PonyCrafter

Hi everyone!

Oh, I am so bad at all this, apologies all around! Please forgive me

A lot has happened since last I updated this, so thanks for the patience yet again. I'm going to try and respond to the notes that have piled up in my absence. I never wanted to be gone so long, it's just... I've been feeling SUPER overwhelmed. I'm still finishing ponies, I just have a lot of them that are... well, some might say "good enough" but every time I go to snap the picture, I find another thing that looks off. I guess that's good for quality, not so good for getting your figure in a timely manner. Because it's been taking me so long, I've been paralyzed with fear that people are disappointed or angry and I'd have an inbox of angry letters... and had a hard time even logging in until tonight. (And every time I went to do it, I'd stop myself and say "No, you have work to do, and if you're depressed you won't get ANY of it finished!)

Let me be very clear: I have not been on hiatus.

Part of the problem may be... I haven't asked for advance payment from anyone (some people insisted and I agreed, but they got their pony already, not saying those are related... but for the most part I haven't brought it up myself...) so all the supplies have still been paid for with my own funds, so slow progress is also due in part to that. It's my fault entirely, I'm a business n00b so that's a lesson for the next round of commissions whenever they may open. I'm not going to demand advance payment from anyone on my list, it's just something to keep in mind. I'm mostly stocked now thanks to birthday giftcards, but it has been an ongoing factor.

I also made a bit of a blunder trying to help out a friend in need, so my workload doubled, making an already overwhelming schedule full to the brim with ponies and my job practically impossible to manage and prioritize.

Also (and my fellow pipecleaner twisters are free to call me a whiner for this!) I can only work on the figures for so long before my fingers are absolutely killing me. Previously this was just a fun hobby where I'd make something once in a while... I really wasn't used to spending hours and days on figure after figure. It's like working with clay full of needles sometimes. I never imagined these would take off the way they did, so I was not prepared for it... I will finish it all though. I must!

There are figures not yet commissioned that I am DYING to make.

I'm trying to make my best effort to catch up again, so bear with me still while I try to get through this. If I haven't responded, I'm not ignoring you... I'm just a crappy correspondent! (Everyone who knows me will agree!) Sometimes, I'll need a reminder and a poke or two will be appreciated.

While I was out it appears DA now lets you change your name... I'll have to go through and update the new names to my commission list so I can update you individually.

I have a new email: ChenilleTwist  (@) Hotmail.com

Since my image host is becoming bloated with pony pictures,  if you're waiting on your commission please contact me there so I can email photos instead of hosting them!

Well I suppose you can assume that if I'm quiet it's because I'm working on ponies (which is true!) but the real reason is that I have been beset by numerous technological difficulties these past weeks and I've been trying to correspond the best I can! I don't know how some people can manage it, but I envy their ability!

I don't want anyone to think I'm ignoring them after all, it's just hard to reply when you have no internet connection! I'm in the process of recovering passwords as well, since my old computer is dead and everything was saved on it. That included my image account that I note commissioners their approval pictures through, so between the two, things were brought to a standstill! I got the passwords back now so that's good!

If you are curious as to how I operate, I always send a note to a commissioner showing them what their pony looks like before I post it up in the gallery. You will always get the first look at your pony!

Now, don't mistake the lack of pony posted lately as me being behind, however... I've got a whole bunch to post still! (And even MORE to send to people in the coming weeks as well!)

But commissions are still on hold for the moment, because I still have a lot to get done with the current list! I'm working very hard on it though, so like I said before don't be alarmed that I'm quiet over here!

I'm trying my best to squeeze a tutorial into my schedule as well, so those who have been asking your wish will be granted But pony time takes the front seat here! I am looking forward to offering a little insight into the process, however.

Now I'm on to empty the queue of pics I've had for a while, and fresh pictures are on the way in a second round (hopefully) very soon!

Hey all, first things first: if you've already commissioned a pony, do not panic, your orders are still being worked on. I have also kept in mind the prospective commissions who sent me a note but hadn't decided yet if they wanted to order, if you have decided yes I'll still include you in, just let me know.

I regret having to do this, but for the moment I'm going to close down accepting any further new commissions until I get a lot more ponies in the mail. I'm working very hard (I didn't even take a break when I shredded my thumb with the pliers, but don't worry I didn't bleed on any of your ponies and it's healed now) and my room is filling with ponies,  and hopefully within this week a lot more of you should be hearing from me about your ponies going home

The big hold-up on some are, as ever, me being perfection-obsessed, and using way more pipecleaners than I used to just to reach that goal. That's good news for people getting a pony because that means I'm not doing this half-hearted, but as such I've been selling these at-cost and in a lot of cases under cost, so I've been at the mercy of my work budget to get supplies when I run out and thanks to Darice discontinuing the colors I needed for Twilight, Applejack,Scootaloo, Applebloom and Trixie, (and Celestia and other ponies who use these colors too) I've had to journey to further locations with higher prices for the same colors. I'm not going to raise the prices on people who already ordered, but when I open again I may have to adjust them to something more realistic, since  in some cases I spend $9 to make a $7 pony because the color is only available in a multi-color pack, I can't use the other colors it comes with, and brands like Fibrecraft don't sell  directly to the public :C I know a few of you have heard me gripe about Micheal's not restocking their pipecleaners when I bought out a whole shelf (which was only five bags), leaving me with a half- finished pony and no where else to turn because they don't  carry the same color at other locations and won't special order for a customer! TT_TT
We had to drive 3 towns over to get to a Micheal's that carried both the orange I need and a dark steel grey I used for Zecora, and after 2 months they still had the pegs bare, even with the "new item" tag where the orange was stocked. Inconceivable!

If you wanted a pony and feel like you are too late, do not despair; I still have some experimental ponies I worked on before the orders flooded in, including  an "adorable" (according to my husband, since I'm my own worst critic!) Pinkie Pie filly I made with jumbo-sized pipecleaners who looks absolutely precious when you put her on top of your oscillating tower fan! And some others which I will post pictures of, and perhaps more after I get all of the orders finished and don't have to feel tremendous guilt for working on non-commission ponies. I'm dedicated to the cause, and I REALLY hope the long wait is worth it when you get your ponies. I intend to have them all done looong before Christmas at least!

In other good news, with the commishes closed for now you can expect more pictures very soon. I'm dying to post the ones I've been holding onto for forever!

Once the pony madness settles down I'll see to getting that wire-bending tutorial done. I have to warn you though, look forward to stinging fingertips and getting stabbed under your fingernails if you want to be a pipecleaner artist!

Back to work with me! I have a certain fashion pony's dress to finish! I Go!

Hey everpony!

Sorry for the silence, I've just been up to my eyeballs in pony work, so I haven't had much time to interact lately.  I just wanted you all to know I haven't forgotten your ponies, and apologize for it taking so long on some of them! Some are turning out a little more complicated than others but I am always up for the challenge. (I just feel bad for the long wait! I don't want to rush crappy ponies out the door either...)

More pony pictures are on the way, but not until I get a bunch of ponies sent to their proper homes! That feature on EQD nearly did me in, haha! (it was super exciting though! I just have lots to do now )