deviantART: Azmal's Journal

I have have begun plans for a massive expansion; read on!

I will still be producing the elaborate and unique designs you love, even increasing these efforts, with ever more interesting private commissions coming in, and even more-so with plans of adding a line of exclusive high end art designs and a new business identity centered around custom luxury items. Everything from leather wall art and sculptures to custom art furniture (custom dragon king sized bed anyone?  Matching dungeon set please?  How about that ye olde sports car?; need a custom air brush job with dragons ablaze, complete with custom matched tooled leather interior?  How about a elaborate wallet, fancy gentleman's cane, gem encrusted battle ready sword, top hat, luggage, kitchen knife set, and home décor theme with everything else listed above all in the same style and theme.  Give me time, and it's all imminent.

But what this does mean is that I will be phasing people in to work with me and the current mid-term goal is to be at every major Renaissance Festival; Fantasy, Sci Fi, Convention; and Arts and Trade Show in the United States within 5 years.   After that will be along the lines of world domination but first things first.

So as I begin amassing a crew and funding for stock materials, I will also be designing stock designs (for off the shelf items) nonstop so I can finally start offering my designs and products affordable.  I'll have something for every budget all at the high quality you've come to expect.  I'm talking about eventually having thousands of designs available.  All unique and made by me and my minions, I mean esteemed colleagues.

Additional I will be diligently working towards doing whatever it takes to get recognized by the film industry and start doing crafting projects for big name Hollywood productions.  I've actually got a lot of plans I wish to implement in the coming years.  I have a strategy in the works to ultimately run a full scale prop, costume, and sfx studio working exclusively for the movie entities.  (think WETA)  That's many years in the future but you heard it first here.  You may think I'm dreaming at this point and have lost my mind, especially since I have never been so open before about my plans.  I have nothing to respond to that except the actions themselves that I take toward these goals in the future.

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TRF 2011
I have put the ball in motion again by sending all of my leftover stock items to TRF along with a few older display pieces.  Many bracers, some female stuff, and some partial suits of armor are available for sale.  I will try to make it out once this year, possibly twice.

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DRAGONCON 2011
To update on that, it was a blast.  It was great to meet many of you fine folks there.  I'm glad I had the chance.  And I'm sorry if I missed anyone else, I didn't even make it out of the Marriot.  But next year I will be back and I've even been asked to speak about armor and leather working.  This won't be confirmed for a few months as they are still planning but if it goes through, I'll definitely be there.  Even if it doesn't I'm considering a spot in the dealer room as soon as it is financially feasible.  Maybe next year, probably the next though.

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===NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON
My website is in a sorry state; I never had time to do art for it, I did a rush hack job on the code, and never even finished write-ups and content.  Now, I could do it, and probably do it well; my first calling was as a techie (I was even voted most likely to be the next Bill Gates during Jr. High Graduation) so code and Photoshop are not foreign to me but I've been delayed time and time again every time I make up my mind to finally redo it myself. So I have actually gone ahead and hired a web designer and artist to redo my website.

Graphics are basically finished and the code isn't far behind.  Once that is ready I will be trying to fill it with as much content as I have time for and I will release it before the year is out, I promise.

Once that is done I can -finally- start advertising in earnest.  I only ever posted my work on here, that is my only source of advertising.  Recently I have been updating Facebook too.  But my website is so crumby I don't even want people to see it so I haven't advertised.

Oh, and I really will be activating it for online sales as soon as possible.  And filling it with stock.  And I will be putting things back up on eBay. But this depends on who I can get to work with me and trained up in making my products.

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===WHATS AHEAD?
Ever wonder EXACTLY what is going on at the Prince Armory workshop?  What sort of projects are in the works or which ones are just possibilities?

Here is a list of current and future projects as of 10/7/11:

===ACTIVE LEATHER PROJECTS:
-3X giant (10ft) Koi Fish Wall Art
-Custom Hat (theme is top secret)
-Long black brigandine with studs
-Masterwork Baldric with custom hardware
-"Monster" themed armor
-Various custom bracers
-Cat-woman Mask (again)
-FF Vincent Gauntlet (again)
-Elaborate "Warrior Prince" Full Suit
-Elaborate Cthulhu Helmet/Mask

===ACTIVE WEAPON PROJECTS & (Steel type):
-44" Conan Sword (S7) w/ Display Case & Scabbard
-22" Short Sword (CPM 3V)
-10" Fixed Blade (S7)
-10" (Another) Fixed Blade (S7)
-15" Large Subhilt Fighter (CPM 3V)
-14" Dagger (1084)
-16" Recurve Dagger (1084)
- Long Sword (440C)
- Recurve Sword (154 CPM)

=== POTENTIAL PROJECTS:
I've had a zillion potential projects fall through, sadly some very amazing ones too, but here are some of the ones that are a little bit more likely to be done:
-Medieval BATaMAN Armor - very likely
-Various Star Wars themed designs.
-Sub Zero Shaolin Monk replica
-Lion-o replica armor and outfit, with brass claw
-High End 'D&D Gold Dragon' Female armor
-Dozens of personal projects
-Several potential full suits being discussed
-Too many demo designs to mention for upcoming stock.

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===EMPLOYMENT & APPRENTICESHIP
For all of you who ever requested to work with me or train under me, I declined in the past, but now is the time to show some interest again.  I will be all over the states and will have all sorts of positions available, from management, to crafting products, maybe with some work at home scenarios, to standing around looking cool in armor at a festival.

Currently indisposed?  Not an issue; it can be any time from a few weeks from now, till forever; I plan to expand indefinitely.  I will formulate some guidelines and basic criteria but if you're interested, just email me or message me any time.
One caveat:  I'm not offering a free ride, the goals I set are lofty, and the pace to achieve them will be rigorous.  I'm fair though and contributions and dedicated will be noticed and rewarded.

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===INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
I will be funding this vast expansion from my own pocket. I believe in myself, my integrity, my aptitudes, and my resolve; and after some hard earned lessons I believe in my business sense too.  So even if it takes a while, I will fund this myself and plan accordingly.  If however, you (I know, you're all starving artists like me), or someone you know is interested in an investment opportunity to expedite the growth process I am prepared to discuss legitimate business propositions.

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Thanks for reading.

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