I believe it's important to acknowledge your achievements, especially when it feels like you're in a rut.
Going to compile a thread of things I managed to do and ways I grew in 2020. 🧵⤵️
The first thing I did was release the first of 5 singles with my band, Waxlimbs. It's called Sheltering Night, and it preceded the pandemic by a couple months. It's the last song we put out before changing direction in a big way, so in some ways it feels like a turning point for me.
https://waxlimbs.bandcamp.com/track/sheltering-night
The next thing I did was start learning to make scalemaille and chainmaille. I started by making my first set, and from there got better and more creative with simple designs. I'm very proud of this skill now.
My band Waxlimbs released our second single of 2020 called Witnessing, which marked a sea change for our sound.
Very proud of this song, although I want to revisit the mix down the line.
https://waxlimbs.bandcamp.com/track/witnessing
Cover artwork by Saffron Aurora
Following Witnessing was a song called Dead In The Water, which we were fortunate enough to make a music video for before Ontario's COVID case numbers skyrocketed.
I feel like this is one of the best distillations of what my band's live aesthetic is to date. We miss playing shows a lot.
Then came 'Watcher,' which is the song I might be the most proud of writing, ever. I really feel like I got to a good place with the sound and the lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Atv63CvUs
Cover art by Emma Mochii
After Watcher was 'It Speaks,' which was a hell of a struggle to complete. Right up until the last second, we weren't sure if it would make the cut. Fortunately, everyone came together like a goddamn Voltron and we figured it out. I love this song in all its weirdness now.
https://waxlimbs.bandcamp.com/track/it-speaks
Cover art by Julian Danyliw-Wilson
Now I have to backtrack a bit because I forgot about a solo song I released just as the pandemic was beginning in Canada. The Veil is more electronic and low-energy than the Waxlimbs stuff, but I feel like it captured something about how things felt to me, at the time.
To wrap up the music focus, I really started to involve myself in client work as a composer for games! Most of my projects are currently unannounced, but Fire Tonight is public knowledge and will be releasing in early 2021! This kind of work has been a big departure from my comfort zone, but it's exhilarating all the same.
Another skill I wanted to pick up for ages, but didn't find time for until quarantine hit was making latex clothing. I hate sewing and love the aesthetic, so I set about making some simple pieces with this really cool material.
And lastly, a skill that makes me so happy to have been learning is makeup! It's hard but there's a world of knowledge out these and it's yknow, really affirming.
Overall, last year was terrible. I am proud of myself though, for finding positive moments and giving myself the opportunity to learn new things while growing as an artist and in my understanding of myself.
I hope 2021 is better for everyone, and that you're also proud of yourself ♥
/🧵
@Waxlimbs I love the water colour look on this. Great job. 👏👏👏
@MustafaKulle We're really happy with it too! We approached Julian because of some landscapes we'd seen of his, and he didn't disappoint.
@Waxlimbs Love the vocal harmonies on this one 😍
@JLGribble Thank you so much!!! Sorry I just checked my notifications now- but glad you like it :)
@Waxlimbs this is so fucking cool
@TapiocaPearl Thank you!!! It's one of those things I can't be sure I would have pursued if I wasn't stuck at home without a social life.
@Waxlimbs oh dear 
these are gorgeous!!
@shad Thank you!!! 😊
@Waxlimbs these are fucking incredible holy shit
@loki ♥ Thanks so much, that's really kind of you! 😅
@Waxlimbs 💚 skills like this are impressive and deserve to be praised. Thank you for sharing 😄
(also i just saw the link to bandcamp and i am rlly vibing with this music too)
@loki Ahhhhh!!!! I'm so glad you like it!
Birdy
@Waxlimbs oh my god im in love with this!!!
@strawberry Ahhh thank you!!! 🥰
@Waxlimbs i feel like you and @owlofscowl on birdhellsite might get along really well,
they make assorted chainlink jewellery in assemblies of bright hues and patterns which are pretty nifty
@patience Ooo thanks! I'll go check them out!
@Waxlimbs omg so pretty
Do you happen to sell them (I'm not sure I would buy them, if you live far away the delivery cost might be high etc... just wondering) ?
Do you need a lot of tools to do that ?
@Nocta I do sell them via an etsy shop! They're not really "stock" items- my plan is to put them up as I make them and adjust each piece to peoples' measurements when they order. I'm based in Toronto, in reference to distance!
You don't need a lot of tools, I just use a pair of chain nose pliers without teeth for most stuff, and you can find those for under $10 CAD each, in my experience.
@Waxlimbs Nice !
I saw on your profile you're in Toronto but I don't see an etsy link :<
I'm adding this to the long list of things I want to learn but probably never will *_*
@Nocta Haha yeah, it was one of those skills for me as well, until I found myself with some time and not much to do :) The supplier for rings and scales is also in Toronto so it's easy for me to get new materials quickly.
I tend not to advertise my etsy, but I can link it here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/KettleAndBone
I don't have any of the larger pieces up yet due to... laziness 😅
@Waxlimbs Thanks for the feedback and the link 💜
@Nocta Any time :)
@Waxlimbs wow these are so beautiful 🤩 what a skill
@Charlydork Ee thank you! 😄
@Waxlimbs Holy shit that's awesome!!
@virtualwolf Thank you ^-^
@Waxlimbs This is so neat! Is that a metal that you're using? I know that some folks have 3D printed maille - so I'm curious what your material is!
@TheGreenLibrarian Ohhh 3D Printed maille is awesome, I assume SLS nylon?
I'm using anodized aluminum rings and scales 🙂
@Waxlimbs Good to know, thank you for sharing!
I've read about folks who've used nylon. Myself, I've only attempted with a PLA, but got a pretty successful trial! I believe my colleague once used bronzefill PLA for an off-the-printer metallic look.
@TheGreenLibrarian Agh that's so cool! I would love to get into SLS but you really need the right space for it. Awesome that you've got it working with PLA!
@oct2pus Thank you! They're the most recent pattern I've picked up, and I love adding floral stuff to my armor :)
@Waxlimbs wowow these are so beautiful!!!!
@mo aw thank you! I've got a few more on the go currently, I'll be sure to post them here when they're done!
@Waxlimbs how exciting! imma look forward to it 🐍 👀
@Waxlimbs it’s beautiful!
The next big moment this past year was less tangible but really important to me. I came out to some close friends and a few others as non binary. Turns out spending a lot of time with yourself in quarantine can (in some cases) be good for gender exploration.