I Often Make These Corroded Masks To Use Parts Of A Hide Of Leather That's Got Some Surface Imperfection.

I often make these corroded masks to use parts of a hide of leather that's got some surface imperfection. I'll position the rusting-away part of the mask over an area with nicks or blemishes, and the dye tends to accentuate it nicely.

This version of this mask is re-drawn so it works with glasses, too.

Etsy link!

Testing out making leather masks sized to fit fursuit heads, and I think it worked pretty well! I think I'll have a small stack of them at my table at Anthro New England!

I could do any of my small masks like this, so if you’re going and would like a specific design/color, let me know and I can make one for you. Otherwise I’ll just have a mix of colors and styles to choose from.

Since I expect there's a lot of variation in fursuit face shapes and sizes, I think the way it'll work is to bring them dyed+sealed, but not formed, and the process will involve meeting with people in the evening to saran wrap their heads and form the leather, then they bring it back to their rooms and let it dry for a few hours.

This last weekend I was in the dealers’ den at Anthro New England. It was my first time vending at a furry convention, and it went pretty well! I sold a bunch of masks, took a couple tail commissions, and got some art from neighbor vendors.

Between this and Arisia last month, it was good to get some insight into which sorts of things in my line of products resonate with people in those contexts. The most popular things for catching peoples’ eyes were the robot dragon drone hood, scale tail, and pet rocks; while the things that sold the quickest were the raven skull masks, scale mail bracelets, and leather fortune cookies.

I’ll definitely be looking into more conventions and other venues to sell stuff at. The big challenge will be logistics--since I don’t have a car (it’s way more trouble than it’s worth when living in Boston), getting myself to non-local cons will require making better friends with people who go places and carpooling. (Or I guess learning to drive and renting a car, but that’s even more expenses.)

I’ll also need to think about how to diversify my product range, because it’s definitely true that only a relatively small minority of people will actually buy a mask, even if they really like it. So I may resume working on everyday-carry sorts of things, like the notebook covers I’ve done in the past. I’d kinda like to do more leather bracelets again, but last time I had them at a con I only sold like 2 of them, so that didn’t seem to be a winner.

I’ll also be looking into cons with art shows, because I think the big hoods may have a better chance at selling in that sort of context.

Anyway, things were fairly successful on the whole, and over the next couple months  I’ll be mulling over how to improve more.

I am opening for dragon tail commissions! My plan is to take on 3 commissions to be completed by Christmas.

If you’re interested, check out this info page, and fill out this form with what you’d like. Deadline to put your request in is Sunday night, November 24.

Nail this under your chimney and wait for Santa to slide down and stuff something fun into your stocking. What do you want bound up under your tree when Christmas morning comes around?

I was a bit late on my holiday joke item this year, but this kinky leather Christmas stocking is ready to ship out immediately!

Here’s the Etsy link!

This was my table setup last weekend at Arisia! The convention was a bit smaller than it was in previous years, but my sales were OK. I focused mostly on leather masks this year, and considering I ended up right next to two nice chainmail vendors, so that was a good choice. 

The big showpiece masks I had didn’t end up selling, so I’ll have them at Anthro New England next month. (I’ll hold off on listing them for sale online until after that.) Gonna have to restock on medium-sized masks for that. Though I do have an idea for another big mask/hood I’d like to make for that too.