Peter "Sci" Turpin

Twitter explosion (and RBW)

2010-11-08T00:48:40Z

I got a text from Outkast while I was out at RBW to let me know my Twitter digest had gone wrong and was repeating the entries upwards of 15 times.
I managed to find someone with a working laptop and log in. It seems the wordpress plugin’s problems are getting worse. I suspect this is due to Twitters format change which is also routinely screwing up my sig-image creator script.

I’ve deleted the master copies of those posts, which has carried on down the line and deleted them from the other blogs. The plugin’s been disabled until I can find an alternative that still works.

I appreciate people letting me know, and I know these mistakes can be annoying, but some of the emails I’ve come home to find (now my computer is working for the moment – power supply is in it’s death-throws) have been absurdly vitriolic. I’m sorry it’s spammed your LJ page twice with duplicate posts, but it’s not the end of the fucking world. Calm down.

—

Transport twattery aside, I had a good time at RBW. Still feeling disconnected from the community, but feel like I’m starting to get to know a few of them again. Also seemed to (at least partly) clear the air with a couple of folk.
Think I broke even, but with the panic issues I didn’t go into it very well prepared and haven’t properly tallied up yet. At least I’ll have some money to go back into the bank tho, which will hopefully smooth things until I’ve got everything re-assessed and re-prepared. I need to go back to base principles for a bit, and (in yet another instance) start over from scratch.

Oh, and my ferret shirts sold best of all.

I’m still pretty sleep deprived though, so after I get myself a massive cup of tea, I’m going to order a new power supply, make my bed and go to sleep without setting the alarm.

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1:14am

2010-06-20T21:31:41Z

finishing up in workshop.

now unhappy with chocolate colouring. Too red. Will remix after CF most likely now.

Rainbow demo set setting in heated cabinet.

Razor series claws first mass casting, setting. Pink Shore 40 nose also, replacement 80S black heel-pad for Velcro footpad display.

Cargo pram also modified and probably sound. Must check allocated train seat and judge position relative to baggage storage. Will carry as much by backpack as possible.

Naruto headbands also almost complete. Hope to be shot of them after so long!

Order of 20 DPFs also being shipped by 1st-class tomorrow. Should arrive in time.

Several displays still need a lot of work, also need to type up, print and laminate point-of-sale, and also print product information leaflets.
Additionally, must work out how to change IRQ assignment for laptops wifi card. Hotel has free wifi apparently and will make uploading icons much easier and cheaper than using phone as modem.
Also must complete and print door art.

Will see about acquiring a haircut tomorrow. Must finish catching up with finances also so I know how much I have in way of food budget.

Mum also intending to provide necklace making materials for my defective claws to sell.

Need to make up several bags of each type for direct sales.

1st Razor batch; 75g leaves underfilled. Go 100g next. Place large end slightly elevated to float level. Learn new fill levels and clean mould lips. Otherwise, good reproduction.

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More prep progress

2010-06-20T21:28:30Z

Pink rubber nose has come out perfectly. OMFG it’s so cute. And soft like real skin.
Need to make a black one next.

Think I shall make a poll for CF. Currently I have some rough nose prototypes sitting here. Let the users decide what I should do next? Generic triangle? Squirrel? Small or medium canine? Others?

Rainbow selection also come out well. And replacement velcro heel-pad is done, cut and fits with the rest of the set.

Have trimmed up Razor moulds. Will cast more shortly. Gonna add the three Razor sizes to the main claw display first tho. And get on with the special order display.

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Confuzzled 2010: Feedback notes

2010-06-20T21:22:34Z

Notes to send, as I missed the feedback session due to early train:

Furries flock. Having two DJs running dances at the same time in rooms connected by glass doors isn’t fair. One will get an initial group and everyone will follow them, wanting to avoid the “unpopular” dance. Perhaps getting the DJs together to discuss a good order in which to run so the styles flow nicely into each other and everyone gets a fair turn? Or operate one as a chill-out room, so you can sit for a bit but without missing tunes.

While the auction already over-ran by 2 hours, it’s still unfair that only some of pieces in the art-show seem to get picked for it. Apparently at random, and using apparently winning written bids as the start bid. It should be set in stone if a piece will or won’t go to the auction.

The rules for the Dealers Den about no snacks or drinks allowed in to protect dealers works and art-show works alike is a good one. However only if it’s enforced. Likewise the promise that only con attendees would be allowed in, badges on display. It doesn’t give much motivation to follow the rules when I asked if I’d be able to give out complimentary sweets or mints and be told no, then to find people wandering around with pints of beer, wine, drinks, biscuits and other foods. Fortunately the only drinks spilt on my table were my own.

Sharing a hotel with normal folk isn’t a problem. The football fans were a problem for a lot of people though, because they were another large distinct group sharing the same space as the convention. Let’s try and avoid sharing the venue with other large groups if possible.
One way to achieve that of course is to try and fill the entire hotel next time.

Den layout was generally pretty good, though from my position I felt there were bottlenecks. I noticed the crowding around Tani and Nightfox Studios, but anyone walking away from them first saw the bare wall and had barely looked around again before they were past my table. There seemed to be a couple of seconds when moving away from the popular tables before people start looking around themselves again. (would be interested to see if it was similar around Jencen and Muzz’s tables, which also seemed to have permanent crowds)
I’d suggest adding another row of tables, so the furthest-back row is facing toward the front of the Den, so there’s a backdrop of interest at the rear of the room. Three rows of faces rather than two, giving the den a fuller appearance. I know this would reduce walking space between rows, but if the rows were turned 90degrees it might work. I would also be easier to work into the (apparently abandoned) idea to have divided IN and OUT lines of the den room, by giving a snaking direction of traffic around the tables. It works in supermarkets, after all.
Additionally, some tables seemed to sit empty for long periods. Perhaps next time dedicating a few tables to an “artists alley”, for those who only want to pop in and do sketchbooks for a while?

Also, I know opening a door is a much simpler solution than getting a fan, but while it may cool the opposite side of the room a bit, it makes the tables by the door really frigging freezing.
While if the only layout change it could have caused a massive corner jam, perhaps Jencen’s laser engraver would have been better suited near the door due to the chance of it putting out odours/smoke?

And additionally, since the conbook’s backdrop would suggest there were accurate dimensioned drawings of the rooms layout, it would have been handy to supply this to the dealers so they could plan from more than the small rendered image on the Dealers page.
Perhaps a large map of the den with who’s where marked and what they’re principally selling too. I know the layout’s in the con-book, but not everyone carries it around with them. Plus it would allow last-minute changes to be made.

Aside from that, can’t think of anything else right now. The registration delays were due to circumstances out of the cons control as far as I understand, as was the behaviour of the few hyper/drunk teenage football fans. Can’t recall if it was mentioned before the con that some of the hotel was slowly being renovated or not. Most rooms seemed perfectly fine (not that I saw many), but some areas were a bit sub-par. Well done on the discount carvery meals though! They were very good value for money I thought. Security also seemed very on top of things as issues arose.

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Back from Confuzzled 2010

2010-06-20T21:19:55Z

Back from the con, alive. Have almost totally lost my voice though. Manchester devoid of cash points, so no change to buy lozenges until I hit London again where people can purchase medicines in exchange for currency.

Made enough money to repay money borrowed for new stock. Sales weren’t as high as expected though (particularly on the T-shirt front). Also; everyone does not save money for the second day of the dealers den (no matter how much you repeat it to yourself). I’d like to dig up some other dealers figures, but my own were only 60% of Day 1. Just a note for future research.

Journey up went exceptionally smoothly, with me even getting an earlier train! Journey back, not so much with someone laying on train-tracks, delays and being yelled at by an angry guard. So my immediate mood is a bit sour, but by and large it was a very enjoyable con, and the addition of swimming pool is much appreciated.

More later. Have sums to do, stock to check, food to eat, and that motorised bed is still up the road.

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Confuzzled 2010: Achievements Unlocked

2010-06-20T21:18:16Z

He’s dead jim. – Get con-crud on the first day.
Lanyard farmer – Earn enough to order new lanyards.
Totally bass-ackwards – Start dancing like you don’t care before having any alcohol.
Accountancy 102 – Count in every note and coin, but still have £25 more at the end of the day than you should.

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The Answer is 42

2010-06-20T20:29:08Z

42 new shirts arrived today in record time (just 2 working days after I ordered them!). That gives me 4 of each size of both the UKFur Classic/Wolf shirts, and the colour “Union” design. There’s been little interest in the dragon shirts, so haven’t picked up any more of them for the moment.

If I run out of any at the con I’ll take pre-orders for the next batch.

Okay, now back to the workshop!

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Sorting out

2010-06-20T20:25:59Z

Reprap
Thanks to friend dingotush, the stepper driver circuit is now working!
Think I’ve currently got a pair of phases crossed though, as it jerks quite badly every so often. The motor also gets hot very fast, so I think I’ll have to get some current limiting on the go as well.

Casting
The moulds are cleaned up from the last bad casting and sitting overnight to let any acetone residue evaporate. Fresh casting in the morning.

Will also tidy up the feline nose with some sandpaper and get it ready for a proper production. Same with trying adding a vent to the Razor claws. Going to aim to have some completed demonstration paws at Confuzzled, as well as new display stands for a number of items.

Also aiming to have the commissions book totally clear before the con.

Heard back from Cosmo very quickly, so now I’m just gonna be ticking boxes.

Also, I’m amazed that some of my YouTube videos have now been viewed hundreds of times. One even over a thousand. There’s nothing even very good on there yet!

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Confuzzled prep

2010-06-20T20:08:14Z

Paperworking my tushy off. Trying to get things absolutely in line and ready for Confuzzled in two weeks.

T-shirts are apparently already done (!!!) and on their way to me. That’s some amazing service there.

Got a quote back on more UKFur lanyards, and the price will be around the £220 mark. There’s a long lead-time on them too, so while they won’t be ready for Confuzzled, they should be in stock for June, so definitely around for RBW.

Some last-minute questions have been sent to Cosmo at CF about the dealers table arrangements, so I know precisely what I’m working with in regard to a few options.

Also have salvaged a pushchair, which looks like will be ideal for hauling this lot on the train to Manchester, with some small modifications.

Need to confirm with someone about the role of den assistant. Also got a long list of changes, printing, POS (point-of-sale) and displays to work on.

Also expecting something in the post. If it arrives in time and works, should provide a fun new product to the line-up!

–

Off to do some more casting, and get the commission book completely clear before the con.

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Shirty

2010-06-20T18:49:55Z

Train tickets to Confuzzled in one months time have been booked. I’ll be leaving at about 11am on the Monday, but the rest of the fares for the day are double that ones price.

The short-order shirts have arrived. A low-profit run due to small order fees, but was hoping it’d be enough to get the ball rolling again.

UKFur original design, black and white. Two in each size, Small, Medium and Large, so £10 each.
The red and white design on blue, got that in in Large, 4 items. £12 each. £2.50 postage if you’re interested.

These should all be guaranteed sales, as people requested them specifically. I’ve sent notes to all of them.
Sadly I’m already getting replies back saying they’ll buy them at the next meet, not via paypal.

I’m hoping this doesn’t mean I’ll make no sales on them for two weeks, because my kitty’s already gone on the train tickets. I need a float again much sooner than that. I have orders to post, and ideally need to make another shirts order before Confuzzled with at least two weeks notice.

The next meet will be only 8 working days from Confuzzled, and will include the payment deadline for this years RBW.

In short, despite hopes, looks like I’m still haemorrhaging money.

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Three things

2010-06-20T18:40:57Z

Once again, things have been busy here! I’m currently processing orders, albeit with a small delay (manifold broke off the degassing chamber and I’m waiting for the glue to set).

There have been two major developments however.

UKFur
I’ve now purchased the UKFur merchandise shop from previous owner Tigerfire, who’s no longer as involved in the Furry scene as he once was.
In the next couple of days I should receive the first batch of new stock, to get a small number of the most in-demand shirts and sizes.

The three designs of shirt

It’s out of stock of the lanyards, but I’m looking around for a supplier that will provide them in minimum orders of less than £200.

However still have large numbers of vinyl stickers and silicone wristbands.

Confuzzled is just a month away now, so have no fear, you will be able to get your UKFur merch!

In the meantime though, wristbands are £1.50, stickers are 50p each.
B&W shirts are £10 in Small to XL sizes, and £11 in XXL and XXXL.
Blue shirts are £12 in Small to XL sizes, and £13 in XXL and XXXL.
£2 for postage, and I still take paypal.

If I’m out of stock, let me know the size you’re after so I can get more in and I’ll let you know when I do.

Chest sizes: S – 35/37″ M – 38/40″ L – 41/43″ XL – 44/46″ XXL – 47/49″ 3XL – 50/52″

Reprap
Shortly after buying the UKFur shop I also acquired a lot of 2000 surplus stepper motors.

All boxes full of motors (ignore the SEM bits)

I strongly believe the future is in 3D printers, but there’s a big supply issue. Even the home-made machines tend to require you to already have a 3D printer to make parts for it.
The way around this is to make a bootstrapping machine to make the initial parts. A rep-strap.

The motors I have are smaller than those advised in the Reprap project, but I have my own take on it. I’m developing a small, semi-portable 3D printer, that should be fairly cheap and easy to modify. I’m looking at a sale price in the £200 range, and a quantity of around 500 machines.
Because of the small size of these printers, I’m dubbing it the Bonsai Repstrap.

It’s an ambitious project I know! But if you want to follow how things are going with it, take a look at..

The Creative Blog
I’ve set up a journal over at Dreamwidth as a stand-alone creative blog. While this won’t be strictly business related, it will include and business creations and day-to-day activities as well as my personal works.
Dreamwidth incorporates RSS feeds into the blogs, so you don’t have to sign up to follow it. It also accepts OpenID logins, so you can comment if you like.

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