ISSUE 288
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another edition of Furry Weekly! We’re glad to have you!
We’ve got our usual announcements to get through and we do want to continue calling your attention to the “Recruiting” section below. We’re looking for folks to join our team to help make the magazine as best as it can be, so please check out the positions we’re looking to fill and contact us if something interests you!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECRUITING
Here are the roles we currently have open at Furry Weekly:
- Art Corner Host
- Furry of the Week Host
- Art 101 Host
- Species Spotlight Host
- Radical Raffles Host
- Available Artists Host
- Front End Website Developer
- Editor
- Content Migrator
If you’d like to help out or if you want more info, please contact Yeshua, or Carkas. If you want a description of the roles above, visit this document! If you have any suggestions for other roles or things we could bring into Furry Weekly, please reach out as well. We’d love to hear your ideas! We still need lots of help in general, so please do consider joining us or sharing with other friends in the fandom if you can! We’d really appreciate it!
READER SURVEY
In addition to recruiting, we want to listen to what you, our readers, have to say about Furry Weekly! Our goal is to showcase a little bit of everything in the fandom, especially giving a small spotlight to all kinds of creators and folks in the community. So we want to know what you think about what we’re doing now as well as what you might want to see from a furry magazine. So whether you’re an avid follower of Furry Weekly, or maybe you just found us, we want to hear what you like, what you don’t like, and what you would like us to do in the future! That’s why we have a short survey on this topic. We would seriously appreciate it if you took just a few minutes to take it and give us your feedback! You can do this multiple times as well! The link is below!
Click here to take our reader survey!
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That’s all our usual announcements done! As always, let us know on our social media what you liked the most or if you’d like to see something or someone in a future issue. We’re @FurryWeekly on both Twitter and Instagram!
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SEGMENT LINEUP
[❌] Furry of the Week
[✔] Animal of the Week
[❌] Art Corner
[❌] Writing Showcase
[❌] Art 101
[❌] Species Spotlight
[✔] Writing 101
[✔] Fursuit Focus
[✔] Photography 101
[✔] Fursuit Designing Tips
[✔] Radical Raffles
[✔] Available Artists
[❌] Character Interview
[✔] Convention Calendar
[✔] Furry Quote
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ANIMAL OF THE WEEK
Hello everyone! It’s Zed Shirogane and it’s another animal of the week segment!
Animal of the week is a segment where we highlight an animal that is really cool, cute, creepy, or just plain fascinating. There will be a coloring-page illustration for you all to print out and color in at home, as well as an adoptable character inspired by the animal of that week. The best part? All proceeds made by said adopt will be donated to conservation charities!
Whenever possible, we do symbolically adopt the animal, but only some animals have the privilege to have that as an option unfortunately; thus we collect extra funds to donate to many different species conservation charities, donate towards wildlife rehabilitation programs, or send funds to scientists so that they can research underappreciated animal species. Join us on this fun adventure, and I hope that you, too, will fall in love with these amazing animals!
We’re focusing on Doves for our next animal group!
Columbidae is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills. They primarily feed on seeds, fruits, and plants. Pigeons and doves are distributed everywhere on Earth, except for the driest areas of the Sahara Desert, Antarctica and its surrounding islands, and the high Arctic. The family contains 344 species divided into 50 genera. Thirteen of the species are extinct. In English, the smaller species tend to be called "doves" and the larger ones "pigeons." However, the distinction is not consistent, and does not exist in most other languages. Historically, the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the terms. The bird most commonly referred to as just "pigeon" is the domestic pigeon, which is common in many cities as the feral pigeon.
The doves’ wings are large, and have eleven primary feathers. Doves have strong wing muscles and are among the strongest fliers of all birds. Doves have unique body feathers, with the shaft being generally broad, strong, and flattened, tapering to a fine point, abruptly. In general, the aftershaft is absent; however, small ones on some tail and wing feathers may be present. Body feathers have very dense, fluffy bases, are attached loosely into the skin, and drop out easily. Possibly serving as a predator avoidance mechanism, large numbers of feathers fall out in the attacker's mouth if the bird is snatched, facilitating the bird's escape. The plumage of the family is variable.
This Week’s Species: Orange fruit dove (Ptilinopus victor)
Characteristics
One of the most colorful doves, the male has a golden olive head and elongated bright orange "hair-like" body feathers. The legs, bill, and orbital skin are bluish-green and the iris is whitish. The female is a dark green bird with blackish tail and orange-yellow undertail coverts.
Fun Facts
The orange fruit dove is not very social and usually lives alone or in pairs, or less frequently in small groups or in pairs of two females. Flocks of up to seven birds have been recorded in one tree. Its flight is quick and straight, with whirring wingbeats.
Habitat
The orange fruit dove is endemic to Fiji, where it is found on the islands of Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kioa, Rabi, Laucala, and Qamea. It inhabits woodland like other species in the subgenus Chrysoena. It prefers open forests, including secondary and gallery forest, but is also common in closed-canopy old-growth forest.
Diet
The species is mainly frugivorous, feeding on small fruits and berries with a diameter of 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in). It has also been observed gleaning invertebrates like caterpillars from leaves. Foraging mostly occurs in the upper canopy and understorey, and flocks at fruit trees are rarely larger than usual ones.
Life Cycle
Nesting has been observed in June, September, November, and December, suggesting that the orange fruit dove's breeding season is extended. Nests are flimsy platforms made of a few intertwined sticks, usually placed low down on a tree in the subcanopy. Clutches usually contain a single white egg, although some have been recorded with two eggs. Only females have been observed incubating eggs and taking care of chicks.
Conservation
Although this species may have a small range, it is only evaluated as a Least Concern species due to its population trend that appears to be stable. There is not much written about this species to go off from unfortunately..
Here are some links to articles about the conservation of the orange fruit dove:
Notes on the phylogeny, distribution and ecology of frugivorous pigeons in Polynesia
The historic biogeography and community ecology of Polynesian pigeons and doves
Adopt
All funds from this adopt will go to animal conservation. The goal for this month is to save up to help fund scientific research on the effects of climate change on bird species, through a donation to the National Audubon Society which requires a total of $100. This adopt will be one of 4 total created to achieve this goal and hopefully more, extra funds are pooled together to be donated to conservation research programs. It will be available for $30 at Shirogane Studios.
Coloring Page
Enjoy this coloring page made by yours truly, for you! Feel free to print it out at home to color in. If you enjoy the design you can also purchase it on a multitude of products like shirts and stickers: links to these options can be found at Shirogane Studios.
Animal Ambassadors
Thank you to our Animal Ambassadors–our AOTW supporters–who have helped make the world a little bit better for animals. If you wish to support this project, or maybe just really like these character designs and want to get access to some exclusive adopts and bases, you can find our patreon for this passion project HERE.
References
Most of my information was derived from Wikipedia and supplemented from other websites such as the IUCN RedList.
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WRITING 101
The furniture is torn down as quickly as it was set up. Boxes everywhere, cables strewn about, electronics with no home, and furniture on end marks an impending move-out. Who could have guessed that all of this would stay for less than a year? At the very least, there wouldn’t be an extra charge for breaking the lease. The last month of rent was gone, but so be it. Duty called, and a hawk needed to answer!
Tad scrambles around, talons clacking incessantly against the wood floor. All of his belongings are so scrambled that it’s a wonder he can keep track of half of it.
“Unbelievable…” he mutters to himself as he throws a bundle of monitor cables into a cardboard box. “Give me three days to jump ship… to a city I barely know.... You’re lucky I know how to do my job, Lawrence....”
He looks up. The Camera is stationed far out of the way, warily watching the hawk’s huffing and puffing. The Camera is a machine in the end… but that certainly doesn’t mean it has no feelings.
Tad pauses to heave a sigh.
“Sorry. I just… I wish I had more time. I can’t take you along on my new—er… my old… my ‘new’ old job. The work is just too sensitive. And I don’t think I’ll have the time to keep writing. And I definitely won’t have the mental capacity.”
He glances at his laptop. It sits on an upturned box, document open.
“How about one more segment for old time’s sake?”
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Hello friends, and welcome to Furry Weekly’s Writing 101! I’m Bryce Griffin, here to get all you writers out there the inside scoop on literature tips and tricks. Let’s get started!
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Rapid Recaps - Feedback
Some of us love it and some of us hate it, but we all need it. How can we improve if all we have for criticism is ourselves? Professionals in most disciplines, if not all disciplines, seek out opinions from others in their field. If you’re new to writing or need to knock off a lot of rust from lack of practice, then know that solid and actionable feedback is a key component of elevating (or re-elevating) your skills.
Good feedback is especially important for new writers. At the same time, it is especially difficult to know what qualifies as good feedback. Everybody prefers a different method of either giving or receiving feedback. There is no “one size fits all” to help out everyone equally. However, there are some good practices to keep all parties on the same page.
Quality feedback will constructively point out areas for improvement. The feedback shouldn’t actively try to wreck your hard work. It should take into account your skill level or what you want to improve, then target weak points. Once those weak points are identified, the feedback should subsequently address why those weak points exist in the first place as well as provide guidance on how to strengthen those points. It should feel like building a stronger foundation for your writing rather than blindly following suggestions with no understanding of why they improve the writing.
In addition, good feedback should highlight the strengths in the writing. It’s crucial to know that feedback does not solely consist of finding weaknesses. Sure, the strong points may not light the world on fire, but those strong points serve as indicators that you’re doing something well. It’s good reinforcement for a budding writer as well as sound reassurance that a seasoned veteran is still in the game.
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Want me to take a look at your work? Got a general question for Writing 101? Just shoot me a message on Discord! I’ll be happy to answer any writing questions or even critique your work.
Thanks for joining me in Furry Weekly’s Writing 101. I hope you enjoy the rest of the magazine!
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Tad and The Camera, both huddled around the laptop screen, look up at each other.
“I feel like I should be saying something dramatic,” he says with a smile. Though deep down, anyone can tell he’s completely crestfallen. “You know… five years of writing… meeting so many new people… all the usual farewell rigmarole. But I feel like I’m not going to truly disappear. I’ll just be… you know… somewhere else.”
He returns to the laptop. It takes him just a few keystrokes honed by unbreakable muscle memory to submit his final contribution. The heaviness in the air is palpable, even for The Camera.
Tad sighs. “I suppose it’s time to make a call....”
He takes his phone out of his pocket and dials a number.
“Hey boss cat… I know you won’t be happy to hear this, but something came up super quick. I… uh....”
The hawk glances at The Camera once more. In this moment, the reality of his situation hit him like a sack of bricks. The next time The Camera would help with a submission, it would likely be with somebody else.
“I’m changing jobs. Duty called, and I had to pick up the phone.”
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FURSUIT FOCUS
Hi you all! This is Yeshua and I’m back with another edition of Fursuit Focus! I’m very excited for today’s feature so let’s not waste any time and just see who we’ve got today!
This time we’re getting a look at Soonyx Clockdown and his shenanigans in the fursuiting scene!
We’ve featured red pandas on this segment before, but I haven’t had the chance to do so and I’m very excited to tell you all about this wah! Sidenote, why are red pandas called wahs? I think I missed something, but anyway! Soonyx has all the makings of a red panda! He’s got the classic orange/brown fur paired with white fur, and the iconic ringed tail! The black paws and small pointy ears are also great parts of the suit that contribute to the authentic red panda look. The choice of green eyes and a small tuft of hair complement the rest of the design quite nicely, too. The toony style of the fursuit fits Soonyx’s design incredibly well; look at that big smile! This wah looks so friendly! Big props to the maker, Stuffed Tails Fursuits! Although Soonyx may look like your classic red panda, there are a couple of things that really make him stand out: his eyes and tail glow in the dark! You won’t see it often, but if you happen to catch Soonyx at night, it’s a sight to behold!
Soonyx says the things he loves to do most while fursuiting are dancing at raves, and cuddling; two quite different activities but I don’t blame him! The rave environment has a special place in his heart, since a disco was the first place where he fursuited. Soonyx explains he’s usually shy and even a little embarrassed to dance in public, but doing it with a fursuit lets him open up and go wild without feeling nervous.
When it comes to the kinds of photos and videos he likes to take while fursuiting, Soonyx likes to try lots of different things. He enjoys both natural and urban environments, noting that getting shots in nature is easier than most people think. Soonyx tends to roam around his city to find different natural spots, like a small bamboo forest of sorts he came across one time! He says it was a long dirt strip on the side of a road with bamboo planted along it. Sounds like the perfect place for a red panda, right? Well, something funny actually happened while he was there; here’s what he had to say about it: “The owner of the land where the bamboo was planted came out to us as soon as we positioned ourselves or the pictures, asking what the hell we were doing!”
I can’t say I blame the owner for having that reaction since a big, fluffy red panda is probably not a common sight in public. Soonyx says the lady ended up being chill and let him and his friends do their thing as long as they didn’t steal any bamboo. Of course that wasn’t the intention, but Soonyx playfully admits it did cross his mind: “Not gonna lie, as a wah I was really tempted.”
Soonyx says fursuiting around the city can actually be more challenging for him. He lives in Italy, and there’s a law in place that prohibits people having their head completely covered in public places, which is obviously kind of a killer for fursuiters. That’s why he usually fursuits in small villages or micro cities. Soonyx says the people in those places actually don’t mind fursuiters, and they actually tend to be excited to see some, especially the older folks!
Soonyx wants to make more fursuit videos in the future, or at least take part in videos made by other fursuiters. He says he has done some videos before which were shot by one of his friends, so don’t be surprised if you start seeing more videos from him later on! Soonyx suits up at least once a month to take photos, but if he doesn’t do that, then he’ll just suit up with friends to have all sorts of silly fun! If you check out his social media, you’ll see a good mix of photos with other fursuiters where he’ll usually be up to some wacky shenanigans, but also solo photos where he’ll pose in a breathtaking natural setting, or just straight up look cute!
The road to getting a fursuit for Soonyx was a bit long. He didn’t always want one, saying that for a while since joining the fandom in 2015, he didn’t jump at the idea of owning a fursuit since they are expensive and he was focusing on school at the time. In 2019, things changed, though. Soonyx went to Eurofurence 25, his second ever con! He saw so many fursuiters in one place along with fursuits being sold at the Dealers Den, which really made him interested in getting a suit for himself. Soonyx soon tried to commission makers, but would either get rejected or the price was too high for him to afford it. In 2020, he found Stuffed Tails, a small fursuit maker in his country who had just started her business. Soonyx liked her style, and quickly commissioned her, getting his soon just one year later in the summer of 2021. Not only that, but he and the owner actually made a good friendship together! “I started talking more and more with her, and we ended up becoming besties. In the end, [we] also collaborate on various projects, from 3D modeling to electronics…”
Soonyx says he’s not quite sure what exactly made him so interested in fursuiting. He thinks it could be the eye-catching colors, or the many styles of fursuits there are, but he says one thing is for certain about fursuiting: “It’s a great, if not the best, way to express yourself and detach from reality a little bit.” It’s a sentiment I’ve heard from a lot of fursuiters before and every time, it makes sense! Soonyx also explains that fursuiting is simply a very unique interest, and could even be considered a step up from cosplaying which is much more common. He also emphasizes how much fursuiting helps in getting rid of social anxiety which is also something a lot of fursuiters agree with – it’s such a good way to become more outgoing and less reserved.
Soonyx says he has always been interested in fursuits even if he didn’t think about getting one at first. Now that he actively participates in the fursuiting scene, though, he’s making sure to enjoy the moments and simply have fun and let loose! He also wants to remind his fellow fursuiters to take care: “Stay hydrated and be careful not to overheat, you are wearing a literal carpet!”
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That’s all for today’s Fursuit Focus segment! I hope you all enjoyed! If you liked what you saw from Soonyx, I highly recommend you check out his socials! You’ll find a good mix of fun, cute, and stunning fursuit photos and videos!
If you’re a fursuiter and are interested in being featured here, just use the tags #furryweekly and #fursuitfocus when you post your fursuit photos and videos to social media! You can also reach out to me or our usual host, tahlmorra and tell us you want to be featured. You can also suggest your fursuit friends or favorite fursuiter!
Once again, thank you for stopping by! I’m Yeshua, and I’ll see you all next time for an extra special edition of Fursuit Focus! If one fursuiter is not enough for you, be sure to tune in next week for what we’ve got planned! Until then, take care!
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PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Good day everyone! This is your friendly neighborhood Sherry Berry coming to you with a segment on Photography 101. First an intro is an order! I have been a photographer for more than six years with a hard emphasis on cosplays and modeling! Throughout my years as a growing photographer I have experienced my aspects that have not only added valuable skills as a budding shooter but also as an editor! Now I will say that my skills as an editor are mediocre at best, but my skills in shooting through the lens I am more than comfortable with. I have covered events such as Soonercon, Okicon, Anime 405, New World Comic Con, and Anthro Expo with decent results! Every event I attend I learn more and more. It's a never ending learning experience to say the least. But enough with me, let's get started on the segment we are going to cover.
Photography 101: Lighting is the KEY.
Most folks I talk to always ask me many things when it comes to photography. What camera do I use, what settings do I set, how do I get shot to look like x, y and z. Then there are the ones that ask me “Hey, I am wanting to get into photography what do I do or how do I start?” This is the question that always excites me because I love it when someone who wants to try photography comes forward! Usually when I am doing a shoot I let them drive my camera just so I can show them some basics, and they are thrilled with the results! Photography can be as easy as you want it to be or as challenging as you want it to be. It's just about building your skill sheet and then learning to add to it the more photos you take!
Above are some of my favorite shots that I have done in the past year! As you can tell there are a large variety of scenarios which can make or break a shot. Some things might be too bright, some things might be too dark, or some things just outright make the shot a challenging one. Will your camera settings make your shot too blurry? Will your camera settings make your shot completely dark? These are one of the many items a photographer such as myself has to battle every time we pick up the camera. For this segment today I will be covering lighting in regards to these three photos!
First picture is of one of my closest friends named Hashi! She is cosplaying as Hawk from MHA! If you take a close look at this photo can you tell one of the biggest items I was battling against? If you are saying the lighting then you are correct! Most people believe that a bright sunny day like that is perfect for photos. For me that's a hard MAYBE. Direct sunlight can cause many different things to go awry. The model's expression can be unfavorable due to the sunlight directly in the eyes. The hard sunlight causes a hard shadow and just flat out washes the colors from the subject.
My advice for bright sunny days is, if you can find shade USE IT. Preferably if you find a shade with a light colored floor. The light can bounce off the floor just right to light up the subject's body and face enough and you won't get the hard shadows and light! Since I know my camera well enough I adjusted to what I felt was good in direct sunlight and took the shot anyway, and it came out decent! Take away from this photo. Avoid direct sunlight if possible, find shade! If you have to use direct sunlight I would suggest having the subjects back to the sun!
Second photo is of a cosplayer named Cyber Miko and she is dressed up as one of the characters in Darling in the Franxx. This shot I have a completely different challenge to fight. Some photos get too much light, but for this one I am facing a losing battle with not enough lighting! When it comes to darker photography, an external flash is going to be your best friend. In this case, I had my wife hold an external flash with a diffuser to my right or the subjects left to get the lighting where I wanted it, otherwise the subject may have been too dark for the photo.
Now some photographers use a strobe which is what I used for the photo which only activates once I click the shutter button. Some other photographers use a steady on LED light panel. It's a steady light that illuminates whatever the light panel lands on. Each one has a different effect with different results. Try both if you have the chance! Also adjusting your camera settings will give you an edge in darker shots but that can be covered in a different time! Key takeaway, use external lighting if possible for darker shots! Use anything from a strobe, steady light, or even the lighting from street signs or street lamps! You'd be surprised what works.
Last photo is a shot from Okicon last year. She is Mio The KitsuGoat! This shot was done in more of a studio set up during a convention. The backdrop was black and the light setup I was using was actually from another photographer who let me use the setup. Flash photography isn't my forte, but with this setup, it did wonders for me! Heck, it even convinced me to invest in her set up! There were two powerful strobe lights at the subject's 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock position. The hotel this was taken at had a terrible yellow/orange floor and overhead lighting making decent shots hard to edit out. These powerful strobe lights completely eliminated the ambient lighting altogether. Sometimes in your photos, you need the strobe to take out the ambient lighting completely. In this case with the black background, strong strobes and the right settings in the camera, the results came out favorable. Isn't she adorable? Key takeaway from this, sometimes you need a strong light to wash out bad lighting but keep the subject in check. Experiment!
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Phew that was a lot to go through in one segment! This, however, is only the tip of the proverbial pie of photography. Lighting to me is one of the biggest things that make or break a shot which is why I covered it first. The second portion would be angles. This, in my opinion, is second to lighting which can make a break a shot. But that can be covered in another segment! Lighting lighting lighting. Every photo event I attend the first thing I account for is lighting. It's what lets me know what settings to dial in to my camera to get things right in the first opening shots. Lighting and angles could be written in a book somewhere but it's a huge aspect I strive for in my photography work.
Well, that wraps up this segment of Photography 101! Lighting can be your worst enemy in photography but also your savior when the moment comes! Learn how to work with it and it can do wonders for your work. If you have any questions feel free to message me on Instagram, X, or email if you have any ideas for future topics you would like to go over! Till then. This Sherry signing off! Snap away, you furries!
“Some of the best shots you take are the ones you don't expect to work, but it does!” -Sherry
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FURSUIT DESIGNING TIPS
Hi everyone, olivier the space goat here with the latest segment on fursuit making and fursuiting in general. For this week, we will pick up the making again! We're gonna begin with…
Making a Tail!
The other tails will follow the same type of technique, but a different pattern. At the end of this segment there will be links where you contact me in case your pattern has other needs than I have explained here.
For a tail we are going to need:
☆Pattern paper
☆Normal scissors
☆A pen to make your pattern
☆Fur of your choice
☆Your sewing supplies
☆Broad elastics
☆Pillow stuffing
As always, we are gonna start with a pattern. I will show you an example of mine below so that you can reference it.
If your character has markings on their tail, draw those in here. The tail shape I have as an example is a more standard canine tail shape. If your character’s tail has a divergent shape, either look online for reference or reach out to me. By editing this pattern you can make all sorts of crazy shapes, more examples of this later in this article.
Now that you have your pattern of the two sides of the tail (flip it for the other side), cut them out of the fur, being careful not to cut into the fur fibres, and sew them together with the fur facing inwards, lining the sides up as precisely as you can so it doesn't twist.
Keep in mind it's best to leave a little section of about 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) open to twist it right side out. I usually have this hole near the tail base at the bottom side of the tail, that way it is not visible if you end up not being able to fully hide the opening.
I personally use a blanket stitch for all things fur related, so I recommend that. Yes, I sew my fursuits by hand if you haven't noticed yet! Once you have a sock in the shape of a tail, you can cut the end cap out of the fabric of your choice. I always find it fun to go the extra mile and look for a pattern that matches the vibe of the character or the fur colour, but sometimes just go for the same fur. The end cap makes sure your tail will wag and bounce more naturally. It is optional and you can always sew the two elastics directly between the opening of the ‘’sock’’ so the tail feels a lil more stiff and stoic in vibe.
To add the end cap to the tail and the elastics, have the two elastics be a little longer than the end cap, and pin it around the tail so they sit about 1 to 3 cm (0.5 inches to 1.5 inches) apart with the middle seams in the middle of the two elastics; this is so they can go over the belt loop on your jeans and your tail doesn't end up about half way your hip at the end of the con if you are in partial.
Blanket stitch all the way around again and twist it inside out through the little opening you left at the start – the one near the tail base.
Stuff your tail and use a baseball stitch or invisible stitch to close it up and let that tail wag real good now that it is done!
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Next time I will be talking about caring for the fursuit parts that we have made together already! I hope this tutorial of sorts was useful for you all.
Till then, and if you have any questions or want a better pic of the pattern, do not hesitate to reach out to me through Instagram or join my Discord server!
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RADICAL RAFFLES
Hello, everyone! I hope all of you enjoyed Valentine’s Day with your loved ones. Danielle here once again, and I’m here to bring you some fun raffles to potentially participate in.
Before we get into the raffles, I wish to remind all of you that we’re looking to recruit more hosts for this segment. If you enjoy coming across raffles, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, if you’re interested in hosting Radical Raffles.
Feel free to stick around because we have six raffles for you this week! Let’s take a closer look.
Get cuddly with a cuddle bug giveaway by Hellocutecumber!
How to Enter:
-Follow and repost.
-Tag someone who loves bugs and insects.
-Comment your favorite bug.
Prize:
-Cuddle bug plush (three feet long; free shipping in the U.S only)
Deadline:
-This giveaway ends on March 2nd. There’s a bit of time left to enter!
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Celebrate with a road to 2k giveaway by Raine!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost.
-Comment your favorite animal.
Prize:
-Headshot
Deadline:
-This giveaway ends once Raine reaches the 2k follower goal. As of February 15th, Raine has 1,832 followers. There’s still plenty of time left to enter!
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Celebrate with a 7.5k raffle by Kat!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost. New and current followers are welcome!
Prize:
-Funny doodle with five winners
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on March 2nd. There’s a bit of time left to enter!
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Next up, we have an art raffle by Rookie_Wolfus!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost.
-Optional: Comment your safe for work (SFW) reference or tag your friends.
Prize:
-Flat-colored half body
Deadline:
-This raffle ends on February 25th. There’s about a week left to enter!
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Up next, we have an art raffle by Kai Kitsune!
How to Enter:
-Follow (16+) and repost.
-Comment a moodboard for background inspiration.
-Please do not add a reference to your comment.
Prize:
-Half body/thigh-up with a painted background (minimal shading and lighting)
Deadline:
-This raffle will end on February 29th, and the winner will be picked on March 1st. There’s over a week left to enter!
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Flag-ify your fursona with a custom fursona flag giveaway by ShortKing!
How to Enter:
-Follow, like, and repost.
-Comment your favorite cartoon.
-Bonus entry: Tag a friend.
Prize:
-Custom fursona flag (shipping is free in the U.S)
Deadline:
-This giveaway ends on Tuesday, February 20th. Be sure to enter while you can!
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Those are all the raffles I have for you this week. There's always more out there, and we'll make sure to find them and bring them to you every week!
Make sure you use the tags #RadicalRaffles and #FurryWeekly so we can find your raffle more easily.
Thank you for taking a look at this week’s raffles. Stay tuned because more radical raffles are coming your way!
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AVAILABLE ARTISTS
Hello, everyone! This is Danielle once again bringing you the latest and greatest artists to consider commissioning.
Before we get started, I wish to let all of you know that we’re looking to recruit more hosts for this segment. If you’re a connoisseur of furry art, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, if you’re interested in hosting Available Artists.
We have three artists this week! Let’s dive in.
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We start with Whitesnowpaw, also known as Line/Link, an Austrian full-time digital artist who specializes in cute anthro and feral character art. If you like adding backgrounds to your own artwork, then you might enjoy these seven background options on their Etsy shop. Besides downloadable digital backgrounds, they offer chibis, busts, half bodies, and full bodies as commission options. If you’re working on a budget, feel free to discuss it with Whitesnowpaw because they are willing to negotiate prices with you.
You can find Whitesnowpaw’s commission prices on their post here and their terms of service on their Carrd. Feel free to check out Line/Link’s adoptable and base-edit account and fursuit and plush-making account for all your original character (OC), fursuiting, and plushie needs. Don’t hesitate to message them with your ideas, questions, and for getting a quote if you’re interested in potentially commissioning them.
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Next, we have Saber Stoke Studios, a freelance digital UK-based artist who specializes in anthro and feral characters in an amazing toony art style. Saber loves to experiment with new styles, too. They offer headshots, half bodies, and full bodies as commission options on their Ko-fi. Reference sheets are an option as well, but they are currently unavailable as an option on their Ko-fi.
You can find their prices and terms of service on their Carrd. If you have any questions and/or are interested in commissioning them, please reach out to them either on their Instagram, Ko-fi, or through email (saberstokesstudios@gmail.com).
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Last but certainly not least, we have Coyote, an artist who specializes in anthro and feral characters in their fantastic art style. They offer sketches, colored sketches, and polished art, but they offer many more commission options on their Ko-fi, too.
You can find Coyote’s prices on their pinned tweet as well as on their Ko-fi. Feel free to message them if you are potentially interested in commissioning them and/or if you have any questions.
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That is all for this edition of Available Artists.
We’re always on the lookout for amazing artists to put in the spotlight. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #AvailableArtists and #FurryWeekly so we can find you. Feel free to message me directly on any of my platforms if you have any artists with open commissions you’d like us to feature.
Thank you for reading and checking out these amazing artists. Keep being creative!
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CONVENTION CALENDAR
Hello again, readers! I’m Shetani, your Convention Calendar segment host for this issue. There’s plenty to celebrate in February, from Black History Month to Valentine’s Day to Mardi Gras to Groundhog Day, which I’m sure all you woodchucks have been waiting for. We’ve got our own festivities happening here in the furry community! Keep reading and I’ll tell you about all the furry conventions and events happening online, around the world, and in your neck of the woods.
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AnthroExpo is at the Sheraton OKC Downtown Hotel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA from Thursday February 1 - Sunday February 4. This year’s theme is Eight-Bit Heroes! Zero the Kangaroo, Odyssey / Eurobeat Brony, and ChappieFrog are your 2024 Guests of Honor. AnEx’s charity partner is Pivot, which provides temporary housing, food, and resources to 2SLGBT+ youth. Lock in your quests with the panel schedule, now up on AnEx’s website!
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook | Instagram
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Avast and set sail for Get Out the Float, coming to the sunny Seaside Civic & Convention Center in Seaside, Oregon, USA! This event began as a celebrated series of annual furmeets at various locations in Oregon, and its debut as a full-fledged convention is Friday February 2 - Sunday February 4 this year. Attendees are sure to enjoy a great charity raffle, the proceeds from which benefit Sunset Parks and Recreation Foundation. GOTF promises a great weekend of shopping at the Dealer’s Den, excursions to Seaside Lasertag and the Carousel Mall, a live podcast recording, and panels galore. It just wouldn’t be GOTF without an inflatable pool party, of course, hosted at sunset on Sunday evening of the con! Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to attend.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Instagram
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Scotiacon takes place Friday February 2 - Monday February 5 at the Crowne Plaza Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. This year’s theme is Prehistoric Panic, so keep an eye out for fearsome and fascinating creatures from yesteryear! Scotiacon will have tons of panels, games, “Cave Rave” dances, an art auction, and fursuit events. Renowned fursuit maker Kloofsuits is this year’s Guest of Honor. There will be a charity auction and donation drives to raise money for Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust. Attendees to Scotiacon must be at least 18 years of age with photo ID.
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Furcamp is a furry camping convention located at Intervales State Park in Ribeirão Grande, São Paulo, Brazil. This year’s edition is scheduled between Saturday February 10 - Tuesday February 13. Furcamp 2024 is themed Neon Nights, featuring a Miami Vice flair with 4 gangs of street racers competing for control of the fictional city of Furtropolis. Events include a scavenger hunt, talent show, dance club, and plenty of standard furry con activities like fursuit events, vendors, and games. One would do well to pack a swimsuit - the park’s amenities include natural and artificial pools, in addition to a restaurant, guided nature trails, and caves to explore. To attend Furcamp, you must be over 18 years old, and present proof of at least 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccination.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook
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NordicFuzzCon is scheduled for Wednesday February 21 - Sunday February 25 at the Clarion Hotel Malmö Live in Malmö, Sweden. This celebrated furry convention is packed with unique and exciting opportunities, which include a maid cafe, snack exchanges, excursions to points of interest in Malmö such as parks and museums, fursuit charades, nightly dances with DJs, and a dead dog party. Visit NFC’s website to view the stunning animated trailer introducing 2024’s theme, Ragnarok! Charity auctions and a concert by The SnOwOflakes will be held to benefit UAnimals, an animal welfare organization sheltering and rehabilitating animals during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This year marks the comeback of the fan favorite NFC Party Bus, a ticketed event taking furries around the city on a Bolt-themed bus for drinks and fun. NFC attendees must be at least 18 years old and present valid photo ID.
Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram | Mastodon | Facebook
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Furry Ski Weekend will be held at Copper Mountain, Colorado, USA from Thursday February 22 - Sunday February 25. If you’re thinking this sounds like a chance to enjoy the comfort of a snowy lodge with friends and hit the slopes in fursuit, you’d be absolutely right! FSW self-describes as a laid-back communal environment that feels like one big room party. Unlike a standard hotel convention with programming, your day is fully up to you, so attendees can tailor their experience to their own preferences and create their own fun. Breakfast and dinner meals, snacks, and unlimited drinks are included free of charge to FSW attendees. If this is your first time hearing of Furry Ski Weekend, 2024 registration is unfortunately closed, but there’s always next time! You must be 21 years old to attend. Website | Twitter
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You’ll be in a World of (Fur) Innovation at Fur Squared, from Thursday February 22 - Sunday February 25! The con returns to the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel in Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA. The con’s charity since its inception has been the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) of Waukesha County, and many scheduled events afford an opportunity to learn more about their mission and donate to this great cause. The schedule is chock full of excitement this year, with events ranging from basic law by Boozy Badger, recording a song in 1 hour, latex crafting, and video game Name That Tune. As you’re checking out the panels and events at Fur Squared, be sure not to miss those hosted by the Guests of Honor, Rhubarb and Cosmik. In lieu of a fursuit parade, Fur Squared will have staff photographers available for photoshoots near the headless lounge and roaming around the con floor. Tabletop and video gaming, a dealer’s den, artist alley, and night market are planned as well.
Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram | Mastodon
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Melbourne Fur Con is ready to go Friday February 23 - Sunday February 25 at the Novotel Melbourne Preston in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Let those neon lights streak past you with the con’s theme, Cyberchase! 2024 panels include a graymuzzle meetup, VR furs panel, puppet workshops, and pin trading. 8 performers and DJs are ready to put on a great show for you throughout the con weekend! A dealer’s den, dancing, and fursuit walk are planned too. This year, the MFC charity auction will support Mount Rothwell, the largest predator-free ecosystem in Victoria, which manages high conservation value species through breeding and research initiatives. Bring along proof of 2 COVID-19 vaccinations and a face mask to wear in the dealer’s den - both are required to enjoy MFC.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook | Instagram
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Gdakon 2024: A Space Odyssey blasts off from Wednesday February 28 - Sunday March 3 at the Novotel Gdańsk Marina Hotel in Gdańsk, Poland! This year brings a lot of firsts, including a dance competition, talent show, and door sign contest. Gdakon will take a break from the fursuit photoshoot, providing a photo backdrop and props instead, so you can shoot your own pics to your heart’s content! While at Gdakon, keep an eye out for representatives from their charity Help4herps, a reptile shelter in Gdansk, and donate to assist them in continuing their great work. Gdakon requires a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Mastodon | Facebook
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We’ll be back with a calendar graphic for you next month! Despite being the shortest month of the year, you can certainly find ways to connect with the furry community this February, no matter where in the world you live. Remember to get vaxxed and wear your face mask when meeting up with any furs in person.
Got questions or suggestions for Convention Calendar? Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter and the Fediverse, or hit me up at any of the other platforms linked on my website. If there’s an upcoming con you want to ensure we cover here on Furry Weekly, don’t hesitate to let me know. Have fun and stay safe out there!
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FURRY QUOTE
Hello, everyone! This is Danielle coming back with another guest appearance. Welcome back to Furry Quote! Love fills the air this month, so we’re diving into an inspirational love quote for Valentine’s Day. Let’s take a look.
“Love must be as much a light as it is a flame.”
Love is truly what makes the world go around. Without it, darkness would rule over our hearts. It serves a purpose. The purpose is to not just be a flame but to be a light as well. A flame wouldn’t be possible without it giving off light at the same time. When we offer our light to others, it enlightens their spirit and yours along with it. It is an act of giving and receiving, and when you love, nothing can go wrong.
Love is endless and timeless, forever expanding without running dry. When you cultivate love, it has a chance to become a bigger source of light with brighter intensity. We need love more than ever before in this day in age. Be that flicker of light, no matter how dim or bright, in someone’s life. It just might be the source they needed at that moment.
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This concludes this week’s Furry Quote. I hope it fills you with love.
If you have a topic you’d like to have covered or a quote you’d like to have shared, feel free to reach out to the main host of Furry Quote: Multifurse.
Thank you for reading this far, and we’ll see you all again next time!
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