#workshop life

2024 in review and what to expect in 2025

With a big convention line up, 2024 was a big year for me hitting the road and showing off my wears live, this was a goal I had at the end of 2023 and while I didnt hit it with the expectation I had set out with, here are the conventions I did manage to work:

LARPcon 2nd-3rd March & 2nd - 3rd Nov

Super local, relaxed, and well organised, LARPcon is a great convention, I love chatting with people there and I always learn something new. 

I didn't get a photo of my final setup for the November LARPcon for some reason, but my last con of the year was a blast, I spoke with lots of people who had traded with me through the year and enjoyed their costumes during the LARPing summer season. I also scored a huge box of leather scraps ready for more dragons in 2025

The Alternitive Convention 7th April

This was a new convention for 2024, I saw it advertised and thought I would give it a try for experience if nothing else. It was very interesting with a different enough crowd to showcase to a broader audeince of costume enthusiasts, but not so different that my stall was completely out of place. I don't believe I'm likely to do this convention again as I have a lot planned for this year now.

UK Games Expo 31st May - 2nd June

I was very excited for UKGX, but also super nervous because it's the biggest and most professional convention I've vented at (for now?). My biggest worry was that I would be totally out of place, but everyone was very friendly, particularly fellow vendors who were more than happy to offer tips and advice that I will be applying to my stall in the not-too-distant furture.

What about the furry conventions?

I don't want to talk too much about the conventions that I didnt get into, but as I've mentioned in the past about wanting to do Scotiacon again, and Confuzzled being my staple convention, I thought it would be worth a mention too.

Scotiacon was simply a logistcs issue, my van was in and out of the mechanics for various issues through all of Q4 in 2023, I couldn't afford a new van and I wasn't sure it would get me to Scotland without a tow truck, so I didn't risk applying. With Confuzzled I got caught up in the cogs of the new application process and was left on the waiting list. But, despite my vending list being smaller than I'd hoped, It was probably a blessing in the end as I was able to try out some new conventions. 

Conventions 2025

Alongside my new staple of LARP con, I'm really pleased to say that I will be vending at Confuzzled in 2025, as well as Fantasty Forest Festival!

I will also be vending at various actual LARP events over the year, I have spoken to some organisers, but not finalised anything yet so I will confirm which games I will be vending at at a later date.

 What else I got up to in 2024

My favourite project has been working on all these Dragons, as time-consuming as it is, it is a fun and relaxing process that I've enjoyed and I hope to make more going into 2025

I had a lot of fun experimenting with some new masks as well, including working on a mossy wood elk ready for Fantasy Forest. I only got to attend one day at FF in 2024, but I had a great time wandering around as this branchy antlered beast, I didn't even take it off when I was skanking to the Whiskey Rebellion at the Dragon stage.

Launching several new base designs, I also made lots of animal LARP masks as pre-mades and commissions, A few people shared images with me of them wearing their masks in full character, which was cool to see

I did do some more work on my campervan, this might be Irrelevant to my work, it did interrupt it a bit over July to be fair as I was getting ready for Noisily Festival, but it's also going to be necessary this year if I'm going to be travelling to more events.

What is more irrelevant to my work is that I then spent the next few summer months laying the groundwork for our wildlife garden which I'll be finally completing this year. It's been so slow because I've been basically skip-diving for most of the materials as I go, but It's going to be worth it for all the little newts, bee, birds, hedgehogs and all the other critters that come to visit, they're going to be in a safe and more welcoming environment, and the workshop is going to be surrounded by nature

What's in store for 2025?

More: playing - creating - sculpting 

My biggest goal this year is to see more of my work out in the world, so while I'm out attending festivals and events, I'll be keeping my eyes out. If you know I'm at an event please don't hesitate to seek me out, or send me some photos, I'd love to create a whole page on my website to show off your characters and how you've brought my work to life.

I have a few new sculpts that I'm working on, the main priority is a Stoat / weasel design, I'm also working on an Owl, these should both be ready at least before May, but I'm hoping to have them done in time for LARP con in March.

I haven't abandond slimline head bases, there are two new designs (Fox and a Dragon) that are ready for listing in the next week or so once I have taken some photos. I will be sculpting two more in the run-up to Confuzzled, one will be a Hyena as I've been meaning to work on that for many months, and the other is yet to be decided.

I also want to finish this Highland bull, and I have plans for a couple of others in different colours and with different horns.