janey-in-a-bottle

... it's been a while.
I can't believe I haven't posted anything since last August. Ooops?

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So, here's the deal:

I haven't finished anything crochet-related since back then (June, actually ), but I do have a WIP lying around that I should get back to. I will finish that. It's going to be a rather elaborate doll, so it's going to take a while.

But since my last submission here I haven't been idle.
I've started baking. Nothing too fancy, but I do have some photos of that. I also have a few unedited pics from last year's vacation that are rather nice.
Does anyone want to see those? Some food-related pics, landscapes, anaglyphs, macros?

I wouldn't feel quite as lazy, if I had something to post. But I wouldn't want the people who watch me for my crafts feel like they landed in the wrong place... Hmmm...

Thoughts?

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Apart from that:

I've started a little writing project at the beginning of the month. I'm writing exactly 100 words of original fiction per day and post them weekly over at Livejournal. Feel free to have a look: janey-p.livejournal.com/
(And I realize I have a WIP on there that I haven't updated since September... Let's hope I'll get back to that as well...)

Okay, so it's time for a new journal entry, I think.

Two topics, today: 1. "Anecdotes" about my recent life and 2. Updates on my crafting schedule.

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1. Life sucks, sometimes

Recently, I've had a few personal downs...
First it was pretty hot for about 2 weeks in May, which cost me a lot of sleep and drained all my motivation for my crafts. Same happened afterwards when the weather changed to almost contant rain. That ended in my projects going a lot slower than I would have liked. Now I'm about a month behind my schedule. *sigh*

This week, though only 2 and a half days in, has been the worst so far.
On Monday, on my way home from work, it rained so hard that not even my trusty rain jacket kept me dry. Arrived at home shivering and wet.
On Tuesday I thought to take the car to work, to prevent a similar disaster. But then my car wouldn't start, so I had to walk again. It was still raining and it was made worse by a truck splashing me when it drove past.
Didn't have time yet to let somebody have a look at my car, so I walked today, too. Let's just hope it won't rain again later. I'm so sick of all the water...

Something odd I've seen on my way to work: Next to a Chinese restaurant, a gully's been smoking since Monday morning. It doesn't smell like something burning, but it doesn't really look like steam either. Wonder where that comes from and why nobody does anything about it...

EDIT 2012-06-17:
Car is fixed now. Battery was dead. Not just discharged, but pretty much broken. So I got a new one and the car works as it should, again.

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2. Crafts

1 commission in the works (progress: )
1 commission coming up (tentative starting date: end of June)
1 contest entry for brookette.deviantart.com/journ… coming up (in July, if time permits)

There's another Challenge going on right now that I thought would end at the end of June, but now apparently ends on the 15th. I really would have liked to participate in this one, but there are only two days left. Hmmm... To try or not to try, that is the question...
EDIT 2012-06-16:
I did participate in the end. Made a doll in only 3 evenings - and a night. When I got to bed this morning, it was already light out again.
Result: fav.me/d53qy23
Turns out I wouldn't have had to hurry, as the deadline was pushed back again, after more people were confused with the date. Oh well... Might have done better without the rush, but then again, maybe not. Now that that's out of my system, I'll go back to my commission and do my best there.

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I take amigurumi commissions: Commission Information

So, last Wednesday my amigurumi frog prince got a DD.


When I noticed the increasing favs, a DD was my first thought, but then I thought "nah... not that one". But apparently it was deemed spectacular enough to be chosen.
For a last-minute project, finished in 2 days, I certainly never imagined it possible.
Not that I'm complaining. I was grinning most of Wednesday.

So, thanks to rockgem for suggesting and UnicornReality for featuring it.

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Now the update concerning my crafts:

My To-Do List is getting longer and longer...
Not counting current and upcoming commissions, art trades and contest entries, I have 14 projects lined up:

• 10 crochet projects. Those add up to at least 16 dolls, several emotes and 1 top.
• 2 sewing projects, which amount to 6 separate items.
• Then I want to get back into paper crafting (popup cards in particular). No clue how many I will make...
• And then there's a papier-mâché project I've planned for about 4 years now. It's really time to get started on that one. Let's hope I manage this year.

Commission and art trade status: (last edited: May 28th)

1 art trade in the works DONE and delivered
2 commissions coming up (1 confirmed)
1 contest entry DONE


I'll participate in contests as they strike my fancy ... and if I want to procrastinate on one of my projects. I've been doing that with the top I'm working on. Ever since February.

I certainly won't be bored any time soon.

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I take amigurumi commissions: Commission Information

... you spend too much time at the computer?

Answer: If you put honey in your tea and, when wanting to stir, you don't grab the spoon but the mouse to move the cursor in circles.


God, I need a vacation. Right now. Please?

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I take amigurumi commissions: Commission Information

If you want to commission me, note me with:

• which kind of the crocheted amigurumi below you'd like to purchase
• specifics like hair color/style, clothes, etc.
• if possible with references

I won't do any copyrighted characters, because I - obviously - don't have the copyright!
If it's your own character or something based on real life, I'll do it.


Payment:
I accept paypal. The moment I can start working on your plushie, I'll send you an invoice. I start as soon as the payment is done.

All prices PLUS shipping.
International shipping shouldn't be over $5, shippings to Germany should be between EUR 0,70 and EUR 1,65 - depending on size and weight of the plushie.

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All commissions I've finished so far can be viewed here: janey-in-a-bottle.deviantart.c…

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Dolls at 7" (18cm):

• basic: $50
• posable: + $5
• magnets: + $5
• $5 - $10 more, depending on amount of details

(the boy with the jacket would be + $5 for details)

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!!! NEW !!! Dolls at 5.5" (14cm):

• basic: $40
• posable: + $5
• with extras: $5 - $10 more, depending on amount of details

(doll as seen here would be $50; $45, if without the accessories - see lower left pic)

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Dolls at 4" (10cm):

• basic: $25
• clothed/with extras: $5 - $10 more, depending on amount of details

(first example is the basic one at $25, second example + $5)

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Dolls without legs at 3.5" (9cm):

• basic: $20
• extras: $5 - $10 more, depending on amount of details

(first example: $25, second: $30)

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Emotes, base size at 1.77" (4.5cm):

• basic: $15
• extras: $5 - $10 more, depending on amount of details
• Only your own designs or with permission of their creators!

(first example: $15, second: $20, third: $25)

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Animals small at 3" (8cm):

• basic: $15
• extras (like furry yarn): + $5

(first two examples: $15, third: $20)

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Animals medium at about 8" (about 20cm):

• starting at $35 (exact price up to negotiation)
• nothing with Very Thin Legs!

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Available Patterns:

• Emotes and Fella: FREE
  
• Scorpion pattern: $10
  
• Other patterns available on request. Feel free to ask.