Sara Kate

LJ NAME CHANGE!!!

2004-10-02T08:49:26Z

Hey y'all, I'm changing my LJ, so add my new name- dwelian - to your friend's list. I'll hang around on this one for a bit longer just to make sure everyone switches over to the new one.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-30T20:22:00

2004-10-01T00:23:22Z

AMANDA I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU TALKED TO BUT SHE WANTS ME TO DO THE COVER ART FOR HER BOOK AND THAT MAKES ME SQUEE.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

2004-09-30T07:16:28Z

Sometimes I just literally hate art history. Bloody damned dates and keeping things in order and argh. It's 3:13 in the morning and I just finished condensing my notes. The test is at 2pm. So that gives me... 7 hours to get a little sleep and get up early enough to run to the library and read som eof the stuff I put off since I don't own the book. Then I have print class, which I'm not prepared for so the teacher will be peeved. And then- the test. My first 4000-level art history test. The teacher is scaring the snot out of me by saying we should bring two blue books because we might run out of essay room in just one. ;_;

hoowah, back from AWA

2004-09-27T04:22:13Z

First of all- CONGRATULATIONS to the FFXI group! Y'all kicked absolute ASS at the con. I'm so happy for you, y'all totally deserve the attention you're getting.

Second, everyone in our room, you're fabulous. Fabulous! There was no big drama this year, everyone got along well, even if we all broke up into individual groups and such. Michelle, Kei, Ashley, Amanda - SO GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL! I just wish I'd had more time and room to play instead of being so serious about the art table. Joe and Chris - fabulous to meet y'all, you better come back next year. Erin and Jeff, come for the whole con and play with us! Adam, awesome to see you, and next year maybe you'll crash with us for the night too!

Third- to everyone who sat with me, converged around my art table and just plain offered support or went to get me a cup of water, or watched the table while I raced to a much needed bathroom break-
thank you. You really saved the con for me. Especial thanks to Pez, who bugged me until I re-arranged things to draw more attention to my prints, and helped come up with a persistant sales pitch, as well as keeping an eye on me while everyone else was in or watching the cosplay contest.

concerning art... (bit of drama here)

AWA has caused much stress for me this year. Mostly in my getting entirely too worked up over having an art table this year. I devoted a hell of a lot of time to getting portfolios and prints ready,a s well as some new art for it. I barely scraped together an Anko costume (mostly because it was so simple!) and had to scrap the idea of doing the ninja artifact armor from FFXI even though I'd bought almost all the materials for it. Anyway, got to the con and went and got my table. And it's the very first thing you see as you come up the main stairs from the first floor. At first glance you would think this was the absolutely best place to be. Oh no. As the night wore on I discovered it was the absolute WORST. The lighting was horrible, and people didn't seem to even notice I was selling art. This went on for HOURS and by the end of the day I didn't have any commissions, I hadn't even sold a single print. And I was peeved because everyone else seemed to be having a great time roaming around in their ninja costumes, getting recognized and being silly. I was stressing out SO BAD by the time I packed up for the night. I'd sunk way too much money into the art to not earn anything. My only goal was to break even with the money I spent on prints and getting the table. I think I dragged the group down a bit on Friday with my worrying (especially over getting the hotel money- stupid buggers charged us more than they said they would with my online reservations).

Saturday solved ALL problems though. I'm starting to think my art pirate act is just lucky. To begin with, I didn't get set up until noon because I requested a table switch. When I got it I was happy, but also thought I'd shot myself in the foot since I was sandwiched between two absolutely fabulous artists (Kelly Hamilton and some really good oriental girl who was doing sketches of people while they waited. I swear she had a line ten people deep) who were sure to take attention away from me. I don't know what it was though, but I made my first sale (a Kakashi pony print)and it went off from there, slow but steady. Much to my surprise, by the end of the night I'd more than broken even for the table and prints, and even my con badge. That night was especially fun as I chatted and listened to various directors and con bigwigs who somehow gravitated to my table. Something to do with former and present officers from the three biggest anime groups at the con (UGAnime, O-Tekku and some other one that sounded lick hocking a loogey) converging to chat to each other around me thansk to Pez sitting with me. Anyway, Saturday was fabulous.

Sunday was pretty much the cream on the cake, despite the hassle of getting out of the room and the stupidity involving the elevators and stairs. (Although the hotel went ahead and charged the whole room on my credit card, so it's REALLY important that those of you who haven't paid me yet for the room do so soon. Since now I have to deposit all the cash and write my dad a check before he gets completely pissed at me for spending that much money) More people wanted headbands and commissions and they were willing to wait a few weeks for me to finish them and mail them off. Now I really have to take up Pez, Ashley and Lauren's offers to help me make a personal art page so I can promote my work. Business cards are an absolute must for me next year. As is more fan art. Anway, by the time I wraped it up for the weekend (and before subtracting expenses) I'd made about $400. My jaw can't hit the floor any quicker. All was well, and all is well. I pretty much paid for the con and my food and even have a bit left over.

ps- I am absolutely amused by my magnetic cat balloon and fishing rod set, my thanks to you Battou! Amanda 'fished' for anything metallic on me, which amused me greatly, as well as everyone else in the elevator when she did so.

The downside of AWA-
1) someone stole the Naruto Konoha village headband I made and had out for display purposes.
2) Battou's glasses were stepped on, and we never found one of the lenses
3) Teddy, MIA, he will be sorely missed.

And we're off...not

2004-09-23T22:01:51Z

AGH! Kinko's, you are my bane. You and Athens traffic. I went to Kinko's after class today, and it took me a good 30-40 minutes to get to Alps road from downtown, thanks to the traffic. Then, when I get there a very snobby man whom I wanted to smack informed me that he couldn't make my prints off jpeg format unless I paid another $60. Ha. So I have to drive BACK ACROSS TOWN, Convert all my files to pdf and drive back (all of which conspired to take me long enough that I got back to Kinko's around 5, which was waaaaay later than I meant to be there. Now they inform me that it's just barely possible the prints will be ready by 6:30, but more likely 7 or even 8. I want to cry, we were supposed to leave town by 6 so I could get the hotel room for everyone. ugh, I could just tear something to pieces. And I can't believe how bad my road rage was by the time I was heading back to the apartment AGAIN. I had to stop and go in office depot just to cool down and walk it off. If I hadn't, someone or something would be dead right now. Probably my car.

Other than that, things are going smoothly. I'll finish packing, grab Battou, swing by Kroger to get ice and some sustenance for late night con munchies and all will be well. If Kinko's will just finish the damn prints.

It's 4:23 am and I...

2004-09-22T08:33:25Z

...just got in from the print studio. On the upside, all my prints are finished, so I don't have to bust my ass tomorrow night to finish them prints with the other 15 members of the class. I kinda liked being the only person in the art building at 4 in the morning. Downside, I'm starving and sore. So I'm not going to biology in the morning! I refuse! HA! I'll just read the relevant material in the book.

Instead I shall sleep until noon, go to my jewelry class (in which I will finish the naruto headbands I'm making instead of working on my SP heeheehee), then head straight to F'ville to have a mondo dinner with extended family. I'll either come back that night, or get up and drive straight to class the next morning.

And the portfolios are FINISHED. whew. Now all I have to do is make prints and pick up a bunch of one dollar bills to make change with.

Yay!

2004-09-20T12:40:10Z

Okay, so yesterday I went over to cingular to get my cell phone fixed. I had to wait somewhere between 2-3 hours because it seems like everyone decided that day was a great time to deal with their phones. Finally got to a sales associate, and showed him my phone. He liked the food cat keychain. More importantly however, he immediately figured out what was wrong with it when I told him I'd left it on the charger for two days (having plugged it in Thursday night and forgotten about it when school was cancelled Friday) so it couldn't possibly be out of juice. He popped it open and took out - an extremely swollen battery. I had just assumed a cell phone battery is similar to normal re-chargeable batteries, which can be left in the cradle charging. Apparently NOT cell phone batteries! So he swapped my battery out for a new one and my phone is happy and functioning now.

So everyone remember the moral of this lesson: DON'T LEAVE YOUR CELL PHONE CHARGING FOR TOO LONG.

I mean, did anyone know about this?

Less than a week to go...

2004-09-20T05:00:05Z

AWA is coming up real quick (we leave Thursday night), and I'm realizing just how much crap I have left to do. I really don't think anyone's gonna see much of me until Thursday, I'll be too busy doing art stuff. And to top it all off I'm getting really nervous about doing artist's alley! It's completely different from the total spontaneity of last year. You don't have to pay attention to the following, it's just my checklist of things to do.

CHECKLIST
School
-biology test monday
-3x3" copper piece due Monday
-make SP prints Monday (get paper!)
-prints due Tuesday? How many in edition?
-Art History test scheduled for Thursday, study.
-2x2" silver SP due Wednesday (or leave on desk in baggie on thursday)

Schedule
-go to F'ville right after class on Wednesday for Hassle (uncle Luke going to Houston for cancer treatment)
-Thursday, 6pm-leave for AWA
-laundry
-clean out car
-get directions to hotel
-find someone to check on the cats while we're gone
-pick up green ribbon

AWA
-finish art, make prints, arrange portfolios, find kinko's near convention center.
-finish the headbands (do while working on prints) get cloth for them
-find all the pieces to various costumes, pirate, ninja, skAnko
-stock pens/markers
-make sure to have a clear list of prices for everything
-materials for commissions
-get change for artist's alley! Go by the bank

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-19T00:24:00

2004-09-19T04:25:57Z

Okay, so my cell phone is sick. Very sick. As in not-responding sick. Soooo, e-mail is currently the ONLY way to get in touch with me. Which is scary. That thing goes to the shop as soon as I find out where the cingular store is in Athens.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-17T10:04:00

2004-09-17T14:05:34Z

WOOP! No class today! ::hurls biology book across room::

For anyone interested in finding me, I will be at my apartment, merrily working on art for AWA. Ta!

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-16T01:20:00

2004-09-16T05:21:17Z

effing paper, effing headache. I'm just going to go to sleep now and skip my first class tomorrow. the teacher will have conniptions, but I don't care.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-14T22:48:00

2004-09-15T02:49:59Z

I just bought the Best of Bonanza vol.1. Which makes me squee.

Every time I hear the theme song I'm reminded of Will (a horse) running off with my mother and bouncing her so much she wet her pants. Poor mom.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-14T09:15:00

2004-09-14T13:16:59Z

hey, people staying in my hotel room for AWA, let me know what nights you'll be there so I can figure out transportation and who pays how much. We've got the room thursday, friday and saturday night. So let me know!

Little Help Here!

2004-09-13T21:17:35Z

Okay, so I need a bit of help...

anyone know what (if one exists) the Norse / Scandinavian word for 'Trigger' is? 'Cause I drew this ( http://www.deviantart.com/view/10591463/ ) and I want to name the horse Trigger. Since he reminds me so much of Trigger of Roy Rogers fame. Only of course, the word trigger didn't exist back when vikings were storming all over the place, unless they had a name for a crossbow trigger or something. Anyway, I want to find that word! So if you know where I can find it or have a friend who knows Scandinavian please PLEASE let me know. Many thanks!

oh and because i am losing my mind...

2004-09-11T02:19:09Z

Gusty is a confident, athletic pony, who enjoys the occasional work out. She is sure of herself, with good reason, possessed of competence, courage and no small dose of common sense. Friends know they can rely on her for fun as well as help. Her personal motto is 'Work hard, Play hard."

Quote: "You just have to keep your eye on the ball."

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-10T22:03:00

2004-09-11T02:07:18Z

oh man. I don't know what's up, but I am disgustingly HOT right now. The apartment is usually freezing to me, but now I am sweating and just horribly hot.

I AM EATING FROZEN EGGOS TO COOL DOWN

that is wrong. and now I owe erin for two waffles.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-09T09:30:00

2004-09-09T13:32:25Z

Hey Battou,
do you have any particular color scheme for your valkyries? The only color information I remember hearing about any of them was that Ulsa (sp?) had brown hair. Need to know 'cause I've got a skeggjold and 90% of a sigrun to color.

rain, rain, go away...

2004-09-08T15:14:09Z

Ho hum, lots of rain. Lots and lots of rain. I left my usual rainjacket at my parent's (like a moron) and was only saved by the existence of the rainjacket I bought for my Anko costume. Which works extremely well. Good thing the only modifications I have to make to it is to take the buttons off, b/c I think I'm going to want to keep using it as a raincoat! I've been avoiding going back to school in the evenings (to work in the studios once the classes have left) b/c of the weather- I hate getting warm and dry and then going back into the rain. As a result of this, I'm behind on some projects. Now I've got the feeling that tonight the printmaking lab is going to swallow me whole. I'll be lucky if I get out of it before 10pm. Oh well.

If, however, anyone is bored or just wants to make fun of a movie after that, I rented the animated version of Return of the King and haven't watched it yet. Erin and I took a peek at a few scenes trying to figure out what the characters were like- and it is a complete laugh fest! As far as I can tell Eowyn is the only character that's not completely horrible. Aragorn sends me into laughing fits. Although the animation is fairly good (v. similar style to The Last Unicorn). We couldn't find any scenes with Legolas and Gimli though- and I know I've seen screenshots of them though, so is there an animated Fellowship or Two Towers that's supposed to go with this thing?

I want soup.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-09-03T01:01:00

2004-09-03T05:02:04Z

Biology. Must. Die.

::stabs it repeatedly::

Oh arg

2004-09-01T04:26:47Z

Printmaking is going to eat up all my evenings. I can tell that right now- since I can (currently) get away with going into the studio every other night instead of every single night. Hopefully I'll get out of that studio by 8pm tomorrow. Other than thaaaaaaat...need to start work on my paper for Art History, and study my ass off for Biology (test Friday, yiiiii!), and sometime I need to find the time to make the stuff for my jewelry class too. God, I'm going to die this semester.

The only appealing news I have today is a) my foot is almost non-sore enough to start running again in the evening and b) I made an Orochimaru pony while I waited for the acid bath to do it's thing.

Indulged in an hour of silliness this evening, it was worth it.

AWA Artist's Alley, mountains, CAMPING, apple festival, etc...

2004-08-29T01:25:00Z

Okay, got my table at artist's alley, but I was wondering where everyone else will be? 'Cause if I'm off in a back corner of nowhere, I'll probably request to be near someone I know. Kei, where've they put you? Had fun sitting next to you last time and wondered if you wanted to try and get tables near each other this year. Here's the seating map:
http://www.con-artists.org/showseats.php
And I'm at table 72. Only I think that's off in the back of beyond, so I'm going to request a table in the main rows if I can get it. That way more people will drop by, at least I hope so!

Spent Fri/Sat in the mountains with my parents and Battou. We had a lot of fun just driving around. It was absolutely GORGEOUS up there. We also tried to go rafting, and since we had a time constraint tried out the Toccoa River. Sadly, the water wasn't high enough to raft, but it was high enough to tube! So we did, and spent a great 2-3 hours on the river. It was practically empty while we were there, so I felt like we were the only people on the river- WAY different from Helen! I'd like to try and go up there next summer instead of Helen- we could go camping after we've tubed all afternoon.

Speaking of camping and the mountains...Battou and I definately want to get up there for the apple festival this year, because it's just a lot of fun. And freshly made apple pies are scrumptious! SO, who would be interested in going camping the first weekend of October? The apple festival will be going on, so we can get fresh pies, etc for desert. And it will be pretty darn cheap, just a couple of bucks for gas and food. So who's interested?

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-08-27T16:58:00

2004-08-27T20:58:45Z

I'm not entirely sure what happened on my birthday, but I had a wonderful time! Thanks to everyone who showed up, it was just awesome.

nakushiitagyre @ 2004-08-26T01:58:00

2004-08-26T05:58:31Z

shit. I got drunk.

If anyone's free...

2004-08-25T05:01:12Z

I'm celebrating turning 21 by going drinking tonight. I'll be downtown around 9-10 if anyone wants to meet me there!

Celebrate, Celebrate, Come on and Celebrate!

2004-08-23T05:36:15Z

I am in a faaaaaaaaaaabulous mood. Well, maybe not fabulous, more like quietly warm and glowy. Mom called out of the blue and asked me if I wanted to meet her in Atlanta for lunch and some much-needed jeans shopping. This suited me just fine because I had to cancel on going to Sliding Rock with Ashley (since mountain water/traipsing isn't a good idea for the cut on my foot). I spent several hours having a good time with my mom- and for the first time I wasn't even vaguely upset by having to go clothes shopping (formerly extremely depressing b/c it was IMPOSSIBLE to find jeans that fit me and weren't at least a size 12, or larger. Jeans shopping was always a loooooooow point of the year). I wasn't even upset when I tried on a pair of jeans and realized I needed a size larger. Now how is that? you might ask. Because the pair I tried on were a size 6, and the size that fit was a size 8. The new diet/exercise regiment has SUCCEEDED beyond my happiness- 2-3 inches gone, and that is just. so. far. Whoop!
Mom also treated me to Johnny Carino's, which is fast becoming my favorite Italian restaurant. And i can have wine with my meal after Wednesday!

On the down side, mom looked at my foot and informed me it's infected. Argh.