SKoriginals

Ok so I havn't been around much or doing/submitting much in a good while now and I'm sure many are wondering whatever happen to me. Needless to say I've been rather busy and keeping local for the most part and have not done or even kept up with my stuff online.

However, things change from time to time and I'm keeping up a little better with 'some' of my online things. If your looking to get ahold of me and or keep in contact then feel free to pop over to my Facebook page and... well you should know the routine if your on there.

Facebook profile (Shawn Kaschafsky): www.facebook.com/profile.php?i…

ok, after nearly a year of working off and on Morph is finally ready... feel free to check it out and download this free windowblind.

Morph Windowblind: skoriginals.deviantart.com/art…
Morph Xion: skoriginals.deviantart.com/art…
Morph Wallpack: skoriginals.deviantart.com/art…

You know life has a funny way of forcing you to take a different look at it. Sometimes that look requires a complete rethinking of how you move forward in it. Over the last six months this has happen to me. This isn't the first time and I highly doubt it will be the last. Those of you who have known me over the last few years and enjoyed my skins and so forth have probably thought I have fallen off the face of the earth. I assure you I have not. Rather, I've been forced to rethink how to move forward. I have not been skinning, or doing much of any graphics as of late. A different direction has been called for.

Admittedly, I don't really mind either… meaning nothing personal to anyone or anything. In the beginning it was all in fun something fresh, challenging and new. I'm not sure when that changed but it mutated into something else… something more like a chore then something I enjoyed. My art has never been that and I didn't actually even realize it until my recent absence from it. On the flip side of all this I have started to feel the urge to do 'something'. What? I'm not sure. But, it is a feeling I've had before and I know what it is. Its a building up of a need to get an idea out, an image, to create a 'thing'. Is this good? Of course it is, after all I'm an artist and its what we do right? I've stepped away from my art on several occasions in the past and this always seems to happen. No matter what you can't stay away from it forever.

What to expect now… I've had a skin on the back burner I was working on as a 'Master Skin'. Recently I've reopened and reexamined it. It was nearly finished with only a small portion needing to be done. At this stage I'm thinking of finishing it off for Vista and checking some of the 'new stuff'… once done I'll release it as a free skin. Yes free… mostly because I've been away for awhile now but also because you great people deserve something… plus, if your anything like me you started all this for fun… and paying for a skin is ok but not paying for one is (in this crappy economy anyway) just that much more pleasing.

As for after that…. we'll see

Its been asked (and with reason) if I have stopped skinning. The short answer is no. I even have something I've been working on which was originally mocked up before my mothers passing and everything else.

This brings me to 'where am I at'?

It has not been an easy transition for me. The last four plus years I've spent pretty much completely invested in the care of my mother. Now, my entire world has been changed and the current state of affairs with the economy are also factoring in. Many unforeseen events have come about. For instance, I just sent off a letter to the state which wanted information on the estate at the time of death, a requirement by law but separate from previous dealings. Its a bit insane to say the least.

My emotional state is flip floppy. I go from highs to lows and haven't yet reached my typical middle ground where I'm usually not really either but still upbeat. I don't need encouragement and so forth... its just an 'adjustment period' and all I ask for is some understanding. Everyone has pretty much been that way and I thank you all.

Where to go from here?

Well, as I stated in the beginning, I am working on a new skin. It's slow going but its over 60% complete. I'd preview it but I don't feel ready to do so just yet. So far as future skins after this... thats still uncertain. I'll probably never completely give up skinning, that everyone can count on. I enjoy it and if given the chance to work for someone and do it as a full time thing I probably would. Thats the other aspect of things. My own financial situation has changed and depending on the next few weeks/months will determine just HOW MUCH involved in skinning I will be. Could be the difference in a skin(s) every 3-4 weeks and 3-4 month.

I'm still around, still 'keeping up' and still watching everything. So...

My mother (Rhonda A. Georgi) has passed on to a better place. Tonight (January 10th, 2009) at 6pm she went peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Looking back, a little while earlier she told us she was ready for bed. We believe this was her way of saying she was ready to go to sleep as she had not been expressing herself well. In her last few days she spent with her five grand kids, her daughter, her son-in-law and her son. She made peace with the lord and everybody she knew and had told everyone she loved them numerous times as well as us telling her.

She had asked us to have no regrets for anything and to not be sad. The regrets part is easy, we have none. The being sad is a little harder, we will try not be sad but there is still some hurting going on by all.

My mother was a great woman. Even though by most standards she was rather young (Born April 15th, 1949) she lived a full life and did and experienced many things most will never. She touched many peoples lives and I can't think of anyone who had ill will towards her. God was a large part of her life even if she was not the best at living in his light at all times. She was the type of woman who made you feel at home, one you could tell anything to and many within a short time referred to her as mom. She will be sorely missed.

No arrangements have been made yet as to what will be done next. Her wishes were to be cremated and we will follow through with those as well as all her other wishes.

In closing I personally would like to say a few things... Hug the ones you love, you don't know when the next time might be the last so make sure they know you care. Also, make amends with those you might have a problem with, life is too short to be filled with such things.

Thank you and may your days be long and filled with love.
Shawn Kaschafsky (Son)