So I've been really busy with my regular life, and haven't been able to spend much time on my doll designs.
I've decided a some things since last year:
1) I will only be designing 1 female body and 1 female head to begin with. If I successfully make that doll, I will made different faces for her. After a few faces, I will make a male doll and a few faces. I just want to make sure I focus in on one thing at a time.
2) My dolls, to enhance their "Chimera" attribute of interchangable parts, will have faceplates and easily removable heads. Much like those used in the Doll Fairyland MiniFee line. However, I'm designing my own head/face fixture mechanism to try to streamline it.
3) My dolls will also have extra joint peices in the elbows and knees like the MiniFee line, so that bent arms and legs look more realistic and less boxy.
4) I will be postponing making accessories (ears/tails/horns/etc) until I have finished at least 3D modeling the doll. I want to stay focussed. However, I will be producing accessories/weapons for dolls at a later date! So if you have suggestions of items you'd like to see for your doll, please do post them.
5) Not only will my dolls have faceplates, but they will have exchangeable ears. Though this WILL create an extra seam, right around their ear, I believe that it will allow an extra bit of customization with no extra cost. So: When a customer orders a head they get to pick a face and an ear style. And if they ever want a different ear style, they only have to buy new ears. This will also make it so I don't have to have molds for EVERY head type with EVERY ear type.
6) I've decided that my dolls will have a 3 part torso. One for the shoulders, one for the abdomen, and one for the hips. This will make them easier to make molds of, and also add extra posability.
I've also done a cost analasys of how much it will cost me to make a doll, materials wise. There is some math involved, but as you can see, I rounded up quite bit. Rounded up for error, of course. I am still waiting on about how much aluminum powder and porcelain powder I would need per doll.
So yeah, these calculations bellow show that, not counting initial investment in materials for making molds, labor time for design or production, advertisement, shipping postage, space rental for production, licensing for a business, or online posting fees, it will cost almost $100 to make a doll. Doing this chart really gave me an appreciation for how high quality these dolls are (and yes, the materials I want to use are the exact same, if not higher quality, as those in the popular LUTS or Doll Fairyland dolls). Oh, and these calculations are for a roughly 17" doll. So a larger doll.
Painting
-Faceup: $1
-Body Blush: $1
-Tattoos: $1
- Sealant: $2
Total: $5 for full blushing/faceup
Eyes
-Eyes beads: $2 (2 beads)
-Eyes color: $1
-Eyes glue: $.25
-Eyes glaze: $.25
Total: $3.50
Doll
Doll Weight: 800g = 29 ounces
1 gallon of resin (128 ounces = 4 dolls): $150
Resin Per Doll: $40
Porcelain Powder: 16oz = $15
Porcelain Powder ratio:
Mesh Atomized Aluminum Powder: 16oz = $15
Aluminum Powder ratio:
Resin Dyes: $2 per doll
Magnets: $1 per magnet
Magnets per doll: 10 = $10
Total: $(53) – need price of porcelain powder and aluminum powder.
Preparation
Sand paper for seams. 1 sheet of each type per doll.
400 grit – 44cents per sheet.
1000 grit – 30cents per sheet.
Total: $1
Shipping Materials
1 box: 40cents
Bubble wrap: 1/2yrd = 50cents
Fabric: 1/2yrd = $3
Total: $5
Miscellaneous/Overage/Extra Materials:
-Such as glue stick use, brush cleaning, etc.: $5
Total: $5
GRAND TOTAL:
$(77)
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Friday, March 25, 2011
Business Stuff
Sorry not to update for a while :) I've been a bit busy with my day job, and trying to find a NEW day job lol.
But I have done some work! I finally bought my business license for GoFigure. It's now called GoFigure L.L.C (limited liability company). As well as my trade name, which is the same GoFigure L.L.C.. And the last thing I got was my EIN, for tax purposes. Now I just need to know if I have to acquire a sales tax license from the state.
In case you forgot, GoFigure is the name for my overarching artistic business. It's the company name I'll use to sell and tax my commissions, my cat figurines (found here:http://www.etsy.com/people/DancingFatCats?ref=si_pr ) and the company I'll use to sell/tax my dolls. Chimera will simply be the name of the line of dolls :)
My next step is to open a bank account for the business, and put what little I have in it. Then, finish all the money charts for the business proposal, and see if I can get my boyfriend's father to invest in my small business. I've done the math, and I need less than 8k to get all of the advertising for one year, and a bunch of materials that should last for the first year (unless sales skyrocket, which I highly doubt). Which is apparently not much for starting a small business. So here's hoping!
But I have done some work! I finally bought my business license for GoFigure. It's now called GoFigure L.L.C (limited liability company). As well as my trade name, which is the same GoFigure L.L.C.. And the last thing I got was my EIN, for tax purposes. Now I just need to know if I have to acquire a sales tax license from the state.
In case you forgot, GoFigure is the name for my overarching artistic business. It's the company name I'll use to sell and tax my commissions, my cat figurines (found here:http://www.etsy.com/people/DancingFatCats?ref=si_pr ) and the company I'll use to sell/tax my dolls. Chimera will simply be the name of the line of dolls :)
My next step is to open a bank account for the business, and put what little I have in it. Then, finish all the money charts for the business proposal, and see if I can get my boyfriend's father to invest in my small business. I've done the math, and I need less than 8k to get all of the advertising for one year, and a bunch of materials that should last for the first year (unless sales skyrocket, which I highly doubt). Which is apparently not much for starting a small business. So here's hoping!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Etsy and DA and Other Accounts
I have created an Etsy and a Deviant Art account specifically for the Chimera line. Here are links to them :) I will be adding stuff to the shop as soon as I start production, and will upload previews of my work on DA.
Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/people/ChimeraBJD?ref=si_pr
DA:
http://chimerabjd.deviantart.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/ChimeraBJD
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chimera-BJD-and-BJD-Accessories/151922828201228?created&sk=wall
I also made an email specifically for Chimera :) If you want to be added to the "newsletter" type list, please email ChimeraBJD@Gmail.com and I will add you! I will use this newsletter to inform people when the blog/DA have been updated, and when new items/promotions are available in the shop.
Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/people/ChimeraBJD?ref=si_pr
DA:
http://chimerabjd.deviantart.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/ChimeraBJD
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chimera-BJD-and-BJD-Accessories/151922828201228?created&sk=wall
I also made an email specifically for Chimera :) If you want to be added to the "newsletter" type list, please email ChimeraBJD@Gmail.com and I will add you! I will use this newsletter to inform people when the blog/DA have been updated, and when new items/promotions are available in the shop.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Horn Designs
I spent about an hour fiddling around and creating some simple horn designs for my accessories. I haven't modeled in where the magnets will go yet because I don't remember how to make these things to real life scale yet, I'm just designing them.
I've decided that when I get my tax return I will be spending it on starting to produce these things. As well as invest in pastels and stuff for learning how to do faceups. :)
There will, of course, be more cool horns in the future. I want to definitely make deer and elk horns, as well as ram and more fantasy-curly ones. Those I might do by hand, though.
Anywho, just felt like sharing.
I've decided that when I get my tax return I will be spending it on starting to produce these things. As well as invest in pastels and stuff for learning how to do faceups. :)
There will, of course, be more cool horns in the future. I want to definitely make deer and elk horns, as well as ram and more fantasy-curly ones. Those I might do by hand, though.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Designing: Cat Ear 1
I decided that I wanted to do something for the Chimera project today, but didn't feel like attempting to model a head or body x.x So I made this ear instead.
This will be one of the cat ears I will offer. I just need to add the hole in the bottom for the magnet. I plan to offer other ears that don't have the fluff, but I like the fluff.
So the next step for this ear would be finding out exactly how big it should be and scaling it to the right size. As well as finding out the dimensions of the magnets I'll be using, so I can create a proper hole for them.
*edit* I just added a pic with the ear stuck on a face that I modeled about a year ago. Just to get a visual of it.
That's it for today. Sorry for not having a bigger update ^^;
This will be one of the cat ears I will offer. I just need to add the hole in the bottom for the magnet. I plan to offer other ears that don't have the fluff, but I like the fluff.
So the next step for this ear would be finding out exactly how big it should be and scaling it to the right size. As well as finding out the dimensions of the magnets I'll be using, so I can create a proper hole for them.
*edit* I just added a pic with the ear stuck on a face that I modeled about a year ago. Just to get a visual of it.
That's it for today. Sorry for not having a bigger update ^^;
Friday, February 25, 2011
Step 2: Designing My Product
Attached are sketches that I've done to design how my doll will work, and what sort of interchangeable parts I want to offer. I am still considering whether or not to have a 3 part torso.
All parts will come in caucasian, native american, asian and african skin tones. Special parts, like the mermaid or animal legs, may come in artificial looking colors like purple or blue.
Hands, feet, and attachments such as horns, wings or tails will be secured to the doll with magnets. They will come in a few base colors. (Except feet, which will come in the same colors as the normal body parts.
My faces are pretty generic looking right now, I plan to develop them more in the actual modeling stage. For now I'll just point out that I have a hawaiian/pacific islander face shape that I am developing, a long/skinny caucasian face, a continental asian face, and a mixed race face for females. Males have only three faces right now, because I need to do more research on racial features for males.
Body part options I'd like to develop in the future: Lizards, dragon people, small-bird feet (like a robin or a finch), cat paws/feet, dog paws/feet, centaur bodies.
I am also attaching some basic color samples for the eyes that I will be making. Customers can request an eye color they want to come with their doll, or leave it up to me. Eyes will be acrylic beads with alterations to add the iris. Since I will be printing the iris off my computer, I will be offering custom eyes for customers for a little extra. The no pupil and symbol eyes can come in any color. I just didn't feel like making every color for them.
The joints shown for my doll are all just rough sketches and preliminary ideas. I am still fiddling around with how exactly to shape the joint to make it look most appealing. I am also pondering how exactly to make the head work, and if I want faceplates or solid heads. Face plates would provide more customizability, but they are less secure than just regular heads. So we'll see.
If I do faceplates they will all be attachable to the same back-head-piece, and each will come in the three different ear types (human, vampire, elf), and three different basic expressions (happy, sad, nuetral). More facial expressions will be available in the future, I'm just not bothering with them right now. Also, I am wondering if people would want a head type that has no ears, so that they can attach the animal ears instead?
Lastly, you can see some of the thinking sketches I did for the mermaid tail. I am considering making the torso 3 parts so that I can sell an option part for the bottom 3rd that would be colored to match the mermaid tail attachment. But anyway, as you can see, the mermaid tail will be attached like legs. However, those spheres will not be the joints. Those wouldn't work, they'd make the tail look all blocky. I've settled on a better method, which would enable the tail to look smoother when bent.
Please feel free to post any suggestions in the comments :)
All parts will come in caucasian, native american, asian and african skin tones. Special parts, like the mermaid or animal legs, may come in artificial looking colors like purple or blue.
Hands, feet, and attachments such as horns, wings or tails will be secured to the doll with magnets. They will come in a few base colors. (Except feet, which will come in the same colors as the normal body parts.
My faces are pretty generic looking right now, I plan to develop them more in the actual modeling stage. For now I'll just point out that I have a hawaiian/pacific islander face shape that I am developing, a long/skinny caucasian face, a continental asian face, and a mixed race face for females. Males have only three faces right now, because I need to do more research on racial features for males.
Body part options I'd like to develop in the future: Lizards, dragon people, small-bird feet (like a robin or a finch), cat paws/feet, dog paws/feet, centaur bodies.
I am also attaching some basic color samples for the eyes that I will be making. Customers can request an eye color they want to come with their doll, or leave it up to me. Eyes will be acrylic beads with alterations to add the iris. Since I will be printing the iris off my computer, I will be offering custom eyes for customers for a little extra. The no pupil and symbol eyes can come in any color. I just didn't feel like making every color for them.
The joints shown for my doll are all just rough sketches and preliminary ideas. I am still fiddling around with how exactly to shape the joint to make it look most appealing. I am also pondering how exactly to make the head work, and if I want faceplates or solid heads. Face plates would provide more customizability, but they are less secure than just regular heads. So we'll see.
If I do faceplates they will all be attachable to the same back-head-piece, and each will come in the three different ear types (human, vampire, elf), and three different basic expressions (happy, sad, nuetral). More facial expressions will be available in the future, I'm just not bothering with them right now. Also, I am wondering if people would want a head type that has no ears, so that they can attach the animal ears instead?
Lastly, you can see some of the thinking sketches I did for the mermaid tail. I am considering making the torso 3 parts so that I can sell an option part for the bottom 3rd that would be colored to match the mermaid tail attachment. But anyway, as you can see, the mermaid tail will be attached like legs. However, those spheres will not be the joints. Those wouldn't work, they'd make the tail look all blocky. I've settled on a better method, which would enable the tail to look smoother when bent.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Step 1: Concept of Company
How did I decide to start making my own line of customizable ball joint dolls? Well, I guess the creative seed was planted in my high school years, when my group of Anime friends first introduced me to Asian ball joint dolls. ABJDs are so beautiful, so elegant... The girl in me just fell in love with them. About 7 years later I have found myself with decent sculpting talent, knowledge of modeling in 3D and with ambition to start my own business. I started selling small kitty sculptures that I've dubbed "Krispy Kitties," and decided to challenge myself more.
As a fan of ABJDs, searching through the various options from Asia, I've found that I want more. I want more options, more interchangability, more ethnicities, more fantasy. I want a functioning, pretty, mermaid tail. And I figured, hey, if I want these things other people probably do too. After reading a ton of forum posts I realized that yeah, other people do.
Then I realized that most BJD companies (and by far the most popular and highest quality) are in Asia. The distance causes long time delays and communication problems for customers. So many users on online forums like Den of Angels or Resinality have complained about 5 months of waiting for a doll, or miss-communicated orders. When really... After the initial prototype and mold, I could probably produce a high quality Asian themed ball joint doll (with body blushing and face up) in as little as three working days. With in-country shipping, and limited "open order" periods, I could get dolls to their owners within a few weeks of their order, rather than months.
Then I thought, hey, you know what would be better than a ball joint doll merely sold in America? A ball joint doll sold in America, made of American materials from American suppliers. Not only will Chimera offer customers cheaper shipping and great customer service, but it will give them the pride of knowing that their money has gone right back into the American economy. I've researched 3D printing services, urethane resin production companies, magnet companies, and doll material companies that produce their wares in America. And, as my business starts up, I will be using the American company "Etsy" to sell my products online. In a suffering economy, it's important that our national currency circulates.My hope is that one day Chimera will get big enough that I can hire a team, enabling me to contribute more to our economic recovery by creating a few more jobs.
Now I have come to the point where I must sit down and design how my dolls will work. I've decided on the use of magnets, which seem to be popular right now. As well as "double" joints. I have sketches of my designs on paper, which I will upload for the next post.
Chimera will offer the following BJD related items:
-Female heads/body types.
-Male heads/body types.
-Fantasy/Animal themed variations of the above.
-Hand made, custom eyes.
-Ear/tail/horn/wing magnetic attachments for dolls.
-Face ups, Body Blushing, Tattoos and Manicures.
-Possibly: BJD jewelry/clothing/accessories.
Throughout this process I would be more than happy to receive critique of my designs, or suggestions for what other BJD fans want to see me make. Please feel free to post your critiques or suggestions in the comments of these posts :)
As a fan of ABJDs, searching through the various options from Asia, I've found that I want more. I want more options, more interchangability, more ethnicities, more fantasy. I want a functioning, pretty, mermaid tail. And I figured, hey, if I want these things other people probably do too. After reading a ton of forum posts I realized that yeah, other people do.
Then I realized that most BJD companies (and by far the most popular and highest quality) are in Asia. The distance causes long time delays and communication problems for customers. So many users on online forums like Den of Angels or Resinality have complained about 5 months of waiting for a doll, or miss-communicated orders. When really... After the initial prototype and mold, I could probably produce a high quality Asian themed ball joint doll (with body blushing and face up) in as little as three working days. With in-country shipping, and limited "open order" periods, I could get dolls to their owners within a few weeks of their order, rather than months.
Then I thought, hey, you know what would be better than a ball joint doll merely sold in America? A ball joint doll sold in America, made of American materials from American suppliers. Not only will Chimera offer customers cheaper shipping and great customer service, but it will give them the pride of knowing that their money has gone right back into the American economy. I've researched 3D printing services, urethane resin production companies, magnet companies, and doll material companies that produce their wares in America. And, as my business starts up, I will be using the American company "Etsy" to sell my products online. In a suffering economy, it's important that our national currency circulates.My hope is that one day Chimera will get big enough that I can hire a team, enabling me to contribute more to our economic recovery by creating a few more jobs.
Now I have come to the point where I must sit down and design how my dolls will work. I've decided on the use of magnets, which seem to be popular right now. As well as "double" joints. I have sketches of my designs on paper, which I will upload for the next post.
Chimera will offer the following BJD related items:
-Female heads/body types.
-Male heads/body types.
-Fantasy/Animal themed variations of the above.
-Hand made, custom eyes.
-Ear/tail/horn/wing magnetic attachments for dolls.
-Face ups, Body Blushing, Tattoos and Manicures.
-Possibly: BJD jewelry/clothing/accessories.
Throughout this process I would be more than happy to receive critique of my designs, or suggestions for what other BJD fans want to see me make. Please feel free to post your critiques or suggestions in the comments of these posts :)
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