UGH!

I feel SO burnt out right now. Sorry I haven’t been on here for a little while, but I wasn’t off when I thought this class I’m in would be gruelling. It is, hands-down. If anyone that reads this knows anything about game development, this is what I did last week:

-wrote a concept document on a game tutorial that I was required to add levels to in a class I took 2 years ago

-wrote a concept document on a game I was designing

-built the game I was designing (thankfully, I was allowed to use the tutorial game as an example)

-wrote a pitch document for the team project (5 other people along with my self) we’re working on

-added 3 pages to the game design document, which is much more in-depth than a concept document

On top of that, you still have to keep up with discussion requirements and reading all assigned chapters. I am so tired, I have to fight falling asleep at the computer! And that’s only the second week!!

I’m still trying to keep up with all of my other responsibilities, but it’s difficult. I’m about 1/2 way done with my Recovery Buddy, hopefully to be done with it before the end of this week. I’ve got a baby outfit I’m crocheting, kid’s scarf and hat set (about 1/3rd done with that), and trying to remember to work on my knit top design. As for the book, this class is beating me up with writing so much I haven’t written anything since I started this class. I haven’t lost interest or direction, but after sitting on my tush for hours writing, chatting with team members and designing games, I just can’t sit down anymore! Hopefully, all of this work will bring many large and happy returns, otherwise I’m going to be mad!!

Just wanted to let everyone know what I’ve been up to lately. I’ll go for now. I’ve got a feedback form to write. Goodnight all.

Winter Merchandise Clearance

Another quick note…

I’m having a $10.00 Clearance Sale in my shop, Thought Of It. There’s no need to enter any coupon codes, as the prices already reflect the clearance cost. My hats, scarves, and cuffs are on sale. It’s always a great idea to get a jumpstart on winter, when all the prices start inflating around you! Here’s some pics:

I love this charity!

This is just a quick comment. Here’s a new charity I recently joined:

http://recoverybuddies.blogspot.com/

Basically, you can knit, crochet, or make a buddy from upcycled sweaters for people who are recovering addicts of many kinds. VERY awesome charity! I want to alert more people to it, as they need more to join in. I may not have much money, but charity has always been very important to me. Let others know!

I’m starting on my first buddy tonight, and I’ll post a picture of it when it’s finished. Nigh-night, everyone!

Whew! First Week Done.

Well, this marks the end of my first week of my next game programming class. LOTS of writing. Fun, but a lot of work to do. This week, my second week, I start working with a team to start programming a game of our own design. Wonder how that’s going to turn out… Anyway, I’m just glad I got everything done in time.

As for my shops, they’re not being ignored. I’ve got projects underway for both, though I’m really focusing on my TOI Babies and Kids shop. You know, I’ve felt really directionless since I opened my first shop, Thought Of It. I always had a knack for designing really cool as well as beautiful accessories, but once I signed up with Etsy and realized how many accessories were on there, I freaked out! Besides, sad to say, a lot of people on their don’t have respect for those that design their own and set about mimicking others’ designs (almost all of my designs on there I had for anywhere from 2 to 10 years before I posted them for others to see). People like myself put a lot of time and effort into coming up with original designs, only to have attention snatched away by someone else who copies designs and has more friends. Besides that, anyone can see just how terrible my pictures are. Believe me, I know. Only to find a FREE professional photographer…Yeah, right. A daydream.

Enough complaining. I’ve thought about changing my shop’s name, so if anyone reads this, I would appreciate your viewpoint. I really fell in love with the name “Thought Of It” which I came up with about 5 years ago. However, it doesn’t seem to be making a big impression. So, I was thinking about a minor change, like “Thought Of It Designs” or “Thought Of It Designs By D.M.” If anyone wants to tell me what they think, please feel free to do so. Criticism is okay, too, just please be gentle! Too much criticism and I don’t react well!!

Oh, as for the book, I’ve been having a few more dreams that are connected to it. Writing on it? Not after all the writing I had to do this week for class. But, not to fear, I’ve still got it going in my head. I know I’m writing on this, so you might think “That makes no sense.” In this, I just write from my heart…errrr, mind. But in my book, I worry about wording, target audience, originality, et c. So, as you can see, I need more concentration and less stress to work on my book.

That’s enough for tonight. I can’t believe it’s yet ANOTHER late night (it’s 2:35 a.m. here). I’m going to go for now. I’ll let you know when anything new or interesting comes up.

Goodnight.

New Stuff in My Babies and Kids Shop

I just wanted to show you some new stuff I just uploaded to my shop on Etsy, TOI Babies And Kids:

Hope you like them! I had so much fun making them and I can’t wait to make more. The first one is a gorgeous toddler top design from Caron yarns, and the second is a precious baby girl’s cardigan design from Lion Brand yarns. I make one of each design that I come across that challenges my skills and helps me to understand construction, sell the ones I made, then go on to something new. Helps me out so much.

Stuff I’m Doing

Well, this marks week one of my next game design class and…OH MY GOODNESS is there a lot to do!! Three papers, sample games to get used to Game Maker, and, of course, class discussions. And next week I get to work with a team. I’ve had bad run-ins with team assignments before, so lets hope this one goes well..

On top of this, I have two projects going simultaneously: 1) Knit tank top design to submit to Knit Picks IDP (Independent Designers Partnership) and 2) Boy baby basket. The boy baby basket is similar to the picture of the girl baby basket I have posted, just in boy colors. I like the number 5 for the baskets, so it will have 5 items in it. So far, I’m about 1/3rd of the way finished with it.

One more thing, writing my book. I started on chapter 2 already, and tonight I’ll be working on it more. I intend on having it done before I go to sleep.

Oh, and one MORE thing…I’m still aiming to have a movie script done before the Austin Film Festival deadline (yeah, we’ll see how that one pans out). I haven’t said anything about this yet, but I decided that it would be a good thing. Writing it down on here gives me more motivation to at least try, even if I can’t complete it before the deadline.

On top of all this, I have family life and all that it entails. Plus all of the online stuff I keep up with. If it wasn’t for being so darned interested in everything I do, I think I would need a vacation!

Well, this is just a quick “What’s Up?” addition. If you’re interested, I’m having a 10% off sale in both of my shops, Thought Of It and TOI Babies and Kids, on Friday, May 4th. You can find the links to my shops to the left underneath “Archives.” Don’t be fooled by the pictures in my shops; they suck, but my stuff doesn’t.

Good night to all. I’m not going to bed yet, but I know I’ll be too tired to write when I do!

Look What A Night of No Sleep Gets You

I just could NOT sleep last night, so I went on a kick of uploading information to Ravelry.com. If you want to check it out and see what I’ve been up to, here’s a link:

http://www.ravelry.com/people/ThoughtOfIt

I also recently put in a new listing in my other shop, TOI Babies and Kids. It’s a baby girl gift basket with a hat, booties, blanket, two toys, and a reusable, lined basket. I enjoy making the baby baskets! In fact, good but sad to say, that is the only thing that has sold in my shop so far. By this I mean the first (and only thing that’s sold) was a baby basket just like this one, except in a pink colorway. You can always click on my sales to see a picture of it. In the meantime, here’s a picture of the new baby basket:

Anyway, today I start my very demanding and gruelling course on Game Design, and I’m a cross between anxious and excited. There’s is SOOOOO much to do in this class. This is actually going to be my most demanding class so far. In my previous post, I told everyone I’m doing online college for Game and Simulation Programming. This is just yet another step towards it. I hope it goes well!

Well, I think that’ll be it for today. As for my book, I haven’t written on it in the last few days, but I at least have the first chapter done. And NO, I haven’t lost steam on this one, I’m just trying to get a lot of other things to calm down. Thank you to anyone who reads this and wishes me luck! See y’all tomorrow (if I remember).

 

Busy, Constantly Busy!

Finally, I’m starting to pick up a little on my productivity for my shops! I’m always busy – busy with home life, busy learning game programming, busy writing – but my shops have been suffering lately. Well, tomorrow I’ll finally have another baby basket and a separate baby blanket for my Etsy shop TOI Babies And Kids, I’m making great progress on a knit tank top design of my own, and soon I’ll have a couple other things for my “kids” shop. YAY!!

Oh, you know how I mentioned “busy writing” above? Well, I had a dream that was extremely well detailed and it, coupled with my own personal relationship experiences, are going to make for a very good book. Now, hopefully I won’t lose steam with this one (I’ve done that with three other books in the making  )!

This coming Sunday I start one of my more gruelling classes for game programming, which is mostly on game design. This time I am working with a team of about 2 or 3 other people to build a game and get people to play it. Please, anyone reading this, wish me luck! I don’t want to mess up in one of my important classes!

Well, that’s all for tonight. Short and sweet, but hopefully minimal grammatical errors, as I am REALLY tired right now.

Good night to all!

Home Decor

I make all kinds of things. I mean it, ALL kinds of things. But, the thing I love the most is home decor items. That’s why I’ve decided to start gearing more towards home decor items, like pillows and afghans, both knit and crochet. The picture shown is currently listed in my shop, if you’re interested in checking it out.

As I do more, I’ll post more pictures, just so you can see what I’ve been up to. This is just a kind of heads-up to what’s new in my shop and what I’ve been doing lately. The picture still doesn’t do the pillow and afghan set justice, but it’s the best I can do for now.

Valentine’s Day Sale!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I’m having a Valentine’s Day Sale from today until February 14, 2012. You can take 25% off all items in my shop, Thought Of It, by putting in the coupon code VAL2012 when you check-out. It doesn’t have to just be for someone you love, it can be for you or a friend! So, come check out my shop and see what I’ve got! Thank you all. – D.M.

P.S. My shop link is to the right under “Accessories for…”