A return to pixel art.

I'm going through one of those phases when I wonder what the hell is wrong with me investing so much time in comics, and I just hate them, and hate drawing, and WHAT IS HAPPENING, SO MANY FEELS.

It'll pass. It always does. It's just part of my glorious brain chemistry cycle, or the wrath of a vengeful God, or whatever you're most comfortable pinning it on. I tend to just grumble the word "bipolar" and wait for it to pass.

In the meantime, though, pixel art!

Each alternating white/gray square is 32 pixels. Yes, I'm finally doing my art with actual game mechanics in mind. This will be the only house of this type in the game, so I don't mind that it's not really a reusable "tileset" and will be a slider puzzle when it comes time to put it in the game maker. My main goal is to get the house looking good, and I think I've achieved that.

*Blows dust*

I've really let this place go, haven't I?

Well. News!

1. MY FIRST BOOK IS AVAILABLE TO BUY HERE. It's a collection of the first year of Don't Call Me Candy strips. If you get your order in with the limited quantity, you get a hand-numbered edition and I will happily sign and write sweet nothings in it. I'm talking to local bookstores, as well, to see if anyone wants to carry some copies. If your store might be interested, drop me a line.

2. I am trying to steadily work on my fantasy comic, Tab'rin. There is not a regular upload schedule, but if you're into it, check it out once a week or so. I'm uploading it publicly to create some accountability for myself. (All too often I'll start doing the graphic novel "for real this time" only to become dissatisfied with the art and throw it all out. NO LONGER. For better or worse, the pages that are up are for keeps.)

3. A dear friend of mine asked me to design a tattoo and she's going to have it done! Behold a stylized edelweiss. Did you know that the real thing is impossibly furry and even a little grody-looking? Anydangway, she is a big Sound Of Music fan, and I know there's more to the story of the flower than that, but that's for her to know and me to just shut up and draw.

Coochie coochie coo!

Little Tab'rin likes the tickles:

More blue collar fun.

We may see a return to a regular Don't Call Me Candy schedule. I'm thinking about it.

Minecraft!

Yup. It got to me, too. The FRENZYYY.

I am building a city. All the structures are arranged more or less how I think a city might end up planned and lived in, socioeconomically/commercially. Because I am a huge nerd.

Rich people houses!

Main Street, Anytown, USA.

Along with what you see above, I have also built:

• An art gallery
• A courthouse
• A pub
• A food cart
• A butcher shop
• A church
• A corporate headquarters
• A public rail (minecart) system

Again, because I am a huge nerd. It is so SOOTHING, though. Ermagerd.

Spurt!

It's not easy being a working girl.

Katamari prince.

A body pillow case is hard to find, and I couldn't help but notice that the dimensions were pretty perfect for a homemade case anyway. My body pillow is now extra snuggly!

Look out, kitty! You're gonna get rolled up!

Terra.

Another friend wanted a Terra. While the FF4 field sprites fit a standard frame perfectly, the FF6 sprites are just those couple pixels taller, which poses a problem. I solved this by using Terra's crouching sprite. Fits in a 2.5x3.5" frame again! My friend and I discussed our love for struggling, emotionally charged green-haired heroines so it seemed an even more appropriate pose.

Poor Terra!

Hear ye, hear ye.

I have been on a little bitty bit of a cross-stitching kick lately. I did a Final Fantasy 4 "Rydia" for myself, and then Dark Cecil and Paladin Cecil for a friend of mine. Observe!

These take a godawful long time but compared to the stuff on Sprite Stitch, I consider myself a lightweight.

And then, on Friday, I thought it would be a cool idea of create a coat-of-arms for my family unit. I changed my last name in my early twenties, and my husband took said name, so we really are a totally new unit. I figured it would be a good time to solidify our values and identity in a way that would be both bad-ass and a helpful reminder for the goals we want to strive for (before we get too cranky and old).

I spent some time in the SCA as a kid, so heraldic stuff is not entirely new to me. I think I took to it rather like a fish to water! The hours of research were quite fun and it's really amazing I didn't try to shove more symbols in. There are so many to choose from! I originally meant to put a cool crown/collar and chains on the ox but totally forgot about it when it came time to ink. Oh, well.

The Latin translates (if Google is to be believed) to "wealth (within) skill and knowledge lies". I wanted a real "working class" badge, with a hammer and star representing the quest for perfection through arts/crafts. The star also corresponds to the symbol for a third son, which is what my husband is. The 'X' pattern is a Scottish designation for the first generation of a coat. Shafts of wheat (in place of, traditionally, garish ribbons) and the wheel (in lieu of a helm designating rank) for progress, forward movement, and fruition. The ox represents fortitude/labor and the lion valor/achievement. The owl, of course, for wisdom and learning. Apparently there is a big difference between eared owls and earless owls, so I gave him ears. I will say that the one owl I saw in the wild was earless and pretty damned freaky. Every other culture of the world but the west is into them as harbringers of death.

Jerry says that orange and blue is the best color combination EVER, so what choice did I have there?

What can I say? I love symbolism.