Warning. Incoming Convention

Looks like it's finally time.

Dear Olympian gods on your funky mountain, my legs are tired. And I haven't even been to the con yet. I have, however, been running up and down two flights of stairs for the past four hours trying to pack everything and anything.

It's all good now.... I think. I know I am missing something. But it's all in that just about to be full packed stage which can't be done until one is about ready to leave so it's making me edgy.

That, and my mind is a combination of I'M GONNA SELL EVERYTHING I BE RICH to NO ONE WANTS TO BUY ANYTHING WHY AM I DOING THIS?

I need to think about something else of a while I think.

Mobilize.

Okay. Okay.

Though I still feel like I should knock out some more...somethings, the time limit is making me antsy for getting everything sort out and ready to pack, so I am switching gears.

And making cornbread for tonight's Victoria day gathering.

Most I am uselessly going between rooms with a notebook making redundant lists of stuff I need. 

I know I am forgetting something obvious but I don't know what that is.

How unfocused.

Maybe I'll sew business cards. That will be productive.

The Final week.

Okay.

Animenorth is what, 5 days away? Totally workable.

Today was.... I suppose productive. I was out for the majority, so really anything I accomplished today was merely a pleasant bonus. 

I scampered around the house trying to chose what to wear to the con for the three days. While not in costume, I feel an outfit that is functional and one that displays ones wares is the most effective. I think I've decided to do a Legend of Zelda casual outfit (basically what I wore to the Symphony of the Goddesses), my Impala costume from Halloween with slight modifications, and one that's really just designed to show off my spats in all their fabulousness. As such, I needed to cut and fray check a ribbon for the co-coordinating supernatural cuff, and I just whipped up a triforce cuff for me personally which is currently drying as well.

I might work on my signage a bit tonight too, since I plan on having just clip art of Loftwings and Chocobos to draw attention to their associated fascinators. Pricing signage too.

Last bit of the display should be finished tomorrow then I can run a mock up to make sure everything is going to fit as planned,

Then it's just any last minute additions and then making sure I've got it all together by Thursday. Doable, I hope.

Off the Cuff - This time with more lace

I rarely get a lot of sewing work done once I am home from my day job, because frankly, my legs are tired and there isn't much energy around elsewhere either. But, somehow I managed to whip up the last three vintage lace cuffs I need to make.

And by last, I mean, no more. The vintage lace I saved from Costume Con is now used up save for a small bit left for me personally. Get 'em while they're hot because when they are gone, they are gone.

Off the Cuff Part... *shrugs*

Triforce cuffs complete, and currently drying.

Just had enough ribbon for all of them. Just. Which is good....except FanExpo's overhead is going to be that much higher if (when!) I need to make more.

That leaves the Supernatural set to be decorate...because I think I grommeted them already? Right? And then I should knock off a pair of Attack on Titan ones.

After that, it's a few more flowers and....that could be it? I think that's all I planned on making?

Still have to finish up the display, maybe tomorrow. I just need to figure out the spacing of the magnets and then glue them on. Then last coat of paint and that's done too.

Oh. Business cards. Need to sew them.

Animenorth is sneaking up, but no panic yet. 

Stand up.

Alright! Two cups of coffee in, (which is two cups of coffee more than I usually drink on a daily basis) and our display stand is 75% finished!

Just need to paint the two support slats, string the ribbon supports and then attach magnets - the latter I require more of since the magnetic tape I bought is about as weaksauce as you can get. so the backup magnets will have to do.

I still need to make things like pricing tags and signs, but that I can do after I do a test run of it all. And of course, finish the products to go on said support stand. I didn't really do that much more than grommeting this weekend, but I should be able to do bits and pieces of it around the rest of the week. Once I get my tutoring notes ready for this week at any rate.

Hm. Yeah, so finish up grommeting, then trimming the cuffs. I have also three of those vintage lace cuffs to do, which are going to be the last of those ever since I'm gotten to the end of that yardage. Shame, I do like it, but I'm glad that I bought when I did so many people have been able to share in it's awesomeness.

Ah well, onwards.

Target Reached.

Blisters....avoided. But only just.

All four pairs of Hyrule's Triforce and the two singles of Lorule's Triforce cuffs have been grommeted. That's enough of that for today, or at least for the next few hours until the rub marks go away. Meanwhile, time to get started on the decorative parts of those cuffs, and perhaps start on some of the display stand work. I could use a good hour of painting.

Taking advantage of the weekend.

Free weekend, with no social plans means "Get to work on your art stuff, less you panic when the con comes around the corner."

And so far, that plans has held.

I managed to snag two black headbands from Fabricland, so I could finally put the two Muskoka's on their mounting. I still need another, but I haven't made the base yet, so at least it's not hanging around incomplete.

Whipped up a Loftwing in Zelda's colours. Love it.  I think I'm out of feathers at this point, but the temptation to make more is high. But I need to switch gears now any.

Oh, and a Jupiter Ascending inspired haircomb is currently curing as we speak. It's....kinda fabulous. Shame that it's probably going to be the only one I'll be able to make like that. But it was worth the glue burns I think. Not sure how much to sell it for though.

Tomorrow is cuff day. Get those bases sewn together, and pressed out. That should take awhile.
Maybe if it's nice enough outside, I can open a window while ironing.

Bird Brained.

Seriously.

I need to stop with the birds. While this week was draining enough I didn't get to make anything, I did come with the idea of a Loftwing clip or two, and went ahead and bought the material I needed for it, regardless if it actually works out in real life as oppose to just the sketch I made.

Meanwhile, while the freshly handwashed fabric happily spins in the drier (and my hands warm up from the freezing water bath) I shall gather my thoughts and make MOAR OF ALL THE THINGS!

That, and I have frames to paint.

Allons-y!

Caw-Caw!!

I think I have a slight obsession making bird fascinators now.

My chocobos have been joined by a hawk and a peacock. I have no idea whether or not any of these are going to sell, but I can't stop. Birds for all my customers!

At this rate, I shall make 151 different versions of them, and collecting all of them will unlock a SUPER fascinator that can casts Lit-3! (No.)

... I really should switch to cuffs now, but I just want to go back to Sussman's and buy more feathers.

Shiny!

Golden Chocobo fascinator complete.

Even more fascinators!

Okay, so I might have everything I need to create a Golden Chocobo fascinator. If I'm lucky, maybe even two, but if it turns out the way I've planned in my head, it will be darling.

Two Muskoka bases are complete and drying, I just need the headbands to finish them up.

That means, two more to make up after that, and maybe a few more smaller clips, before I move into cuff country.

Good.

Simply fascinating.

Whelp, I made some fascinators.

Or rather I made 1 entire fascinator, and finished the other 3 that I had started like two weeks ago, but couldn't finish until I bought the missing pieces. Fortunately, my Queen St run yesterday proved to be pretty successful, and therefore allowing me to finish the aforementioned pieces.

That completes the plan Chocobo Set - 8 in total, though I do have supplies left for more.
A red and black fascinator joins its blue and black sibling.
A random yellow and black hairclip kinda formed out of nowhere and is quite lovely.
A hair flower also crashed the party.

I still have Muskoka's to make and other fascinators to do, and I think I'll exhaust myself on those before I enter back into cuff country.

I am very pleased how under budget I currently am, and I hope it stays this way.

That sweet, sweet melt of molten glue.

It's the smell of success, you know.

...or just the smell of a hot glue working overtime, which can lead to the same thing.

2 black chocobo and/or raven fascinators finished. They're cute in black.

1 Earth tone fascinator also complete.

Tentative idea for a black lace bracelet or two

All and all, a good start. Time to do a little more.

This time, I mean business

Mainly because we are in business.

Last night's panic session paid off and we successfully made the cut for Animenorth Crafter's Corner. Now wonderfully thrilled, Magic and Stitchcraft will now have two conventions again this year!

So, now this means there is a booth to design, merchandize to create and I think a site/blog that I might put on tumblr for exposure. I'm not etsy level yet, but I think having something on a major social media site will be to my benefit. I really need to look into it anyway.

But of course, in the end, I need stuff to sell, so I really need to hunker down on returning products and new designs. I have two chocobo fascinators which I still need to finish and then I can start on some fresh stuff.

It's full steam ahead now!

Starting the New Year

Okay.

Hello 2015.

Let's be friends, okay?

As such, let's begin. My silent New Year's goal to myself, was to be more on top of my crafting - with our FanExpo booth all but assured, I at least can take some confidence in the fact I will have some sort of booth this year, and any and all crafting I undertake will be displayed. Normally, everything pins down to Animenorth and whether or not we can get a table there, which following as intense rush of alchemy in about two months time.

We will be applying to Animenorth again with held breath, and crossed fingers but at least I can start making things now for August and if luck is on our side, be that much more prepared for May.

So. Let's begin now.

And, actually, I have. 6 Chocobo fascinators are now in their hatchling stages,of the currently 8 I have planned. I figure if I do a bit each once and a while I'll have them done nicely in between work, my tutoring jobs and life, the universe and everything else.

That's positive, right?

Go go go!

Today, I am a machine.

The table cloth is stitched, 4 pairs of cuffs have been grommeted, 2 pairs trimmed, 6 more pinned awaiting the stitching of the trim and I still have a teeny bit of energy left to finish some hand work. I am very pleased. Stressed because I have SO much stuff to do still, but the day was not wasted.

Carrying on!

The Post Convention Report

Few days later, but eh, it's been a busy week.

So we successful completed our second ever vend! It went pretty solidly - cleared my overhead, made some profit, so all in all a success. My only surprise was what sold and what didn't. Spats were on fire last year, and yet this year there was only a passing interest. Luckily my fascinators made up for it (Phew.) I introduced new cuff styles, with the triforce and fox patterns selling the best, and supernatural chasing at its heels. Not so much for the white/black/red combo which surprised. me. I suppose its a learning curve this. Ash did very well, also. Again, the only thing was what sold, and in what quantity that was surprising.

Either way, we are trying for next year!

Other than that, I consumed ramune and onigiri as per custom for every Animenorth. Bought more buttons for my button bag, and finally bought a simple triforce necklace which I am rather fond of. I did change the cheapy little chain that came with it, for the sole real gold one I possess, and it classes it up nicely. 

Now, Magic and Stitchcraft is eagerly waiting for news on FanExpo. They said we'd here in the next few weeks. Fingers Crossed!

Magic and Stitchcraft at Anime North!

Today's the day! In a few hours, the wonders and delights of Spectacular Accessories is coming to an Anime North near you!

Fascinators? How Fascinating!
Flowers for the hair, flowers for the jacket!
Lovely cuffs with lovely trims!
And Spats. Limited in Quantity. Special, Unique. SPAT-ACULAR!!!!

It's madness!

It's Magic and Stitchcraft!

See you in Crafter's Corner!

*twitch twitch*

In the name of Victoria and the Goddess of Victory, I dedicated this day to the Art. All of it. At least I feel like I accomplished things?

All the fascinators are done, all the cuffs finished (bar ribbons), two sets of spats complete and curing (bar ribbons), two more with the trims and decorating to do. Those I hope to knock off tomorrow. I plan wednesday morning for ribbon cutting, and Thursday for mop up. Perhaps I can squeak a few more somethings in.

Maybe.

I feel like I need more stuff. Not sure what else I can do under the time though.

Excited to be doing this again though. Despite the constant work, it's very satisfying.

Just need to endure work tomorrow and then I can get back to it.

OH. Need to hit the bank at one point this week. Need to make a float.

Now. Shower. Then more stitching?