Your Input On A Project Is Sought

[kiyakotari]

If you read this journal, you probably know about Ǝrəšiš, my custom creation. A LOT of hours of work went into making this girl. She was created for the 2011 Uncanny Dreams doll art show in Seattle, WA, as one of my display pieces. I hand-worked every part of her. Of all of my dolls, she is truly "mine."



Since then, she has been incorporated into the sign for my Innamorata Eyes display when I attend conventions as a vendor.



I've had many people approach me and ask to purchase her, both at the conventions and online. Of course, she isn't for sale, and never will be. I'm very attached to her. In fact, she even has more than one mirror! (So that she can "change outfits," so to speak.)

However, spurred on by how many people love her, I've recently decided to make a second mirror ABJD and offer it for sale. I have already acquired the mirror that I am going to use, and it is gorgeous - heavy, solid metal, and brass-plated, with an ornate border and beveled glass.

My dilemma in this project is threefold:

1) I'm torn on whether I should offer this as a complete custom doll, made to someone's specifications (up to a point - I would, for instance, be willing to incorporate a head that they already own, if it were compatible with one of the bodies that I have here to work with, but would not go on a hunt for specific head XYZ if they wanted it), similar to how I made Ǝrəšiš for myself (eyes made to their specifications, wig made or customized to their desires, jewelry made based on their suggestions, etc), or whether I should simply make a doll that follows my own vision.

2) If I do make a doll that follows my own vision, rather than allowing input from the person who will eventually own it, should I make it male or female? I have the parts here for both, and both would be equally fun and challenging for me.

3) And finally, if I follow option number two, and make the doll without any input from the future owner, should I make it as a full custom (wig, custom urethane Innamorata Eyes, possible outfit/adornments, and head with faceup), or should I let the person who eventually owns it choose their own head (perhaps a floating head that they already own), and just make the body/adornments/perhaps wig, and perhaps offer Innamorata Eyes of their choice with it?

I'm really not sure which of these would be best. All of them could be very enjoyable for me. I really just want to make sure that whoever ends up bringing this doll home will love how it turns out, because I will probably never make another mirror doll again - they just take too much work. I'm trying to figure out which one of the permutations above would best ensure that.

Comments

[just_lori]

People are crazy and hard to deal with. Don't take their input and do it to specs, they will never be happy. Make a FULL custom with all your hard work and love, and make it so you almost *can't* give it up. Then put it up for auction. It is fairest and least crazymaking way. :)

[dharma_slut]

Imma say "What Lori said."

Also, I think that people seeing your creation will fall in love with what is already there-- look at viewers' reactions to Ǝrəšiš for proof! If not-- they wouldn't be buying it. You're not selling a basic doll here.

[nagasvoice]

Agreeing with lori and dharma here.
The other possibility is to set up degrees of custom levels, and see how far you want to take it in stages.
Some ideas you must carry out the whole thing to make it work. Others, there can be gradual changes, allowing for changes in faceup or eyes or etc. It could be a design where, if you get busy on other things, you can stop and offer it for sale at whatever stage of progress you've got to.
Start off with a more generic doll that they can choose to customize with eyes, wigs, etc.
then progressing through more detailed things like body mods, faceup and then eyes and wig.
I can't help you decide whether what you've got for a male or female would be more fun for you to work on, or more likely to sell. Given the dollery's bias toward male dolls, that's a consideration. However, the mirror doll being female has stronger echoes of Gothick stories, of things like ghostliness, fragility, delicacy. That's part of the shock with Eresis, she comes across as very tangible and solid, a persona that is very present. I'd guess the two ideas might go off in different directions, so assessing which you'd like to do more is up to you.
Nothing to stop you from trying another one later if you really want to.

[shipwreck_light]

My thoughts on the issue would be that since the audience for Mirror People is fairly concentrated, making the doll to someone else's specifications might result in a more readily saleable project.

That said, I'm sure said audience would gobble up someone else from the House of Kiya because YOUR VISION RULES.

I would do a guy, because then? You have a species. Sort of XD.