4 years ago all of Baltimore was a party. I remember this one liquor store opened up a $300 bottle of champagne to share with the customers in the store.

this victory is a bit more subdued, less of a celebration, more of a "thank god it's not Romney"

though high five Maryland! we passed prop 6, legalizing same sex marriage.

anyways. back to work.

slept 19 hours because I got so little sleep this past week

it was a very very very very good week

once I stop feeling like a zombie and wake up fully I'll get back to work, go through my emails and etsy messages, and ship stuff out in the morning. though an important package of jewelry findings that I am out of seems to have disappeared somewhere between CA and MD on the 18th, hopefully I can get what I need quickly so it doesn't screw things up for me

oh good it's November, I have a week to make stuff for Crafty Bastards, and the Christmas order flood will be starting ~*~*~*~ ok let's do this

we didn't have any damage from Sandy here thankfully. though my mom said the river that's down the trail behind our house is crazy high and swallowed the pier.

in Providence with  youthculture

caw bird party yeahhh

we're okay here, and my house in MD is fine and has power. though I am going to wait til tomorrow to head home so I have to deal with less power outages (street lights), road closures, fallen trees, etc.

so hopefully things will resume normally for me on Thursady, and ship things to people on Friday. I have a week to make things for a big craft show on the 10th... so I'll be in frenzy mode

oh look the sun just came out

storms coming so I'm going to stay up here for a while, instead of driving through that with a car with terrible wipers. so some things that were ordered last week may be a bit late



also FF this year was kind of the best ever. despite the 4am fire alarm evacuation... best con

I am a short lady who is old enough to drink

rooming with  badkittyamy and  artslave + artslave's manfriend in the main hotel

arriving Weds night, leaving Monday morning

if you're going and I kind of know you and you want my number, comment or something. otherwise I should be wearing my 10th doctor's coat a lot (I just got it tailored so it's not so huge on me). "HEY BIRD" usually gets my attention. buy me drinks, I like those. I will also be heckling at all of artslave's panels

---

so that means I wont be able to answer etsy/skullery related Q's till I'm back on Tuesday. But the shop will remain up, and my 2 week production time isnt effected. I shipped A TON of orders a few days ago, and have maybe 30 more to drop off when I go out of town tomorrow. If it says it's shipped on etsy, than it's on its way!

caw caw

printer wont work because I filled my ink cartridge with less than $1's worth of refill ink WHICH WORKS FINE AND GREAT

but no they want you to spend $20 on a brand new cartridge SO MUCH that the cartridges are fucking chipped so they read as "refilled" and wont work

fkugfjgEUDFLFGDKSJAGKjgkKEHDKSGF

mad because I needed to get this stuff to the post office today, but cant because HP is a dick and now I have to go out and spend money on a piece of shit cartridge I don't really need because the one I have is full but wont work. and I'll be too late for the Post Office

/rant because fuck you HP this is why when I was out of ink last time I bought a whole new fucking printer that came with ink for $30 because new ink for my old printer was $50

>:( I hate you

printer ink is dumb

I went ahead and snagged my table

I don't think they sold out too quickly last year, but if you're getting a table you should probably jump on that

no one gave me any chocolate

so now I am scheming your demise (actually just ways to get chocolate)

cawcawcaw







icon by  sixel

I'm excited to go to a con and NOT BE WORKING, so I can actually spend time with people

who's going??

ha I knew things would pick up around Halloween for me, but damn @_@

I hit 2000 sales only 3 weeks ago, now its at 2136. currently I have about 60 orders in my etsy queue

so I just wanted you guys to know that if you order something, it will probably take the full 2 week production time. usually I try to be quicker or bump things up if people need something fast, but I cant do that right now. sorry! :(

custom orders are also a no-go right now. unless its for a different chain length for a necklace or something easy

though now I have plenty saved up to take both a glassblowing class and the silver/gold jewelry casting class I want to take in the spring :)

also FF is going to be the best vacation ever I'm so excited

an easy soup that I make when I'm sick, since a lot of you guys seem to be under the weather too, and it's getting cold, I figured I'd share. this makes enough for 2 big servings

-peel and rough chop an onion, cook in a little olive oil or butter until it's translucent

-add 1lb peeled and chopped carrots, 3 cups of chicken stock, 1/4 tsp curry powder, 1/4 tsp dried ground ginger

-simmer for about 30 mins or until the carrots are fork tender

-hit it with an immersion blender until smooth. or transfer it to a blender to puree, then back to the pot

-add 1/2 cup milk and salt and pepper to taste. simmer for a few minutes until it's pipping hot again

-yum

this usually happens when the temps drop, and its now a brisk 50 degrees so I have a lovely head cold

sorry in advance if I'm a little slower than usual at responding to things via etsy and email. I'm still working but slower and with more breaks

also the Post Office is closed tomorrow, so my next shipping run will be Tuesday

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/12026622

:>

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards/

it's a big craft show in DC, full of cool and weird stuff, my skulls will fit right in! When they have the vendor info page up I'll post again so you can see everything that will be there. It's indoors and has a $10 charge to get in, so I'm hoping it will be a better experience than the craft show I did last week. They seem more organized too.

400+ people applied and only 100 got in, so I'm pretty excited.

It's Nov 10, but I have a lot of projects to get done before I start crazy prep mode. October is going to be a hell of a month for me. But that's good! I work best under pressure.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/skullery

I tend not to do many custom orders these days because I'm busy with normal ones, but if you need to you can email me about them at marisa.rand[at]gmail.com . the FA note system and Etsy's convo systems are not well organized so I tend to have problems with them

I strive to ship every etsy order within my 2 week production window, I have taken things orders in the past through other means, and have had issues. I am a terrible secretary/manager for myself, I am trying to get better, and I apologize profusely for any problems I have caused in the past.

if you need to get in contact for any reason, email me!

only 6 hours long but easily much much more exhausting than a dealing at a con. I really missed convention center AC, man it was hot in the sun

people at cons are usually good about being respectful and careful about picking things up, and ASK first. people at this festival just grabbed at everything so I really had to stand up tall and look over the table the whole time to make sure things were okay, my feet are killing me

set up was an absolute nightmare, they had an elaborate drop-off/set-up schedule in place, and according to the plan I was to have 50 mins to unload the car and set up which is kind of a joke in the first place. BUT they were 45 mins LATE with everyone, plus booths were labeled wrong so some people who were partway set up had to move. Artists were still driving to their booths through the closed off street to drop off at 11 when the festival was OPEN. SOME GUY RAN OVER SOMEONES FOOT. I was setting up while people were coming by asking questions and touching things while I'm there super pissed trying to get everything together.

No one apologized to us for it. For that alone I wont be going back. it was their 5th year so it's not like they havent done it before

it wasnt all bad. I didnt expect to sell much, I really only did it to be a part of the emerging arts district there, and since I grew up nearby. A lot of my very good friends that I've known forever came by, it was nice for them to see me in action (none are furries, so I don't really get into con stuff with them), and we had drinks after. I was interviewed for a paper, and some women who owned a gallery were impressed with my design skills said they'd email me about something. My stuff was definitely unique there among the more traditional crafty stuff.

tldr selling in person is exhausting

going to sleep forever then tomorrow feast on turkey legs and beer at rennfest

I'm also going to initiate something exciting with Skullery on Monday, I dont want to share what it is yet but it's a big step for my business's future

that's a big number and a lot of skulls.

I'm still kind of in disbelief that this is what I do

thank you thank you thank you to every one of you who has talked to me about my work, bought things, liked things, and inspired me to keep getting better. I wouldnt be here without you guys <3

coyotes are done and will be back in the shop next week, as well as the new and improved fox skulls. also an option to have the skulls "stained" (for more $$ of course).

no time to celebrate, gotta keep making stuff :)

recovering from the 800 mile drive today, normal work resumes tomorrow. my studio is a wreck from getting orders out before I left, which I was still doing up til the hour that I left. so I'll probably spend most of tomorrow cleaning and answering emails/messages. someone's package was returned to me as undeliverable, so I get to work that out. If you're in OR and you haven't gotten something yet... I'll track you down tomorrow.

my mom traded in the Miada for a Subaru while we were away. and bought a 15ft sail boat...

I've got a tattoo appointment next Monday. I'm getting a fox skull with filigree on my shoulder, and possibly my wings touched up.

http://hyattsvillecdc.org/hyattsvilleartsfestival/ - I've got a booth at this festival Sept 22nd. I don't expect to sell too much, but it's where I grew up and I want to be a part of the emerging arts district there. Gotta work on better displays! Including some kind of big sign, hmmm...

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards/ - I'm anxiously awaiting them to post applications, and the show date. it's a big show, and really competitive (vendors are juried), but my tattoo artist told me about it during our consult and I reeeeally want to do it. Last year it was on October 1st... so if I do get in, that's two shows REALLY SOON. plus Halloween orders start rolling in during September. IT'S GOOD THAT I LIKE TO SUFFER FOR MY ART

I've been wanting to be a vendor at other things besides furry cons (not that there's anything wrong with that, I'll always be at AC every year!). So these should hopefully open up some connections for me.

I am bad a notes. If I get something that I can't answer quickly and straight away, I'm likely to forget. I don't like the note system for important things, they get buried and it's hard to keep track of info.

sooo if you need me for something important, email me at marisa.rand[at]gmail.com

if you have a quick thing that's not so important, notes are fine!



also sometimes I wont check my email for a few days if I'm stressed. but if I haven't gotten back to you in a week-ish about something feel free to send me another

I've gotten a few notes since I closed about fursuits... I hate saying no especially if I like the concept, but I closed for a reason (to focus on my shop, and to eliminate the stress of commissioned work) and even if I love you and your concept it's a no.

I MAY auction off a commission slot way way way into the future. I MAY do pre-mades to sell way way way in the future. (take note of those keywords). I won't even seriously consider those until I finish the two remaining suits for my amazingly patient and wonderful customers.

I am however still selling crow mask blanks. http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7196450/

(sorry for the grumbly journal. here's a picture of a corgi in a swing: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m.....0lso4_500.jpg)

(unless you want to pay me like $10k for a suit then we can talk lol)

these are pretty much the same as my etsy prices. I can't really do a con discount, since 8% tax is included in these prices. and my prices are probably too low anyways

I will be taking credit cards through Square, though the 8% sales tax will be extra for those.

regular casts - all bone white except some cats (all the colors will be displayed)

nile crocodile - $30
red foxes - $27
bobcats - $30 (I have one available in jet black)
domestic cats - $23
domestic cats, colored - $25
crows (one solid piece) - $19
crows (open beaks) - $28
rat - $14
mink - $15
egrets - $10
bat - $10
dove - $10
parakeet - $9

WOLVES - they will be at least $80. maybe more. I don't know til I cast a few

glow skulls - I don't have many. though I have lots of glow skull jewelry
crocodiles - $50
fox - $50
domestic cat - $45
crow (one solid piece) - $35
raccoon - $45
(yes the prices have gone up. glow powder is stupidly expensive and they take longer/more steps to cast)
wolf????? - ???? a lot

etc
bracelets - $30
necklaces - from $15-$30 (I'll have A LOT to chose from)
earrings - $15-20
keychains - $6-$16
lip balms - $4 each, 3 for $10
crow skull soaps - $4 each, 3 for $10

I need to use up my hydroshrink before it goes bad!

help me think of objects BESIDES skulls that would be super badass shrunk down. household objects, natural objects, etc. nothing that could get me in trouble for selling (EX no shrinking MLPs).

if I like your idea, and it works out, I'll send you one of the finished products for free!

here I am obsessing about making the highest quality soap that feels the best to use and I'm not even sure people who buy them will use them. I want to make the smell and feel amazing, and affordable enough so you don't feel guilty using your pretty skull soap since they're not that expensive. Same with candles. Either way I'm probably still going to obsess over the quality...

There's something interesting about making things in soap/candles/other ephemeral materials that makes people WANT them more because the ARE soap/candles/ect, but they can't bring themselves to use them because they're so pretty/awesome. I'm the same way.

Just ordered more soap stuff, and some candle stuff too. I'll have soaps for sale at FWA and online after, hopefully candles too if I'm super productive.

also, what're your favorite scents?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Skull.....36781743007891

made a facebook for my etsy a while back, it's a bit easier for me to use and update than twitter (which I haven't been using much). I'll be posting some WIPS and things that I won't post here, so if you're on facebook and interested in seeing my progression feel free to watch!

you may want to check it out if you ship packages often. even the flat rate packages have increased

It looks like domestic packages won't be affected much for me, I'll probably just increase those prices by 25¢

International prices have gone up a few dollars, I'll figure out how much to raise them after my big post office run this morning...