I wanted to let you guys know what's been up[ and why I've been so quiet/not around.

I fell ill awhile back, and for a bit thought nothing of it; until it started becoming very serious and debilitating. I thought maybe I was sick from medication, so I switched it. Then that stopped helping. Then I thought it may have been a stomach flu, but it's not really acting like one. I've been so nauseous I've been bedridden, puking my guts out or otherwise just comatose and unable to do anything. To give you an idea, I can hardly do something simple like answer e-mails and play video games because the nausea has been so bad.

I haven't been able to eat (which made it worse), I actually blacked out in my own bathroom (luckily didn't hit my head on anything). Woke up ten minutes later confused and disoriented. I've never blacked out in my LIFE. This was the weirdest thing ever.

Anyway...it's just been terrible. My hands and limbs shake, so I can't draw or work. My nausea won't allow me to eat which then makes me fatigued and weak. I'm generally stuck in bed clutching a pillow trying my hardest not to throw up. It's been...an unpleasant number of weeks, and I've just lost count, really. I feel like I've been in a coma, it's probably been longer than I realize...

Anyway, if this doesn't clear up in the next couple days, I'm finally going to the doctor. I can't handle this anymore. I can't do anything. Summer is half over and I haven't been surfing once...

Not to mention all the fursuit work and trades I've fallen behind on.

Just wanted to let you guys know what was up (I felt well enough to get on the PC and type, hopefully I'll continue to improve). I also wanted to apologize to everyone who's waiting for anything from me. Please don't hesitate to remind me of things and keep in touch, I generally do a pretty good job, but recently...obviously I just haven't been able to. v.v

Before I forget,  MattsyKun offered the best comment (imo) in last journal's discussion so, there ya' go, free doodle for you, just be sure to let me know what you want. lol

As for everything else, I'd like to apologize for an unusual slowness with responses and updates. On top of technical difficulties I've been having emotional/psychological ones as well. Nothing too severe or crazy or anything, just haven't been feeling myself and have thus been caught up in a funk I've been unable to fully escape. I've looked into some ways to hopefully get me on an even keel again, and today I'm actually feeling pretty good so I'm really hoping to get some work done. <3

It just...it's hard to focus when you're severely depressed, y'know? lol

Anyway, taking steps to fix it, so, there will hopefully be some improvement.

For people owed work/commissions and trades, rest assured, I'm trying to get back on a routine. I really wanna' get the queue cleared soon so I can maybe take some time off or travel. I've been considering taking an extended trip back to New Zealand, that was the last time I was really, honestly happy without reason, so; maybe there's some wisdom to be taken from that epiphany. lol

In the mean time, gotta' get back in the swing of things and get some work and space cleared up. Gonna' do some work on Kitt's head today, hopefully get the base ready to fur. Playing with the moving jaw though, refining a different technique. If I can nail it, it'll help make the jaws a lot more snappy and reliable.

Here's hopin'. <3

And guys, don't feel like, y'know, you can't talk to me. lol, I do believe all my chat messengers are in my profile or something so if you ever wanna' hit me up, go for it. If you chat me up there's a good chance I might draw you something for free. Generally if I'm on chat I'm doing drawing/trade work or just doodling/taking a break, etc. At the very least, I do enjoy making new friends. lol

If you come at me and talk about surfing, video games, role-playing games, yaoi, manga or movies/TV shows, there's a good chance we'll get along just fine. lol

...that gets turned off when artist's have a personal site you order commissions through?

Generally... That makes me NOT commission the person after all since it's an extra step (or few steps) as opposed to FA or dA where you just send 'em a note or e-mail and BANG, there ya' go. Done.

I hate extra steps. Hence why I have a Paypal. I just want your address and to send payment, not have to go follow an outgoing link where I probably have to click at least 2-3 extra times to get to where I need to be, then fill out a form or read rules and...bleh...that's just way too much work.

Call it laziness. But the internet was supposed to make our lives easier. By making me follow some link and go through some stupid process that could've been avoided had you just posted a journal with the guidelines and said "note/e-mail me for commissions"...just seems stupid, doesn't it?

What do you guys think? AmIriteoramIrite?

Or am I just bitching about nothing?

YOU TELL ME!

WINNING ARGUMENT GETS A FREE DEWDLE!

THIS PERSON:  meliitron

No joke, amazing as FUCK and works cheap, cheap, CHEAP! You can get epic work for amounts I consider pocket-change. $20 and under is a great price for the stuff I see, not to mention a very easy artist to work with/willing to fix errors if any arise.

I love this artist's work and I love working with 'im, and right now she really needs the money to replace his computer, so go order some shit NAO! She's pretty durn quick with it too! =D, You'll generally have concept sketches to approve within the same few days/week!

Seriously man, show him some love. If I had more money, I'd order art all the time from her. lol

ALTERNATING GENDER NOUNS BECAUSE I NEVER REALIZED I'M NOT SURE WHAT GENDER THE ARTIST IS. LOL, I FEEL LIKE AN ASSHOLE.

BUT GO ORDER ART ANYWAY!!!!! xD

 meliitron

I'm not dead, just been busy with our current projects.

The fox has been giving us issues with the head zipper, once it's fixed it's pretty much done and ready to ship.

Raccoon is in stasis since it's deadline is in June.

Folfsky is in progress and awaiting key components to starting head construction. Body-suit is getting worked on in mean-time (lots of hand-sewing!).

Bunny components will be done in-between other projects.

Headdress is in stasis until payment is received.

New project put on queue, currently making templates for digi-legs, picking fur, getting measurements and awaiting down-payment.

Vague updates for you guys...lol. xD

We most likely won't be open for new projects until after June/July depending on how things go, but if you'd like to discuss a possible price on a project just toss me an e-mail or note. ^^, Sometimes concepting can take a month or more.

I really wanna' make a hoofed animal sometime soon...

Maybe I should start drawing again a little bit. But it seems like I just never have the time! xD

...I just really wanna' strangle my seamstress.

omg, shoot me now.

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/meliitron/

Crazy good work for crazy affordable prices. For srsface.

In other news...I have plenty to do, as my commission list reflects. xD lol, But I also am going to get into making fleece hats, since they're super easysauce to make. I'm pretty sure my assistants could make them by themselves without much trouble. lol

Need to branch out, y'know? Do lotsa' stuff to corner the market. ;3

Two of my helpers are also starting to get into making yarn tails. Once we have some examples, I'm gonna' start posting stuff up. But if this all comes together, means Waterdog Designs needs to get its own FA account. lol, Six artists/helpers working together under one roof, yeah, everyone needs to get credit. xD lol

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6831156

It's seriously full of win. My buddy writes the best shit. <3333333 I have decided to force him to write more remixes for me in the near future. xD, This shit is just too fucking dope. lol

Also...yes, back from New Zealand and Australia. xD, Have been for a bit but the holidays bit me in the ass. Recovering now. Getting projects up to speed and shipped out. Excited to start the new order. Yes. Things are moving. lol

As to why I haven't gotten right back to you about any order or shipment ~

I'm currently in New Zealand on a back-packing trip. xD, Will be sort of MIA until December 21st or so!

Everything will get right back in order once I get home. ;3

That shit was fun as shit, yo. xD, Got to see all mah peeps, including my bffs Redtail and CyberStorm whom I'd never met IRL until the con. EPIC!

Big thanks to Zeke for flying me out and forcing me to have a good time. You're the best. <3

Also did wonders for my business. Landed a couple fursuit gigs just for romping around in Nekht. xD,

Repairs, spare parts, or whole fursuits. You need 'em? I can make 'em for ya'! LOL xD

With the next series of payments for projects completed I'm going to get my logo finalized and make some business cards and T-shirts. People I've made suits for can get 'em for free and I'll ship one with each new partial or full-suit order. But that's an "eventually" sort of thing. lol, I still need to finish up the couple things I have currently so I can get cracking on he new projects lining up. Almost time to buy fur again, DF loves me to death I just know it. LOL

BACK TO WORK!!!

Things are getting done! So glad! xD

Picking up some polyurethane tomorrow to finish up the beak (got it painted today) so I can start getting that furred (gonna' be so much simpler without having to worry about a snout, LOL)

While the pink fox should actually be completed soon.

Actually, both projects will probably be finished around the same time, except for the feetpaws for the partial which will get done later due to delayed shipment and etc. etc. etc.

In either case, I'm just happy progress is finally picking up. I feel better. Not sick anymore. Both me and my partner are ready for this eventful work week. Good to go.

Pisces horoscope is looking good. <3, Totally ready for that eclipse.

So I've been in a sleep-coma since yesterday sometime. I suddenly got sick, have been the most miserable I've ever been in my life, had to go to the doctor's today to get some antibiotics...and y'know, this is just so typical. We were supposed to get the full-suit done and shipped yesterday, but because I couldn't finish the head we've been delayed yet again. That in turn has delayed the partial and so on... I'm so pissed, and yet I'm too tired to really get angry. It's just ridiculous. We got delayed enough when my partner got sick, and now I'm sick, and I'm sure she infected me (lol) but there's not really anything that can be done...so...*sigh*

I'm hoping I feel well enough tomorrow to get everything wrapped up so we can get this damn suit shipped. We've delayed it enough. I also hope I can get the partial head fully furred in time, but this is coming close to the wire here...

So much for Halloween or parties. I'll be both too sick and too busy to do anything this year. *sigh*

Fursuiters, no matter who, what, where or when, deserves every right to do as they please with a product they shoveled out (normally) a lot of cash for. For some it's a fetish, for others it's a hobby, for others still it's simply a way to make others smile.

Hating on one or the other, for some ridiculous notion that probably does not even make sense, is futile and very much ignorant.

I don't make yiff suits. At this time. Would I be willing to down the road? Absolutely. What you do with your suit is your business, and I have an equal amount of respect for anyone wearing one for whatever purpose (unless that purpose is to make fursuiters look like fools i.e. wrecking stores or starting fights).

But beyond that? Yiff fursuiters do NOT "give furries a bad name." As it is, most furs I know who I've spoken to about this subject claim a very strong dislike and hatred for said type of fursuiters and do not even consider them a part of the same fandom. Fursuiting as a fetish, is just that, a fetish. It is not directly linked to the more innocent parts of the fandom.

But being that this is a fandom that subsists on a porn consumption of some odd 90% (90% of the art I see being adult), judging another based on something they enjoy in their own time, with a product they paid for, is just downright ridiculous. They're no worse than a commissioner who faps to the art he paid for or someone who buys a dog-shaped toy from Bad Dragon. Different roads to the same place people, and what makes people happy is their own damn business. I love how this fandom is praised for its open-mindedness, and yet all I ever hear is one group of furs talking shit about some other group of furs. Please. That's just dumb.

In other newz...lol

With some good luck (better than we've been having) we should have what's left of the projects on queue finished before November. The full-suit is near completion, the partial is prepped, and I finally got the materials for the beak for another head so I can get that prepped as well.

Progress pics soon to come on all projects. My partner had been taking it easy after her 9-day stay in the Virgin Islands. lol, She's finally ready for a full work day tomorrow as far as I know. Though she does suspect she may or may not be coming down with a sinus infection, which could possibly slow progress.

Everything is coming along nicely. Making a trip to the supply store for some Velcro and paint.

Although I am noticing, I think we are managing to develop a style that differentiates us from other suit artists. I certainly hope these next projects just confirm that. I'd really love to think we have something different to offer the community, since I'm sure people choose suit artists for the same reason they choose other artists. It all comes down to the style, and if we certainly do have a recognizable one of our own, all the better. ^^

A lot of setbacks slowed our progression through the current commission list. With a bit of work we should be able to catch up. Though with my partner going on vacation for 10 days starting Monday, it'll be left up to me to have everything on my end done by the time she returns. Means I have three masks to finish, along with two tails to design and have cut/ready to sew and two pairs of feetpaws to complete.

That's a lot to do. xD, But I'm hoping I should be able to stay on task and get it all done by then.

After I get all of that done, I think I'll open up commission again for another 5 slot queue, most likely projects to be completed in January/February. Of course it depends on the project itself for how long it will take to complete. If you're interested in commissioning us, feel free to note me or e-mail me at fleech_hunter@live.com. Tell us about your project, what you'd like, and we'll get you a price and time quote. ^^

Been having trouble recently with a new furring technique we were trying on a current head.

After long hours of aggravation and me and the other artist yelling at each other about differing technical viewpoints and several mistakes made on both our parts that caused me to start over from scratch...I've decided to not mess with a system that works and go back to how we were originally building heads. lol

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Almost all the way caught up. ^^, Very pleased with myself. lol xD, Everything's coming along nicely. I'm glad people are pleased so far. <3

Would love to have the queue cleared by October 10th. Here's hopin'!

Big work week this week. We're hoping to wrap a couple things up so we can get onto the next big project. Expect pics as things are completed/worked on.

Course if my wire mesh would hurry up and get here I wouldn't be so stalled. xD lol, Stocked up on glue and everything else, however. We should be good to go to finally finish things up for at the very least the Berner suit. Also should be able to refine all the heads I'm currently working on and get them ready for furring (those I have the fur for).

Gaaaaaaaaaaah, I need to cast more claws. lolzerz

The next body-suit to get worked on should go much faster since it's plantigrade.

After that it's just a partial and small projects. And since I can finish up the heads fairly quick it shouldn't be much longer for everything to piece together. Especially now that I have such a lovely/easy way of putting feetpaws together. lol

The cabochons I bought for the eyes look rad. Will do some practice paint runs to get my mixing skills just right before doing anything on the actual plastic.

Lots of things will get done this week! I promises!

Also, found a super neat way to make the moving jaws more articulated and ALSO found a neat way to make them ADJUSTABLE TO DIFFERENT SIZED HEADS! HAHAHAHA! But I'm not telling. xD

Haven't slept in almost 36 hours. lulzer

Should I make it using traditional colors or something different? ;o

I'm almost severely tempted to make a dark purple/light purple doberman. xDDD

IS THIS A TERRIBLE IDEA????????

And this girl gives me this snide look. I'm in fursuit, wearing Balas, all fine and happy. Everyone is having a good time, I've already gotten stopped for several pictures. Good stuff. lol, So this girl, must've been around my age or younger, gives me this look after one of her guy friends points me out asking "What's that?"

She gives me that typical "I'm a bitchy valley girl" glare and says, loud enough for everyone around to hear, "What the hell IS that?" As though she were so utterly disgusted with whatever it was I was. xD

So finally, she actually directs a question in MY direction, "What ARE you?" That same snide tone in her voice. xD

So I say, as cheerfully as I do anyone who asks, "A cheetah!"

I think one of her guy friends said, "Oh, a cat." Or something else non-offensive.

She, of course, doesn't drop her bitchy attitude and is like, "What the hell?" Like it's somehow so hard to imagine that I might possibly be just a cat, for whatever reason. I think she asked "What for?" or something to that effect, still trying to be a bitch.

I was going to do my utmost to make her feel like a dumbass while being cheerfully friendly, until her other guy friend, who hadn't spoken yet, asks me something but I don't hear. I ask him to repeat. He asks again, once more I can't hear. So I'm already getting flustered seeing as he's just laughing and here I am in a big poofy head I can't hear in, not to mention we're standing in a crowded con, it's just not working.

But I think he was just being a dumbass anyway, because whatever he was saying made his other friend laugh, and I hadn't heard it twice.

Finally I point to my ears and shrug, indicating I can't hear. I was intent to walk away.

Until finally he says it loud enough for me to hear, "You gonna' shag someone?"

Part of me was confused, the other part took it as a CSI furpile crack and got mildly annoyed.

So I ask, "What?" Somewhat flabbergasted.

He asks it again. Same wording (which was a bit weird, lol).

So by this time, I'm already kinda' pissed off and not in the mood to have some late teen/early twenty-somethings be crackin' furfag jokes all while I stand around looking like a dumbass.

So after he says it the second time, I rip off my head like a badass (poor Balas, lol) and glare at the guy super hardcore, taking a step forward and ask again, "What did you just say?"

Now, maybe I looked scary, I don't know. Keep in mind I've got a black balaclava on underneath the head, Balas' jaw still hanging off my chin as I stare daggers at this dude and look ready to throw down. xD

His expression goes to pure emotionless fear for a second, and then he chuckles nervously saying, "I'm just kidding."

Not a word from his bitchy ass chick friend. xD

By that point, I'm just pissed and looking for an excuse and ask him sternly, "Yeah?"

He says, "Yeah..." *awkwardly quiet*

So I simply say, "Good." And walk away. xDDD

Meanwhile my mother (whom I always go to Comic-con with seeing as we're equally nerdy xD) halted several paces away and I move to catch up with her. She was all confused and asked, "What happened?"

I told her the story and she just looked completely confused like, "Why would you even mess with a costumer period?"

Especially when everyone else would tell me how much they lvoed my costume and how cute it was (every kid wanted a hug and a picture, lol). It was just stupid. xD

Was the only time I've ever been stopped by someone who didn't want a picture or was offering me a compliment or something. lol

I was all shaking afterward, kinda' bummed I didn't get to beat the shit out of some people in suit. xD

Balas is red, blood won't show. xDDD

Moral of the story is, I don't take stupid shit from people, no matter the situation. But it hardly ever happens when I suit. This was the only time I had trouble with someone in the 1-2 years I've been suiting. Normally it's just the drunk people who want to talk to you and touch you excessively you need to look out for. xD

But this was just dumb. lol

But it made me laugh. I must have scared the shit out of that guy. Maybe I look scary in a ninja mask or something. xDDD

Anyway, that's my Friday Comic-con story. xD

Jackal debuts tomorrow. Whether he's ready to or not. LOL xD

I'm headed to Comic-con tomorrow! xDDD, Seeing as I live literally ten minutes from the convention center. xDDD

Any of my watchers gonna' be there? xD

Will prolly debut the jackal either Friday or Staurday. Trying to decide carefully since I'm probably going to die of heat stroke that day. xDDD

It is very painful.

xD lol

I laugh now, but I was really pissed about two hours ago...lol, I still kinda' am but there's little I can do. Burnt myself pretty bad. Bad enough this is the worst I've been burnt in my life. Skin already started to separate and blister on my thumb. Pretty serious business. lol

What pisses me off the most was I was making good progress and actually burned myself working on something completely non-fursuit related. Now I have to wait God knows how long 'til the severe burning pain goes away and I can sleep and/or use my hand successfully. lol

It's not really all that funny.

But I'm freakin' tired and all I can do is type with one hand like a retard and laugh. lol

But the worst part?

I don't think I can even play video games. xD, And I just bought the new Castlevania. lol

Oh the irony. x3

Anyone have any neat 'lil remedies for burns? Aloe? Ice?

...pot? LOL xD

This shit hurts, yo. lol, And Tylenol ain't cuttin' it. xD

EDIT: lol...I was wrong. It just formed a blister RECENTLY. What I saw BEFORE was melted flesh. xDDD

Yeeeeeaaah. I'm having a wonderful night. lol <3

My fursuit queue jumped up to about five, so...lol, I'm gonna' be busy. xDDD

Guess my own suits are back-seated for now. x.x, I actually have real commissions to work on. lol xD