If you haven't checked my Artfire store recently, it's full of stuff!

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Beetlecat

I JUST released fox and kitty ears for sale (ONE MONTH ONLY) and have intoduced a new item - wild cat ears! They are like kitty ears but more tufted :3

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/stu.....at/1/1/22570//

Aside from those I have several varieties of fox tails as well as deer and kitty tails

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/stu.....at/1/1/12780//

And still some shirts for sale!

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/stu.....t/1/1/229875//

And lastly, I am selling white and black seal fur for cheaper than you can get anywhere else on the internet for single yards. As it is sold, I will relist more yards ^^

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/stu.....t/1/1/229877//

I'm not sure there are any that have not heard of the accident that Beastcub's sister, Wolfgem, was involved in, but you can read about it in her journal here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3663650/ and leave a message for her in the comments (a comprehensive new article is here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan.....strians.html).

I do not know Wolfgem or her boyfriend personally but her and Beastcub are members of this community (and then the even smaller community within of fursuit makers) and that is enough. I've been in tears every time I read new information or think about what happened. Or at the idea that the criminal responsible might never get caught. Not that that can make it all right.

You can leave a shout on Wolfgem's page here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/wolfgem Her boyfriend's page is here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/elden I'm sure they would appreciate the emotional support when they get out of the hospital. I can't speak for them but I imagine that what I would like.

Hey I know a lot of fursuit makers buy and sell to and from each other, and that's great!

But I just want to put out there that I do not buy any premade parts from anyone else (unless you count eyeblanks I suppose lol). I do not because:

1) I Prefer to keep the control with myself over sizes and shapes and colours of what I make. I always have since the beginning so it is what I am used to. and
2) I would get tired of having to cite someone else in every photo heh.

There is value in outsourcing and having someone else make something rather than make it yourself. less materials. Less time. A different artistic style or skill. Just much easier when you run a business. I am in no way devaluing people who chose to do this and I would be among them if I wasn't so particular lol. I do look at new things but usually they just do not fit my needs.

So everything I show off (unless it specifically says otherwise), I designed and sculpted and cast and sewed with my own two hands ^^ it is just what I prefer to do so it makes me sad to ever hear that my work might be credited to someone else.

So summarize, I am not saying one method is better or worse as I have no opinion on that, but just that everything you see from ME was made by ME and I want the credit for this effort heh.

Just wanted to clear that up. Thanks for listening!

Almost 20 yards of fur for sale. Check it out!

http://beetlecat.livejournal.com/551850.html

If interested in buying, please comment there.

This Panda has just two days left to bid ^_^ Auction ends Sunday

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150847174545

 morticia is selling her Beetlecat-made partial ^^


http://www.furbuy.com/auctions/1033112.html


This horse-cat character suit was made originally for Sangluna as part of an art trade and then was sold to its current owner who now also wants to pass it on to someone else. It is rare that one of my suits comes back up for resale so go check it out and bid if you like it ^_^


http://www.furbuy.com/auctions/1033112.html

Here is the original submission I uploaded: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5163498/

Large fox tails (in airbrushed and non)
Small fox tails (in airbrushed and non)
and deer tails!

http://www.beetlecat.artfire.com

Please leave a comment here if you have any questions :3

So I did this poll ages ago and I'm curious to see if the results have changed.

1) Do you have/use LJ? Do you read it (how often per day/week do you check it) vs Do you comment in it vs Do you write up journal entries in it?

Vs how often you did these things a couple years ago..

It seem like everyone still reads it but doesn't comment in it or write journal entries? How does that work? XD

2) I've seen a very recent 'resurgence' in people using LJ. True yes no? Are you using it more now than you did just 6 months ago?

Basically, my own journal is more or less abandoned and I'm wondering if it's worth cross-posting things again.. I stopped because people stopped commenting so I assume they stopped reading. But maybe not?

Livejournal roundtable discussion time!

(no comments please unless you need to say something, I'm not looking for a discussion, I just want to say this in public once and be done with it)


Guys, nothing I say or do is going to be 100% correct for all people in all situations all of the time..

I would hardly think this would even need to be said it's so obvious but there seems to be this trend of holding me to higher and higher standards regarding 'how to do things' when all I offer is advice. You need to take it, consider it, and apply it to your situation or discard it. That's how advice works. My video tutorials are just advice. As is anything that comes out of my keyboard.

I tried writing this journal up a long time ago and failed because I was so angry at people's attitudes and this high pedestal they put me on that I have no interest in or claim to .. I am not responsible for everyone else who might stumble upon my stuff, sorry. People really need to take care of themselves and know what they are comfortable with individually.

I have gained some experience yes but I have experience with ME and how I like to do things. And that is what I base my advice on and you need to take out the parts applicable to you and dismiss the rest.. because advice is an opinion. And when I make a video or show a photo of my process then I'm just showing my opinion.

I want to thank the folks who have always been supportive of me and my decisions regarding what I share or don't share and my methods in doing so. TBH without you I'd be sorely tempted (and some days I am) to just throw up my hands and say "Okay well now nobody gets anything at all!" and just sit and do my work and have no appreciative internet presence (which I do not really want to do as a rule) so thank you! You are what keeps me around (so I guess the dissenters should go complain to you instead lol) :D

Anyways just wanted it out there in a legible format that I official absolve myself of having responsibility over the actions and feelings of everyone that might come in contact with me somewhere and sometime XD If you knew/know me, you'd know that I have enough to do in life by just having responsibility for myself and my cats lol. Anything more is quite beyond my capabilities so the only other option is to do nothing or say nothing ever.. which is just... sad :(

For those who have missed it BTW, here is the tutorial section of my website: http://www.10267.a.hostable.me/tutorials/

and my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Beetle91?feature=guide

A question to fursuit makers or anyone shipping a large volume of very large items (larger than 18' square). Where do you get boxes?

So far in the USA I've only shipped a limited number of large costumes but it's getting to the point where i need a good supply of large, sturdy boxes. And my old Canadian resources don't work down here lol.

Suggestions?

I posted this to my Tumblr but it's important information and don't want anyone to miss out.



Direct photo link to the graphical pricing examples: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m.....b0yo1_1280.jpg

Tumblr entry link: http://beetlefursuits.tumblr.com/post/24519758401/graphical-fursuit-pricing-list-so-i-didnt-like

--
So I didn’t like telling everyone “I don’t know” regarding the new pricing system being introduced so I went and magiked this up.

Basically, the base price for any fullsuit bought from me will be $4K and that covers pretty much the average that people like to get in terms of padding and airbrushing and such. Veering slightly more or less complicated will still be the same price as the focus here is getting exactly what you want - not nickle and dimeing all aspects of the build.

Prices can still go higher than the $4K average. Wings for instance are nearly the price of a fursuit just in themselves. Quadsuits are also particularly complicated (requiring about the time of two regular fursuits and specialty materials). Other things that raise the cost are significant uses of specialty stretch furs or any sort of electronics.

But I still wanted something more available for folks who simply can’t afford to spend that much on an (admittedly) frivolous thing so prices do go lower for suits that are more basic than the average. But $3K is now the absolute bottom for me price wise.. lower than that and I would have to start doing ‘one size fits all’ patterns and just shoving things out the door in order to make quota and I am just not willing to do that!

The emphasis I want to make here is that everything is in round numbers. When I quote, I will take the concept given and decide (from my experiences) how much the project differs from average and then if it differs enough to be put into a new price bracket either up or down.

If, when I reopen, anyone gets a quote and wants to know why I quoted what I did then I will be fully willing to explain the reasoning. I will also be happy to start off with your budget and then craft a quote to fit within that budget. But the actual end quote is final and can be taken or left. No arguments. I would rather make *nothing at all* than have fursuit-making be a chore to be done quickly, by rote, and by quota :p


Regarding commission openings:

I am still on track to start new projects the first month of 2013. It is still too early for me to know ‘for sure’ yet (since I have several projects in queue that have never been done before by me so the time required is still unknown).

Currently I plan to reopen September 2012 for projects to be started in 2013. I will only take a few at that time. Then I will open again in January 2013 for projects to be started that summer and so forth.

I want to see how things progress over the next few months before I set any of this in stone, but I hope it and the new price list can help give some kind of guidance to you :)

Am I disappointed? Yes.

Am I sorry I went? No. More on that later as I have a lot of downs before I get to the good.


- first impressions: Immediately upon receiving it, I noticed the conbook was rather shoddy and small. Small is fine - I don't read or collect them and all I really want are the schedule of events (though my husband WAS disappointed there were no stories since he reads them all). But they can be small and cheap and still not LOOK cheap IMO. Spend a little bit on money on the first impressions because they show off what type of con you want to be.

Speaking of which, what did I get back for getting a crappier con book? The registration was just as much as FC charges and there I get a nice big colour conbook and several dances and a huge amount of things to do at all times. At Califur this year the cabaret was still a extra 'pay for' event. There was no variety show AT ALL. Still no costume contest to cover that lack.

The panels were weak and scarce (a total of two fursuit panels? and nothing at all on construction?). The only big event cost extra. There was no swag. No fursuit badges. No silly keycards. reg was fast but still don't accept credit cards. The attendance badges were the nice stiff ones I like but that's really the only upside. To whoever decided on those and the artist that drew the design on the front I say think you. But it wasn't worth $100 to get two of those XD

It was just a lot of minor things that all piled up to, by the end of the con, just feel like a money grab with nothing at all to show for it above the most basic con requirements. Yes yes the money went somewhere I'm sure. But that is how it felt to a person that showed up and paid their fair share to attend. And who may reconsider doing that next year even though I'm usually a proponent on supporting events you attend but if all I do is go to the same hotel as everyone else then.. I want to actually be buying something of value hey. I think that is reasonable.
--


The good (ie Shades of Antheria): Well hey it's a furry con! Put people with shared interests together in the same area and cool things happen ^^ But it had nothing to do with the actual Califur events unfortunately. I attended the Saturday night dance for 10 minutes until I just could not handle the music choices anymore and fled and then did a walk through the Dealer's Den on Sunday because I figured I might as well. I am happy I went and I had a good time but if nothing changes then we will not buy a reg next year (my first time ever considering ghosting at a con) and if we had flown in (not just driven a few hours) then I would be swearing it off completely.

What needs to change: If the cabaret is going to be the ONLY large event (the pet auction really does not count sorry.) then it needs to be free and unlimited in number. It can be a unique draw if you allow it to be.. And if you are going to downsize and spend less on something so obvious as a con book then I want to either see where the extra $ is going, know why the change from before, or get something back in swag. I felt bad for the con book advertisers lol. And would not be surprised if they opt out next year.
--

TL;DR: The hotel and location are one of the most gorgeous for a furry con. Lots of cool things in walking distance. The cabaret is a unique, fun, draw that needs to be expanded and opened up. I will probably attend next year but I will consider very carefully where I spend my money which means that it may not go directly to the con unless I can see for myself that more people are actually interested in making it bigger and better and putting that money to good use. Califur is a growing con with a lot of potential but requiring registrants to make their own fun might not be the best direction to take if the idea is for them to continue to support the con with cheques and art :p

---
I want to thank the friends that showed up to hang with and the folks that I got to know a bit better this year and the folks that I met for the first time this year! All of you were cool peoples! (yay California) and, like I always say, it's truly the people and the camaraderie that make the con ^_^

Also! I do want to thank the folks who bought my shirts - it was a lot of fun just hanging out in suit hawking my swag ^_^ I was happy at the response folks showed them and what is left over will be for sale online next week.

--

I just got back from my 2 week roadtrip to Canada from California :D Had a great time! Went to the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo and hung out with so many friends and family. The time just flew by ^^ We also drove back a lot of my fur and supplies that were being stored in Canada. Not all of them (we'll need another couple roadtrips for that. And maybe a trailer) but the fur infusion is always good!

The good thing about the trip is that is that I had a lot of time while we were driving (the round trip was about 70 hours of actual driving time) to consider the future of my business. What I want. Where I want it to go. What is best for my husband and myself and our lives and what is best for my customers.

As I've been alluding to over the past months, there are changes afoot here in the Beetlecat Original's workshop. The new changes are intended to increase my own fulfillment in my art as well as to push my business in the directions I wish it to take

It comes to thus:


My current workload will take me to the end of this year. Until then, nothing changes (ie the new policies will not affect currently quoted projects). However, January 1st, 2013, I am going to be instituting several new policies regarding commissions and commission openings.



1) From now on, I will only accept full costumes. No heads. No partials. No 3/4 partials. No custom tails. etc.

2) Fursuit prices will be increased overall to reflect the longer time spent on them and more will be included in this single price. There will NOT be a 'starting' price that 'extras' are added to. Instead, there will be ONE base price that will include almost everything - any style, most markings and colours, most species, most padding (including digitigrade and feral). Some things will still be extra (such as body pods/muscle suits, wings, full body stretch fur with liner) but most of the more common things are included in the single cost. I will also no longer charge a separate price for shipping, but instead it will be included in the full cost.

An unpadded suit will warrant a discount (so do not fear being overcharged vs a fully padded suit). 'Simple' characters will not though as every character is unique; I spend the same amount of time and effort on each.


3) I will allow more time for each project and open more often. I shall take 9 slots over the year in 3 queue openings. Yes, that means I will only be open for a strict limit of 3 fullsuits at a time but will be opening for new commissions every 4 months (to be completed 4-7 months later).
The above changes in policy will give me the freedom to use whatever materials and techniques I feel would do the best job to match the customer's preferences, such as reticulated foams, NFT fur, custom sculpts, body paddings, etc, without any nickel and dimeing or feeling that I have to chose how to make something within a tighter budget or physical restrictions.

This will last for all of 2013 and, if successful, will be the new policy forever. If I ever accept more partials or heads, it will be on an auction slot system. There will be no warning for these auction slots and they may or may not actually happen.


4) I will be implementing a 'rush' option. The idea is as follows: I open for new commissions and you apply while indicating if it being rushed is a condition of acceptance. If I accept the rush then you pay a rush fee (an extra percentage on top of the quoted price which I will send to you) and I make your project IMMEDIATLY rather than in 4-7 months with the other 3 projects taken at the same time. Essentially, you will be jumping into the queue that I filled out 4 months previous.

This will not impact other current projects as the whole idea of rush is that I work on weekends and evenings and the extra fee is my 'overtime rate' for this service. This is something that I will keep a close eye on to prevent myself from taking on too much work to handle (as I am constantly prone to doing we all know) and so it may not be available right off the bat in January and there will be a strict limit on rush projects as the exception not the rule. But it may be an option for some of you later into 2013.


The last change is this:
4) I will increase production of ear and tails. Starting in January (or maybe before if I can figure out how to adjust my schedule for the last 8 months of this year), I will no longer make them as they are ordered in between other projects and as sort of an aside project when I feel they need to be crammed in; but they will be scheduled in the same as any other project and given the same emphasis.

Basically, my plan is to have a larger selection of ears and tails for sale 24/7 online with a significantly shorter turn-around time between ordering and shipping.



Overview is this: Starting January, I will open every four (4) months for three (3) custom full costumes and will make a selection of non-custom ears and tails through-out the year to be made available on my online Artfire store year-round.

Since my current workload will take me to January and a little ways beyond that into 2013, I will OPEN FOR NEW FULLSUIT-ONLY COMMISSIONS JANUARY 2013, MAY 2013, & SEPTEMBER 2013. To be started in May, September, and January 2014 respectively.

My policies regarding concept art/payment/down payments/etc remain the same and are available in my FAQ: http://www.beetlecatoriginals.com/faq

The FAQ itself will be updated to reflect the new/changed policies as indicated above when they become live.


--

That is about it. Everything is subject to change, of course, since everything is academic until it is actually implemented. And exact details still need to be hammered out, but I'm pretty happy with my decisions ^_^ Less wait = good. More cool things on a regular schedule = good. And continued fulfillment in what I do with less stress associated with it is ALWAYS good ;)

I've been thinking a lot about my art and fursuits lately and I'm a little concerned that I don't have as much to offer as I used to. My art is much better of course lol but the problem of me looking at it all day is that all that stuff gets a little muddled up and washed out in my brain. When I can't really put a definition to what I do other than 'semi kinda mostly realistic. unless it's more toony.' it is hard to keep track of what I am and know that I have a distinct style as much as I used to when the sea was much much smaller.

So! I am at a point right now where I want to spend some time thinking about the direction of my art and business - to that end, I need your opinions! Sure I can ignore everyone and just create for myself, but I believe I get more fulfillment making things that I know other people will like as well.

So basically, that is a long way of asking "Why do you watch me?"

1) What do you like about my art? What makes my fursuits stand out? What caught your attention and what do you enjoy seeing?

2) Do you want to see more full body costumes from me or more smaller things like the ears and tails? Balancing the two is tricky so I'm curious if you think it's good now or if I do not have enough of one or another. What do you want me to open commissions for?

3) Where would you like to see me go in the future with my costumes?

4) Give me three words that relate to any of the above. Just any three words that sort of sum up your thoughts about my art or what you want to see.


You do not have to answer these questions directly - it's just a guide. if you have something different or simpler to say, that's good too ^^

--

Though I AM assuming you do like my fursuits in some kind of fashion if you are here, Please do not take this as looking for ass-pats. If you want to say "everything is perfect as is don't change it." then that's a valid opinion! But if you have stronger feelings about one aspect or another, I'm really very interested in your opinion :)

A quick journal to let you know that :Farouthere: looked through the possible artists and sent correspondence (emails? I'm not sure) to his favorites. He seemed pretty enthused so hopefully something really cool will come out of this!

Okay two sentences doesn't really seem worth a whole journal, so here's that get to know me meme that's been traveling around.


1. We all know what we call you, what about the folks at home? Whats your name?
Deanna

2. How tall are you?
5'2"ish.

3. Natural hair color? (if you can remember it)
I guess it's called brown? It used to be blonde but is darker now.

3. What about eye color?
green-grey

4. What orientation are you?
boy power

5. Are you single, taken, or undecided?
taken

6. What do you do in your spare time?
watch tv with my takener

7. What's your job?
I oversee the construction of fluffy bits. Oh I also construct them.

8. What's one thing you like about yourself?
My hair. It is the first thing people compliment me on and I honestly do get a lot of random compliments from strangers on it. Because it's unique I suppose.

9. Alright, now what about something you dislike about yourself?
Have trouble letting go of the past.

10. What's some things your friends noticed about you when they first met you?
Dunno I never asked.. if they first met me were we friends yet? This question is too difficult.. considering most of my friends are male they probably were wondering how to get into my pants.

11. Of what faith/religion are you(if any at all?)
no

12. Do you drink?
I've lost some ability to tolerate it on my stomach the past few years so I'm more picky than I used to be. I do enjoy being drunk when I'm at that type of party though.

13. Do you smoke?
only when on fire

14. What are your fears?
Uh.. that my husband will die a sudden tragic death and leave me D:

15. What are your dreams/goals?
Next year, house. After that I'm leaving it open. To have a wonderful life basically.

16 .Ever had any crushes/ex's in the past/present?
I recall that I intended to marry my male best friend in kindergarten :3 Then they moved a year later :/ Now he is apparently an artist! I still have the stuffed kitten he gave me.

17. Who's your best bud?
My house wolf

18. Alright, you got the cravin' for munchies, what'cha reachin' for?
Chips and yogurt if I got it

19. Favorite drink?
uh... guess I drink more tea than anything. I like water too so I'm not even sure why. Because it's warm?

20. Favorite color?
royal purple and grey

21. If you had any super power, what would it be?
telepathy so I wouldn't have to rely on the stupid English language for my communications

22. Favorite movie?
The Frighteners is my go to favorite

23. Least favorite food?
Whatever I just ate too much of

24. Quick! You have only one meal left before you die!!! What is it?
great sushi and miso soup or vegetable tofu soup.

25. What do you drive/wish you drove?
2008 Rav 4. Technically I'm only a Learner in the USA still since I've been a pussy about taking the driving test to get my California license << Everyone knows chicks can't parallel park..

26. Most disliked bug?
Horse fly or black fly. The first is scary in how huge the wound it leaves is but the second usually arrives en masse.

27. Most hated pet peeves?
Adding 'fur' or 'pony' to perfectly good and normal words.

28. Dislike in life?
uh.. I'm sure I dislike a lot but it's hard to single any specific thing out for special treatment. Stupid people?

29. Most annoying?
Also stupid people ^^

30. Most disliked TV show?
Dunno. I don't watch anything I don't like. What a sad, boring question to end this on

Long story short, my husband is looking for a artist capable and willing to take on a commission for a tattoo design. I believe he has made some inquiries already, but FA has worked so awesomely in the past for these sorts of things that I figure it can't hurt. Plus it might be worth seeing what the same concept is like in a few different styles.. tats being something that are with you for life and all, I think an early investment into the actual art is a good idea XD

Anyways, a clean bold style is a must (the end tat will be flat colour and bold lines. Colour graduations are fine, just no grayscale/severe shading/crazy detailing) - though we're not apposed to working with two different artists on this (one to draw the concept and set the style and the other to clean it up and ink it) if no one is able to handle both.

Something like these: http://www.tattoos99.com/tattoopics....._tattoo_23.jpg http://www.tattooique.com/info/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/maple.jpg as the general type of style..

Feel free to comment, note me, or email me at beetlefursuits.at.gmail.com and I can pass it on. We'd prefer folks who are open/can open in the next month or so as I'm a firm believer in waiting several months after you get the art back before you actually tattoo it on your skin heh. But it would be nice not to wait years to do this either XD

EDIT: WOW! A really great response from (judging by my really quick and random poke throughs) some really talented people! :D We will probably go through all of the options this weekend and then contact the folks who we love the style of and think will do a good job. And hey I was going to let my tattoo artist style my tat (the rough idea of which is in my scraps) but I might just have to see who fits *my* style as well :D

Wrote this up as the answer to a question on LJ, but decided there's no reason not to post it here. Really, it's good for folks thinking of going in to the business to have a clear idea of what to expect. And for customers to know where their money goes.


Here is a hypothetical scenario:

If you can make one fursuit a week and sell it for $2000 (seems reasonable..), then your gross monthly income is $8000. That's almost 6 figures! For doing what you want when you want to. Sweet ^^

You still have to account for your material expenses in making those fursuits. $1500/month ought to do it on average if you are a little bit smart. And then there are your incidental expenses such as car and gas to buy supplies and studio rent space and electricity. That is another $1500/month. For this scenario we are totally ignoring start up expenses but you can expect those to be around $10K if you jump right into making fursuits full time (otherwise the 10K is added gradually over years if you go into it more slowly)

Now, you can't actually work every single day. Even if you do work weekends there's Christmas and sick times (which you do not get paid for) and doctors appointments and so forth. I think taking 8 weeks off for the whole year is reasonable for that.

That makes $50K for the year except that taxes/insurance/etc takes around 20% of that. Okay so $40K

Congratulations! You are very successfully self employed! *


* Remember that in this scenario, that gives you a week to create the whole suit AS WELL as pack it and mail it and talk to the customer about it and design the pattern and go out and research and buy the furs and EVERYTHING involved with the creation of a fursuit - not just the physical sewing time. (This is something commonly overlooked)

So of course most people can't actually make one fursuit a week unless they have employees or family working for them (which adds the cost of extra wages), but I'm sure it's possible somewhere if the fursuits are suitably simplistic and they have the process down to a streamlined science.

Still, this makes $40K a possible but likely high figure for a single person. $15-$35 000 (the low end if you are still in the first few years of starting out ** and do not have the experience and connections yet and the higher end if you are a good business person and a hard/smart worker/have no other life) are much more realistic expectations.


** Rule of thumb with any small business is to not expect to turn any profit for 3 years.


---


What this means it that your professional fursuit artist (aka does this for a living/does this as a very serious hobby) makes around $10-$20/hour.

But with no sick time/paid leave/social security/medical insurance. All of those things have to be paid out of pocket. And forget about cashing in a little extra on overtime or a Christmas bonus.

You also have to pay out of pocket for web design/advertising/office expenses such as paper and ink and pencils/etc. and all of those other things that an employee of a company does not have to worry about.

--

As an aside, something else to consider is that being freelance means you get in income very randomly and in spurts (not in a biweekly cheque but thousands one month and then nothing at all for the next 3). So you have to be good at managing and budgeting it to make sure you will have money to pay your expenses/buy supplies even when you have no income coming in.

This can be a huge issue for some people who take all these deposits right off the bat, get a bunch of gleaming dollar signs in their eyes and then spend it on living and have NOTHING when it comes time to actually make and deliver the product. So they take in more commissions to pay for the first ones (creating a pyramid scheme) and eventually (usually very quickly) crash and burn and disappear.

Crossposted from my Tumblr http://beetlefursuits.tumblr.com/



Why No Quotes?
Although no one has specifically asked me why I refuse to give out quotes unless my queue is open, I do have four reasons ^_^ (so it’s not just me being a dick)


1) My prices flucuate/I do not have my price list memorized

If you waylay me on the street and want to know the price of something, I may not actually know. I change and adjust my hard copy price list all of the time based upon new information or new studies and so there are so many figure running around my brain that may or my not be relevant.


2) It takes a lot of time

Looking down at a price list and totalling up the prices sounds quick and easy but it’s really not. There are SO MANY variables in each project that it’s a bit of a job figuring out exactly what they want as most people just throw a reference sheet at you and ask what would it cost

“Well this reference shows the character is plantigrade but do you want digitigrade? Do you want padding other places? Do you want me to use fake fur or wefted hair or specialty long fur in this place? These tattoo will add a lot to the cost so do you want to keep them or remove them? Do you want really realistic or kinda more toony?”

It takes a lot of emailing to sus out exactly what it is the potential client wants. Then when I know that I have to figure out what everything will cost me in materials and in time and make an appropriate figure (usually with a few variables such as a different total for just a head, a partial, and a fullsuit).

To do this for people who I know are possibly not even really interested but just looking around (but if I do it for one I have to do it for all) is not really possible. I would have no time for anything else.


3) It’s tacky to spill what my customers paid for their suits

Many of the requests I receive are “what does this suit cost” with a gallery link. I’m a pretty big proponent of client - artist confidentiality.

I do not talk about anyone that has entered into a contract with me in specifics to anyone else (general things like “they were a pleasure to work with” are fine). The way I see it, if an artist gets a reputation for dishing the dirt on their clients, that will not make past/future cliants very happy or comfortable. And it’s just one of those thing I would feel very uncomfortable doing. So I don’t.


4) If you have to ask, you can’t afford it

I say this in jest but there’s a lot of truth involved. Basically, if a person is price hunting, they may as well just go somewhere else and not waste both of our’s time.

Although I am not the most expensive person out there, I always try to make sure I’m near the top. If I see a reason to raise my prices then I do it. Aside from my firm belief of that I am “just that good”, higher prices afford me more time to spend on making a better built awesomer looking costume which is what I want and what I believe my target market wants too.

Far from sitting on piles of cash, you can rest assured that I watch this stuff very carefully (I do a $/hour calculation goal) and always only charge what i am worth (head prices for instance have taken a hike upwards recently as I get more intricate (read: time consuming) and confident in my abilities with making everything perfectly done).

The customers I want are the folks who want MY style and just want to know the price so they know how much to sock away. But if low price is a real deciding factor in if you get the suit or not then maybe we are not the right fit for each other :p

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Pricing info is always available in my FAQ:

http://www.10267.a.hostable.me/faq/#Buy

but Here are some ballpark average prices for my next queue opening (so not necessarily the average prices paid during my last queue opening):

Full costume: $2700-$3200

Partial costume: $1400-$1600

Heads only: $950-$1200

So making real plans to attend FurFright this year because I've always wanted to and certain people just go on and on about how great it is all the time (years!) ^^ I kinda wanna do something cool for halloween/my birthday and I've never been there yet and we figure we can get there on frequent flyer miles so.. yeah! East coast Rainfurrest I see you!

Edit:

(Decided I made an error in judgement in writing this entry when I was upset. I'm moving it to my LJ for now and will rewrite it with a clear head later... just please in the future I really like to have differences of opinion discussed in private rather than public where in the heat of the moment I feel I have to damage control when really it doesn't matter.)

New video up! This one is of me slush casting a resin mask :D This is only one example of how I did one single mask so please use what works for you. I made the video to be more entertaining to watch than to use as a bookmarked tutorial.

http://youtu.be/QvW2ytWKEus

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3239472/


A neat journal entry by  matrices where she discusses possible disconnects between fursuit building speed and quality. I admit I am reposting mostly so I can quote the following:

Examine also the time span from between when the artist finished the piece, and has listed it for sale. Did they give themselves any time to examine the piece [....] Or did they put it immediately for sale. Essentially shouting DONE! And slamming their glue guns on their desk and raising their hands from it.

Because the imagery of the last sentence makes me lol so hard. "aaannd.. TIME!! GLUE GUNS DOWN!! Back away from the table!"

Jillcostumes had a great idea in explaining how she makes her suits and thus inspired me to do the same sort of disclosure ^_^

You can ask questions in the comments but this is not a tutorial :p Just an explanation.

I also have to caveat that with my slow turn around time I tend to improve from suit to suit perhaps a little more than some other artists (as I may learn more in the extended time in-between suits). So I will give my build style as of this moment - it might not be the same as it was a year ago.

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I slush cast a resin mask from a mold of a head that I had sculpted earlier. If there is no mold suitable (which is very often) then I sculpt a totally new one from scratch, mold it and cast it.

I hinge the mask and cut out the eye holes/cut apart the mouth/etc. I paint some eyes. I sew a balaclava.

I attach the mask to the balaclava and add elastic to make it fit tighter so the moving jaw can work then add in the eyes and nose and line the inside of the mouth and adjust the head until the jaw works correctly. Eyelids and lips may go in now or they may go in after the foaming step.

The next step is to add foam to the mask and the back of the head to make it the shape of the animal/character that I really want. I also sculpt the ears. So even when using the same mask mold, it is primarily to just give me an anchoring point for the face and foam and easily make room inside the mask to breathe (which can be hard in an all foam head). Each character is sculpted as an individual.

When I am happy, I tape the whole head and use that the pattern out my markings and cut my fur. The fur is sewn together then glued down to the head. Some parts are handsewed after they are glued down.

The head is trimmed. Teeth are added. I make sure the jaw can still move correctly and I airbrush it and detail it (I might change some fur out or add fuzzy tufts or whatever to get the look I want). The neck is adjusted or added and I sew the balaclava edge to the neck edge on the inside so it is easy to put on and looks clean. A tongue usually gets added last.

I usually make the head first so that I can let it sit and stare at me for a while and I can decide if it is indeed correct or not. If not then I can adjust it.

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Hands are machine sewn with either fleece or latex pawpads. They are usually oversized so that they look good with the full costume but I avoid the 'floppy fingers' syndrome. Claws are cast from mold I sculpted myself. I do not outsource ANY of my 'fursuit pieces' but it is all made by me to fit my own style. I have no issue with outsourcing but I just prefer to not have to bend towards what someone else is offering ^^

Feet are are machine sewn and 100% made from scratch (no slippers or shoes) and made to be comfortable and fit tight without risking being too small (since I have rather bad feet myself I'm picky on this footpaw aspect and I'm always trying to make them better). Feet with have a parade sole or a parade sole with latex pads. I do not make indoor feet because I do not want to encourage my clients to need to wear fursuit sandals >< I would rather the costume get out and about and worn often like it was intended!

Bodysuits are machine sewn with a straight stitch then I zig-zag over the seam again after I pick the fur and trim them. I try to leave the major seams (one down each side and the back) a little larger so there is room for alterations. The padding is made from carved foam and lined with fleece on the outside so it is soft and comfortable and there is no exposed foam (I'm allergic to foam so I assume others are too XD). I sew in some padding and leave larger pieces removable for washing and storing. I do not build my padding on an undersuit because I do not like the 'sagging skin' aspect that can arise when not pairing it with stretch fur.

Tails are machine sewn and often have a carved foam core. it depends on the tail! I like to make tails oversized to fit the size of the bodysuit (like I do paws) so they are almost never attached to the bodysuit directly unless they are tiny because that is really really hard on a bodysuit and makes it stretch then wrinkle in unappealing ways.

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I think that's most of the pieces. I hope this helps to explain a little when i build a costume for you how it will be done and why it is done that way :D That said I am always learning! And I expect that every costume I make to be better than the last ^_^ And if there are ANY problems at ALL, you can always mention them to me and I will do my best to fix them.

The is a tablet in my near future but as much as I have always wanted one I do not know anything about them -_- I want it for uh.. drawing. (I have never tried drawing on a tablet in my life so not sure where to start there) So I guess pressure sensitivity and size is the most important? I don't want an expensive beast but I worry about getting one that is too small to use easily.

So since this has worked so well in the past and you are a particularly learned crowd on this subject, I am asking for some word-of-mouth reviews!

What do you have and use and love!?

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Given a choice I think I would rather spend a little bit extra on something that has all of the functionality required for really sleek professional drawings. So that my own skill can hold me back rather than the technology heh.


EDIT: THANKS EVERYONE! I decided to go with a Intuos 4 due to all of the happy reviews and no negative ones. My understanding is that it is currently in the mail (they are up on Amazon for a pretty decent price right now) ^_^ So now I just have to decide what is the first thing I want to draw on it ;D