Visit my shop and find a perfect gift for that special someone!  This weekend, use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY for 10% off your order!  

Things have been quiet around here...I've been hugely busy!  With work, of course (On the Town techs in two weeks, and we have more stuff to build than I care to think about right now), but also getting ready...

I'll be selling at the IndieMade Craft Market the first weekend in December (1&2), so I've been furiously planning my display and trying to pad my inventory (at the moment, working on snowflakes, chain maile, and glass pendants).  I've been doing that most evenings lately.  It's a neat show -- if you're anywhere in the area, definitely give it a look.  Two of my colleagues will also be appearing on Sunday. www.indiemadecraftmarket.com/

The latest news though -- I JUST found this out about 10 minutes ago and it's still just sinking in -- is that I was accepted as a vendor at WickedFaire!  Yes, THAT WickedFaire.  I haven't quite wrapped my head around this yet...I'll need to see what sells best in December...work on my book safes...order more colored rings...bulk order supplies for necklaces...maybe make some tiny top hats?  Anything Steampunk will sell...right now my brain is running in circles around my living room and my feet are very tempted to follow!  (Good thing I checked the spam on my seller email!)  wickedfaire.com/

And so that you're not left with a picture-less post...tonight's project:

New projects

My new superhero pendants...in progress! Am I missing anyone important?

The shoes I finally finished last week!  Copper polka-dot hearts, hand stenciled by me!

 

New project -- guess what I'm doing!

Latest project

I'm stymied by a lack of blue rings, but tonight's work: 

 

Should be up on Etsy soon...keep an eye out!  Thoughts?

VERY Sneak Preview...

...because it's work in progress! 

I made my first few sales this weekend!  (Finally!)  The Steampunk shoes (the ones that didn't make the cut for Famine) are on their way to France (!), a poptab bracelet is headed to Mass., and a skate wheel bearing necklace will be making a new home in upstate NY.  Still waiting on another sale -- I woke on Friday with a request for one of my items to relocate to Australia!

On a not entirely related note, one of our local theatres brought The Avengers back for a few weeks, so we FINALLY went to see it last night.  (I'd seen the first few scenes on the flight home from LA, and while I could almost entirely follow what was going on without the sound, it WAS lacking.)  First off, it was quite enjoyable without being over-the-top Whedonesque, though peppered just enough with those gems he's known for to make it fun.  Secondly, I came up with what could be a brilliant idea...or a terrible one...or one that, like many of my ideas, is ahead of its time (meaning that it's ignored or mocked NOW, until in 5 years it's what EVERYONE is doing).  Still waiting on some materials, should be previewing a prototype or two soon though!  Stay tuned!

Allentown Fair

I didn't take many pictures on Tuesday because I was a bit disgusted about how my other pieces did, but, I did place in several categories in the Allentown Fair!  I'll go around this weekend and take more pictures, but for now, the coup de gras:

One of Phil's vests won first in the vest category.  We had to hunt for ten minutes for it -- the place isn't very organized, so it was up high on a wall, far away from other like items, and sort of behind a bunch of quilts.  I'll have to get a picture of where it is.  Whoever touched it also left it hanging on the hanger looking just awful. 

In other news, I finally made my first sale on Etsy, and have another (international) pending!  I've also listed some new and interesting goodies, AND...

.....

....Am running a sale this weekend only!  Enter the code laborday2012 to receive 10% off any item in the shop!

New Items and a SALE!

New things are up in the Etsy Shop!  Take a look:  

 Blue Cluster Earrings

 Steampunk tin

 Plastic lacing

 Poptab Bracelet

You didn't think that was all, did you?   This weekend the shop will be having a sale -- !0% off everything with the coupon code laborday2012.  Now is the time to snap up some goodies...and check out what new stuff I'll be adding!  Here are a few hints....

Sellin' the Ipod!

So I'm selling my 32 gig current gen IPod Touch, since I got an IPhone and don't need yet another device.  This thing was replaced less than a year ago (the original had a hardware issue and a brand new one issued by Apple to me), has no scratches or dings on the screen, and only a few blemishes on the back.  Runs perfectly.  I can include the USB cable, earbuds (that I think I might have used once, if at all), maybe the manual (I can't remember if I still have it, but can hunt it down if there is interest), AND the case (a vertical flip, has a bit of wear but still in great shape).  I've also very recently added a screen protector ($20 value).  Will restore software to factory new before sale.  Asking $200.

The Coat!!

Finally, GOOD pictures of the completed coat!  I took these under varying light conditions in an attempt to capture how the wings look under various lights...it still just needs to be seen in person to be truly appreciated.  Going up today on my Etsy!

No flash, fluorescent light:

Fluorescent light + flash:

Flourescent light, no flash:

Direct sunlight, no flash:

Indirect sunlight, no flash:

Shade, no flash:

Yay finished!

So it's a gorgeous day...I should be outside enjoying the end of summer somehow, but instead, I stayed in and painted...this:

Soon to be for sale at my Etsy shop!

In just a few days I'll be headed to the west coast for Costume College!  This is the second time I'll be attending this conference; this time, I'm teaching, and I'm beyond excited!  There are lots of fascinating classes being offered, including mine -- which I need to finish setting up!  It'll be quiet around here for the next couple of weeks, but just sit tight -- there are AMAZING pictures to come!

Not my project, but I've contributed!

The Peacock Dress

The site will tell you all you need to know, but the takeaway is that the Peacock Dress is a work in progress; Catharine Hay of England is reproducing it stitch by stitch as a fundraiser for rebuilding after that huge earthquake in Haiti.  

I actually saw this dress when it was on loan to the Met Museum several years ago.  I don't remember it, but I must have seen it -- I snapped an illicit picture of it with my phone, so I must have been impressed to risk the wrath of the Costume Institute security guards!

She is teaching a class at Costume College about how to make the metalwork embroidery peacock feathers; I don't embroider, but am terribly excited to take the class and learn how -- and also to meet Catharine!  She is the reason why I know about Costume College, and has joined the ranks of My Personal Heroes.

My intern/model Lydia shows off my latest creation -- project is part of a favor for a grad school comrade.

Preview!

Posted some more goodies in my Etsy shop....and enjoy some sneak previews of items not yet listed!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MagiciansAssistant

Come shopping!

I've listed more items in my Etsy shop!  Do stop by and see what's there...and come back soon, I'll be listing more hopefully by the end of the week!  (I have a vast stock of things I need to list, so there's a LOT to come!)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MagiciansAssistant

Back, with projects!

Summer theatre, while not at a close, is winding down for me - the last show opened this week, so it's light duty while it runs then a break!  I've already completed a couple of my own projects, with more to come!

My new vest

And two little wrist cushions for using my mouse.

Phil's white vest...almost done.  It would have been done a month ago if I hadn't had to fight an epic battle with those pockets.

Phil's new buddy...

Phil was out working on his new bike last night, when what should land on the planter nearby but....

 Yup, that's a pigeon, just a couple of feet away.

This bird stuck around for something like an hour, in spite of movement, noise, things dropping, him hitting the planter (incidentally, not on purpose), and me opening the door 5 feet away and coming out to help. At some point my head was about 18" away from it.  Yes, it was alive -- it was looking around and moving while it was sitting there, and eventually flew away after whacking its head on the porch ceiling about 50 times.  I've dubbed him "Sir Gives No Fucks." 

Not much new to report at the moment...been too busy working on A Midsummer Night's Dream for work.  Check out what we're working on -- it's really neat!

Phil's new polarfleece Jedi bathrobe...which will look much better on him and not a too-small women's dressform.

Not my project but...

 

The Magician finished his project -- a Lego X-Wing I gave him for Valentine's Day!  Who would guess that you could still make two (we had friends over) grown men so happy with frickin' Legos?

WickedFaire

Has now been and gone...not quite as good as last year, but we looked fantastic!  I didn't take as many pictures as I have in past years; for now, I'll just be posting the relevant ones -- the four of us as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!

 Me -- Famine

 Ria -- War

 Kara -- Death

 Phil -- Pestilence