I've just (finally) signed up for a DeviantArt account.  Hopefully I'll update regularly!  

Give me a look!

Sorry for the radio silence on here -- like I've mentioned before, it's tough to update this site through my phone, so there are more steps involved when I want to post.  I've recently opened up a Facebook page for The Magician's Assistant, which I update quite regularly.  Please stop by and check it out!

The Magician's Assistant on Facebook

Shop Amazon!

Shop Amazon! I buy a lot of supplies through Amazon, like jewelry clasps and other findings.  It's a one-stop shop for what I need and the prices tend to be quite competitive.  

Since blogger is weird about letting me post from my phone, I haven't been updating nearly as often as I'd like.  I have, however, been updating my Ravelry profile with all sorts of things I've been knitting and crocheting lately -- go here and see what I've been working on!

Almost here...

Wickedfaire is less than two weeks away!  I've been furiously crafting to make sure I'm ready...given how busy we are at work, I doubt I'll be as ready as I'd like to be!  Lots of jewelry, but some new goodies too, as you can see below....

 

Hopefully I won't be bringing ANYTHING home!  (If I do, it will of course be offered in my Etsy shop.)

 

I'm also going to be offering custom-made corsets when I'm there...I love doing corsets, so I hope Fairegoers get as excited as I am!  I'll be offering both over- and under-bust styles, in a variety of colors and prints...with the option of completely custom designs!  

Below is some of my past work -- something even more amazing could be yours!

We were given tickets (Phil's birthday gift) to a Next Iron Chef event being held in conjunction with Food Network's NY Food and Wine Festival in October. All of Iron Chefs and contestants had booths with a sample of their work...with only a few very notable exceptions, it was, as you would expect, amazing!  I had the camera (and a lot of the pictures I had to doctor -- the lighting was awful), so lots of photos of Phil and the chefs -- his deal, so I'm ok with it!  (We know he's the more photogenic of the two of us, anyway.)

Phil with Iron Chef Forgione

Us with Alton Brown!

Phil with...Elizabeth Falkner?  I think?

Chef Appleman at work

Phil with the original, Iron Chef Morimoto! 

Phil with Giada -- we spotted her in the crowd and I made him bother her.

Phil with Chef Guaranchelli -- Spoiler alert, she won.

Phil with his choice for winner, Chef Mehta.  Not pictured: my choice, Chef Mehndelsohn.

Morimoto at work

Phil with Iron Chef Zakarian (who was handing out pink bandaids from a tub large enough to drown in)

We pose with their promo

The back room where the Iron Chefs were set up -- you can barely see how packed the room was.

Phil with Iron Chef Michael Symon

The chefs present that evening.

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: