Commission List as of 8/26/2014

Over the past couple of months I have made progress on the commission list, while also adding more from two more events.  My oldest son has started preschool again, which gives me several hours of work time in the middle of the day while he is at school and my youngest son is taking his nap, so progress should go faster now.  Our next convention isn't until October (FlatCon), and I hope to have 75% or more of this list finished prior to that convention.  Any item with the designation of (IP) after it means that I have started on that item.

ShutoCon 2013

• Aurora (Blue dress) (IP)

 Dandelion Wine 2013

• Kufi hat

Geek.Kon 2013

• Toothless (IP)

ShutoCon 2014

• Flareon and Vaporeon (IP)
• Peter Pan (IP)
• Anna (IP)
• Anna and Elsa (IP)
• Magikarp Hat (IP)
• Dragonborn (IP)
• Toothless and Grey Totoro
• Elsa (IP)
• Elsa (IP)
• Magikarp Hat (IP)

ACen 2014

• Red Betta
• Magikarp Hat (IP)
• Vanellope, Cinderella, Aurora (pink dress) (IP)
• Magikarp Hat (IP)
• Magikarp Hat (IP)
• Toothless
• Fox
• Vulpix
• Leonardo, Charmander, Elsa (IP)
• Dragon
• Toothless
• Adventure Time Hambo

Dandelion Wine 2014

•  Squirtle (IP)
• Chocobo

Anime Midwest 2014

• Yoshi
• Magikarp hat
• Toothless
• Pomeranian
• Elsa
• Toothless
• Anna
• Magikarp hat
• Mini Toothless
• Bee
• Bulbasaur
• Mordecai
• Rigby
• Masterball
• Toothless
• Mini Toothless
• Gardevoir (IP)
• Bulbasaur

Online

• Toothless
• Hobbes
• Large Muno

Current Commission List

Nearly all of the commissions from the previous list have been finished, so here is the updated list.  Items will be worked on in the order the commission was requested.

Geek.Kon 2013

• Toothless

ShutoCon2014

• Flareon and Vaporeon
• Peter Pan
• Anna
• Rapunzel
• Anna and Elsa
• Magikarp Hat
• Whimsicott
• Dragonborn
• Toothless and Grey Totoro
• Elsa
• Elsa
• Magikarp Hat

ACen 2014

• Glow in the Dark Luma
• Red Betta
• Magikarp Hat
• Vanellope, Cinderella, Aurora (pink dress)
• Magikarp Hat
• Magikarp Hat
• Toothless
• Fox
• Vulpix
• Flaaffy
• Black Mage
• Leonardo, Charmander, Elsa
• Dragon
• Admiral Bobbery
• Toothless
• Adventure Time Hambo

New Year, New Goals

I can't believe that it is 2011 already!  Where has all of the time flown?

With the way things are looking 2011 may be the best year ever for our family.  My pattern for the Hermione sweater has now been published and is available for sale through Ravelry.  For those interested in the pattern, you are able to buy now.  I have a better work space for making my crafts, and we are also looking into the distinct possibility of purchasing a home this year.

I also hope to start traveling to more conventions through out the year, but my current focus is on Anime Central this coming May.  Amber and I have confirmed tables, and I'm also excited about possible joint ventures between her Lolita clothing and accessories and my amigurumis.

Almost There!

It's hard to imagine that another year is nearly done!  So much has changed this year, but it's all been for the better.  Not only was my son born just over 6 months ago, but I've really started to focus on my business.

I had a huge success at Anime Central, and I'm working on getting ready for it again in 2011.  I'm waiting to hear from my friend that we did secure the tables that we requested, but I'm sure we did.  I also have plans to reopen my Etsy shop in the new year.  And if all goes well and I can get some pictures taken today I should be able to publish my pattern for the Of Hallows and Horcruxes pattern and offer it for sale.  My goal is to start 2011 off with a bang and publish it on the 1st.  I will first only publish it on Ravelry, but I will also make it available for sale on my Etsy.

ACen Artist Alley

It has been confirmed and set in stone that I will be attending Anime Central this coming May in Rosemont, IL and I will have a table in the Artist's Alley!

If you happen to come, look for me there - I will have several "Hey! Listen!" Fairies with me along with other wonderful creations - possibly items that will become a new free pattern.

I apologize for the delay in posting the TriForce Pillow pattern.  In cleaning my computer desk (which ironically is still computer-less) I found the notes that I made while knitting it, so I can flesh that out and turn it into a real pattern within the next week.  Maybe today if I complete enough fairies!

Progress!

Things are moving right along. I'm probably going to finish up my grandma's birthday present tonight, and then I'll be working on two sets of dishcloths that have been ordered, plus a surprise gift for a friend.

I'm also getting a good handle on what I want to do for my part of the table at ACen's Artist Alley next year. There are a few details to work out, but I'm well on my way to not only get a pattern designed but also working on building up my inventory of products.

I'm also getting better at being a stay at home wife. While it's not always easy, and our money situation is difficult, we're doing the best we can.

Post ACen Progress

Well, technically I finished this hat before ACen, but I'm just now getting around to blogging about it. My co-worker Abel commissioned this from me, and the logo is from his favorite Mexican soccer team the Pumas. It is based on the House Color Hat found in Charmed Knits. This was also my first time using the double knit technique. It was fun and interesting to learn, but I'm not certain if I will make another double knit object in the round. My tension when purling is much looser than knitting, and it impacted how the hat looks on the yellow side.


You can kind of see the change in gauge on the yellow side above the logo, which is where I switched from working in double knit to separating the sides of the hat and working them each like a basic stockinette stitch hat. If I write up the pattern for this hat I will be shifting the placement of the image or logo so that it doesn't fall right below one of the decrease points.

I was also able to finish knitting the gloves and socks that Belldandy wears in Ah! My Goddess to go with my costume for ACen. Pictures of these will come an another post.

But now my next project (other than continued progress on the Cozy shawl for my grandma) is designing my first amigurumi. I've decided to make the Fox-squirrel from Nausicaa.



I have the yarn and a couple of test knitters/crocheters lined up. Now all I need to do is get started, which I hope to do either today while watching all of the Indiana Jones movies with my husband (before we see the new one tomorrow) or tomorrow afternoon after my job interview.

And my husband is helping me to brainstorm more ideas for amis. I'm so lucky that he supports my craziness.

In a rut

Now that Claude the Cactus is finished and sitting on my desk I've started to develop a little bit of project apathy. I have so many things that I want to or need to work on, I just don't have the drive to do it right now. This probably has to do with this being the second day of Spring and having like 4 inches of snow on the ground. Bah! I hate winter-type weather, except when it's not blocking my driving.

On my project to do list:
Mushrooms in red, green, and purple for Ryan's ACen Shyguy (Mario games) costume
Fingerless gloves and Yoga socks for my Belldandy costume
Belldandy dress and accessories
Finish Robin coat
Fix Robin pendant
Grandma's Shawl (hopefully done in time for her birthday in August)
Gryffindor Hip House Scarf

And that's just the short list of things to finish within the next 5 months.

My queue on Ravelry has over 250 projects that I want to make (3 will be moved from queue to projects once I finish the short list.

Procrastination is Fun!

I still haven't finished typing up the pattern for my dishcloth. Too many fun things to distract me.

I'm still plugging away at my cosplays for ACen. I should have my Robin coat finished in the next day or two.

But most of my attention has been taken by an adorable crocheted cutie named Claude the Cactus (pattern available for free via Ravelry and the designers blog). Too much fun, but crocheting that tightly has really hurt my hands, so the original designer has given me permission to develop and publish on this blog a knit version of the cactus. First I just need to finish my own Claude.

Thank goodness for test knitting

Well I've finished up test knitting my Stargate dishcloth, and I'm really glad that I did before posting the pattern. It is so not a square dishcloth. The way I wrote the pattern originally it came out shorter than expected. I've found a couple of spots where adding a couple of extra rows will help to make the cloth closer to square and to add more definition to the symbol itself.

When I haven't been knitting I've been researching reasonably priced yarns to make striped scarves (a-la Harry Potter) featuring the school colors of local schools. I'm trying to offer the scarves in a variety of yarn types (wool, cotton, acrylic, etc.) to accommodate preferences, temperatures, and allergies. All while keeping the end product affordable. Which is why I will be getting a circular knitting machine (most likely a NSI Innovations) when my husband and I receive our tax refund.

Though, my attention is currently taken with working on my cosplay costumes for ACen 2008 in May. I'm really hoping I get the days off of work, though if it comes down to it I might just beg my manager.