Where did January go?

Boy, it has been a while since updates... Bad Zura...

We've been trying to get back into our more normal habits and life since around the end of November, and finally started to get back on track.

The beginning of winter wasn't easy for us - we said goodbye to two of our four-footed furry friends. We expected to say goodbye to Rush, but Aria was a bit of a surprise.

While Karma's parents were away on vacation at the end of November, we had to take one of our fuzzy girls in for an ear infection. The kennel's employee asked us to take one of the family's kennel dogs in as well - she hadn't been eating well and seemed to have trouble breathing. We were surprised to learn that she had a very advanced and diffused cancer that was interfering with her breathing. We made the choice to say goodbye, as any treatment we could have given her would have only prolonged her life by a week or two at most. She went over the rainbow bridge quickly and painlessly while we rubbed her ears and told her how much we loved her.

About a month later (while we were on vacation just at the end of the year), we got the call that Rush had taken a turn for the worse. We knew it would be coming for a while (he was 14 years old, after all), just not when. We had taken care of him as best we could, trying to find ways to ease his pain and tempt him to eat with all manner of things he didn't normally get to taste. While we may have had to say goodbye from afar, we hope that he knows how much he was loved.

After returning from our vacation, we've had several general check-up doctor appointments, car check-ups, house repair and that kind of fun stuff to deal with. Now we're getting our workspace reorganized and making some new goodies!

Keep an eye on this space - there will be more to come!

Modified Belt Pouch with Lanyard

This was created on request - a pouch that hangs by a lanyard with spring clip. It has a large button on the front flap and a loop of lace that holds it closed. Measures about 5"x6"

Karma & Zura Badges 

These were actually made last summer - just forgotten to post (oops). Carved and painted acrylic details made for some nice convention badges!

Framed Carvings - Cross (left) & Wolf (right)

These were made as gifts for Karma's family. The cross is carved and detail painted with oil-based dye and a little gold metallic on the cross itself. The wolf is oiled and left natural color. Both were presented matted and framed.

Celtic Bookmark

 Latest complete commission - Triquetra and Celtic inspired bookmark. Antique saddle tan dyed.

Happy Birthday, Hila!

A bit belated, but she won't mind :)
Our little fuzzball turned 1 year old on Halloween! She's gotten so big...
We celebrated with our pack of dogs - they each got a "Pupcake" with their names written in doggie-safe icing. Yeah, sometimes Zura goes a little overboard...

She also adores hunting the local wildlife. She'd rather run around the yard like a maniac chasing a mouse while Zura chases her than come inside at night -.- It's a good thing we like her so much...

Anyways, back to work!

What a summer!

Well, our "convention season" is over now, and it was quite a ride! Thank you to everyone who came to visit us at our Dealer's table or just say hello at Anthrocon or Eurofurence <3 Since conventions are both work and vacation for us, we love hanging out with everyone out of dealer's hours, and talking shop at our table!

We are still caring for our grumpy old husky - Rush - and Zura has had the (bad) luck to be down with two rounds of bronchitis during September. Fun times there... But, she's finally back on track and getting down to business!

Quite a few messages have gone out in the last few days to folks who wanted to have a commission slot. We'll be either firming up details or requesting information, so if you talked to us about a slot between June and late August, be on the look out for a message from Zura or Karma!

Here is our current list and progress, keeping in mind that we normally have several projects in progress at a time.

In Progress as of Sept 29, 2013: (no particular order)
Completed: RF - Custom Kindle Cover (Prototype) - Shipped, awaiting confirmation
Slot #1: MidnightDraven - Bridle for Suit - Due: TBD Model in progress, pending measurements
Slot #2: Cyfur - Double Sided Keychain - Due: Fall Model awaiting approval

Slot #3:  WolfBrothren  - Bookmark -  Due: Fall  Model approved
Slot #4:  Behemel  - 2pc Book Cover, custom -  Due: Fall  
Slot #5:  TheWolfGuy  - Revised custom sketchbook cover -  Due: Fall  Info updated
Slot #6:   SL Panthera  - Custom sized keychain -  Info requested
Slot #7:   Cilimantris  - Double-sided keychain -  Info requested
Slot #8:  Littlewoof (Chibi)  - Carved Badge -  Info requested
Slot #9:   Fanghorn  - Carved Badge -  Info requested
Slot #10:  Q-dk  - Carved Badge -  Model in progress

Wooo boy, that's a lot of stuff...

On Hold:  
Flowkitty  - Custom Belt Pouch

Aloha, Eurofurence 19!

Well, it's that time of year again!
Tomorrow morning (way too early >.< ), Karma and I will be beginning our annual trek to Eurofurence, currently being held in Magdeburg, Germany!

We will be running a Dealer's Den table again this year, with lots of handcrafted leather goodies, Karma's novel 'So close, yet so far...', and the first two parts of the collaborative trilogy graphic novel: 'Omega Alliance'. We will also have candy! We bribe with sugar! Om nom nom nom!

We'll be staying at the Maritim (thank goodness, I wouldn't want to lug all that stuff to and from the overflow hotel!), and will be arriving sometime Monday by car. Unfortunately we decided not to bring our little husky baby Hila with us, as she is still a bit uncomfortable in crowded places. Maybe next year!

Neither of us will be packing fursuits this year, as the hotel was FAR too hot last year to suit. Karma will be running around in his black leather kilt, so feel free to stop him and ask why he is wearing a skirt :p

We will be leaving Magdeburg on the 26th and returning home the 27th, if all goes to plan.

Phew... Now back to preparations!

Possible work slow-down

Mostly this is an FYI for anyone in our work queues:

There is a possibility of a slow-down in work flow in the near future...
We are caring for Karma's aging husky dog, who has been his companion for the last 13 (going on 14) years, through several moves and three surgeries. Our old fella Rush is requiring lots of attention lately, which really takes a great deal of our energy and attention. Since Karma isn't physically able to get down and sit on the floor with Rush, a lot of the coaxing him to eat falls to Zura.

We're mainly trying to make him as comfortable as we can, and let him know that we love him. He is under the care of two veterinarians right now, one of whom specializes in the care of aging dogs. We're cuddling him lots, and letting him stay with us in rooms of the house he normally isn't allowed in (due to food disputes with our other dogs).

Please pardon the lack of general updates, and rest assured that we are working as best we can, both on our commission queues and stock for Eurofurence.

Stuff, Stuff, and more Stuff!

Goodies Galore!

Woo, boy! It's been a while since we've posted here, but don't think we haven't been busy!

After a break for the holidays last year, we got busy... moving. Granted, it wasn't far, but it sure was complicated. We also had to completely replace our leather workstations to better, more suited work tables. Maybe now I'll be able to still move after a long work session ^.^

We've been back in gear and cranking out leather goodies for a couple months now, in preparation for Anthrocon. We've been confirmed for a Dealer's Den table, so one or both of us will be camped out there during open hours. 

Karma will have lots of his adjustable bracelets in different widths and his published works, "So Close... Yet So Far" and "Omega Alliance" Books I and II available for purchase. He's also quite willing to make personalized dedications in any of the books while he's lurking about.

Zura will be armed with tons of different stuff this year! New models of key chains, bottle carriers, lots of belt pouches, book covers and... New Stuff!

TCG Deck Box Carriers with Pouch

Smartphone Pouch with Card Slots

Stainless Steel Flasks with Carved Cover

 Between the two of us, we'll have over 200 leather items for sale! Yipes, that's gonna take a lot of room in the luggage... We will (of course!) be taking after-con commissions as well.

Stay tuned for more info!

Adjustable Bracelets!

Karma has begun creating a new type of bracelets - Adjustable!
Our previous bracelets have been simple snap closures, which didn't fit everyone. We had to take custom measurements to get the size just right... No more! By using grommets and lacing, we can make your bracelet adjustable, even large enough to wear with costumes.

Here you see the lacing and grommet closure:

And here is the first batch he's made:

*Out of this batch, only #4 (Otter) and #8 (Tiger) are not already sold or reserved. 

The designs are:

Sabre-tooth Tiger, Wolf, Pawprints, Otter, Wolf, Lion with Pawprints, Lion, Tiger

He's looking forward to creating new designs for this model!

Meanwhile, Zura has a few things cooking in the background too...

Here we have a modified Kindle cover. This cover was NOT created by us, but modified per customer request. The tiger was carved from a 2oz piece of leather (super thin!), dyed to match the cover and attached using leather-bond glue. I was told that the recipient squealed when she received it! Yay!

We will be looking into making e-reader covers in the future, Zura will be working on the new models after New Year's!

Thanks for stopping by, and we'll see you soon!