Morning! As the new tax year has come into effect yesterday, I'll be finishing up the last two commissions and my kiriban winners images this week. I will be accepting more commissions which will give me time to get all of my information in order/payments made so I can start on the next batch. I should be opening them tomorrow for new pieces but they won't be finished until my current batch of 4 is ready.

My TOS has been updated slightly: https://docs.google.com/document/d/.....8H976jn18/edit
The old versions can be found: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3858790/
(Note - this journal was a highjacked one, so all comments have been hidden since it was a commission opening journal!)

My TOS is found in every invoice that I send out. The only differences in this are my Livestream times as I'm pretty hit and miss recently, the dates, and the need to change out boxowl.co.uk as I've let that url go - so people can still get hold of the previous TOS agreement and my price list as it won't link any longer in any invoices.

---

Easter went well. I've started my upcycling of furniture for my new place, so I'm learning chalk paint. I was gifted a pretty pine dressing table yesterday so went to pick that up and will be putting that in my hallway after refurbishing it. I know I'm an artist first and foremost but I need a hobby that isn't sitting on me bum drawing in front of the computer, so I've taken up furniture upcycling since it requires me to move, think hard about placement/colours and it's not a fast job. It's taken me out of my comfort zone, but I can't wait to post photos of my pieces. I have a welsh dresser, chest of drawers, two dressing tables and a large old mirror to redo and refurbish - so looking very forward to better weather and hopefully not as many bugs deciding to kamikaze into my paint. :| Darn fresh cut grass everywhere. If all of these pieces go well I'll be doing this on the side as well as DIY crafts to take to car boot sales so people have access to hand made vintage accessories. <3 I've worked hard to get this far and hope that it turns into a lucrative side business. My toosh has gotten two sizes bigger since I've been doing artwork at the computer since I don't move, so it's needed change of pace. XD;;

For those following me and my crazy life, I'll be messaging my birth mothers sister this week now that Lent is over and I can use facebook again. Praying it'll be a good outcome or if it isn't at least know if there's anything hereditary in that family line. XD Wee!

And lastly, Lapres has been reshaped back into her original self "L'apres Midi" as I've finally acquired a gryphon I adore, and so has slaton \o/

See you guys later!
-Lappy

Edit: I've reread this twice and I feel like my tiredness really set in on this. ;__; I am so sorry it isn't worded more eloquently and more informative. I have loads of thoughts on working from home but I just couldn't think of them all at the time. T___T! xx

I know, TL;DR! I asked if people wanted this and the answer was yes! So here we go!


This journal is full of my own personal views. There is no right or true wrong way to be an artist and I don't consider myself to be a "professional" in any right. I'm not a hobbiest, but I'm not in what I feel is the league of extraordinary artists either! This is just my two cents and a look into my daily life. Im so sorry it took so long to get this to you guys!!


Being an artist that works from home can be a blessing and a curse. So many people say "Wow, you work from home? I wish I could do that, you must get to do loads of fun things." Yes, and definitely no. Being that I live in my work place (well I have my own personal office space in the house) most people think I'm not doing anything important and am always free to help. I don't like saying no to  slatons mother or father because they were generous enough to take me in when things went sour in my private life last year. If I can help them I feel better about being a good lodger and part of the family. This does eat into my art time A LOT and this is why I've not streamed nearly as much recently. Neither of them are fans of the fandom and even though they appreciate what I do they easily forget that when I'm here, I am working.

Working from home can be VERY lonely. Before I moved here I was seriously depressed, suicidal depression set in because of my living situation and severe marital problems and I was taken out of that environment and placed into a healthy and happy home. I have someone in the house with me 98% of the time and I got a puppy last June. Even when I move out now my "family" is close by and I know I won't be alone as often as I had been previously. I've got people who care and adore me and have broken my depression. It can still get lonely but you have to work through the trials that come with it and do your best to keep yourself from getting to any low points.

I have to make my own hours in order to get things done, so I break my day up into three parts. Morning when I wake up, afternoon when I'm "off duty" and then evenings when I'm back to art mode. It's a bit of a pain but it's the only way I can work and ensure that my art is finished in a timely manner. My productivity has taken a massive hit but being that I do art for a living I feel that I MUST get my work done quickly, efficiently and do a good a job as I possibly can for my commissioners. My personal private life, my home life and my work life shouldn't affect the well being of my commissioners and I 'm dedicated to doing my duty as a business woman to fulfill my obligations.

This is also why I have zero time to do personal art. There honestly aren't enough hours in the day. If I was lucky I was getting one day off a week from doing art in one form or another and its really taken its toll on me. I'm striving to take both Saturday and Sundays off unless I'm feeling that I'm behind and make up for the day at the end of my commission queue only if I can afford it.

Obviously I can wear whatever I want to, but I like getting dressed and cleaned up in the morning. I do always wear slippers but I get cold. What if someone comes to the door? What if I need to go outside and get errands done? Don't be a slob. I do have my "home clothes" but I can't sit in PJs all day. I drink tea/coffee a lot, take breaks here and there but you really need to stay focused. What about finances?

Being an artist people think you either make loads of money, or no money at all. One of the big problems that I had with my ex was his sister always looked at me as a free loader but never took the time to look at what I was actually accomplishing. I fend for myself and I refuse to borrow from other people, so her view was incredibly skewed and false. Being a stay at home illustrator has me earning above minimum wage but around the start of the living wage here in the UK. I pay my taxes, pay into National Insurance and support charities on my earnings. I feel like I'm genuinely a minority in the art work of artists that pay taxes or rather declare taxes. I can't stress enough if you're unemployed set yourself up as a business and try to sell yourself as an artist. Even if you don't make enough to have to pay anything, you can still prove income. Here in the UK I've been successful to obtain an SA302 twice so far and about to go for my third year of taxes (which is what I'm working on at the present moment) and I've been able to prove that my earnings are consistent. You can use this form for mortgages, loans etc - so if say you want to move into a home with your other half, you can present these forms as legal proof that you've earned as a self employed person. Paypal documentation DOES NOT WORK TO PROVE YOUR INCOME IN THE UK.

Being American and a resident of the UK is a bit of a pain in the ass. I have to do my taxes twice. Though I may not make enough to have to pay twice, I still have to send my information to the USA. We do get one extra month being over seas to complete this, so our deadline is in May, not April 15th.

I do everything legitimately. None of my programs are fake. I have a subscription to Adobe for CS6 and have two full versions of SAI. I know a lot of people would call me stupid, but I like working and operating as if I were a "proper" business. I might be a one woman show, but this is my life and I don't want to jepordize that.

I use Google Docs for all of my documentation. I keep records of invoice numbers, my commission types, FA names (which is why I strangely ask for this on my forms), character name, species, details about it and then save EVERY image to my computer so if FA dies I can still work. I keep my commissioners e-mail address so that I never lose it and can still contact them with their files and also if FA goes down they can still get what they've bought. I don't like being "out of work" due to someone else.

I also use Paypal Invoices - this is huge. It has a link to my TOS (which is currently down. Boxowl.co.uk has been let go and it will be rehosted in the next week) and it states that once the invoice is paid we are in a contract that my commissioner accepts my TOS agreement. This way if someone decides for whatever reason I've done something wrong I can look back at my TOS and show them what they've agreed to. I always say to read it before you sign - as you should with any contract. Its legal jargon and all, but it protects me as an artist AND my commissioners. There are things I cant do, things they can't do, etc. Its just a fall back if anything were to ever happen. I've only ever had to point someone towards my TOS in 3 years and it quickly sizzled out. I don't like drama.

Speaking of hating drama - I REALLY HATE DRAMA. I don't like getting involved in problems here on FA. I spoke up about IMVU because I felt there needed to be one small voice of reason - but aside from that I like keeping my head low. My facebook explodes daily with people having problems, twitters the same. I like staying unbiased in peoples problems and let them get on with life. I have my own fair share of problems with my health, life, finances and what not - so I don't need to poke my head into other peoples problems. I'd rather give encouragement than grief.

I like transparency as an artist. There are a few things that I haven't shared with you guys that are pretty personal at the moment, but I try to keep myself an open artist. If things aren't going well, I like being able to say. I don't do this for pity or as a Woe Is Me, if you're a commissioner or a friend and I'm MIA I probably have a reason for it. You guys deserve to know if something's wrong.

Reputation is key. I do my best to keep my reputation clean. I never want to show up on the artist beware website because I take my work seriously. I think in this right I'd consider myself a "professional" but not based on artistic talent. I've worked office jobs and management so I have an expectation of what needs to be done out of myself and I strive to keep that morale going in my home office.


So as a recap there are a few things I think are super important as an artist:

Time Management
Reputation
Transparency
Lack of Drama
Organization
Doing things by the book
Paying my fair share of tax
Protecting myself and my commissioners
Being Orderly
Being helpful
Doing what I love


If you're starting out if can be REALLY difficult. I fell into this "accidentally" and joined FA only because of  leviathan248 and  firekitty
These two knew I drew furries but I never knew about the fandom or what it really was. I've drawn furs since 1996-1997 and have really enjoyed it. I wasn't allowed to work in the UK because of the visa I was on so I drew while I prepared my CV (resume in the US) and waited for the July to finally finish of 2012 so I would be allowed to earn my keep. While I applied to places I drew and it took 3 weeks for someone to trust me enough and give me a chance. My first commission cost $10. 3 weeks for $10.

I wasn't an expensive artist but I knew by keeping myself low I'd be able to build myself over time. Slowly people found me, not because of how good I was but because I posted OFTEN. I was consistent. I kept trying to do my best with the talent that I had at the time. After a few months I increased myself a bit and was able to consistently get work. When I changed from USD to GBP I noticed a huge difference in my finances. The exchange rate and paypal fees were very high so I lost out when my currency was USD. I earned a bit and reinvested into my business rather than spending it lavishly on myself. The largest boost to price changes was when my husband and I split. I knew it might cause an uproar for commissioners but I didn't have a single person give me grief because they knew what had happened. I lost my financial security and I have to do my best in order to keep going. I'm slowly getting it back but I have a long way to go still. I have no plans of increasing my prices again as I'm happy where it is, and I try to do my best to earn what I can. It all is down to me and how much I can finish without burning out.

You have to find balance between work and burn out. Don't do so little you can't survive, but don't do so much that you'll hurt yourself.

Be timely. Don't take forever. Don't be a "hobbiest" or at least get labeled as one. Even if you do it as a hobby and you take a long time, let your commissioners know. Nothings worse than wondering "When the hell is my piece going to get done" 2 years down the line. I know a few artists that I follow are constantly saying that they're professional, consistently open for commissions but have a list so long it could probably stretch to the moon and back. Obviously I wont name names as that isnt the point of this - do yourself a favour and take this advice if you're starting out, or wanting to continue as a working artist - be transparent but be organized. Don't take on more than you can chew. Don't get in debt. Don't get upset if people ask for a refund, its their money at the end of the day and you have to earn it. Don't get mad at other people when they ask where their art piece is when its a few months down the line. Don't post mean posts about having someone else handle your e-mails because you can't do it for yourself. Don't draw for money as a "living" if you can't finish what YOU'VE started. I have beef with this and I never want to get chucked into that game. I hate debts and I hate owing people things. If I don't finish EVERYTHING then I don't reopen.* (I reopen when I'm about to finish so my paperwork side of things/invoicing/documentation/saving files can get done but this is always done when I'm on the last image.)

I think that is my largest gripe as an artist and as a commissioner. I dont mind if people take time to do their work as long as they keep people informed. Use journals if you cant contact everyone - this way you've been able to put it out there!

I can't gift art, do trades or requests. People must think I'm an asshole when I have to say no to these things. Honestly I'd LOVE to do them, but I have to work my tush off in order to keep going in life. Just because I draw doesn't mean I have the time to dedicate to non paid things. I don't have time to do things for myself, and thats difficult. I do get worked up that people must think I'm a jerk because I don't offer these things, but as this is my form of income, I just cant.

The nice thing about doing what I do is that I'm doing what I love. I love drawing because it is my hobby and a passion. My father told me many times I was going to fail but I've been able to keep a roof over my head and make something of myself even if its just in the furry community at the moment. Every image if practice and learning something new. Ill never stop learning and never stop being a student of the arts.

You really need to love what you do. Don't get upset or discouraged, art takes time. Talent is there if you put the time into it. Just keep trying and you'll make it. This is everything I have to keep telling myself still. I get discouraged. I feel like I'm not talented a lot of the time, but I keep trying. I don't think one persons talent is better than another persons. I may have started sooner than you, or you may be a faster learner than I am or more artistically minded. I don't discourage artists that don't understand anatomy - it clicks into place one day. I just tell people to keep drawing.


I dont think this is exactly what I wanted it to be, I know TL;DR, but it's a lot of information and personal thoughts. I know my thought process is REALLY random, but cheers to those who actually made it to the bottom, haha!


My first commission: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8662859/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8540133/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8509508/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8650094/ OVER USE OF GLOW! OMG

My first time using SAI: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8479177/

Being a mother and an artist in this community, my heart bleeds for this woman. A fandom shouldn't define a person and their abilities as a parent.

Informational links:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....t-her-son-back
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6610121
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/16110669/

I've had a couple of notes about asking if I was open for commissions. Unfortunately I am completely closed until April 6th. The UK Tax year runs from April 6th - April 5th of the following year, and I've begun my tax haul and have shut down all forms of income while I complete everything. Making more means paying more tax and off setting everything I've worked on over the last week, so I will reopen on the 6th of April! It should give me enough time to finish my current queue and my two winners from my Kiriban!

I wanted to have a spring cleaning event of stock from previous conventions in a grab bag form but I'll just have to wait! Keep an eye open for it though. Postcards, acrylic charms, stickers - all sorts of randoms. I've got too much and I need to clear out as much as I can before moving!

First of all thank you to everyone who has been waiting up for my kiriban to roll. I couldn't keep awake any longer.

I didn't expect so many people would have landed the 100,000th pageview. I've gone through every screenshot, every post and calculated the times out between both journals AND notes.

A few people have put up seconds in their posts as well (I swore you used to get seconds on FA, but apparently I either dreamed it or its been removed?) so I'm going by 3 factors - post order, time stamp and comment/note stamp in order to do this as fairly as I can.

It means a lot that you guys would all jump at the kiriban, but I don't want it to turn messy, this is something I'm doing for free and I really don't want pitchforks from people calling me unfair or rude. :( I've spent my morning with a cup of coffee and a spreadsheet smashing my face against all of the comments/notes I got!


10 people missed my latest journal asking to post there instead of notes. I wanted full transparency. Unfortunately my only way of writing to someone is via journals as I don't know who reads them - I can't personally find you and explain if I need to change or edit something. I had that latest one up since 11 am my time, and the Kiriban hit at 4 AM my time. It wasn't a quick change, and it gave a lot of people the chance to read it. Saying that though, I'm not discrediting the people who sent notes in. As I won't admit it's either parties fault - you still participated and I've got your numbers down on the sheet.


My winner is  3DDotnikkiWolf

My reasoning is I can't tell the time difference between the first post with the wrong link and the second link. :(


Mo was the closest out of the 3 people who included seconds.


Honestly I had no idea that I would have so many people participating in this and all get the same number so I'll be doing a raffle with the remaining names for a bust wing it for the rest of you. Again this includes BOTH journal and notes.


My free bust runner up is:  MiwAuturu

I'll be contacting both of them - thank you guys for participating! I hope you can accept my judgement call on this one. :( Crappy feeling when you want to do something exciting and you're afraid of hurting a ton of people.

EDIT #3: ;___; Im so sorry guys, Im going to miss my own 100,000!!! Just a headsup that I wont be contacting anyone until the morning. My eyes are so sore from staring at the screen . Was hoping I'd keep going, but please post your screen shots on this journal!!!

I'll be sure to congratulate you in the morning!!




Thank you so very much guys!!!

Just for those who dont know, I'm holding a Kiriban! It's a free give away for my FA page reaching 100,000 pageviews!

To win, just catch my FA page at 100,000 pageviews exactly (or the person closest to) and who ever posts their pageview first on this journal bellow (you have to upload it) gets a free waist up image of one of their characters! The background will be done at my digression as it's more of a wing it picture. I like playing with characters!

The requirement is I want a screenshot of the pageview with a time stamp visible - so I can ensure that whoever gets the win hasn't photoshopped it. If 3 people submit 100,000 and 2 show xx:45 and one person shows xx:16 then I'll have to discount the odd one and go with the first two. I'll do my best to be around for it so I know when it hits!

Computer and phone clocks are pretty accurate, so I'm not too fussed with the hours as timezones are all different anyways. I'm wanting to see the minutes.

So please remember, screenshot your 100,000 with a time stamp visible.


EDIT: If you live in a +.30 timezone, please declare it on your post. @___@

EDIT again: I might be asleep for this. ;___; 150 more to go and I was at 400 earlier, so its going quite quickly! Gah!!




I had a massive journal ready to post and my computer shut down so I've lost it all, but I wanted to say thank you to each of you who have taken a moment to view my page. I know that my artwork isn't everyones cup-of-tea and I appreciate that. There are people who enjoy my work silently and the common names I see leaving comments and favouriting things of mine. It makes me smile going through my comments during the day and I wish I had more hours in the day to leave messages in return. ;_;

I appreciate all of the notes I get from people saying hello and asking how I'm doing, the comments, the favourites and the people who tag along into my crazy streams.

Thank you to my stream family who put up with me being hit and miss these days, I'm trying! Everyone in the house assumes that because I'm here all day I can go do other things for them. XD

To my closest friends in and out of the fandom - I met most of you because of the art that I do, someway or another you've stumbled across me and we've got to talking. Life wouldn't be the same without you, and I'm blessed for having you in my life. You put up with my shenanigans and my silliness, the quiet times and the rough ones. I love you guys.

And to my slaton. You've been able to grab me and pick me up from the fall I took and have shown me what loves capable of doing. You let me be me in my happiness, my trials and you've never let me down. I'm a better and happier person with you in my life.


Cheers guys, and best of luck to the people who participate in my kiriban!! <3

So nothings changed in 2 months since this has happened. If I were to make the choice I'd have done the same just to show that nothings happened, plus the weeding out bits and bobs between two entities it's not an overnight job. Things happen and companies either sell, merge or are just acquired. You may be using a free site to make money or to browse artwork - if you're not paying for advertisements I don't think its fair to complain. Money has to be exchanged to host the mass that is FA, so we're pretty darn lucky and I feel better knowing a larger entity is behind FA now to help it along.

With IMVU I'm not fussed. I'm seeing more people saying through journals "I'm not leaving BUT here's my information..." than I am people actually vacating the premises.

To each their own, I salute you for leaving and respect your choice.|

I'm not leaving, nor will I be taking any of my gallery down. I'm not going to let choices of others hinder my life and my work.

So, if your taking your pieces out of your gallery, and you've commissioned other people to do it and your piece is STILL up on FA elsewhere, whats the point? If its exclusively yours that you hand made yourself, fair play, but I'm seeing people who aren't artists clearing their galleries of their personal characters drawn by other people who are still ON FA and still have the work loaded. I don't get it. I'm not worried.

I'm happy with having IMVU as the parent company and I can't wait to see what comes from it in the future. Bigger and brighter things, I chose to be optimistic about it.

Parent companies aren't a bad thing. I've worked with companies who had mega corporations for parent companies and they over see things. It's a backer, a safety net.


EDIT:

I do want to say I very much appreciate all of the comments that have come from this! None of them have been hateful to anyone and on both sides some good feedback has been given for pro and for cons.

It's nice to have an outlet to read what people have to say when they hold themselves in a respectable manner. It makes me happy as an artist and as a person to get to read these sorts of messages. :D

For the first person who can screenshot and note me with a link to the image of my page having 100,000 page views, I'll be offering a free waist up image of one character with my choice of background.

=)

Good luck you guys, and THANK YOU!!! You've allowed me to grow in such a short amount of time and I hope to be able to continue to make art for you guys for a long while yet. xxx


Edit!: I want a time stamp on the screen shot. Thus is more than one person submits a 100,000 view and the times are all over the place, I can pick out whose photoshopped theirs and who is legit. Ta!

For the first person who can screenshot and note me with a link to the image of my page having 100,000 page views, I'll be offering a free waist up image of one character with my choice of background.

=)

Good luck you guys, and THANK YOU!!! You've allowed me to grow in such a short amount of time and I hope to be able to continue to make art for you guys for a long while yet. xxx

I've posted twice now about the happenings in my personal life, and what was sadness at first has had an interest outcome!

I've searched for the last 13 years for my birth mother who two weeks ago I found out passed away in 2001 when I was only 17. I was only allowed to search for her at 18, so I've been searching for someone who I wouldn't physically find. I've been in contact with my birth father since I was 19 and he's a lovely man. I don't want to regret the life I had but I really wonder what sort of person I'd have been if he raised me - but all I know is how loved I would have been. We've never really spoken much about my birth mother aside from bits and pieces, but since I found out she had passed I gave him the information. He knew my biological sisters name and my brother of whom I've found my brothers birth records (yay!) and back tracked my sister. (I've known their names but it's really generic.) He found her and she had listed my mother as hers as well. Breakthrough!

It may not seem like much but for the first time I've laid eyes on someone that is related to me on my mothers side of the family. It may have been a photograph from google+ but it was enough to know that we were related. She lives in the same city as my brother (who is USAF) and their biological father. This raised a huge red flag for me as I don't really know the circumstances of what my mother did, but she wasn't with her husband when I was conceived but was in the middle of a divorce and my father had a relationship with her for some time.

So, I really don't feel comfortable making contact. I'm afraid the door would just get slammed in my face. The photographs show that he's been a good father to them both and loves his grand children. Just having seen them in photographs is enough for me. Through them I've found my mothers twin brother, the spitting image of the only two images I have of my mother. When I was born her sister was there and made friends with my adoptive parents but once I was signed over my father made the choice of severing contact so that I didn't get confused growing up - I believe I've found my aunt - 99.9% sure that it's her.

I'm not ready emotionally to make my first contact but I have been losing so much sleep over this its unreal. I have a massive family on my mothers side - like 9-10 siblings that my mother had. I'm most definitely Hawaiian - and I've always leaned towards that feeling pride in my heritage. I may not have physically grown up there, or with my Hawaiian family, but goodness. We're all brown! People look like me! I don't feel so awkward about my appearance any longer - my traits really run through my family lines and it's made me really proud to be who I am. It's odd admitting that just from photographs and knowing that they exist and are truly out there.

They're all over Hawaii, California, some in Kentucky, and Nevada. Things just got so real to me and I'm so sorry Ive been massively aloof. If I haven't been drawing, I've been searching or staring at my ceiling hoping sleep will come.

I'm still squealing. Yeeeee! And a huge thank you to the one person who trusted me enough to help me search. You've been such a massive help to me even if I couldn't find anything through the newspaper services. x

I'll be reopening my list for new work tomorrow.
I'm almost finished with my last round of Wooden Badges (all will be completed tomorrow as 3 are finished, 2 are sketched) and they'll be off to the printer once everyone gets a chance to see them via e-mail.

I'm not taking on any more wooden badge commissions - they are officially closed.

I would like to take Platinum Artist pieces on as I really enjoy those and I seem to get a good response from the people I draw for which is a bonus for me! They're wing its for £90, but its a one word theme but I'd love to do more Rain, summer, magic sorts!

I won't be limiting it just to platinums, Reference sheets, scenes images etc are fine. I'm behind by a week in where I wanted to be by two weeks (sheesh, I hate that feeling) but I suppose its good and its bad. Bad because I have a lot I need to make up for this month, but good as my tax season ends in April which means a little less to worry about. It's been an emotional March needless to say with loads happening!

Anyways, I'll post the form tomorrow for commissions!

Thanks guys! x

And I've started writing the post on working as an artist. Its going to take a while to compile everything as I havent had loads of time to dedicate to it! ;_;

<3 Thank you to everyone who asked for one! Laminated versions or digital only will be what is available from now until the end of April.

I'm so sorry for how long this round has taken me. I'm plowing through it as best I can and sad that I'm about a week behind. I haven't had any time to really sit down and stream either. :( Sorry guys!

I will be opening 4 more Wooden Badges before they are closed for before CFZ. I'll only be offering Laminated badges after these 4. I've enjoyed making them but I want to ensure with the rush to CFZ and having MCM land so close, my third party will be busy so I don't want to be biting my nails when their queue goes crazy.

I've had a bit of a legal problem with my "D." I think those who have followed me for a while know what that is, and no, not my falic object that doesn't exist. There was a miss spelling and the judge threw it back at me of which the people supporting me through this have stated that it's not big enough reason for it to be thrown back and is usually over looked - but now they aren't responding aside from they're "thinking" about what they can do. I'm just stuck twiddling my thumbs now waiting to see if I have to repay my court costs and/or my fees to them for over seeing this. They didn't catch the spelling mistake either, so I'm just in a bad state of mind at the moment. When you've been saving your ass off and suddenly you're faced with the possibility of paying out a large chunk of money for something so mundane, I'm a bit nervous. Then finding out about my birth mother late last week - I just want to curl up in a ball and just art. Feeling like I'm super behind by a week makes me feel worse. I know its better than waiting for a piece for months and months, but this being my income, if I'm not finished in a timely manner it hurts.

I promise I'm not trying to complain to anyone about life. I do like transparency to a point so people can at least get an idea of whats happening. My reputation is everything to me and my lively hood as an artist, so it's the least I can offer to you guys.

I'm happy, doing great and moving in a few months time (which is why I'm saving so badly!)

Health wise, I've been back to the doctors last Thursday morning and I'll be checked up on every 6 months now as a jury of doctors have decided that my case in the USA should still stand with my ovarian tumors! Great news for me as that means I finally have the care I need and I get to see the same doctor team throughout my life! Then I was told I'll finally have the hysterectomy whenever I'm ready (Id love to finish a family first though!) so I'm blessed to know that I finally have the answers I needed!

So some not so happy things, some great things. =) Either or, I'll be reopening for more work late this week.

One of the long term searches I've been doing has been to find my birthmother. Since I was 18 I was finally allowed to search for her and my father. Being given up at birth meant that I didn't go into foster homes and was adopted straight into another family, so really I had no clue I was different at all for many years. My birthfather is awesome. I absolutely love him to pieces, and I have two very talented and gorgeous sisters. I'm so fortunate to know that they're my family even though I didn't get to grow up with them. My birth mother disappeared after I was born and my father only saw her once after by chance in a supermarket in Los Angeles with another man. He said it was awkward but they went on their way. Since then she has been a huge blank in either of our searching.

I can't tell you how many lost hours I've thrown into this search, how many leads have gone cold just wanting to know if she's alright. For someone I never met, I just wanted that at least. I suppose the good news is that I've found records finally and I hoped that I would be able to just leave it at that, hoping that my heart would be quiet and finally at peace, but its not.

I was allowed to start searching when I was 18, which I turned 18 in 2002. The final record I've found shows my birthmother died in 2001. The part that makes me cross is that there are no records that I've found so far about who she was, how she died, there's no obituary only a death certificate. She died in Washoe County on June the 4th, 2001. I've spent the last 13 years searching for someone I wasn't going to find.

I'm reaching out to anyone in Reno, or in Nevada who might be able to tell me what the local radio stations/TV News/Newspapers might have been at that time. I've searched the Gazette registry and it comes up blank.

The sad part is knowing that I was just over the Sierra Nevadas growing up, and she died so close to me. Saying that, my birth father used to work for a large company and serviced buildings where I grew up, so our paths could have easily crossed.

Bit of an odd journal, but honestly any other leads that I can continue with and hopefully find out who her family was back then would be amazing. :(

1. What is your name?
Lapres, Val, or "That crazy ass American."

2. What is your gender?
Female

3. How old are you?
30

4. How tall are you?
5'8"

5. Are you in a relationship?
Yes <3

6. Where are you staying?
The Metropole Hotel

7. What day are you getting there?
Friday 23rd <3

8. Who will you be with?
Ellis this year! I did like the single rooms last year, but I missed out on pretty much everything!

9. Do you have art in the art show?
Hopefully! This has reminded me to submit it. XD;;

10. What suit(s) will you have?
I -might- have Kalin by then. I'm in charge of making her head myself, but I don't know if I'll have enough time to finish her along with work and other bits. :(

11. Can I dance with you?
No. I'm mortified of dancing.

12. Can I touch you?
Nope. Shire hands only.

13. Can I talk to you?
Sure! I am naturally an introvert but I try to be extroverted at conventions. ;_; If I get a bit too tired I might clam up and walk off, but it takes a load of energy out of me to be chatty. I do my best though!

14. Can I hug you?
Sure <3 Just not from behind please!

15. Can I take photos of you/with you?
Sure!

16. Can I buy you lots of drinks?
Rose wine? Whats that? Will art for drinks? Yeah, for sure!

17. Do you drink Alcohol/Smoke?
I drink from time to time.

18. Can I give you lots of money?
If you're not overly attached to it! Remember, I am NOT in the dealers den this year! I will be participating around the convention. Look out for me in my Lappy onesie!

19. Can I hang out with you?
Sure. =) I try to make conversation as best I can, but once again if I get too tired I clam up and want to slink off to sleep. Just introduce yourself or show me your badge. XD If I've met you before please remember how often I've had to meet people at furry events and conventions, or if we've spoken online I might not recognize you face to face. ;_;

20. How will I recognize you?
My accent might give it away. Look out for anything with Lapres on it,or my owl onesie.

21. Where will you be most of the time during the con?
I honestly have no idea. XD

22. Who are you rooming with?
My lovely  slaton

23. Attending any events?
Motorfurs is the only one I intend on going to for a change. I have never seen events properly, so this is my year to explore.

24. How can I find you at the con?
I'll be here, there, and everywhere. XD

25. Are you doing anything in line with the theme?
Not in particular. I havent had the funds to put towards the theme this year. :(

So 4 out of the 5 designs are perfect - I can get those ones out. Sadly, and I don't know why they didn't catch it (normally I get an invoice in the post with a letter saying who did the order and this is the first one missing a proper sign off), one of my badges came back quite badly distorted. I should hopefully have the fixed one in the mail this week as I've already explained that they're all unusable. -_- They've either cut the top off of the design completely, or didn't cut the bottom of the wood off. For the first time, I'm not pleased.

The rest will be photoed and get all dolled up into necklaces and then shipped out later in the week.

Cheers for being so understanding guys!

I was hoping to get time this week to properly stream again, but have once again missed all opportunities to get to it due to tons of stuff happening off screen. I'm away tomorrow through the weekend at a wedding waaaaaay up near the Scottish border, so I wont be checking anything while I'm away. I was hoping I'd be a bit further into my remaining images, but I'll have to carry on as soon as I land home. I'll try to be around Sunday, but I can't gaurantee it.

See you guys when I get back. Cheers!

Just in case anyone is attempting to get hold of me via facebook, I'm MIA! I've given up facebook for lent, and a few other things, but that's a big one for me. So, if you're trying to poke me with a stick, you can do so with my e-mail address at Lapres@Morrey.biz.

I've sent a message out through FB, but I know I'll have all sorts of people having messaged and wondering whats going on! I'll have my wonderful other half log in and update my like page for me from time to time as I complete work, probably in bulk so that the page is still sort of active, but I won't be messaging anyone through it!

I think it'll do me a world of good to leave it for a while because I am seriously addicted to it and I want to pry my hands away from social media (though my newest addiction is pintrest and learning how to make creative and crafty things... oh dear! It's a library of information in the palm of my hands!!)

As the warmer weather is coming up I'll need to continue taking my weekends off completely to get some furniture painted and restored. I thoroughly enjoyed last weekend getting to go to the dams in Wales and seeing MCM Expo for the first time here in the Midlands. As much as I'd LOVE to say it was refreshing, I haven't slept very well the last few days. Mom's staying home this week as school has broken up for a week, so due to my bizarre sleeping time to match up with  slatons work hours (I can spend a few hours with him during the day away from work and have dinner together before he sleeps) I sleep much later and in turn wake up later. Finally a sleeping pattern that works for us both!!!!! Unfortunately Bailey is now out of her routine and consistently whines at mom when she first gets up. If I don't wake up naturally first thing in the morning, I'm unfortunately a zombie for a good portion of the day if not the entirety of it! I've been a bit slow with art this week due to time management goes out of the window when anyones home - the biggest con of working from home! I'm still on track with artwork though, so I can happily say I'm not behind. I'm just working my way through my list as best I can. I'd love to be ahead of myself, but at least I'm not falling behind!

Anyways! I was wondering if I should make a journal dedicated to working from home, the good, the bad, the ugly (usually me without makeup and my hair up in a bun!) and if anyone has any questions regarding arting for yourself as a full time job, I think it'd be neat to help other people be able to do the same and get rid of myths about working from home. So let me know what you think and if it's something you'd like and if it is, what would you like to know?

So I've been working every day this week on gift art for people (well commissioned gifts for Valentines day/birthdays) so I'll eventually post all of them up. @_@

I'll be starting the non gifty pieces Monday! Saturday being Valentines day we are going to Telford MCM Expo, my very first one!!! We'll be meeting the amazing  niyoh and  kanakouk for a double date in the evening since they're bringing  soapasaurus to my home town! I honestly want my nose to guide me to find them. XD Sunday I'll be taking our first long haul trip out to Wales with the dog in tow to get some photographs of Ellis in his suit and to have our Valentines day after picnic. <3 We love going to the dams, so we're excited to be going back. I'm sure our pup will enjoy the trip out, and I'm sure she'll quickly learn what brambles are. I did last time I was there, I tripped and fell hands first into a big pile of them. It totally looked like soft grass!!!!! OUCH!

Sooo yes! First proper weekend where I can't be at the computer, phone, or attached to a pencil. I suppose it'll be therapeutic? Probably vastly needed.


Awkward question for all of your artsy people out there!! I'm looking for DIY videos on crafts that people made/make. I've become absolutely obsessed with Robeson design and their DIYs, but I'm looking for other people who offer really fun DIYs for doing up houses. Either it being making wall art out of obscure objects, or neat decorative things like pillows, candle holders... etc. I plan on making most of my things, and I have acquired a few pieces of pine that I'll be hand painting for a rustic shabby chic look. I'd love to find things that coincide with that style. ;__;! Its my first PROPER home, so I'm wanting to do whatever I can to make it feel like it's mine and do it on a budget.

I've been working my socks off to get through my commission list and do decently well for myself while I still can. I've not been able to be out in the open with whats happening with me and I'm still a few months away from that. Aside from that we'll be making a massive move this year. Branching away from Mom and Dad here is going to be really difficult on all of us, but me especially. Im so used to someone being with me at all times of the day, regardless if theyre sleeping or not. I'm a very needy person in that regard, I just feel comforted knowing I'm not alone. This is a massive demon I have to face and get used to, and I'm ready to face it.

So, at some point this year I'll be away from commissions for a good few weeks while I get myself sorted and moved, then reset up. There will be major notice when I finally secure moving dates, but I'm still months away at the moment.

Lifes going really well, my health is great, my happiness is the highest its ever been and I honestly feel like I've finally hit the point where I can look at myself and say "You're all grown up now." Scary feeling when I'll be 31 later this year. It only took 10 years too long to hit this moment! I'll finally be having my "30th" birthday this year since I didn't have anything last year due to circumstances at the time. So very much looking forward to the rest of 2015. Loads of things happening, and plenty of surprises too, I think!

Cheers guys! This round should be a BLAST! :D






If you are interested in a commission, please familiarize yourself with my price list: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/14093104/

I am currently open for the following!

+ Normal Commissions - Bust, Waist up, Full Body - Backgrounds
+ Reference Sheets
+ Badges - Digital only or laminate badges (One slot left for wooden badges!)
+ Platinum art! £90 Wing its! Have a themed idea and want extra detail? Pretty much my best option for those who want something but can't think of exactly what. Theres plenty of them in my gallery for examples!


Want art?
Note me or e-mail me at Lapres[at]Morrey.biz with the following information!

FA Username:
Paypal E-mail Address:
Commission Type:

Number of Characters:
Character Reference Images (I'm not great with text):
Character Name:
Species:

Background Y/N:
If Y then what?:


If Alice in Wonderland Badge, what character clothing/do you want it as a necklace/badge and what dangle charm do you want?:
If reference sheet, flats or shaded and how many poses/closeups/accessories:
If Normal Commission, what do you want drawn?:
If Platinum, what theme?:

I'll respond to you as soon as I'm able. I'm in and out of the house this afternoon, so I'll get to it as soon as I can! Cheers. =)
Paypal Only.

I am ABSOLUTELY shattered. Another late night of staying up. I won't be able to accept the few Valentines day commissions as I had planned as I'm still chucking myself at my queue. I'm just about there but I don't want to make promises I can't keep.

As such, I will be accepting normal commissions from here on out. If you are interested I will allow you to send in what you're interested in and I'll respond back tomorrow. I don't do "Give me a choice and I'll pick what I want to do," as I think thats a bit crap.

So I'm technically open, but I won't be responding for at least 8 hours from posting this. Sorry guys, I just cant stay up any longer than what I already have done. I've been pushing myself so hard to keep arting that I'm still not at burn out point, but I will be taking Saturday and Sunday off for a change. I need two full days away from a screen or electronic device. I honestly stare at the PC from the point I wake up, maybe break for 2-3 hours in the middle of the day to get errands done if I'm lucky, and then back at the PC until I sleep, so easily 12-15 hours in front of the computer a day and for usually 6 days a week. Can't complain at all, and not trying to! I love what I do, but I just need some more breaks from staring at a screen and sitting on my ass. My health is starting to deteriorate a bit, but I can stop it before it gets worst if I take more time out. XD; I get so OCD about finishing my queues that I lose track of myself. I'll still be doing my work in a timely fashion! I live to draw, both hypothetically speaking and literally! XDD!!


If you are interested in a commission, please familiarize yourself with my price list: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/14093104/

I am currently open for the following!

+ Normal Commissions - Bust, Waist up, Full Body - Backgrounds, Reference Sheets, digital only or laminate badges.
+ Platinum art! £90 wing it's, extra shading, one word theme!! one character only per.

I AM OFFERING ONE MORE WOODEN BADGE SLOT!! I need one more guys!! £55 mailed anywhere in the world as a necklace or badge with extra dangle and one extra version of the wooden badge not made up. (If you want an added dangle and another necklace/badge of same design with a same or different dangle you can for an added £3!)



Note me or e-mail me at Lapres[at]Morrey.biz with the following information!

FA Username:
Paypal E-mail Address:
Commission Type:

Number of Characters:
Character Reference Images (I'm not great with text):
Character Name:
Species:

Background Y/N:
If Y then what?:


If Alice in Wonderland Badge, what character clothing/do you want it as a necklace/badge and what dangle charm do you want?:
If reference sheet, flats or shaded and how many poses/closeups/accessories:
If Normal Commission, what do you want drawn?:
If Platinum, what theme?:

If you're accepted I'll send you an invoice and a response back either for more information, or to let you know the invoice is in its way if you've given me enough to work with.

If I get too many responses I'll have to notify those who I wont be able to get to, so I'll do my best to accommodate you guys as best I can.

Paypal Only.

Cheers guys. Time for sleep. ;___; I need it!!! x And thank you so much for understanding!!!

I should be finished with everything by Thursday, fingers crossed? If not Thursday then sometime Friday. I however will be reopening commissions on Friday! Being that it'll be a week until Valentines Day, I don't mind taking on a few more Valentines themed pieces from those interested. I'll accept normal commissions as well, but if your piece isn't time sensitive I'd like to give the people who are after something for the holiday a chance. That being said, I'd only take on 1 or 2 extras depending on what they are and how time consuming they're going to be. I need to finally take a full weekend off of drawing for a change. At the pace I'm going, I am doing 6 days a week of full time art, so I need a proper break. Throughout the rest of Feb I'll be taking Saturdays and Sundays off (mostly because I have to on certain days, we have a wedding on one of them, and meeting friends at MCM Telford!)

Sooooooo yeah! On Friday I'll open up commissions in the late AM/ Early afternoon so stay tuned. <3 Again, A few Valentines day images are priority, and possibly a quick YCH for you guys too, but no promises! Commissions come first. @_@!!!

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

I'm stoked about these!

Made by  monsterroo

:D! Roo is absolutely lovely and the timeless look of these is ace!!! <3 33

I'm at my wits end at the moment. I know a lot of you aren't interested in other peoples dramas, and I honestly wish this one would disappear. I still refuse to say whats happened, or what is going on openly through FA, so I wont.

I stopped streaming last year due to this and stopped being as open as I had been with you guys. I believe in transparency as an artist, and I thought I did pretty well with that.

Currently, sadly, I have a few people who aren't part of the fandom who had been given access to my personal websites, like Facebook/FA etc, and continually check them for gossiping purposes both harmful and for fun. I've been shown that my well being from these individuals doesn't matter what so ever and we've not seen eachother for many months now.

Thinking it's finally calmed down I got a notification today through my Facebook like page that Facebook suggests I update my website address because X wants to know what my website is.

I just feel like I have to hide myself. Like I have to watch what I say or where I step. I could quite easily take the low road and "boast" about my life and shove what I do in their face, but what good would that do? I wouldn't get a single ounce of satisfaction out of that. I just want to be left alone, to live my life without someone looking over my shoulder for cannon fodder.

The change I've made to my account is its for registered users ONLY. I might change this back in the future, but if you're not logged in, then you can't view my things. Maybe it'll be bad for business? But I just want some sort of peace of mind for a change.

I apologize that I can't be as I used to be with you all. :( And I do hope that you understand. For being an artist, I really dont like dirty laundry, refuse to name names etc. I'm just lacking any clue of what else to do aside from keep my life quiet, stop streaming again, and be careful with what I do and where I go.