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Belladonna Dolls
doll_shop
04 March 2007 @ 06:02 am
Frequently Asked Questions  
It's not like there a whole bunch of these so far, but there are a couple, so let's go ahead and get them out of the way.



1. Q: Can you make a doll that looks like [fill in the blank]?

A: Probably! In any case, it never hurts to ask. But you should know that the best dolls are of characters/people whose appearance is iconic somehow. You know--they have a distinctive scar, or they wear a uniform, or use a cane or something. Still, I can work with anything based on a detailed description and/or photograph.


2. Q: How much does it cost to commission a doll?

A: This may change if I ever become insanely busy, but at the moment there is no extra charge for commissions. Just let me know what you want, and I'm happy to make it.

Please don't ask me to make a doll and then not buy it, though. That's rude.


3. Q: Do you ship internationally?

A: Yup! But I can only accept payment in U.S. currency. I realize having to get money changed is a pain in le derrier, but if you get a PayPal account, you can avoid that problem.


4. Q: Do you take PayPal/checks/cash?

A: Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: I prefer to make all financial transactions over PayPal. It's safe and fast. You don't have to have an account with PayPal to send money with them, but getting an account makes things easier, and it's free. When you go to send money over PayPal, you will be asked for my email address, which is hey.branwyn@gmail.com. If you live anywhere other than the U.S. please remember to send your PayPal payment in U.S. currency. PayPal will do the conversion for you, so you can see what the difference is before you send.

I only take checks from people I've known for awhile, or who are vouched for by people I know and trust.

You are welcome to pay in cash, but you do so at your own risk. People have been known to lose money through the mail before. However, I will say this has never happened to anyone who's bought a doll from me so far. I think it helps if you conceal it in an old greeting card or folded in a thick sheet of paper, or stuck in the pages of an old book, but this is no guarantee, and I can't accept responsibility for the fate of money that goes astray in the post. Email me if this is your preferred payment method, and I will send you my mailing address.


5. Q: Do you use patterns? How do you make X kind of doll?

A: For the heads of the sculpted dolls, I use the pattern provided for the nineteen inch Geisha doll over at the Runo Dollmaker site. As far as everything else goes, I make my own patterns.

A little while ago I did a How To Make A Doll post, which shows (with pictures) how I put together my sculpted dolls. At some point I may do one for my felt dolls, but frankly all you really need to do is look at the pictures---it's pretty self explanatory!




If you've got a question for me, please leave a comment on this post, or e-mail me.
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Jules: Catnip Vs Vodka[info]theriversdream on November 27th, 2007 11:29 pm (UTC)
Sorry to be such a pain but I was just insanely curious as to how the Sixth Doctor and Peri are coming along? Also would be possible for you to start on my Phantom doll now? I would like a large ragdoll of him (I believe they are $80 yes? With $10 for shipping?) and would you need any pictures? Payment for him would be made on the 10th December and if you like you can start on him then just to make sure that I do cough up. ;-)

Thank you ever so much, and I am insanely excited to receive your ever so adorable dolls soon!


(I don't know whether or not you're gonna get two emails to your email account cause gmail is saying "no such user" which makes me think they haven't got through to you, but if they have and you see the above three times. I'm so sorry!)

I hope that made sense!
A good grammarian can outwit any word.: [btvs] buffy in faith's nightmare[info]cesario on November 28th, 2007 12:25 am (UTC)
I only got the message once. :-) And Six, Peri, and the teacup doll were put into the mail on Friday, so look for them soon. I can't estimate when they'll get there exactly because postal routes vary so much, but I expect you should see them by the end of this week or early the next.

And I'd be happy to start your Phantom doll, and you're correct about the price. Be specific about what you want him to look like---the last one I made (felt style), the customer told me she wanted Leroux's Phantom, not Andrew Lloyd Webbers. Do you have any like preferences?
Jules: PotO: Our Strange Duet (Boat)[info]theriversdream on November 28th, 2007 04:15 pm (UTC)
Yay! I find that I get mail from the US very fast so hopefully they should be here by next week!

As much as I love Leroux Erik I would love a Webber Erik (the musical version not the movie.) Like the guy in the icon *points* because he is a bit detailed I will very happily pay extra if need be! Here's some pictures just in case the icon is not enough. (probably so.)

http://www.autographs.co.uk/images/F-852.jpg
http://www.theatre-musical.com/phantom/other/hughpanaro.jpg (without the hat, although I would like a hat with him, if that isn't possible then it's cool. Hatless is just as good.)

If you need any more just ask:-)

Jules: Bambi: Twitterpated[info]theriversdream on November 28th, 2007 04:21 pm (UTC)
Also, if you still have Lucy by the end of January, can I possibly have her off you? I'll pay any price you see fit to sell her at. She is so pretty! <3
A good grammarian can outwit any word.: [austen] elinor and marianne[info]cesario on November 28th, 2007 07:56 pm (UTC)
Narnia Lucy? You absolutely can. The original price for Lucy was $200.00, but the shipping to the UK is going to be...unpredictable. I'll have to let you know about that. She's not heavy exactly, but she is bulky and any box I put her in will necessarily take up from space on a freighter.

I'll get started on your Webber Phantom right away. :)
Jules: DW: To days to come (5)[info]theriversdream on November 28th, 2007 08:23 pm (UTC)
Yeah that Lucy :-) I have developed a slight obsession for dolls lately so yeah I'd love to add her to my collection! And she wouldn't be the biggest one I'd have either.

So would you still want $200.00? And it's cool about the shipping I'm used to unpredictable rates. To me American prices are fairly cheap compared to English prices so I've been buying alot of stuff from there recently so I'm used to (in some cases) to sometimes paying more for shipping then what I bought the item for.

And woah, this is me babbling lol.

Yay! For Webber!Erik
Jules: Missy Higgins: Infinity[info]theriversdream on December 5th, 2007 08:36 pm (UTC)
Just thought I'd let you know that the dolls arrived today! They just had to pick the day when I'm at work all day to arrive didn't they? lol, anyways, they are very adorable and look so small next to the Fifth Doctor! (Which is only natural I suppose seen as though he was an early doll) And Mum has cooed alot over the teacup doll.

I'll post some pictures up soon maybe, my camera's is not available at the moment :-( so it'll take a while.

Thank you!
Jules: PotO: It's Not My Birthday (Kay!Kiss)[info]theriversdream on December 10th, 2007 04:31 pm (UTC)
Just thought I'd let you know that payment can be made now for the Phantom doll, whenever you like. I was going to send it you today but I thought I'd let you know first. :-)
A good grammarian can outwit any word.: [books] Hannibal in Florence[info]cesario on December 10th, 2007 04:59 pm (UTC)
Sure! Go ahead and send it and I'll get straight to work. :-D
Jules: Kurt Hasley: The Past Is Just Practise[info]theriversdream on January 19th, 2008 02:45 am (UTC)
I was just wondering... How's Erik coming along?
A good grammarian can outwit any word.[info]cesario on January 19th, 2008 04:56 am (UTC)
Hey! Sorry, I've been meaning to email you for a couple of days. I had to halt all work during Christmas, but Erik's all done except for his hair and boots, and will probably be winging his way to you as soon as the post offices open again.
Jules: PotO: Angel of Music / Mirror[info]theriversdream on January 20th, 2008 12:43 am (UTC)
Oh yay! Cool, thank you!
(Anonymous) on April 23rd, 2008 08:48 pm (UTC)
Money Orders
Do you accept money orders as payment? (I use US Postal Money orders- more trustworthy than checks, but good for 120 days or until USPS goes out of business, whichever comes first.)
Also, can you make dolls wearing fishnet stockings? (It's because the characters normally wear fishnets...)
A good grammarian can outwit any word.[info]cesario on April 23rd, 2008 09:19 pm (UTC)
Re: Money Orders
Yes, I'm happy to take a money order (funny, I guess that should be in the FAQ but you're literally the first person to ask) and...yes, I can do a doll with fishnet stockings as long as you're prepared for some serious improvisational skills. I'm all intrigued now.
(Anonymous) on April 29th, 2008 01:55 pm (UTC)
Fishnets and other stuff
The fishnets are for the legs of a doll based on my favorite DC Comics superheroine, Zatanna. (I may ask you to make several dolls of her, including some for friends and/or their kids.)
Also, while it would involve new patterns, would you be willing/able to make stuffed K-9's (A pattern in the Doctor Who Pattern Book for a K-9 cushion would be a help for this...) or Adipose (Go to: http://community.livejournal.com/crafty_tardis/89662.html#cutid1 for an Adipose pattern.) ?
Finally, do you have the Doctor Who Pattern Book? (One of the most under-rated pieces of Who merchandise, even if it had Tegan's "Boob Tube" and didn't have Romana I's white dress.)
A good grammarian can outwit any word.[info]cesario on April 29th, 2008 03:47 pm (UTC)
Re: Fishnets and other stuff
Oooh, Zatanna! Now that's interesting. (We're talking about the Zatanna who makes an appearance in Constantine, yes?) What kind of doll are we talking about---felt, ragdoll, large or small sculpted doll?

I have never made a K-9 or Adipose before, but I would definitely be willing to give it a try. Do you want both/either, and how big are we talking?

I do not have the Doctor Who Pattern book---Who-related merchandise, esp. for old school, is hard to find in the US.

Would it be possible for you to email me to continue this conversation? I feel like I'm talking loudly on my cell phone in a crowded restaurant or something.

Edited at 2008-04-29 03:50 pm (UTC)
infiniteviking: 27[info]infiniteviking on June 14th, 2009 09:19 pm (UTC)
Hallo! I was just wondering, could my fledgling pipe-cleaner person comm ([info]character_art) affiliate with [info]doll_shop?