, or emails. If you ask something good, I might even use it in my FAQ.

As always in between commissions I plan to be working on pre-made heads and partials. Here are some of the projects I want to tackle this year. If you were thinking about getting one of these species made, please consider me ^.^


1.) I'd like to do a single character in all the four styles: realistic, semi-realistic, toony, and kemo. I'm thinking of doing a natural colored grey wolf since I have a stock pile of wolf fur in storage. For this I'd probably just be doing heads. This'll be a great way for potential customers to see what each style has to offer.

2.) Fester the angel dragon. If no one commissions me for him, I don't care, this undead knock-out is getting made. I'll probably do a head and paw combo for this guy then offer him as a ladder auction.

3.) Realistic Spotted Hyena. I love hyenas and I want to do all the variations at least once.

4.) Realistic Ardwolf. Again, I want to do all the hyena variations.

5.) Toony Dire Wolf. I'd like to make something that almost matches with the toony sabertooth I made last year.

6.) Another artistic tiger. Similar to my cherry blossom tiger, I want to do a darker variation with browns and ambers. This one would have thorny theme..

7.) Realistic or Semi-Realistic Arctic Fox. I'd want to go with some very nice furs with this one, with a lot of variation.

8.) Realisitc Synx. Ever since I discovered this species I've been dying to make one. Oh those teeth!

First off, I'll start by saying I'm a contributing member of FurBuy.com (I pay a fee to use it) and generally I don't have any criticisms. What I do find ridiculous is all of the restrictions they put on bidders. I get rules, but I hate stupid rules. And while in theory, FurBuy's rules may seem sound, in reality they are ineffective and are close to driving me to another auction site.

The restrictions I'm talking about are the ones geared towards reducing the number of auction winners who do not pay and the unethical people who drive the prices up on their own auctions by bidding on their auction with a fake account. They do this by first stipulating that an account has to be at least 14 days before a bidder can direct buy an item, or bid in the last 24 hours. I speak with three years of experience using the site when I say that neither of these restrictions actually stop auction winners from skipping out on payment, or sellers from driving up their own prices. Even with these restrictions I still get fraudulent bidders and any idiot can make a fake account wait 14 days and then bid up their auction. All these rules do is put me in a awkward situation when I get an email from a potential bidder telling me that FurBuy won't let them buy the fursuit or that they lost the bidding war because FurBuy wouldn't let them bid in the last 24 hours.

One particular situation (of many) comes to mind. A few months ago I had a head listed on FurBuy. A minor fell in love with it, so she and her mom entered bids for it. In the last 24 hours another bidder placed a bid. When the mother and daughter tried to up the bid, FurBuy refused to except it and the other bidder won.
The mother contacted me and explained what had happened and I became very annoyed with FurBuy, because their stupid rule had cost me what could have turned into a last minute bidding war. I contacted them with my concerns, but their reply was standard fare and left me with no where to go and with no hope of any future change. I told the mom that if the winning bidder skipped then she could have the fursuit. Lo and behold that supposedly "safe as in older than 14 days" bidder skipped out and didn't even respond to my messages. The mother and daughter paid in full and received the head, the supposedly "unsafe" bidder.

Moral of the story? You can't judge the quality of a bidder by the age of their account. Why else would you get a furbuy account unless you saw something you wanted to buy? I know there are a lot of people who started an account to buy a specific item, but were unable to because they didn't start their account 14 days ago.

Now I'm hearing from a potential customer that they can't direct buy my auction because the don't have any feedback on their account. FEEDBACK?! URGHHHHHHH! FurBuy I swear if you cost me one more customer that's it!

To Any Of My Fuzzbuts Going To FWA,


If you have one of my fursuits and need any repairs, please note me now. As long as the repair doesn't require any big tools I'll be able to do some fixes at the convention. Minor fixes will be free of charge. The only fixes that may cost something is if you want any kind of replacement parts/new parts installed. Whether or not I can do the fix depends on the specifics of the situation, but I'll try my best. Just send me a note.


Minor fixes include: Repairing loose seams, gluing down loose parts, touching up paint, etc.

What I can't do on site: Airbrush touch ups, etc.

New season of Behind the Mask on hulu, I'm not gonna sleep tonight :D If you haven't watched it do, especially if you are a fursuiter.

I'm very interested in going to the Furry Relay for Life in Jacksonville, but the details on MeetUp are pretty vague as well as the website for the event. Have any of you guys gone to it before and could tell me a little more about it? I also would like to know if any of you guys are planning on attending? Its a pretty long drive from High Point to Jacksonville, but I think the trips worth it to help out a charity.




Note:

Furry Relay for Life is being held on April 24th at 2:00pm and the event seems to really want fursuiters to come.

Northside High School
365 Commons Dr S
Jacksonville, NC

My fursuit company CityMutt will be opening for commission applications at midnight tonight! Again I would like to reiterate that I will not be starting work on any commissions until June 15th. However, filling out an application will get you your price quote as well as a slot on the wait list. From now on I'll only be working on one commission at a time. This is so I can give you and your fursuit my undivided attention until its complete. Your position in the wait list can determine how soon I start work on your commission, so if you need your fursuit ASAP you need to get your application in quickly to have a slot at the top of the list.

You will not be required to pay anything to be put on the wait list, you just have to submit your application and then once you receive your quote email me back saying whether you want to go ahead with the commission. Please do not ask to be added to the wait list unless you are reasonably certain that you'll be able to pay when the time comes. People who abuse the wait list can be re-asigned to the bottom slot and even suspended from commissioning CityMutt if they are a repeat offender.

I will no longer be giving out quotes through FA. If you send me a note I will redirect you to my website.



More information about commissioning CityMutt: http://www.citymuttfursuits.com/commissions/

More information about the Wait list: http://www.citymuttfursuits.com/com.....sion-wait-list

Our prices: http://www.citymuttfursuits.com/price-list

Our Terms and Conditions: http://www.citymuttfursuits.com/terms-conditions/

I'm happy to announce that due to popular demand I'll be accepting commission applications early this year starting March 1st. As I've mentioned before I am scheduled to open for commissions on June 15th. By submitting a commission application you will be applying to be placed in a slot on the waiting list. You don't have to pay in advance to be added to the waiting list, and I won't be taking payments until June.



For more information about commissioning my company go here: http://www.citymuttfursuits.com/commissions/




What's New:

-I have a wait list now
-I will only be working on one commission at a time so you'll have my full focus while I'm working on your fur-suit.
-Submit your applications through my website with the new online form.
-Updated price list.
-Machine washable heads!
-The website is open: http://www.citymuttfursuits.com/

Please follow me on pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/citymutt/