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crateshya In reply to Uselessboy [2011-08-23 22:07:44 +0000 UTC]

Sorry man. XD It's actually under commission for the time being...where do you live, just outta sheer curiosity? <:3c

Paypal is nifty either way, if you're old enough and have your own bank account. :U

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Uselessboy In reply to crateshya [2011-08-24 16:19:30 +0000 UTC]

it's such a shame I can't buy it... The problem I have with paypal is that I have empoyed someone to do my fiances and she won't do internet-dealings T^T
and I live in holland, so shipping and stuff is kind of really expensive... T^T
and we have nooo Latias Merchandise.... anywhere QAQ
overall it's okay, healthcare is terrific but the taxes are pretty high... plus we get awesome business opportunities a lot thanks to being a port-side country ^_^

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crateshya In reply to Uselessboy [2011-08-24 16:29:10 +0000 UTC]

Oh jeez, yeah that'd be an issue I imagine. :c A lot of people even over here can't get merchandise...that's what's so great about artists, I suppose. |D; But hopefully one day you'll get a Paypal! They're nice cause they connect right to your bank account and the like.

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Uselessboy In reply to crateshya [2011-08-24 18:28:37 +0000 UTC]

I usually just have my accountant send the money directly ^_^, Safe, secure, and that way my money won't be deligated between third parties, but directly from bank to bank.
I usually scour the net to find Latias Plushes and other cute stuff, but so far, I've only found two I bought. o.o, and they're not even Latias-related T^T

I'm not even gonna ask for the paterns since you already explained that you won't hand them out :3, though the thought did cross my mind. But do you have tips or tricks for when you just wanna start sewing but don't have any experience? o.o

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crateshya In reply to Uselessboy [2011-08-24 18:41:49 +0000 UTC]

Direct money deposits? How does that work out? :U You've caught my curiosity- do you mean stuff like checks? :U EXPLAIN.

Have you tried PKMNcollectors, btw? There's a good bit of people there, and you're probably likely to find someone that can ship to your country without an issue. Prices can vary though and you just wanna start out with someone that has a good bit of refs...but without a Paypal it may be hard to find someone willing to do something like that. :/

Yeah, sorry, no one's getting this pattern. Anyways, in terms of making patterns, start with something simple. DON'T BE A MORON LIKE ME AND IMMEDIATELY JUMP INTO DOING LIKE LATIOS AND CHIMCHAR AND SHIT. |D; But if you have other plushies, try and look how they are sewn and the forms of their fabric pieces. Try and emulate that a bit by sketching it down on paper to make your own patterns. Stuff like Oddish or Voltorb are really simple, so they probably have a few patterns out there. Make sure you know what side is your inside and your outside, and when you're ready to close the doll up do your best to hide your stitching and final knots when it's all inverted and your seams are hidden.

I think the best way to do it is jump in and experience it for yourself. You learn a lot more by doing than I can ever help by teaching. XD *fails at teaching forever orz*

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Uselessboy In reply to crateshya [2011-08-24 19:46:53 +0000 UTC]

I am actually thinking of starting off with Dragonair. it's design is fairly simple to break down into components, and it's a snake OwO no weird limbs to try and make and fail at it from the start. Lati@s seems like a fairly simple design to do but I do prefer to get to know the materials better before taking on a project like that.
PkMnCollectors? I honestly can't say I've heared of it before ^_^;; which is kind of silly, I know...

I'm not really a fan of either Voltorb or Oddish, but Dragonair is a fairly simple one to do, and slightly more elegant too. Chikorita also looks workable for a second attempt (first being dragonair)or Petilil or Lilligant might also be a possibility once I've gotten a feel for the fabrics.

I was almost inclined to start with a Latias, but then I realised, what if I screw up o.o...

As for the money-tranfer, I usually just ask the other one for their bank-account-number and I would go to the bank, and ask them to transfer the money directly to that account, with a note attached what the money is for. I suppose you could call it an online check or something, but it's really easy. It's also how I paid for my other expensive hobbie...

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crateshya In reply to Uselessboy [2011-08-25 02:56:50 +0000 UTC]

Dragonair may seem simple but the head requires a bit more thought. Not to mention you have to know how to make balls anyways for the orbs. And the wings are their own mystery. Take it from me, mang, it's not as simple as it seems. XD

Even if you don't like those two, try and find a likewise round Pokemon, like Drifloon, Spheal, Azurill, or (uck I can't believe I'm suggesting this) Jigglypuff. Trust me, you do not wanna be messing with a lotta different pattern pieces. Umbreon on its own may not seem that difficult, but I'm probably looking at least at 150 pieces for it!

Latias required a lotta hand sewing and it's very difficult to actually mess up unless you get a pattern and experience. Trust me. Looks can be very deceiving for some Pokemon. *learned the hard way!*

Humm, that doesn't sound too bad...just not crazy about handing out my banking account number for obvious reasons. :/

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Uselessboy In reply to crateshya [2011-08-25 08:21:36 +0000 UTC]

good point about some things looking simple but not being simple. but I've broken the head down to four parts, and I'm getting a bit of help from someone I found in my neighborhood who is a plush-seemstress. :3
I was so astonished that I never saw the shop. and Spheal is a good start too ^_^, I think I'll start there :3 or a Dratini. I found a perfect patern for it :3

people can't get money from your bank-account if you don't give them all the additional information; just the account-number. People can put money in there, but not get money off it ^_^, sounded like the perfect way to me ^_^.

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 21:39:05 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, sorry hun. ;7; I can always make little ones when commissions are open again though, and they're a bit more affordable and the like...

But thank you. She is very cuddly. Too much cuddly for me cause I'm so little. XD

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 21:48:38 +0000 UTC]

It is wonderful, but isn't it illegal to sell something based on a copyrighted franchise/character?

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 21:53:28 +0000 UTC]

Mmm, technically yes, but there's a lot of things involved with selling stuff. Cause technically since I completely made it, it's also mine, while the character is Nintendo's. And if Nintendo went out to sue every artist that ever created something of their own and sold it with their characters in it...well it'd cost them more than they would receive back. It's a very very vague thing that's difficult to cover.

Doesn't stop a lot of people from commissioning all these custom things though. Nintendo doesn't always have things that people want, and people are more than willing to put out their money for it, so it's not like they can really stop them without losing money in the process. *shrug*

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 21:57:00 +0000 UTC]

That's very true. Just making sure you won't get in trouble for making such a beautiful plush. ^w^

Some day I shall be rich and commission you to make a life-size Eevee >w<

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 22:06:28 +0000 UTC]

Oh, I've done an Eevee before, actually! Lifesize would be totally managable. Like, $120 at the most and it has funfur for the mane and the like. But I have a pattern and the like. (I'm actually working on the Lutions right now)

Save up your money, and you'll see when my commissions are open again for plushies, in case you're ever interested...and you watch me. |D *SHOT DEAD*

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 22:09:35 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow! I can't wait to see those! >w< *+watch'd*

Yeah, I totally will! *starts up a little moneybox to save up* ^w^ Eevee, Eevee, Eevee! Seriously though if I were incredibly rich I'd be commissioning Ho-oh, Reshiram, Wheatley from Portal 2 (well, if Valve won't make a plush...) all sorts >w<

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 22:14:47 +0000 UTC]

XD WELL THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO THINGS I GUESS 8U THANKS FOR THE WATCH 8D

Looool! Oh man, I'd love to do a Ho-Oh and a Reshiram even so. I love em both so much <3 I wanna do a Ho-Oh to at least match my Glittering Sun painting I did, but I fear it'd get...big and outta hand if I can't find some rainbow fleece to work with. XD

But yeah, save up man, cause I'm busy as all hell at the moment |D;

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 22:20:39 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! Gah you have amazing art as well

Dude. Full size Ho-oh. I dare you. XD (Also that is the best picture of Ho-oh I've ever seen ;w; )

I shall! 8D

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 22:24:25 +0000 UTC]

Pfft thank you ;7;

I HAVE ONE WORD FOR YOU- NO. XD I wouldn't have room to put it mang it'd be too big asldfhksdhgksfgh ;7; I may do a 2-3 footer though...>A>'

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 22:39:24 +0000 UTC]

I know, you'd like need to make it in a gigantic wide open space XD You gotta admit it would be impressive though.

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 22:40:58 +0000 UTC]

It'd cost way too much to make it. XD I wouldn't wanna do that. It would be impressive though.

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 22:48:47 +0000 UTC]

I know, it would probably be over £1000 to make

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 22:51:01 +0000 UTC]

PFFT XD Not that much man. Maybe $400 (I think that's like £200) in total-

Wait, you're overseas in the UK? :/

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 23:13:15 +0000 UTC]

Still a lot!

And yes :3

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-23 23:19:24 +0000 UTC]

Mmmm, I'm not sure if I can ship to UK actually. :c I really don't like the idea of other postal systems cause I've heard my fair share of terrible misplacing of parcels when they go overseas, and even with insurance I'd feel awful if something DID happen to the thing. Sorry. D:

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 23:53:10 +0000 UTC]

Aww, don't worry bout it! I plan to visit America one day Maybe I could pick one up if I commissioned you to make it.

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crateshya In reply to Brightcynder [2011-08-24 00:11:00 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, but we'd have to plan it really carefully around where you're staying. I'm telling you, I'm not sending it to a hotel or anything, lol~

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Brightcynder In reply to crateshya [2011-08-24 00:23:07 +0000 UTC]

XD Of course not! I'm just speaking theoretically of course, things might change in the future.

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crateshya In reply to meIoetta [2011-08-23 21:30:24 +0000 UTC]

I'm not giving nor selling the pattern at this time, sorry.

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meIoetta In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 22:24:26 +0000 UTC]

too bad

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crateshya In reply to meIoetta [2011-08-23 21:30:13 +0000 UTC]

Lol, sorry, Latias is currently under commission :'D

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meIoetta In reply to crateshya [2011-08-23 22:25:08 +0000 UTC]

i know i dont hav any money but what i'm trying to say is nice job

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crateshya In reply to Latiaslord [2011-08-21 14:55:01 +0000 UTC]

Mmm, if you look at both material costs and the labor costs, $200 is actually not that bad.

-$20 in materials

That leaves $180...now I'm not great on time, but I estimate it took 30-40, closer to 40 given all the handsewing that was involved (more than I originally thought). Take that and divide it into the remaining $180...

$180 / 40 hrs = $4.50/hr

So actually, I'm getting paid half of what I get paid at my normal job.

Also, to be fair, $200 is a more than fair price for this size. I've seen some tiny plushes that are barely 4-5 inches that go for $40-$50. They may be hi-qual with embroidery, but they're still probably getting paid $6-8 dollars an hour after materials and the like. And those still go like wildfire.

A lot of people don't realize how little someone is getting paid for all their time until they do the actual math.

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Latiaslord In reply to crateshya [2011-08-21 15:03:53 +0000 UTC]

It's just that the official plushes sold for so much less, but eh.

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crateshya In reply to Latiaslord [2011-08-21 15:43:18 +0000 UTC]

That's cause they're made by machines, and in mass quantity. It's all about marketing with that.

Have you ever noticed that farm produce or things people grow by hand and go to sell is always more than what's sold in the supermarket? It's the same sort of idea. There's no middleman, no contractor to get involved, but in exchange, most farmers have to deal with everything themselves. They have to grow it, package it, make new products with the base product, and then sell it. Without a specialized middleman, the prices show.

For example, a pint of home-grown blueberries around here goes for $5 when in season. In exchange, one at the supermarket goes for $2.50 when on sale. However, a lot of people still buy the fresh ones because they know exactly where they come from and they're fresh.

It's sort of the same thing with the plushie community. While the prices may be much higher, it's because there's no set machine crunching out mass quantities for them. Each one has to be made by hand. Each one has to take a lotta time because there's only one human behind them. We can't get materials at wholesale pricing most of the time. So plush-makers have to make some sort of compensation for our lack of man-force and machinery.

I learned a lot of this stuff by watching the news and actually going through the actual process of making a doll. It's not as easy as it seems. You have to pinch the fabric together and really attack it sometimes, and it's not easy to keep all your stitching hidden. I suggest trying to make your own doll and your own pattern if you still think otherwise. It really is not only rewarding to have the end product, but it really gives you an appreciation for other artists that do this on a constant basis. :>

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crateshya In reply to Kspmill [2011-08-21 00:08:06 +0000 UTC]

PAY ME AND IT CAN BE YOURS :'D

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