For those who don't know it's meaning, it's no big deal, but according to my recent poll at least 50 people know what it means. And that, is plenty I think.

So anyway, my new account name is Kamakru! It actually has something to do with me - my name! Each syllable in Kamakru is associated with the first syllable in my first, middle and last name. It's short, it has no alternative meanings, it's perfect. So, that's it ^_^

http://www.kamakru.deviantart.com

So first, I got back from NDK last weekend. I didn't do as well as I was hoping, but I still came out ahead enough to pay my loan bills, which is enough for me right now lol.
And I sold the DS case I made with the pocket, so woo! That gives me hope for the other 10 fabric designs I still have sitting in my materials box in the studio heh. I still have some strawberry and cherry plushies left, loads of prints and bookmarks, and some sketcbhooks. I think I'll bring the sketchbooks to school since I know a few people who wanted one.
I met some cool artist's there, and we were talking and decided that we might all go together to A-Kon next year in Dallas! That would be amazingly awesome I think.

Now that the con is over, I've been relaxing a bunch. In the next few days I'm hoping to get my computer up and running finally, and after 8 months!! Sheesh, I'm surprised I'm still alive lol

Well, there's always more but nothing too important to really mention here.
 

A case without the game pocket takes me a good 4 hours to make, and the one with the pocket takes me about 5. Granted, I could probably make this time faster since I had to figure out how to make them the first time around. Here's the pics of the two cases I've made so far.



The bottom photos were taken after dark so the color is kinda washed out. And the zipper is actually centered more towards the top of the case, so the opening is actually facing towards you in the picture.
Between the patterned fabric and the solid fabric is a soft batting, so the case is kinda squishy.

So here's the question:
Would $20 for the pocketless and $25 for the pocketed DS case be too much ask? If you were in artists alley looking for unique things to purchase, (and assuming you have a DS) would you be willing to pay $20 or $25 for a handmade case such as these? I have lots of different fabric patterns to use too.
I'd be selling these at an anime convention.
For the amount of time it takes me to make these though, lowering the price would make these pretty much pointless.  What do you think?

Here's the poll for this on DA --> http://thepariah-kitty.deviantart.com/journal/poll/680646/
 

The main level has all hardwood floors with a living room in the front, the door to a 2 car garage to the left, and down the hallway you get to the kitchen. To the right is the main part of the kitchen, and to the left is the main family room with a fireplace, all connected as one room. If you keep going straight there's a balcony/deck. Downstairs theres what seems to be a studio (lots of electrical outlets and studio lighting), and basically 2 more rooms with a laundry room. I think we can request a washer and dryer fora  little extra a month.

Also downstairs is a door outside to the backyard, where there's another deck.. The backyard has a tall, solid fence that's currently being re-done, that goes all the way to the sides of the house with locking fences. In the corner of the yard is a storage shed.

I think once the grass starts to grow again it's going to look really nice. I don't know if we'll get it though, as we're still waiting for Nick to hear back for a job, and there have been 3-4 other applications already. But, it all depends on who the landlord picks, and he seems really nice to hopefully we'll hear some good news soon.
 

This always seems to happen when I let my money management slide and think to myself "oh, I have enough for this or that"...but it goes so damn fast. And it's obvious now that it's going faster than it's coming.

And to make it worse, I'm out of town for the next week and a half (starting the 17th) so no work for that time. Bleh. NOT good. But what to do? Get a 3rd job? Yeah right. Not doing it.

It seams  the only reasonable thing to do is tough it out, take what I can get and work on my portfolio to start applying for jobs that will actually PAY something. Like....more than $9/hour would be good. That's all I need, at 30 hours a week.

I dunno anymore. From what I've heard no one - anywhere - can get a good job. It just really sucks, and I hope that things start to turn around soon.
 

Oh, speaking of, I've been thinking I might want to dress up this year. But as who?

But I'm worried too...that he WON'T get the shift lead job, and  I won't get promoted...then what? I mean...I'm working 2 freaking jobs AND I'M STILL BROKE... yeah.

......

So...it doesn't happen much, but the other week I finally broke down...just...completely. I guess my frustrations finally came falling down and I couldn't bare it any more. It's been a long time since I actually cried. Kyle helped me...we talked about some stuff that was bothering us and it really helped. This holiday has been rough I guess, being so overworked and such. Since early December that's all it's been - work. Sure, I see people there but it's not relaxing. There's been little time for friends and other general activities, even getting groceries or doing household chores can be hard to find time for. It's just so frustrating sometimes.

Next week I'm scheduled to work all 7 days again...45 hours, no overtime pay.

I feel like a need a miracle.

Well anyways, I'm hoping to go to Montana within the next couple months here. Hopefully the shift lead job at Aaron Bros won't magically open while I'm gone and be given to someone else...AGAIN. I really need to get out of retail. It's such a DEAD END.


HAH.


Next year I'm going to San Diego Comic Con again...it's the 40th year anniversary! I'm going to work on a portfolio for that, since I have until July to get one together, and hopefully.....I'll find something there. Still gotta get the hotel reserved though, and I'm not sure who's all going yet, but yah never know who's planning on going until later I guess. For now I just...kinda want to get out of Colorado. Sure there's like a couple game companies but really it's mostly graphic arts jobs here.

I'd really like to find a job doing illustration work, concepts or comics. Anything like that! Even web games would be fun.

For the future, I'd really like to have my own studio, even if it's just me it represents. Or have my own comic series! Lol that would be awesome.

.....


Not sure what else to say right now. At the moment I'm just feeling really exhausted from working the holidays, and want to relax...do some stuff that's not so demanding. Bowling would be cool....