Yeah, I haven't updated in ages. It's been a busy year, and I've not done as many monsters as I'd like.

For now I'm having another sale on my Etsy store:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Clockw.....=hdr_shop_menu
Which includes lots of basic furry tails!

Please use the code: WINTERBIRD15 at the checkout to get 15% off of any order over £5.00. I can ship internationally, the final shipping date for the USA is the 9th of December.
This code will expire on the 8th of December, and I will be running a January/New Year's sale as well once I've had a look at my stock.


Well it's been quiet here hasn't it? I do apologise...

So it's been Winter, my usual 'off' season for work. And it's also been the first time I've had (drumroll please) a REAL JOB. And by real job I mean temp. retail assistant, and by that I mean being treated like arse for £6.40 an hour. Oh and did I mention I've been there nearly 6 weeks and haven't been paid yet? Yeah, some job guys!

But aside from that, I've not been making much. Between the Christmas rush and the soul-sucking nature of the job I've not had much inspiration to MAKE things. I am also going to be moving house in two weeks' time, to do a four month University course. Argh!

And what else? Well my horse, my best buddy of 9 years, has also been ill since September and I've been looking after her. She's got arthritis in both hocks (back legs), and has been feeling very creaky. She's medicated for pain relief, and we've been working to see what the best options are for her. Turns out she's better off being lightly ridden, and doing obstacle course-type-fun-stuff in hand, to keep her from creaking. I also need to buy her some ~£100 boots that will help circulation in her hocks but work haven't sodding paid me yet so I can't.

Other than this! I still have my ETSY STORE which has a load of NERF guns, holsters, basic furry tails, and other fun armour-y things in it. I had a pre-Christmas sale and I'm going to be launching another coupon tonight for ~40% off £10 or more (code will be UNIBIRD40) until January 15th. I'm open to offers via FA if you do not have Etsy!
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ClockworkFirebird?ref=pr_shop_more

Going to ConFuzzled!

I finally got off my arse and registered for ConFuzzled again, and despite registration having only been open for 10 days my badge number is still #591! Last year I was utterly, brick-crunchingly terrified of going to CF because I didn't know what to expect and had had some previous conventions (non-furry) turn out to be vicious. I took my long-suffering, somewhat-furry partner with me to CF and amongst boxes getting bumped, plastic shelves breaking, and arriving at site late for setup, we somehow managed not to kill each other.

Over the course of CF I met so many lovely, kind, interesting and funny people that I decided to book as an attendee for the next one regardless of having a Dealer's Den table or not! I am awaiting confirmation and clearance from the Dealer's Den team, and then I'll be able to empty my wallet at them for the rest of my booking and payment.

Last year I focused on my leatherwork with a few test-tails and some My Little Pony merchandise. I am considering bringing Pony stuff again if it'd be appreciated, though personally the quality of the newer items has me banging my head against the worktop in frustration. I am hoping to have more tails and ears, and I'm excited to try and fit the new theme. With any luck I may even have made myself a suit by then, but given my personal projects and how long they take this is looking unlikely!

So I'm getting back into proper monster building, or I'm trying to. And I've noticed some makers who are doing gorgeous, gorgeous silicone and resin casting of paws/pads/noses/jawsets/everything that I'd need to make a monster piece-meal by just assembling some custom ordered parts and adding the fur.

The option to build that way is tempting, because I adore the sculpts I've seen (especially skeletal ones), BUT to me it feels like I shouldn't use those parts until I know how they were made, and until I've had a go making things myself and making sure that I know how each material behaves. Aside from that, I actively compete in costume/cosplay contests and I want to generate a portfolio of work and skills, and I think using a pre-made set of pads or a jawset would disqualify me from most Cosplay orientated competitions that I can think of.

My current main project is no secret: I'm building Scyther from the Pokemon series. Since he has such a unique face shape anyway I will have to make my own headbase for him, and his body is more of a puppet than a suit owing to the MASSIVE scythe arms and his retrograde knees. Equally, it's tempting to get him some pre-made realistic eyes, or a cast silicone tongue to save me doing those parts, but if I want him to be a show-off piece for myself I'd still feel untruthful to include those parts.

My secondary project is a 'sona suit of some kind that will not be competing because it's an original character, and for him I can buy in parts if I want to, but again, the hand-brake-stop of 'You should make it yourself!' screeches past my brain.

Ultimately my workspace is small and can only do a couple of techniques at a time, so if I choose to use resin/silicone casting I will have to NOT make any leatherwork at all, since I will not have the room! My leatherwork is currently my only source of income and I can't guarantee any sales/return from the casting techniques, especially if I screw up.

Ramble. Ramble ramble.