shrödinger's box taxidermy

generally you are looking for soft, supple, white leather with good stretch and flexibility (scrunch it in your hand - does it feel stiff? papery? crinkly? smell weird?), nice thick clean fur with no stains, leather that is thin enough to be soft but thick enough that none of the hair is coming out the back (known as 'blue leather'), and a lack of holes (or well repaired ones at least). i also always ask what it was tanned with - alum is NOT a tan and the pelt will rot if it gets wet. egg, brain, and leaf tans are only true tans if they're smoked, and they generally don't come out super soft, but they will be waterproof at least.

tfw you realise that you almost sold your friend's pelt and the only thing that stopped you was realising that you have no idea when you've ever produced an opal rex

y'all like satins? even with flaws? then have i got some pelts for you. just added these to the shop!

maybe! doing it that way was kinda hard to keep up with and put a lot of pressure on me to finish quickly as they were technically commissions, and it got to be a lot. versus the way i've been doing it, where i just pull a bag out of my freezer and tan whatever was in there and then sell it.

my shop is open again! there are still some pelts in the shop that are in the finishing stages that will be added soon, but i am pretty happy with what i have up so far, so i'm gonna pull the trigger!

here's a little preview:

and they turned out pretty nice if i do say so myself

a lot has happened since last we spoke, but last year i made huge leaps in my health and work is starting to become something i can actually regularly do again. i have already been working pelts and even some skulls that i had gotten started in my free time last year. i had been thinking of saving up some inventory and tabling at a show this spring, but honestly i think i would rather have my comback be easier on me, considering it's still 'winter' and the weather sucks :p

meaning, i'm gonna be updating and reopening my site! i'm in the process of checking what i have lying around, finishing up pelts i've had in progress, and cleaning up some skulls that i will be posting online for sale over the next little while! i am very excited about these guys and have some nice ones still in the pipes, too, so keep an eye out!

again, thank you to everyone whose stuck around for so long, both through my health struggles and just in general. this year will be ten years!! of tanning, and it feels crazy to think that i still get to do this thing i actually enjoy all these years and a whole cross-country move later.