Just to let everyone know who is not already on my friend's list to comment if you want to be added. I don't check up on who has friended me or not so I have no idea who or who has not has friended this journal. And I'm not going to automatically assume you even want to be added.

So, the stuff I normally make public is my finished fursuit work and other business related things or public announcements (conventions I'm going to, if I'm going to be away, website updates, etc)

I friends-lock my WIPs, doodles, rants, general conversation, and pretty much anything I'd consider more personal (without moving into really personal stuff or TMI). It is pretty random and I tend to use my LJ friends as a sounding board when I'm considering something new or just need advice on a project (or on life in general).

So just comment here if you're interested.

As long as your journal is active and you seem to be a real person (not a suspiciously empty journal with no contact information or apparent life) and you are not someone I personally object to (though I really can't think of any offhand) then I'll add you.

My AIM is Beetlefursuits@aol.com (though don't use that an an email address, because I won't check it. Email via my website instead)

Feel free to AIM me, but keep in mind that I probably won't be receptive to 'small talk'. Do not contact me if all you want to say is "Hi. How are you?". I DESPISE that. If you're reading my LJ then you already KNOW how I am! Though if you want to discuss fursuits and fursuit business - then I'll be all over that.

I often do stuff on my computer that I don't wish to immediately alt-tab out of. As well, I often jump back and forth between my computer and my work room all day. So if you IM me and don't get a response, then don't take it personally. Keep the program open and I'll reply as soon as I get back (probably within the hour).

EDIT: I occasionally go through and remove friends who have not friend me back/unfriended me. So if I friend you upon request and then later unfriend you with no explanation, that's a likely reason why.

This amuses me.. I like that I can keep it all in one place so the questions do not just get lost and can just be built on.

http://www.formspring.me/Beetlecat

Click the link and type in a question :>

Now that the merriment of my vacation is over, I have an important PSA for all of my customers.

I have a VERY large corporate-type order due next month. And I am not AT ALL where I wanted to be right now in terms of completion. I am only one cog in the clockworks and this is not something I can delay or knock out quickly as it involves a lot of sheer gruntwork.

What this means: Essentially all fursuits are on hold for this month. I have made no promises and I doubt it's a shocker, but if you see no completion progress on your suit for the next several weeks please do not be surprised.

I'll keep up with emails but details of working out commissions and such will have to wait. Feel free to send them, and I'll reply and settle all that stuff out later when I'm more caught up to where I wish to be.

I'm not going to kill myself working doubletime (though I may have to depending on my progress over the next week. We'll see.) so I'm not going 'underground' or anything, but until further notice, my working time is definitely all spoken for.

To elaborate from my earlier post, one of the events I participated in this year was Furry Night Live. It was my first time doing anything really live and with a semi-complicated script (my part was pretty easy truth be told). And it was so much fun - we had a really great group and I was honoured to be part of it!

I played the classic 'damsel-in-distress' which was totally fun because it's such a *classic*. Chicks-in-dresses-running-in-circles-holding-a-gun-gingerly-by-the-fingertips.. ahaha. It's so awesome!



Before this skit I can't remeber the last time I actually wore a dress ><



--

I was also honoured to be in a *second* skit. A 'Dear Sister' video parody produced by Fur Happens.

We filmed it in one night and my camera work is pretty awful really lol. But Silver edited it up great and it's still hilarious. And I got to dress up Beetle like a *cop*! Oh wow did we have way too much fun that day :D :D

Until silverlinz can upload a direct copy, this'll have to do

Ah major thanks to the uploader!! This was during the parade and it's a GREAT example of the public interaction I try for!

... though I *totally* didn't know I'd hit a garbage can.. I thought I'd sideswiped a person >< haha This is much funnier.

A great couple videos of Toby in the FC masquerade here! All props to the filmer/uploader.

Since I never seem to get around to actually writing up a play-by-play of conventions anymore, all I'll say now is that FC was everything I have come to expect from it and more. It is hard to believe that it really is over D:

Toby showed in the parade and masquerade (I was *so* close to blowing it off - I was so tired after the parade. I did my best, but fast-walking a quad through the hallways just *killed* me) but I woke up just in time and Toby ended up with a 'Technical Achievement' award which is cool because we got pro photos taken afterwards of all the winners and I love those.

Toby is basically retired at this point. I will be putting him in a box and putting him away. But rest assured my next personal project will continue to be a new pinnacle of achievement for me.

Beetlesuit was in two FNL skits - FurHappen's SNL parody 'Dear Sister' video and Farraptor's live performance Indiana Jones parody. IMO both of them were amazing and I am very happy to been a part of some of the best skits this FNL.

Even though I was so busy that I missed every single panel I was interested in, I hung out with some very awesome people that I am very glad to have had the chance to meet. And I'm also overjoyed that I finally was able to really spend some time with those internet folks who I have been meaning on hanging out with forever. To those who it didn't work out, I'm sad but getting schedules into alignment is harder than moving the stars sometimes ><

Barring some huge catastrophe, I will definitely be back at FC next year!

I love my Panasonic Lumix but it's a huge bear of a camera and I need something I can bring to conventions. Plus it's showing its age - the photo quality is still good but the outside is so beat up I'm sure it will eventually just fall apart :p

Requirements: OIS (not digital. Optical). A great quality lens. Weighs less than 1 lb

I would like: SD card (I have so many already). Macro mode. Multiple shot sequence. Manual settings such as shutter speed. Enough MP to blow up to a calender print. Timer with custom settings. Can buy additional lenses. Tripod screw.

Packing up here I realized just how I never ever take my camera with me anywhere anymore and taking it to FC is never going to happen since it'll just be left in the hotel room. Yet I would like to have a camera on me to grab those random photos or give to someone. So any camera suggestions to track after FC will be appreciated :> Price is less important than quality.

*goes back to packing and cleaning*

Said I wouldn't but I suppose it can't hurt :>

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Wheeled items are not permitted as carry-on luggage even if they fall into one of the permitted items categories. Roller bags and backpacks must now be checked in for US-bound passengers.

In cooperation with CATSA, all passengers on flights bound to the US will be subject to a secondary search. As a result of the new security measures imposed by Canadian and US government authorities, flights from Canada to the US continue to experience delays.

So I cannot take carry-on (backpack, roller bag), but I can still take anything I normally would such as a cellphone, passport, game player, printed materials, pillow, snacks, camera, etc etc.

I'm.. just not allowed to put those items into a bag (except a regular-sized purse). Not a big deal since I have checked baggage anyways for anything I do not require for the flight itself, but I guess a fursuit head is not permitted. Bummer.

Then there are delays because there is a secondary security line where every single person gets a personal pat down. Guess I have to make *sure* to be there the classic 3 hours early -_-

It is.. amazing how much twitter has become a part of my 'internet life' since I got on. Yeah everyone else had it and it was annoying as heck because what do I care what they are eating or doing every minute of the day!

But then after you get it it really grows on you. The social networking really is pretty cool - since everyone who has the same friends can see the same messages, sometimes it's almost like conference calling.

It's a new way to make new contacts and friends. If someone you know is watching and talking to a person you don't know and you are interested by that half of the conversation then you can follow the links and maybe find a new person that talks about stuff you care about. The online version of going to a party and getting introduced to a stranger by way of your mutual friends.

It's a lot like LJ really with everyone having their own personal places to talk about themselves and being able to go to 'communities' (by way of hashtags - which I never use lol - where you can see all the talking on that subject). But just.. smaller and quicker.

Twitter will never replace LJ (you can't write anything big and meaningful there) but it's a great networking supplement.

I've not been posting anywhere or talking to anyone much lately. Sorry, just been busy - I'll be more sociable in a week when all my FC commitments are cleared ;D

I do has a new icon though! 'tis by Not-Quite-Normal on DA

Don't look! I'm CREATING!

I finally went through my various galleries and folders and made a fursuit compilation that goes from the very beginning (2005) to the end of 2009.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3204804

It was very interesting for me as well to have the work and years I had forgotten put graphically into order.

Not because of presents (I am capable of buying myself what I want). Not because of family (I can see them anytime. And I do!). And not even because of friends (If I'm only worrying about them once a year then I have bigger issues).

I like it because it's an excuse and a reason to do things for people and they do things for you - no strings attached.

There is no confusion or concern and no picking one friend over another. You do not have to be diplomatic over who you give a gift to. if someone needs it, you give it! Simple! If they do not need anything then you can both give a gift to someone who does and be happy together.

"This is a great thing you did for me! But why? What do you want back in return?" *suspicion*
"It's Christmas!"
"So it is!" *JOY*

This is something that well.. confuses me. Furries are well-known for 1) being poor and 2) Living hand-to-mouth where a sudden unexpected expense or job loss will start the panic wheels in motion.

I've already kiboshed #1 as I know too many furs with great, professional jobs. True there are some with great jobs who *still* have no money in the bank at the end of the day, but I maintain furs are no more poor than the rest of the world of this average age group. Given how geekish furs tend to be, they might actually be doing better!

But I confess total ignorance on the 2nd statement. I'm an artist - aside from summer or short-term jobs, I've never done the 5 to 9 thing and I have no dependents or loans or debts so my own expenses are very slight. I may never clear much after taxes but I've never been in a position where I might get laid off unexpectedly. So this isn't me being all high-nosed, I honestly just am that ignorant about people other than myself.

So what I want to know is do you live close enough to the chest that if you were laid off tomorrow it would mean having to call off all convention plans and try to get a new job before it comes to selling off your personal possessions to make ends meet.

Or to depersonalize that, does it seem that the above is the norm for most people around you?

The second part of this is how often I see artists take a customer's money then are unable to refund them because they have already spent it (not on materials for the commission but just spent it on personal living expenses).

Do you have a savings 'buffer' to account for unexpected expenses? If not is it because you immediately spend everything you make on living (aka rent, food, insurance, etc)? Or because you are unable to save money and spend it on things that are not strictly needed for life (aka videos, consoles, etc)

Again, if you rather not talk about your personal situation then tell me in general what you see happening around you instead.

I really just want to know if living month-to-month is the NORM for people active in the fur community or is more just a very outspoken minority?

Just a note to EVERYONE that wanted something in time for FC. If I do not have payment on it I have not made it. So if you want it I need that payment NOW.

I live across the border - Overnight shipping is NOT AN OPTION. And we do not have Saturday mail here - All shipping options take at least a week and I advocate TWO WEEKS MINIMUM to account for customs delays.

EVERYTHING needs to be shipped by January 4th. When means I need payment in full a good 2 weeks before that so I have TIME to build it! Which is NOW!

I will NOT carry anything with me on the plane to FC except my own personal costumes. I do not have room for anything more. So don't plan on that.

Monday, December 21st will be the deadline. If I do not have a good chunk of the money by then (or a good story and me willing to take start your project on personal trust that the $ will come soon), I CANNOT make your item in time for FC.

For those who have paid (or whom I waived payment) you're either finished or still well on track to be done in time :)

This is just directed to those who may not realize how soon FC really is - I can relate, it's hard to think of an event still a month away and not think you still have a month. But working down to the very last day before the convention is not an option for me.

As is my norm, here's my 'I am going to FC' journal almost a month before the actual event. Given how busy I may be in the days running up to FC I figure it's best to do it now! rofl

For the first time evar, I'll have a suit of my personal character to wear!



Joecifur made the head and then I detailed it up slightly and made the paws and legs. She's a 3/4 partial (no torso) but the head is small and the rest of the suit is well-fitted, sleek fur so a simple t-shirt works great. This sort of suit is awesomely easy to wear and I suspect I'll be wandering through most of the con dressed up in either all or some of it.



All packed up and she looks.. just thrilled. Hahaha!

Since I managed to score a direct flight, I definitely want to bring my quadsuit. He takes up 3 totes so it would have been hard on me (traveling by myself) to go gather all my checked baggage between layovers lol



He needs a bit of refurbishing but I *think* it's all basic stuff. He's been hanging out on various shelves and containers and I haven't really gathered him up yet in one spot to check. But anyways so I'd put him on for any of the big events like the parade - I can't wear him for hours like a bipedal suit so best to don the targ when the most people are around :D Maybe the masquerade as well.

And that's it! I'll get there the Thursday and leave Monday and I'm staying in the main hotel so I'll be around for the whole thing.

You can approach me, though please don't grab or hug me unless I know you :>

I'm okay talking some business stuff, but I'm not going to bring the paperwork to be telling anyone where they are in line or hammering out new commissions or giving price quotes or anything like that. This convention is about hanging out and having fun :D

Sooo... I've been noticing that lately that many decent fursuits at auction for decently low prices are not getting any bids. When before, if it wasn't total junk, everything seemed to get sold.

Am I just seeing something that isn't there? Anyone else had the same thought?

And, if I am not indeed crazy, what do you think is causing it? Over-saturation of fursuit-makers? Continuing recession? Tis the Christmas season?

Which of course leads into the question, Is this temporary or the new status quo? Is the 'threshold' (for lack of a better word) rising when it comes to premade fursuits. Are people demanding more than they used to?

So here's a question for the greymuzzlers that have been doing the fursuit thing for a while (say between 5 and 10 years).

From around the year 2000 to now, Tell us how, in your opinion, 1) fursuit business has changed. 2) Fursuit buyers have changed. and 3) fursuit performance has changed. Or anything related to fursuits and fursuiting over time. The questions are just a springboard.