Taking on bigger projects

Ah March doth passed and April is underway

I thought that April showers were supposed to bring May flowers. But lately all its been bringing is this crazy weather and the pollen and those flat bugs that are annoying as hell and give off a woodsy aroma when you kill them.

Okay enough of that onto the important stuff

Working on bigger projects get ready for the peak on Con-season my most recent is is a belt. Until recently my props have had the appearance of functionality. Now after a panel at AnachroCon on arduino's and lighting I'm working on having actual functionality. Despite the fact I'm no electrician, or engineer I discovered through my new friends (who I cant stop bothering on FB and Google chat...sorry guys) that I dont have to be and when I programed my arduino mini





I felt so cool so I decided to go bigger of course and so for 2014, I'm going to be more mechanized than I ever been. And that's when idea for the belt/corset-like mechanism





and it lights up




Of course it's not going to look like this and after photographing I added more
before I decided it was time to go to bed and probably will do more after I write this blog.

Yes I know you hate being held in suspense but more pics to come....

Starving Artist? Cool right?

When the word starving artist is said, one brings to mind

"Bohemian"



"Free spirit"


or even this





If only it were....lol
That would be easier wouldn't it

Lately its been a little bit of this




And generous portion of this



No one said following your passion would be easy though. Since I've made the leap of what I love into a enterprising venture, I have had my bumps.
Like those days I always seem to need something
"Got the craft foam, but I need glue"
"Got the glue but I need acrylic paint"
"Yeah I have this deadline on my armor project and I still don't have the materials but this bill really needs to get paid"
"I need more days off from my nine to five to finish this"

Sound familiar or is it just me?

The other challenge from getting the supplies one needs is getting the resources for obtain the supplies one needs. I learned somewhat the hard way that turning your passion into a profit/what you do as a career is a job in itself especially when you're juggling your secret identity(a.k.a full time day job) in the process.
And try taking your venture to a bank or investor to get backing



Yeah right


Whats it all for? One might ask themselves.
Am I glutton for punishment? Nope I get enough of that at the day job
Do I like the daily struggle? Sure it builds character, but every now and then I want a break

Because I love it seems so generic but I know of no other way to explain it...so here's the long eloquent version:

My relaxation outside of gaming and a good book is at my workdesk with the smell of hot glue and acrylic paint my exacto knife in hand cutting and shaping and fitting together. I love that surge of pride that comes with the finished product as I'm taking pictures and the compliments of others when they see my work.
Call me silly but I lived for every one of those
"Wow that's really cool"
"I like how you work with that material!"
"That's so badass!"
"Wow do you do commissions? Can you make me one?"
"I love it!"

So solving the quandry of indulging the passion I love so much with surviving the day to day...how does one make it work?
Well apparently someone with a similar plight decided to invent crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo with none of the cynicism of Shark Tank but everyday
people who look at your campaign and pledge money
So I decided why not

My Indiegogo campaign
Indiegogo Prop Campaign

and

My Kickstarter campaign
Kickstarter Prop Expansion Campaign

Onward ho?
My journey continues....