http://browse.deviantart.com/journals/?order=5&q=by%3Axofox deviantART RSS for in:journals sort:time by:xofox en-us Copyright 2013, deviantART.com Sat, 18 May 2013 03:31:09 PDT deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://st.deviantart.net/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Belay-that-order-helmsman-370403267 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Belay-that-order-helmsman-370403267 Wed, 08 May 2013 05:33:21 PDT Belay that order, helmsman. nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
Consider me on unpaid vacation until these headaches stop. Woodwork will resume sometime between now and soonish. I've felt like the insides of an antique vase on Sledgehammer Day this week.
Now I'm going to hide in my closet with my eyes closed and listen to The Iliad on audiobook. (I've always thought that audiobooks of stories from oral traditions were especially appropriate.) Sorry that the woodwork seems to have dried up at the moment. I promise I'll try to get back to it ASAP, I promise. ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Busy-busy-busy-369983921 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Busy-busy-busy-369983921 Sun, 05 May 2013 21:00:21 PDT Busy, busy, busy nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox Anyway, April was a hoot and my most productive month hands down since last summer, but I'm feeling that oomph draining at the moment, with just as much to ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Small-Packages-Minifigure-Charity-366565708 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Small-Packages-Minifigure-Charity-366565708 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:21 PDT Small Packages Minifigure Charity nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
This morning I'd like to discuss a charity event I've been mulling over for a couple of weeks, and I think, given how on-the-ball I've been this month, this might be the time to spring it. As some of you know, I had the privilege last summer to teach science at the Ummu Salama school in Iringa, Tanzania, a private school assisting the Ummu Salama orphanage in that city and headmastered by one of the coolest, most intelligent people I have ever met.

I have long intended to run a small charity to benefit the school, which would certainly appreciate some spare change for school supplies, a food budget, sports equipment ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Pony-Sculptor-Giveaway-and-Productivity-364756123 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Pony-Sculptor-Giveaway-and-Productivity-364756123 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:22:13 PDT Pony Sculptor Giveaway and Productivity nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox I'm going to be giving away a free gift this week as part of an ongoing project with :iconponysculptors: The contest rules are in the current journal; swing by and sign up! :D I'll be giving away the wooden pony bust seen in Twilights library throughout the series! (Posting soon!)
Better yet, this giveaway doesn't stop with me. Pony Sculptors is featuring a different giveaway artist every week for three full months, and I'm less than halfway down that list. So hop on over there and add them to your watch list; there is just an amazing group of artists of all mediums that I've been getting to meet over there.
Here, hav ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Productivity-364642912 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Productivity-364642912 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:21:34 PDT Productivity nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox I have no idea what turns on and off the faucet for me. I feel like I'm fairly motivated, and at least marginally inspired all the time, but some weeks it's easy to go into the shop, and work for hours and hours without a break and others it's a battle just to get out of bed. And April is going to be a good month; I just feel it. (And that's great because I have bitten off way more than I can chew for about three weeks.) I've been turning out a piece of some sort every day, and I've been keeping up with my laminating and predesign, which are always issues with me. I'm trying wildly new things, and although I' ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Graduation-Sale-362005337 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Graduation-Sale-362005337 Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:47:03 PDT Graduation Sale nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
Graduation is coming, and you know that means it's time to get your friends or daughters or sons, boyfriends, girlfriends, strangers, tenured professors or enemies some graduation gifts. It's also time for me to buy some, so I'm looking to sell some merch. And this works out great for all of us, because I'm putting a couple of great gifts for your graduating friends on sale.

Have a history major graduating? Check out the following items on etsy:

:thumb348504087:
Etsy Listing for Ancient Coin Macedonian Shield Pendant SOLD - hurry and grab the other one before it disappears too!

:thumb348880904:
Etsy Listing for Anc ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/To-the-Person-Expecting-a-Bobblehead-360861460 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/To-the-Person-Expecting-a-Bobblehead-360861460 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:00:25 PDT To the Person Expecting a Bobblehead nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox The molds are made, and the head has been cast, but I'm out of casting resin for the body and base. Sorry, never cast plastics before, so I didn't know how much to get, and I'll need to run into town to get more. Should  be done over the weekend if the head mold turns out well. Sorry for the delay.

If you need to respond, I can be reached at turnertoymaker@gmail.com ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Big-Fat-Failure-of-a-Week-360059160 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Big-Fat-Failure-of-a-Week-360059160 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:07:07 PDT A Big Fat Failure of a Week nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox Man, this has not been my week. Even when I had the umph to get into the shop the tools just wouldn't move like I wanted. The designs wouldn't clealr up in my head, and the one project that I even finished doesn't actually work.
Bugger.
And that is my miffed and upset journal. I haven't had such a thoroughly frustrating and unproductive week in ages.

Also Happy St. Patricks Day. :) ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/In-Dallas-359176924 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/In-Dallas-359176924 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:14:38 PDT In Dallas nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Costumery-358312041 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Costumery-358312041 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:58:49 PST Costumery nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox Because, man, those sewing machines are insane.

So, the thing is, I like dressing up. Enjoyed acting in drama, or costume parties, or just wearing the odd, suitably fashionable, outfit just for kicks. But the cosplay scene was never really my jive. Maybe it's just always seemed overboard to me, or maybe because I have my own, different, methods of escapism, and peo ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Dragons-and-Chocobos-and-Elephants-oh-my-355982340 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Dragons-and-Chocobos-and-Elephants-oh-my-355982340 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 09:01:04 PST Dragons and Chocobos and Elephants! (oh my) nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
How is it that even when I work through all of my commissions and stop taking any more I still find myself overextended? Not that I'm really complaining, I just figured I would slow down, but I seem to be turning out just as many pieces these days as four months ago.
Well, I finished the disc itself for the bookstand, so I'm working my way down and doing the elephants next, which ought to take a couple of weeks if I do them correctly. Just as well, really, because I am nearly out of walnut, but I'll be tagging along on a trip down to Dallas soon to visit our Bhutanese friends and should be able to pick up ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/So-It-Begins-the-Great-Battle-of-Our-Time-354440224 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/So-It-Begins-the-Great-Battle-of-Our-Time-354440224 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:02:23 PST So It Begins, the Great Battle of Our Time nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
Unlike most of my stuff, the bookshelf will pop up as a WIP piece here before it's completely finished, maybe even the designs will show up tomorrow or sometime.

This one is meant to be, well, the old term was "masterwork" but in this d ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Sigh-353258678 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Sigh-353258678 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 02:50:09 PST Sigh nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
The whole world seems so interesting lately, and mostly outside of my fields of expertise. Sure, I've been brushing up my Karen Horney and neurophysiology, but not much, and sort of feeling like I missed out on ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/GUYS-GUYS-GUYS-351035317 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/GUYS-GUYS-GUYS-351035317 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:05:08 PST GUYS, GUYS, GUYS! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox You ever have awesome ideas, and really need to tell someone because otherwise life would be cold and lonely? (I think Lewis actually touched a bit on shared joy in his reflections on the Psalms, but that's just a passing comment. Still, read it if you haven't.) and then one awesome idea goes to another? I was thinking over how to put the estimate of known particles in the universe on a container, because I do think that it'd be a kick-a gift to the folks over at the recently shafted Fermilab, who've had their particle accelerator completely shut down and their budget severely hacked due to the depres ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/By-Jeebies-Techie-Wanted-Reward-to-Finder-350842463 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/By-Jeebies-Techie-Wanted-Reward-to-Finder-350842463 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:20:53 PST By Jeebies (+Techie Wanted, Reward to Finder) nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
And although I am still more or less in the mood to give everyone and everything a right good kicking until I feel better, it cannot be denied that the universe is full of things like stone-mold forging (remind me when I have breathing space that I must take up smithing) and Bernard's law and poincare recurrence times that can actually be calculated and apple cider. Given that most people probably don't deserve a kicking in the fork, and violence just isn't woth it, I suppose I should keep listening to math lectures and documentaries on iTunesU.
And also drinking apple cider.

Well, I'm dividing my ti ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Enthusiasm-346992277 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Enthusiasm-346992277 Sat, 05 Jan 2013 21:32:46 PST Enthusiasm nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2013 *xofox
Among other things, I had an inquiry about some coopered ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Period-of-Reflection-and-Remembrance-345008339 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Period-of-Reflection-and-Remembrance-345008339 Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:49:42 PST A Period of Reflection and Remembrance nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
I spent some time today driving back from my grandparent's home in another city. Without any company on the trip, I took some time to think over this year, its various high and low points, and also took a little bit of time to think about the coming year. Here I'll share with you some of the thoughts I had about woodwork, because nobody wants to hear me sniffle about my personal problems.
One of my fir ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Oof-344165102 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Oof-344165102 Sat, 22 Dec 2012 10:49:10 PST Oof. nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Christmas-Giveaway-340530231 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Christmas-Giveaway-340530231 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:53:51 PST Christmas Giveaway! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Well, it's been on the schedule for a while, but I think it's about time to start up this years Christmas Giveaway! There are going to be quite a few pieces going out, but first, the entry rules:

To enter, simply leave a comment of any length or content on this journal. The deadline is going to be this Monday, December 10 at 11:59pm US Central Time.
Contest Closed! Congrats to our winners!

That's it, no strings attached. All items will ship free in the US and Canada. Most items will ship free anywhere in the world. Due to weight, however, I'll need help  mailing the Applebucking Applejack Whirligig and the Ice Skating Ponies Cand ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Eeeeee-338893226 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Eeeeee-338893226 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:21:31 PST Eeeeee! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
New scroll saw arrived this afternoon, and it. is. fabulous.
Also really freakin heavy. Seriously, I gotta work out or something because I was straining just to hold the thing up while attaching the platform. :| So I'll be starting in tomorrow where I left off, on another fixed mane Luna and on into a manticore. (rargh!)

At which point I might beg leave of my commissioners to take a week for Christmas themed stuff so that the giveaway prizes can arrive by Christmas. Then it's a Nightmare Moon in a brand new block of African Blackwood that is just gorgeous. (Ah man I could tell you all abou ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Insert-Mild-Expletives-Here-336060181 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Insert-Mild-Expletives-Here-336060181 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 11:32:57 PST [Insert Mild Expletives Here] nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox I just don't know what went wrong!
My scroll saw broke on me while working on a  fixed mane Derpy. The beveled pin holding the saw blade tightening knob snapped in half. Non-repairable without a welder, no amount of wrenching and plier-ing has been able to twist it without the knob. (Which doesn't surprise me. The torque on the knob was absurd. I occasionally had to use a wrench to turn it in any case.) Now, I admit, it was the absolute cheapest one I could find, but I expected it to last more than 13 months. I wasn't even using it for about 4 of those.

So now I am left with a choice. I can: r ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Happy-Halloween-335385089 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Happy-Halloween-335385089 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:16:34 PDT Happy Halloween! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Well I have had a quite busy two days, shutting down and opening new bank accounts, replacing drivers licenses  (ughhhh, the DMV here is exactly as bad as the stories say), working on and planning some woodwork, writing letters, making multiple mailing runs, and desperately writing up word problems for math tutorials at the last minute (or hour or however long it took me to produce those). I've actually managed to stay busy enough to not put together a Halloween outfit, which means I'm more or less wearing what was at hand. Fortunately, I tend to dress like it's the 1930s most of the time, so all it took was diggi ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/And-on-On-hurrah-334045125 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/And-on-On-hurrah-334045125 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:12:53 PDT And on! On! hurrah! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Oh-Come-On-331989421 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Oh-Come-On-331989421 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 06:57:01 PDT Oh Come On! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox So last night as I was heading to bed I was getting numbers, addresses and stuff sorted for an event for my sister early Saturday morning. Climb into bed, curl up like an overworked party squeaker and pass out. Totally forgot to set the alarm.
Wake up; it's bright out. Oh no. Oh. No.
Rubber ball my way out of bed, grab alarm clock, 8:05. This does not reflect well on Mr. Michael who is watching the kids for the parents right now, and whose first hour class starts at 8:00 sharp.
Agh! I can't believe it guys. I've done so well lately too. Getting to bed at reasonable ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/So-330008825 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/So-330008825 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 11:04:05 PDT So... nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Half the time I ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Captain-s-Log-327084128 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Captain-s-Log-327084128 Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:00:55 PDT Captain's Log nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
Oof. Sorry guys, I haven't made it out to the workshop this week at all, not even to make designs. I've taken over a long term science teachers job while she's on maternity leave, and I feel a bit dropped in the middle of things right now. With luck I'll be back to woodworking on Tuesday, Monday if I turnout to be superhuman. I'm making a roundtrip to Chicago this weekend to pick up a car.
On the upswing, I'll be in town for a day of Midwestria, so I look forward to seeing anyone in that area. Never been to a convention before, and not particularly a convention sort of person, but it seems ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Finally-Posting-324254758 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Finally-Posting-324254758 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:38:29 PDT Finally Posting nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Long time no updates. You know how way back in April I fried my harddrive in LAX security? Well my replacement harddrive was crap and went dead on me too. I've been able to keep up on my phone, but couldn't make any comments due to just a weird website format/phone thingy. This is the first time I've been really responsive online in a bit, anyone who sent me notes I'll get back to you ASAP.
In the interim, I've finished a couple new ponies, a giraffe and an Angel bunny and one more fingerbox. I'll get some photos up today and keep everyone posted as things progress. It's been, I shall not lie, some not good times with me right now ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Beginning-Woodwork-321575796 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Beginning-Woodwork-321575796 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:59:21 PDT Beginning Woodwork nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
Some woodwork starting up today with a giraffe and then a rainbow dash figurine. I'm having to hold off on the rocking horses while I wait for replacement parts for some things in my workshop, notably my table saw straight edge (Who thought it was a good idea to make workshop equipment with cast iron? Who? Snapped like a twig. :|) because I can't angle my legs properly without a straightedge.
However, in order to get things started, the charity webpage will be up tonight soon, tomorrow I hope; the page is processing. ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Not-Quite-a-Comeback-320159597 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Not-Quite-a-Comeback-320159597 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:33:01 PDT Not Quite a Comeback nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox This wasn't quite the most triumphant homecoming. I haven't actually started on any serious woodwork, since it's pretty tough to do woodwork and be laid up in bed sick. Our first evening back in Zanzibar I wore my high-top shoes into the ocean because there were urchins around and ended up with pretty bad blisters on my ankles where sand got ground into the skin while walking.
One of these got infected eventually (it's incredible how hard it is to keep a wound clean in Africa), and I've been down and out with a fever and unable to walk or really even lower my left leg. I finally cracked and got it looked at by my dad, and he dragged ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Back-from-Africa-319381465 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Back-from-Africa-319381465 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:52:00 PDT Back from Africa nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Catching some rest today and getting used to the eight hour time difference but I think I will be posting a highlight photo later today. As I said, lions; expect them.
After that I need to run into the city to get a drivers license and credit card again after someone picked my poc ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/More-like-TANzibar-318065392 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/More-like-TANzibar-318065392 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 23:23:14 PDT More like TANzibar! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox It looks like being an amazingly fun last three days; my brother and I are out for the obligatory tourist stuff (ugh. I was starting to feel actually at home in Iringa and now I feel like an absolute tourist.) Spice tour today and then we made pals with a resident named Eddie who's taking us out on his family's dhow tonight.
Tomorrow we're busy all day, swim with the dolp ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Lions-315838922 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Lions-315838922 Fri, 20 Jul 2012 02:07:48 PDT Lions. nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
I got a couple decent pictures of lions last Saturday and Sunday in Ruaha National Park, and I really can't wait to get back to my camera cable so I can drop one or two of them off. I'm also beginning to make some headway with the mahogany lion I'm currently whittling. It is taking forever, which is frustrating, since I'm used to just flying at speed through silhouettes and shaping. Instead I whittled for about two hours yesterday to get part of the face and one of the legs outlined. Hopefully I'll get it finished before we leave Iringa; it's intended as a gift to our school's head teacher Rashid for generally being a fantastic ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Jambo-313780879 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Jambo-313780879 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:21:58 PDT Jambo! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Posting now from a little internet cafe on the busy streets of Iringa. I made it alive and am currently teaching science at Ummu Salama to kids age 6ish to 13ish. It's been a good week. The kids are fantastic, adorable, and super well behaved, and the tea is wonderful. Ugali is delicious and the people here are some of the friendliest, even if I do get called mzungu at least three times a day. I guess it's pretty true. :D The weather is beyond fantatic, even if it is their winter, and I went out and got sunburned and scratched all to pieces on Sunday on a four hour hike up to a mountaintop church overlooking Iringa. Real ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Tanzania-311674769 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Tanzania-311674769 Sat, 30 Jun 2012 09:33:45 PDT Tanzania! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
Many, many, many apologies to the notes left unanswered, the comments left unresponded to, and the woodwork not yet finished. The past 24 hours has been all about packing, getting malaria meds, and finishing that fennec fox and I've barely breathed.
So here's to five weeks of good work ahead and I'll talk to you all when I get back!

Much love,
Mikey ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Commissions-are-Open-310185392 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Commissions-are-Open-310185392 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:00:11 PDT Commissions are Open nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox As of this posting, woodwork commissions are open. I will be accepting seven pony orders and six non-pony orders, and work will begin on these in August-early September when I get back from Tanzania and the workshop gets going again. Pricing for pony figurines will be determined by the price of wood, the difficulty of various woods to work with and my current stock of wood. As it stands, these are the prices of various pony figurines:

Pink Ivory(pink): $30
Ebony (black)/ Holly (white)/ Blackwood(black): $25
Purpleheart (purple)/ Padauk(orange)/ Bloodwood(red)/ Bubinga(pink, cream) ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Charities-and-Commissions-309312427 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Charities-and-Commissions-309312427 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 04:41:56 PDT Charities and Commissions nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox ********

There should be more of it. Much much more of it.
First:
Ok, so the ball is rolling on that second raffle/contest thing. As a reminder, it's a charity for a young Chinese girl I met to pay for recent heart operations. A good cause. The problem is I can't do a raffle with actual money involved online. It's apparently 1)illegal and 2)bloody near impossible to organize in a way that would be open and honest in any case. So instead, this is my plan. I'm going to put off the ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/WINNERS-307464495 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/WINNERS-307464495 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 01:10:58 PDT WINNERS! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox First and foremost:
Thank you to everybody for helping me get to 100 ponies!

You guys have always been unwaveringly kind and indefatigably supportive throughout this past 359 days. (I beat my one year self-imposed deadline; ha!) You have been incredibly patient when I was tired or busy or injured or slow, or when I just bit off more than I could chew and took ages to get your orders finished. You've given me fantastic feedback, and it's always helped me find things to fix and improve and build upon. So thank you all so very much.

But enough of that soppy rubbish. We all know why we're here. Incl ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/FREE-PONY-GIVEAWAY-306162672 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/FREE-PONY-GIVEAWAY-306162672 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 14:07:46 PDT FREE PONY GIVEAWAY! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
In celebration, I am giving away ponies #94-#100!

The contest will be going on ALL WEEK, but will END when Pony #100 goes up, THIS SATURDAY, June 9 at 12:00pm US Central time. I've had a couple people ask how to enter, so I'll throw that info out now and get the party started. Entering is easy and free.  Just leave a comment of any length or content below this journal and you're in! Afterwards I'll number ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/And-I-m-Back-305841339 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/And-I-m-Back-305841339 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:58:39 PDT And I'm Back nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox
Ok, short update because sweet molasses it's 3:45 why am I up but I wanted to get a couple things out there.

First off, I've taken a brief break from the commission list (I know, shame on me. Shame on me.) to work on some gift ponies for the Pony #100 celebration. But I've been turning out ponies pretty quickly of late so I thought I could afford a break, especially with some large OC orders upcoming. OC's aren't generally posed and I can get through them fairly quickly these days, you see.

So here's the plan: Ponies #94-#100 will all be free gi ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Progress-Report-and-Plans-304509735 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Progress-Report-and-Plans-304509735 Sat, 26 May 2012 12:48:44 PDT Progress Report and Plans nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox But, when I do finally get a working lappy oh the uploads there will be. I finished putting the final touches on pony #94 at 5:30am today after ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Computer-Issues-303200037 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Computer-Issues-303200037 Sat, 19 May 2012 19:30:35 PDT Computer Issues nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox I'm afraid im in a bit of a state at the moment. My laptop,which has been faltering ever since something got screwed up going through LAX security, has totally refused to startup for about six days now, since right after the upload of fluttershy. (writing this on a borrowed iPad) Ive still been working wood, and actually just finished an ebony Chrysalis that i really like, but i cant upload anything until i have somewhere to download the pics to. Hopefully stuff should be up soon, and everything will be sorted in time for the PONY #100 CELEBRATION that should be going on sometime before June 16th (the pressure is on. Nine more pon ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/What-an-incredibly-unproductive-three-weeks-300695476 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/What-an-incredibly-unproductive-three-weeks-300695476 Mon, 07 May 2012 22:51:35 PDT What an incredibly unproductive three weeks. nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Clothes-299401166 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Clothes-299401166 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:39:59 PDT Clothes! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox So here's the new project. So far, whenever I've needed to make a pony with clothes I've tended towards felt, and that's been all right because none of them needed much more than a hat or a vest. But my next two ponies are all about outfits-a epaulette and pith helmet bedecked Daring Do and Fluttershy in full Gala regalia. So I'm going to take a swing at carving the clothes as part of the pony (possibly the pith helmet, possibly not. It could make maning tough. I'm still deciding.  I'm actually sketching her design onto the wood right now, though...) and we'll s ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Bad-Days-Nonphilosophical-Musings-Thereon-298802533 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Bad-Days-Nonphilosophical-Musings-Thereon-298802533 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:27:07 PDT Bad Days: Nonphilosophical Musings Thereon nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Hello everyone. I hope this note finds you well, and I mean that, because I've gotten a few notes recently expressing that people are having a tough run of it this week. And that's too bad. Life can be bloody unfair sometimes (pardon my Klatchian) and I wish it wasn't. Allow me to extend a warm wish to everyone out there having a bad day, or a bad week or a bad month. Sometimes I wonder why, and I've listened with greater or lesser interest to plenty of really fantastic sermons and lectures on theodicy. But every single lecturer worth listening to has stopped at some point and shrugged ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Back-and-At-It-296432551 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Back-and-At-It-296432551 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:30:04 PDT Back and At It nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox ____________________________________

Yawn. :yawn:
Sheesh. I am jetlagging like a beast, but I'm awake and have no teaching jobs today, and you know what that means. It means woodwork. I'm a bit disappointed in myself; I was pretty wiped out when we finally landed in Amarillo so I didn't pick up a couple of things that I had wanted to use on some upcoming projects. Oh well, I feel excusable. =P
The trip to China was a lot of fun, and I feel privileged to have experienced it. I made new friends, and it is truly amazing how ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Trip-Abroad-293939651 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Trip-Abroad-293939651 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:06:22 PDT A Trip Abroad nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Sad-sad-sad-day-291782809 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Sad-sad-sad-day-291782809 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:32:26 PDT Sad, sad, sad day. nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Well, like the title says, this is a sad day for me, and for a few of reasons. First off, I haven't been able to find my notebook for about a week. And this is quite a bad thing because it has written down in it all of my commission information. I know about the next five pieces on my list, but after that I'm going to have to go digging through about 250 notes and a few hundred emails looking for who commissioned what and in what order. And of course I write down pretty much all of my personal projects,  appointments, memos, and thoughts in it ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Short-Spring-Break-289903827 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/A-Short-Spring-Break-289903827 Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:06:17 PDT A Short Spring Break nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Haven't uploaded much recently; honestly haven't done that much. Shame on me. Well, Pink Week sort of became Pink fortnight, I have one of the Pinkies, Pinkamena in point of fact, finished, but no pictures. Hopefully I'll take some tomorrow. Another is finished, but I'm undertaking a complicated stand for it. (A cupcake shaped box! It'll give me a chance to work on my woodturning. And I've ben having a lovely conversation with :iconmoodycharlie: about box work and I want to give it a go to keep my hand in.) The pink OC is cut out but not shaped, and the Pinkie I really needed to do first is still just a sketch. >< I really s ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/I-Declare-This-PINK-WEEK-288226534 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/I-Declare-This-PINK-WEEK-288226534 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:09:25 PST I Declare This...PINK WEEK! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox I know I do. Pinkie might not be my favorite pony, but she's kind and tries to make others smile, and that counts for a lot in my book. And it turns out I've got three Pinkies and a pink OC pretty much all in a row in my commission list! (Ok, that's a lie, I was supposed to do Pinkamena a while ago, but I've been nervous of her since the finger incident, and I only now feel brave enough to try her again. =P) I've also got a set of crochet hooks to make, and every wood I've tried so far (all of them ;P) has cracked when I try to get it as long and thin as it should be. So I'm turning to a redwood burl, a good ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Woohoo-Wood-287737264 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Woohoo-Wood-287737264 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:58:30 PST Woohoo! Wood! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox The wand making is still ongoing, but with some bubinga and bloodwood at my disposal I'm looking forward to a couple of Pinkie Pies that are coming up on the list, and to finishing off an Apple family set with an appropriately sized Big Mac. Should get some satinwood in soon to make a Rose[luck], which I've never used but can vary from creamy to silvery. I'd like to see how the color suits a Derpy hooves or an Octavia, both of whom are also on the horizon. All that to say busy, busy, busy trying out fun new poses and characters.
I know a lot o ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Happy-Valentines-Day-Everyone-285133989 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Happy-Valentines-Day-Everyone-285133989 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:14:14 PST Happy Valentines Day Everyone nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox All week long people, single or otherwise, have been complaining about Valentines Day and I've felt continually moved to defend it. Oh sure it's commercial and a bit silly, but that's what you signed on for when you decided to be alive in the 21st century. What holiday isn't these days?
On the other hand, many holidays these days celebrate cultural movements, great and honorable people, or historic events. And, although these are wonderful things, and should be celebrated, the concept of love was celebrated before liberty and independence were in vogue and will be c ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Walnut-Jewelry-Tree-Giveaway-284178457 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Walnut-Jewelry-Tree-Giveaway-284178457 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:31:53 PST Walnut Jewelry Tree Giveaway nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox More ponies up soon, in the meantime how about a chance to get some free stuff? I'm in a particular hurry to get this walnut jewelry stand off of my hands; it has a history attached to it that I don't really feel like keeping around. So if you want a chance to get it for free, just leave a comment indicating that you'd like to be entered into the drawing either here or on the deviation page , and I'll put all the names into a hat and draw a winner after the weekend.
:thumb284175489:

And now I am really exhausted. See you guys in the morning. ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Woodworking-is-Fun-282123006 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Woodworking-is-Fun-282123006 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:58:47 PST Woodworking is Fun! nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox It's been a blast getting back into the shop and doing some woodwork again. I've been itching to get in there for weeks now, and I've got pages worth of projects to do scribbled in my notebook. A couple of them are gonna be crazy fun, others are just to make sure that I'm not getting stagnate doing the same pony design time after time. Either way, I really can't wait to dive in.
So for everyone who was on my to-do list back in December, I am back in business, and your stuff will be incoming soon. I think the first thing up is a dragon and a couple of ponies for contest winners over on :iconponypony-kingdom: and I'll keep ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/The-progress-so-far-279071443 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/The-progress-so-far-279071443 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:28:06 PST The progress so far nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2012-2013 *xofox Man, you never know what you've got 'till it's gone, right? I think without woodwork I'm starting to go a little stir crazy here in Texas. I spent three-ish hours today browsing through woodwork on dA and wanting to get out and do stuff like that. I keep writing new projects into my journal to do once I can work a saw again.
On that note, I'm told the finger look pretty fantastic for what happened. No infection, and it seems to be healing well. I got stitches a week ago after it had closed up naturally enough to work with. They were pretty excruciating for the first day and felt just fine after that. Apparently the skin had to str ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/An-Injury-and-Delays-276021000 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/An-Injury-and-Delays-276021000 Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:01:28 PST An Injury and Delays nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2011-2013 *xofox http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Merry-Christmas-275690565 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Merry-Christmas-275690565 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:36:11 PST Merry Christmas nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2011-2013 *xofox So I spend most of my year in Chicago, and I forget that I have things lying around in Texas. But I stumbled across a couple old wands stuffed under the bed while I was rummaging for bed slats to convert into new wands. I've got no use for them of course, and 'tis the season for giving. First two comments to ask for this http://xofox.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d46b1ap and this http://xofox.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d468o38 respectively get them free, and I'll cover shipping.
Merry Christmas! And may God bless you this holiday season.

That aside I broke another blasted engraving point working on a scorpion for my littl ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/That-s-That-Then-274129685 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/That-s-That-Then-274129685 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:45:27 PST That's That, Then nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2011-2013 *xofox Grad school eventually, to get my doctorate, but not right now. I nearly dropped out this semester, I felt so apathetic about school, so I don't think going into a PsyD program would be a smart move. I don't know what right now; maybe applying for the Peace Corps or doing some excavations in Ashkelon for a while. Something completely different.
In the immediate future, though, it means going home to Texas for Christmas and powering through some commiss ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Brrrrr-273200604 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Brrrrr-273200604 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:26:24 PST Brrrrr.... nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2011-2013 *xofox
I just don't see how the elves manage it. ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Contest-Time-272023702 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/Contest-Time-272023702 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:27:27 PST Contest Time nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2011-2013 *xofox Contest time.

Send me an email at mikeyturner@derpymail.org with the header "Christmas Contest" for a chance to win either some old ponies that are sitting sad and ownerless on my shelf:

Sweetie Belle mark II: http://xofox.deviantart.com/gallery/30873788?offset=24#/d4695ro
Apple Bloom Mark II: http://xofox.deviantart.com/gallery/30873788?offset=24#/d465dke
Applejack mark I: http://xofox.deviantart.com/gallery/30873788?offset=48#/d3j33ad
(lol, foisting old ponies on people)

or

A brand new CHRISTMAS PONY, Mistletoe Kisses: http://xofox.deviantart.com/art/Christmas-Giveaway-Woodwork-Pony-272506168
Deadline is Wednesday, D ]]> http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/RIP-Electra-271151740 http://xofox.deviantart.com/journal/RIP-Electra-271151740 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:27:10 PST RIP Electra nonadult journals/personal xofox http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/x/o/xofox.jpg?4 Copyright 2011-2013 *xofox