So what I understand to have happened is this:
The artist agreed to have it finished by Halloween.
She doesn't start it until Halloween, because the items you were meant to send her didn't arrive.

To me, for this part at least, you are at fault. Deliver Confirmation is, at most, an extra dollar or two. Why wouldn't you get that - especially for something that the artist clearly needs to proceed on your suit? Maybe the holdup was because she didn't have it.

You talk to her, she talks about working on the suit.
Later, she posts that something happened to the head and she's going to have to start over.

Well, you can't very well prove that she has been working on it. But, at the same time, like I said above - the failure for the items she needed to arrive isn't her fault and could be the reason for the holdup.

Another thing that would be helpful here would be specific dates. Did you send the DTD/shoes only a month before the deadline? Because that's an awful short amount of time to be able to finish a huge project like a fursuit, even for someone that's used to making them.

If I were you, I would contact the seller and try to pin down some concrete terms: a new solid deadline and a statement that you'd like a refund if the new deadline isn't met (at least a partial refund if they can prove they've done any work or bought any supplies). Ask why they can't provide picture evidence of what's being worked on and state that you feel it necessary to not only prove her claims of work but also to assure the suit looks the way you want. Don't be mean, just politely state your dissatisfaction and firmly state your terms. Ask them -exactly- what they need from you (another DTD, any further measurements, etc.) in order to finish this in a timely manner, and get it to them ASAP with delivery confirmation this time so that any future fault for delays won't rest on you.

That's what I'd do, anyway. Just my $.02. Sounds like it's been a pain thus far. Hope it gets resolved for ya.

I wonder if the small size is giving her more trouble than she bargained for. Now I know nothing about sewing, but if everyone's saying "This will be difficult" and one person takes it on as a new challenge, and takes a while it may be more challenging than they thought.

I'm not saying it makes it right, I just thought it might be important to consider in determining your next move.

I don't understand why smaller=more difficult.. maybe that's because I'm small and that's what I started with..

At any rate.. I think without any progress shots at all and 'the dog ate it' excuse, I would start being a bit more upfront about "I need proof you're doing anything at all, or I want a refund so I can go to someone else."

Though I am going to agree about getting delivery confirmation when possible.

IMO, even if she's having a harder time with it than she expected to, she should at least be truthful about that and not keep you guessing.

Ask for a photo of the destroyed head to prove her story.

Could we get a name please? I thought the point of this community was as a warning to people looking to commission specific artists. Even if it works out in the end, missing a deadline that much with SUCH poor communication is still worthy of a callout.

This happen to my friend, actually.
He commissioned her for a fursuit during Califur of last year (of June) and she had told him it would be done by Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving rolled around, he had informed me that it would be done by Christmas. No luck either...

Occasionally I asked him when his suit would come in. He informs me that Ludicrousy hasn't been replying to his notes and what not, and had not shown him any work in progressed pictures. She had later informed him that his suit would be done before Califur of this year. He found out from another commissioner that Kawl's suits were falling apart and was sent back to Kawl for repairs. At this point of time, my friend demanded a refund from Kawl of his original $200, I believe.

From what I had heard from him, she was going to keep the fur and shoes (he'd given her the shoes, mind you) and what other materials she had bought with his %20 down payment, which she had said was non-refundable. I had told him that it was his money she had bought the materials with, he should be getting them, not her. I haven't asked him about it since then, but I'll ask if he can post here with screenshots if he has them and his own experiences. I'm not sure if he's gotten a refund or the materials yet.

Yes, I'm the "friend" Vi was talking about. Now if know how to get pics uploaded onto here or something, I would absolutely love to send some screenshots and such. That isn't my only problem though. I would be ever so grateful if I knew WHAT to post here.

I got one thats in general over the whole "refund" thing


EDIT: nevermind! I decided to stop being derpy and just use Image Shack :D
http://img151.imageshack.us/i/goodz.jpg/

I, as the artist, would like to post here with the following.

I'm just starting out, and there's a lot for me to learn. No one has hand held me or shown me the proper way to do much of anything- so what I know is from experience- which I certainly need more of. Sadly, I was not equip with the knowledge or experience to take on as many project as I did. And that was my own fault.

I struggled with a lot of personal problems this last year. August-December being the worst for me. Of course, I never brought it up with anyone as I'm a very... Stubborn- I guess. I keep to myself in that regard. So rather than giving my commissioners the heads up that, "Hey, your Fursuit maker is getting held up by some personal problems." I just slipped away for a few months. Which, looking back, was awful! I just disappeared with people's cash and their beloved characters without letting them in on what was going on. I didn't have much Internet access (or even the heart to roll out of bed) and communication slipped away.

I took so much on my plate with the excitement of a new business and adventure- but as a full time student, I shouldn't have taken on as much as I did. I should have kept communications open. I should have done a lot differently. But the fact of the matter is- I can't change what happened.

But I can change what WILL happen.

After sending a personal apology to each of my commissioners, I sat down and completely revised my business tactics and policies. I got re-situated with new workspace (I had to move it all a few months ago,) purchase new crates and totes for everything (though it set me back significantly- I couldn't risk my dogs sneaking into the studio again.) I began getting some help for my personal life and hired an assistant to help out with clean up and work.

I realize how I acted and held myself tended to be inconsistent and unprofessional. No amount of "I'm sorry" can take that back or fix it. But what can is showing the fandom I can change and grow as an artist, and as a person. I'm still learning, and I thank each commissioner for being patient with me and my troubles. I'm really blessed to have dealt with such level-headed people.

I'm really sorry for the frustrations I've caused. I aim to improve in my business tactics, suit quality, and even as a human being. I don't want any of this to ever happen again. I got off on a bad foot, but I think I can take my next step on a good one. There's no excuse for what has happened, and I am at fault. But from now on I want to go above and beyond the call of duty.

This post was really a wake-up call for me. So thank you to those of you who posted, thank you to my commissioners, and thank you to change.

Things are looking up!
-ludicrousy

(P.S. As for all issues regarding PO boxes- my post office had been sending a majority of my mail to a different PO box within the same building. Even when I went to check, they weren't there. However, this problem has been resolved and there has not been an issue since.)