This isn't making fun of anything. That's just how I used to draw.

And I'm genuinely happy for them.

I can't believe I've been doing cons for 15 years. Like, it's weird to me that there are people who will approach me and go, "I bought this from you 14 years ago. It's my most favorite art and I look at it every day. " And they hold up their phone and its like:

I have been trying this novel approach called "listening to my body" and giving myself more breaks any time it's needed, especially after a con.

Hotels are SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY USED TO BE and by GOD there is no hotel so expensive I won't stay an extra night rather than do THAT again unless there is no other choice. I had to sleep in the car to get Sekhmet home for her spay. Took me a week to recover.

I'm going to bed early at the hotel. Con setup isn't until tomorrow. I'm almost 40, and long since passed are the years where I would drive all night with my ex partner, take turns sleeping on the back seat, timing our drive to align with the loading dock opening. I don't know HOW I did that?!

Taxidermy is an art form that can extend an animal's life, especially when being used to honor the animal (as long as things are ethically sourced) My mom was a biology teacher, and inherited a room full of preserved animals, and they were used to encourage learning. Kinda cooler than rotting away!

I would be very worried about disease, so please ask someone who has a lot more education on zoonotic illness just in case

I refuse to shop any vendors who offer bats, too. It's clear they think more highly of money than wildlife

Oh nooooo, kinda cool, but hope the folk at the cabin have had rabies shots 😅

Yesss! Cute, and much more ethical!

I, too, was a surprised you can just buy extremely illegal dead endangered species off ebay. If you suspect you bought something unethical/illegal, don't post or sell it. That encourages others to copycat and might get you a visit from wildlife trafficking and a big fine, especially for birds.

If you did this in the past, just learn and don't replace when carpet beetles or whatever wind up eating your bat. (Fairly common with poorly sealed taxidermy). If someone claims they have an ethically source bat, they are probably lying or *very* naïve.

Hiya! Since it's almost Halloween, it's time for one of my "favorite" spooky season PSAs! Don't buy taxidermy bats! None of them are ethically sourced, most are endangered, and the market for taxidermy or freeze dried bats is descimating local populations. Etsy, ebay, curio shows, none are okay.

Im so glad Pam reposted this! I had missed you migrating over here! I'm so glad I got to hang out with you over at Cannon Beach several years back. Probably one of the single most inspiring day trips I've ever taken!

I love these!

Yeah, hearing her talk about what she did was so inspiring and fascinating! Every piece of hers is a dream!

It's also an excuse to add some other wildlife I'm fond of!!! Toss in a giraffe or bison or otter or something!

That and the old jaguar wasn't good. I was real rushed, so I based it on a drawing I did without reference. Colors and markings were there, but none of the actual SHAPES!