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Work in Progress, post number 3

2010-06-10T05:13:00.000-04:00

We had company, which required me to make cookies and homemade potato chips (cause I rock) then I actually caught a few hours sleep. I'm very close to done, if it wasn't for that pesky sleep and visits from friends (♥) I'd still probably not be done. I took a small tantrum on the bottom left section of wings. It kept irritating me and I'm still not 100% happy with it, but it's about as close as possible without taking another year ;)

↓In my tantrum(s) at the feathers not looking right, I took them out, and put them back in, about 7 times, not easy, as I had to slice under to get them off, then hope I didn't tear anything on it's way out, and hope I didn't fudge the amount under the top layer of feathers on the way back in.

↓ Proof I did actually get it all together, and looking good. this is just the wings

↓ It took a bit of doing, trying to figure out the best way to do the teeth for the cogs for the top gear, I finally went strips of evenly rolled clay, cut to the same size little squares, and stacked them so they were as even as possible without measuring too much.

↓ I ran out of the special mix and & black clay while workin on the top part, so I grabbed some chunks of scrap out of one of my three (yes three) shoeboxes full of scraps. The scraps, when I rolled them out, had some bits of canes left on them. The face you see in the right sheet is from an old 'goth girl' cane from, um, over 5 years ago, possibly 6 or 7. I'll have to find some of my old canes, I know I have a box somewere of some I've worked on over the years.. Anyways, back to the ahnk

↓ I guess you could call this the final draft. the wings are done, the cogs cut and ready to place. I just need to squish the top teeth in, smooth everything out, and give the bottom cogs some height, so they're more even with the others. I'm thinking of using one of three ideas for the background. One, a generic texture, something that isn't too buzy and won't clash with the feathers. Two, painting something to go with the clockwork ankh. Three, using some of my scrap mokume gane from an old project. It's pretty sweet, gold leaf and translucent, so it's quite the shinny. The background will all depend on what the finished piece is going to look like, and that hasn't been decided yet.
Tomorrow will be dedicated to finishing the piece, then working out how to bake it. I'm not 100% it'll fit in our oven!

Continuation of Work In Progress

2010-06-07T14:03:00.001-04:00

So, obviously, just what the subject says, a continuation. This one with a little dialog on what I'm doing. First off, I'm using polymer clay, a mix of types. Since I covered the sketch with clay, I took one of the previous photos, snipped out the sketch, straighted it, and printed it up as a visual reference. Once I had a base layer of clay on, I sketched & cut out some gear templates, just cause it's easier to make it all match like that, then try to free hand all of them, and still make it all even.

↓base layer of clay on, checking layout with a few clay pieces & one of the paper templates

↓another layout check, this time with most of the clay bits, all laid out

↓took all the gears off, and got a thicker even layer for the wings, using wax paper to try to keep it as even as possible

↓wing segments drawn in, along with detail started on top left feathers

↓most of the top left feathers done

↓all the feathers done (except for the top two)

↓showing the detail in the feathers

↓with the gear pieces to check how it's all pulling together, make sure it's correct & all

That was all done between about 3ish am and 9am (I say 3ish, as I didn't check a clock on my way back out)

Going back out to the studio now to work on the bottom layer of feathers, then to tackle the top gear segment & see how it pulls together, then there's the thinking on what to do about the background.

A Current Work In Progress

2010-06-07T02:24:00.001-04:00

Really, real posts coming, I've got hundred projects in progress, but this is what I've been working on today, more photos later.

So it's been a while since my last post...

2009-05-20T16:37:00.000-04:00

I didn't mean it to be!
Things kept happening, I kept being sick (think I'm finally better) and just lots of crap.

So, me making it to the Maker Fair isn't happening. In trade, my other half helped chip in for a studio!
Yes, a real studio just for me!

Originally, we were looking around, but not sure what to get, then, finally figured out what I wanted, and what would fit. Then it was a matter of pricing. Lowe's and another local place wanted decent credit, and well, my credit, though in repair, and getting better, is not good enough for a building. So, we went another route.
There's a local place here in Athens, TN, the Athens Barn Center. They rent to own, with no credit check! So, after looking around their lot a few times, I knew what I wanted, but they didn't have one the size I wanted. No fear! They also build custom! Hell yah!
So, I had a custom Side Lofted Barn built, with a single door and two windows. It would have been here a week ago if not more sooner, but the weather has disagreed with me.
I've been totally impatient, waiting, but it finally got here today! I got a slight sunburn helping direct the driver in with it. Due to trees, it wasn't put in the spot I wanted, but close enough!

This weekend, we'll be going to Home Depot (Lowe's turned me down) to get insulation, and the wiring needed to wire it up for electricity! (yay!)
Here's some photos of what it looks like, and I'll be posting more as it gets finished!

I'm trying to make it to the Maker's Fair in San Fransisco!

2009-03-26T16:50:00.001-04:00

Which will cost a little bit of money, more than my usual sales can come up with. So, I'm running random sales, now through the end of April!

I'm also offering some major bonuses in my Etsy stores! (ZKitten and Chaotic Supplies)

ALL Orders
over $25 get free FC shipping!
over $50 get free priority shipping!
ALL orders
under $20 get a small bonus gift!
over $20 get a medium bonus gift!
over $50 get a medium/large bonus gift!
over $75 get a large bonus gift!
over $100 get multiple large bonus gifts!
ALL orders
over $20 get a certificate for 10% off their next order!
over $50 get a certificate for 20% off their next order!
over $100 get a certificate for $25 off their next order!

If I can work up enough money where I know I'll be able to make it (about $500 by late April) I'll also be the organizer for, and bringing items from various SteamTeam members from all over the world!

suicide sucks

2009-02-10T20:12:00.000-05:00

it's a really bad thing, and it happens when it shouldn't.
it's one of those things that should be able to be prevented. but it's not.
at least, not enough.

i just found out one of my friends, one of the few people i would trust with just about anything, committed suicide.

i'll be donating 50% of what I make at this v-day bash on saturday to samaritansri.org

i'll also be donating 50% of what I make for the next two weeks from either of my etsy stores.

if you aren't interested in buying something from me, i'd really like it if you could make a donation to them yourself.

http://www.samaritansri.org

Guess The Gears Contest Winner!

2009-01-27T11:19:00.000-05:00

First, I'd like to thank all of you who participated, and tried to guess the gears ;)
Now, you'll have to remember, I had not counted the gears before the start, so even I didn't know how many were in there. You may be surprised! I certainly was!

Final Total: 599,
yes 599 gears in a 2.5"X1"X1" container!

On to the winners!

Second Place-
DBVictoria (of Designs by Victoria) who had a guess of 697 and Dr. In Sectus of (In Sectus) with a guess of 527

Third Place-
Barbarella-The Mad Cat Lady (of CatNip Camera) who had a guess of 731 and Eve (of Saint Tattoo) with a guess of 402

And The Winner-
with a guess of 597 is Amber G!
She has won a $50 gift certificate!

I hope all of you had fun! The next Contest will be in March!

Custom Work out the Wazoo

2009-01-21T21:16:00.000-05:00

I just like having a reason to use wazoo, it's fun.
Anyways, what am I up to?
Taxes. Ug. I'm going to leave it at that. I wish I had a CPA's brain to pick about a few things. I went into H&R Block, and was told that since I spent alot more than I made, I didn't have to file this year. But I also had a short Stimulous check last year, which qualifies me for the Recovery Rebate Credit, and to do that, I need to file my taxes. Sooo, I'm sorting through all the free online ways to do it, as well as reading reviews for software and companies. *sigh* I didn't want to, but if I want that credit, I'm going to have to break down and figure out what to use/do, and get those taxes filed.

Lessee...
Well, I'm also up to the wazoo (teehee) in custom work!

I'm working on some stuff for AFP, I originaly had a pile of DD and PWT things I was working on, but I wasn't fully happy with how it was all coming out (like, 15 different things, of which, only about 3 were ok enough for me)..
Right now, I've got all sorts of various things in the works having to do with AFP, and so far, all are cool! (More on that at a later date.)

I seriously LOVE custom work. If I had enough people asking for custom stuff, I would happily make custom things 24/7! Today, I got a great custom request, actualy, three requests, and these are the first delineations,

It's late, and big words are funny to me, delineations!
I've got the cogs/gears all ready, but I now have get to sculpt some new wings, and since I've been meaning to do that, well, it just adds more to the happy :)

For those local, I should be at Temple this Saturday, and (providing I make it) I'll have my wares with me, and will be taking custom orders for Valentine's Day, as I'll be vending at Forbidden Fruit (Temple's big bash) that day!

Oh! Don't forget! The Guess The Gears Contest is over on January 25th! Get your vote in!

Recent Work

2009-01-15T13:15:00.000-05:00

I've been working on a million things, and I'm particularly proud of this one.
It's a winged heart, with gears in the somewhat off white heart, with faded blue wings...
Now, hover over the image ;)

Cool huh? The first image, shot in normal lighting, the second, pitch dark! :D
I'm working on some right now, and should have some up to buy soon, but I'm setting aside a bunch for Forbidden Fruit, the valentine's day Temple (an alternative dance night in Knoxville) where I'll be vending..

Another one- This is a set of butterfly wings, you can't see any of the glowing details (three colors) though I'll try to maybe get a video of the colors, and get a cap off it.

Guess the Gears

2009-01-12T08:55:00.000-05:00

This is the first of many contests that I'll have this year. This first one, should be fun! :)
If you haven't guesses, it's called Guess the Gears!
I have a container here, 1"X1"X2.5", full of gears, the following photographs are of the container, and if requested, I can take more, and video, again, if requested.

Contest: Guess the Gears
How long is it: Two weeks, the contest will end January 25th, and the winner announced the 26th.
How to Enter: Place a guess at how many gears are in the container in the entry form at the bottom of the page.
Prize: A Gift Certificate good in any of my stores! How much? This all depends on how many entries. 0-20 Entries a $25GC; 20-50 Entries a $50 GC; 51-100 entries, a $75 GC ; 100+ a $100 GC)

On to the gears!

[gallery link="file" columns="2"]

Another First Post

2009-01-09T13:56:00.000-05:00

Why another? It's simple, because this site has had so many incarnations, it really isn't a true 'first post', rather, as stated, Another First Post. So, anyways, I'll be posting here instead of all the random places I've been keeping up. Yes the main part of the site is still down, as I'm still working on the store (making it all integrated, and pretty).

Um.. I'm so bad at this, this being making blog posts. Anyone who knows of me from the far and away times in school, may know that I would have aced alot of classes, if I could write out what I knew. Always been a slight problem of mine. I'm much better at just outlines, rather than a whole written report, or whatnot. So, I guess I'll do what everyone else does, for now.

I'm Z, or ZKitten, or whathaveyou, I spend all my time making things, and occasionally selling them as well. What have I been up to lately? Alot, and not alot, all at once. I've been doing alot of graphics work for people, and helping some basic coding for Myspace pages.

I've also been cleaning. This is the hardest task. Why? ... Well.. I get so involved in one project, then need a break, and get totally involved in another, and I don't want to mess up the first, so I leave it be, and work on the second. This keeps going until I've got probably dozens of projects in the works, none done, many halfway to almost done, and many only in the first stages. This leads to a bit of a mess.. ok, a lot of a mess.

To combat all my projects that are trying to take over the house, I've started another project, but this one is a small building one. To deal with all my supplies, my other half and I built 6' tall by 4' wide shelves to hold all my boxes of supplies. This helped tremendously with being able to find things (for the most part). This new project, I'm working on is a set of smaller shelves inside one of the larger ones. They're small and lightweight (being made of balsa wood) and each shelf will hold a project. This is mainly for my small glass, clay and beading projects. I'm also plotting to build a similar one for my resin table, to help clear that up a bit. Ah, my resin table. It's a small white computer desk, that sits in the kitchen. It holds my resin, most of my pigmented and metallic powders, along with various assortments of little things I use for them. I also store, and build there my custom molds, made from my own sculpts (and those of others who commission them)

Until we have the space, I do all my work (non-resin) sitting on the couch. It's really the only place I have to work. My storage area is quite small, and there isn't enough room in the kitchen for another table. To help combat the lack of space, my next big project is the deck. Our current deck,.. it's falling apart, it's quite old, and has had many carpenter bees make it their home over the years. I also don't like working outside on it because of nature. Usually I love nature, but when nature comes in the form of a wasp almost as long as my middle finger, and can cause a sting that can make even me scream, I tend to not like it. SO, to deal with it all, lack of work space, wasps, oh, and the weather, I'm closing it in. First I'll be replacing the worn & breaking pieces, along with extending it a bit towards the side yard. Then I'll be adding all around the edge, screen, along with a couple doors, (one for each side, so, 3) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing for the top, but that's not a huge concern. Along with all of this, I'm adding a small workbench against the wall of the house. To keep everything save, I'll have folding doors to go around the bench area, so if people come over, or the cat gets out, nothing (and noone) will be hurt. This bench will hold my bench tools (obviously), along with the larger tools & bequipment I can't set up indoors (no room) like my brandy new bench grinder I got for christmas (thanks to the boyfriend's amazing dad!) I'll also have an area set up for my kiln, with a small area near it, to hold projects going in and out of the kiln.

What else.. Oh, besides all my hobbies and work, I also help admin some sites, one specifically is fantastic, the Etsy Steam Team! (etsysteamteam.com) The EST does take alot of my time, but I have gotten the site just about set up so that our members are responsible for adding and editing the content, and with the site about done, I can work on other things, like my site.

Ok, I think that's enough for now. So, I'm going to go keep working on the site!