Something like a photo update

I have finished sculpting Zemira - FINALLY.




And just as everyone is celebrating not logging on to see a green-grey blob, allow me to be the first to announce the disappointing news:
My next task will be to sculpt Derecho's head - again, and for the last time, by gods!


Also, I have this image for all of you:

What is this? Well, it's the very messy sewing room in crude panorama. But every single bag there is a project (except for the bags on the floor - those are bodysuits which go with corresponding hanging bags). Every bag is stuffed with cut-out fur and fabric components. This is a ton of stuff!

The only parts that have not been cut out are Inaki's spider fur parts, and Silver's bodysuit, since those two are waiting on padding still.

In the meantime, sewing has officially begun - the feet liners are getting sewn up currently (exciting, I know).

Official Clockwork Creature Chat!

We have set up an official Clockwork Creature IRC channel! Channel: #clockwork-creature Server: irc.anthrochat.net Chat with customers past and present, fans, and the Clockwork Creature team (when we have the time, of course)! Ask questions, arrange con-meetups, or just hang out. (please keep conversation polite and clean)

Streaming - click here Sculpting the utahraptor jawset first today. After that, looks like we're all in for a long, long period of patternmaking.

Streaming - Zal horn sculpting

Streaming - click here Finished the sculpting for Seltsam's head tentacles on Saturday. I'll get a photo ASAP, although they will actually change a good bit post-casting, since it's when we have cast them that we will pose them. Sculpting more horns today - first task will be to sculpt even more horns for Zal (the middle ones: http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af340/ClockworkCreature/Design%20Work/Zalsketch.jpg).

Livestream: patterning, woo!

Streaming - click here

Working on some more patterns today. Got through the ear patterns on Friday, so today I'm patterning new tails and new faces.

August 2011 - Jan 2012 Production Batch overview

As promised, this is an overview of the things to come in our next production batch.
Because this will be rather seriously long, I've put it behind a cut

It Begins!

Streaming for a bit - click here

The new batch technically began a while ago, but this is the first livestream session, so it's as good a "starting" event as any I suppose.

Today I'll be sculpting a couple custom masquerade masks.


Also, have the first update photo:

10 shiny new wolf blanks. Actually not very shiny, but certainly new.

Livestream: yet more edging, painting ZW and Spirit of Forest

Livestream! Click here!

Finshing the edging on these foam wolf masks. After that, I'll be painting the Zombie Werewolf and finishing the painting on the Spirit of the Forest.

I also have a bit of bodysuit finishings to do, primarily on the fox-jackal.

Mask progress photo!

A photo!


Back: Pascal, The Huntress, Kasar, Fox-Jackal
Front: Nessa, Spirit of the Forest

The masks, as they are at this very moment. Horns are not attached to them in this photo, but that's not because they haven't been mounted. I just have them detached right now.

Almost done!

Livestream: mask edging and Derecho

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

More mask edging; also working on the interior of Derecho's mask a bit today.

A whole lot of this is REALLY CLOSE to done!

Livestream: mask edging

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Covering the animatronic ears on this wolf mask with fur, then I have some whiskers to insert. After that, I'll be edging the eyelids and lips on the masks.

Uploaded some things to the ArtFire shop

Click Here to go to the shop!
I have uploaded 5 boxes of fur scraps, PLUS we now have White Fox fur for sale by the yard!

More to come as I get things photographed.


Also, an exciting announcement - Rust Fox fur will be returning by the end of August! (as long as the mill stays on schedule).

Livestream: making a wig, plus other stuff

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Wefting a wig today for the fox/jackal. After that some assorted tasks, including some facial detailing on the Zombie Werewolf, and more work on Pascal's tail.

Livestream: Ears, a face, and more

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

I'm finally back! Sorry for being gone so long. My schedule was nuts for a bit, and then I spent the past week with some sort of flu. But I'm better now, and back to the grind.

So today, I'm attaching the last of the ears. I have one more white wolf face to fur, so I'll be doing that. And then there are some additional exciting tasks, such as attaching a very large dragon tail to a proper support base, so we'll see what else I get to today.

Furthermore, a comprehensive photo update for this batch is long overdue. I will begin working on that today.

Emails Are Closed Until July 16th

Emails are closed this week to everyone except current customers!
I need to get the email situation under control.

If you send an email this week, you will receive an auto-reply explaining that commissions are closed. Any emails received this week will be removed, so please resend your message after the 16th.

Read the FAQs and ToS!!! http://clockworkcreature.com/info/

Again, this does not apply to current, paying customers.

Anthrocon Clockwork Creature Photoshoot and Dinner

(This post composed by Manojalpa, who has volunteered to organize this for us - thank you!!)

Hey all!

We're planning the AnthroCon Clockwork Creature Photoshoot & Dinner.

The Photoshoot: Have a Clockwork Creature mask, partial, or fullsuit? Come show it off as we take a giant group photo of all CC's hard work!

The Dinner: Possibly after the photoshoot, come wander with us towards epic food - in suit if you dare!  

(It might be Chinese again, they liked our suits last year)

Unfortunately, the photographer's schedule isn't posted ahead of time - so we're going to be playing this by ear.  We may also arrange photoshoots on more than one day, depending on availability.



IF YOU'RE INTERESTED!

Send an e-mail to howe.chelsea (at) gmail.com (Subject "AC Meetup" would be great!) answering the following information:


Phone Number: (we might send you text messages or call - if you don't want that, let us know how we can use your phone number, or just leave it blank :))

E-mail: (only necessary if it's different from the one you're currently using; also so long as you can check your email at the con)

Interested In: (Photoshoot) (Dinner) or (Both)

Dietary Restrictions: (If interested in dinner)

I'm unavailable at the following times: (Obviously we can't accomodate everyone - but we can try!)

 

 

That's it! Thanks!

Hope to see everyone there!

Livestream: Dark Chimera et al

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Dark Chimera today, among a few other things - namely finishing up Keijo's hooves, and getting some stuff ready to airbrush.

Livestream: Keijo and Dark Chimera

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Currently, prioritizing the costumes that we will be delivering at Anthrocon - in other words, costumes that need to be completely, 100% done on or before Tuesday the 21st.
Don't worry, the others will be done super soon as well. I just need to do this to be really sure of the hard AC deadlines.

So today, we'll be putting finishing touches on Keijo's stallion, and then work on finishing the Dark Chimera next.

Livestream: more mask furring

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

More mask furring, more hood attachment!
Maybe even more feet!

onlyoneweekuntilanthroconohgodohgod

Livestream: Face Furring, among other things

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Today, I'll be starting to fur mask faces. I'll have two helpers today, so hood attachment will likely begin as well. I imagine there will also be a few tasks that I'm forgetting at the moment.

Livestream - Furring feet some more

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Starting this thing early! Crack of dawn and all that.

Feet! Wooo!

I'll also be ending pretty early, like 2:30 EDT or so, because we're going out this afternoon.
 

Livestream: Feet furring, part 1

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Finishing the very last of the mask assembly that didn't get done yesterday. After that, I'll be working on furring feet.

Livestream: Feet furring, part 1

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Finishing the very last of the mask assembly that didn't get done yesterday. After that, I'll be working on furring feet.

Livestream: Mask assembly (the remainder thereof)

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam


Just three left! (besides the 4 foam wolf stunt heads, but that'll be a different process anyway)

Today I'll be assembling the following:
- Dark Chimera
- Zombie Werewolf
- June (Spirit of the Forest)

Nessa and Keijo are ready to fur.

After that I'll be on feet again for a day or two.

Livestream: More mask assembly

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Once again, assembling masks, up to the point of being ready to fur.

Today, the following are currently on the table:
- Keijo
- Dark Chimera
- Zombie Werewolf
- Nessa
- June



The masks that are ready to fur:
- Kasar
- The Huntress (except for needing horn mounting)
- Red Jackal
- Pascal (except for needing horn mounting)
- Nolan
- 3 of the 7 white wolves

Livestream: Mask assembly

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Assembling masks, up to the point of being ready to fur.

Today, the following are currently on the table:
- The Huntress
- Red Jackal
- Pascal
- Nolan
- 3 of the 7 white wolves


So remaining are:
- Keijo
- Dark Chimera
- Zombie Werewolf
- Nessa
- June
- 4 remaining white wolves (done in cast foam for stunt work)
- Zal
- Derecho

Kasar is ready to fur.

Livestream: Mask assembly!

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Continuing with mask assembly. Today I'll be inserting jaw sets and eyes, and doing interior reinforcement.

Livestream: Feet and screencast

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Foaming up the last two feet, and then I'll be screencasting concept art for the rest of the day.

Quick Teaser...

Some of you have been asking about the film featuring that scary, grungy Tasmanian werewolf. The filming has been delayed to a fairly uncertain date due to location conflicts, although the project has not been cancelled.

However, I have just been informed that there's a short film/side project in the works, I thought I would tease you all with this juicy (gory) photo:

Livestream: Feet assembly

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Working on some more foot foaming today. After that we'll be moving on to mask assembly, finally!


Also, check out this awesomeness! http://bitterlakethemovie.com/
Bitter Lake movie trailer! It's so cool!

Livestream: Derecho mask skin sculpting

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam


Still working on the face and neck skin sculpting. Getting the texture roughed in now.

I meant to have another update ready on Monday, but didn't get to it. Working on compiling that now, hoping to post it tonight or tomorrow.

Livestream: Derecho mask skin

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Actually starting at something resembling a reasonable time today!

Today I begin the (probably rather long) process of sculpting the skin onto Derecho.

Livestream: eye painting and feet foaming

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Painting eyes, finishing other mask interior components. After that, I'll be starting to foam feet, and possibly also doing the foam musculature on Derecho's neck.


Little progress update:
- All jawsets are painted
- All chinrests are made
- All forehead pads are made
- All eyes are painted

Progress Update

Pascal: hood sewn, mask face fur cut, feetsocks sewn; jawset, claws and hooves cast; eyes painted


Dark Chimera: hood and feetsocks sewn; claws, mask blank, tongue, eyes, hinges and hooves cast


Red Jackal: bodysuit, hood and feetsocks sewn, mask face fur cut, claws and jaw set cast; body padding 90% complete


Keijo: bodysuit, hood, and feetsocks sewn; face fur cut; jawset, feet soles, and horseshoe-ready hooves cast (still need to cast the custom horseshoes)



Spottacus: muscle padding done, fur accent pieces sewn, patterns for both suits finished


The Huntress: face fur cut, hood, sleees, feetsocks sewn; tail sewn, stuffed, looped; feet&hand hooves and jawset cast
Zombie werwolf: eyes and jawset cast


Nolan: hood, socks, leggings and sleeves sewn; face fur cut, claws, jawset and mask blank cast


Nessa: hood, socks, sleeves sewn; tail sewn, stuffed, looped; face fur cut; claws and jawset cast, eyes painted


Spirit of the forest: hood, sleeves sewn, face fur cut; hooves, eyes, jawset cast


Kasar: hood sewn, face fur cut; claws, jawset, and blank cast; eyes panted


Derecho: mask blank, eyes, horns assembled; glove mold made

Zal: face and horns molded. NFT on order.

Tiri: tail skin sewn

Eric: tail sewn, stuffed

White wolf production line: 7 out of 9 jaw sets done; all eyes painted


And I know also that most of the gloves and tails are done, but haven't cataloged exactly which ones. I'll have another update fairly soon - maybe Monday.

Livestream: Some mask assembly, and scale sculptng

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

The glove texture is done; gearing up to do the face texture. So today I'm assembling Derecho's mask base, although we'll have some apoxie sculpt that needs drying before I can get to sculpting.

Once I get to a point of setting Derecho aside for dry time, I'll be sculpting some accent scales for Pascal. And if I still need things to do after that, I'll be starting a bit of assembly on the other masks (probably beginning with mega-exciting jaw set and eye painting).

Livestream: Derecho glove texture

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Still working on this glove sculpt.


And again, use this link for the chatroom: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-room/2893097 Unless you're already set up to chat through another IRC client.
 

Livestream: Derecho glove texture

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

More work on Derecho's glove sculpt (did I mention that this would take a while?). The texture on the first hand is really coming along now, so with any luck I may get through that one today.

ALSO Many of you have noticed that Ustream 'improved' (read DESTROYED) it's chat room function. Here's a direct link to the chatroom: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-room/2893097 use that instead.

Price Estimate Calculator!

Our costume price estimate calculator has launched!

Check it out here!

Use it to figure out how much you might need to save up for your costume, or just play with it!

And of course, as mentioned in the disclaimer, this calculator does not encompass the full realm of costume feature possibilities. It only covers the more popular features. Of course, you can still use it to get a ballpark estimate. Generally though, very unique designs will need to be more individually quoted.

Also, price estimates from the calculator are not final quotes! There's a good chance that the price is accurate, but you must confirm your quote with us before it's official. This will still be done via email to Info (at) clockworkcreature.com.

Have fun!

Livestream - Derecho hands sculpting

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Sorry about the late start. More sculpting on Derecho's hands today.
Also seems that the chatroom on Ustream is loading very oddly for me. I may or may not be able to see or type in it.
 

Regarding Professional Conduct

On behalf of everyone here at Clockwork Creature Studio, I want to take a moment to bring a particular issue to light, and also firmly request that it stop.

I (and I say "I" here simply because general customer service - mainly email answering - is almost exclusively a facet of this business which is my responsibility, so I am the one immediately affected) have noticed an increase in complaints regarding not getting a commission slot. Complaints which are, frankly, unprofessional and off-putting.
I understand that wait times are long, I understand that our product is in demand, and I understand that this most recent commission opening was sudden and ill-announced - and I apologize deeply for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

However, my sincere apology and an explanation is all I can offer, and is my final word.

I do not appreciate receiving these emotional, and even accusatory complaints. And I especially do not like it when, after offering my apology and an explanation, the complaint continues, or turns into begging.

Please be advised of the following:

Clockwork Creature Studio is a professional business venture. We want to form friendly, professional relationships with our customers, not relationships based on giving into guilt-trips and demands. We hope that thinking of it in those terms, it will appear to be common sense, and questions or even complaints regarding the queue will resume a more friendly, professional tone.


I am not banning emails regarding your questions or concerns about (not) getting a commission slot. However, please be advised that reactive, or angry, or whiny emails, and multiple emails pressing the issue, will not improve your chances of securing a slot. Such emails, in fact, make us question the merits of entering into a long-term business relationship. So please, keep it to the facts, and keep your emotional response in check.

Streaming! Even though I said I wasn't going to

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

So I know I said that today was a day off, but then we realized that with Easter weekend we will be attending all sorts of family events (plus an unrelated Beats Antique concert on Friday, whee!) and so we will be taking off Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week. So, moving our days off to this weekend and working today and tomorrow instead.

Today's plans: Derecho hand sculpting, because I actually didn't have what I needed to do them yesterday.

Bitter Lake - an indie film with CC costumes!

This is so totally awesome!

Poster was made by EZwolf


The release is scheduled for August this year, to premiere at Eurofurence! So excited!

Livestream: Derecho hands sculpt

Streaming Now!

Starting the hand sculpt for Derecho, who will be an experiment in silicone costume parts!

Continuous Tickings - Livestream: more jawset

Streaming Now

Late start today, so it won't be a super long stream at all. Finishing up that horse jawset and the last of the tongues. Not sure if I'll get to more than that today.

Livestream - actually this time

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

I seem to have found a half-decent way around the flash error. Currently using Ustream's desktop app to broadcast, which works except that for some reason it will only let me use the internal mic to broadcast sound. So audio quality will be crappy until further notice; my apologies.

Today I'll be working on all of the things I didn't do yesterday because I was fiddling with the stupid camera-ustream connection. So it'll be a riveting and exciting day of jawset sculpting, and maybe other things but I'm not sure.

Livestream: making jawsets, Kusanagi's tail

Streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creature-cam

Got my camera connecting to Ustream successfully, so I'm streaming today.  Working on Kusanagi's tail, and sculpting some new jawsets.

2011 Queue List

The following projects are set to begin in June or July, with an ETA of January 2012

(These are arranged more or less by project size, NOT by order of completion or start)

Zemira - dragon fullsuit
Origami Gryphon - goat chimera fullsuit
Wyoon - beast fullsuit
(anonymous) - cheetah fullsuit
Mikase - coyote fullsuit
Hannu - skunk fullsuit
Herrell - african wild dog fullsuit
Duamutef - anubian jackal fullsuit
White Myth - stallion fullsuit
Inaki - spider fullsuit
Soulwolf - wolf fullsuit
Feldmann - wolf fullsuit
Tobias - wolf fullsuit
NightTattooWolf - purple wolf-dragon fullsuit
Derek - blue/water themed dragon fullsuit

Silver Foxwolf - wolf fullsuit

Athene Noctua - owl fullsuit
Autie - raptor fullsuit

J.C. - wolf partial

Milena - cat-dragon partial

Dreamfinder - dragon partial

Fisk - white cheetah partial

Zuki - artistic liberty partial

Koh Zoh - cat partial

Jawolf - lion-wolf-dragon partial

Aurora - dragon partial

RL92 - Zodiac "Leo"

Kimi - cheetah partial

Feuer - white alien deer partial

Nowell - calico cat partial

Kivuli - panther partial

(anonymous) - wolf partial

Tim - fox mask and tail

Talmak - owl mask

Monique - owl forest spirit mask

Shelby - wolf mask

Zal - gloves, feet, wings

Naynay - lemur and wolf masquerade masks
Hannah - wolf masquerade mask

Tiri/Qin - feet

Wolftale - feet

Hallan - feet

Netolu - feet

Dirtiran - tail

Cloudchaser - tail

For a total of:

36 masks

18 bodysuits

32 gloves

28 feet

and 33 tails

plus a set of wings and 3 masquerade masks.