Red Dragon Prop Design

New projects are taking over our house, computers and minds.  There are so many things we want to make and so little time to do it in.  We have to sit down and decide on the conventions that we are going to attend in the end of 2012 and all of 2013.  Anyone have any ideas or requests from us? 

Otafest Aurora is coming up in December and only a short 2 hour drive away. . . might have to consider it, that is if we have a full table of stock! 

So one new project is exciting.  I got a beautiful fuzzy blue inspiration for it! Kijiji rocks!

The other new project I got an awesome mini version that i might just make in the mini version.  Love Halloween stores!

So playing games on facebook is not all bad.  While playing I came up with a new idea that I am really excited about trying out.  It won't be easy or cheap by any means but the finished products could potentially be my first own custom design, not based on any specific movie or show!

I have been doing a lot of research into what others who make similar styled stuff are making.  We do not step on the toes of other prop makers.  If you make them we sent people to you to get them.  There are enough different things out there that we don't have to make the same things that you make. . . unless we make it better and different enough!

We have had people requesting our items and they fully intend to just mould our work and pass it off as their own.  We spend the time carving and testing and working for weeks on a product, you do not just get to take our hard work and basically photocopy or trace our work and say it's yours. We have some very remarkable artists who work on our items who have gone to 4+ years of school to learn how to do these things . . . and school ain't cheap!  Its hard enough to prove plagarism in art work, where people can print them from online images and sell them as their own.  For someone to take our items and mould and cast and paint, the base image is still our design.  We are not above competition in the market.  It keeps us on our toes, but if you start making everything that we make because you see that they are popular and sell and you hope to make a quick buck, just remember, we were here and can show our originally carved pieces.  There are lots of shows you can choose from and can make things from different materials and details.  And the biggest thing, make the original yourself!  /rant.

Sorry, seems it was rant time.  We work hard to try and not step on any toes when it comes to what products we make.  There really is enough stuff out there we can all have fun and make money.  We just ask that people give us the same courtesy.

But back to my idea.  It means working with new materials and is wearable.  Stay tuned as I give little hints while I fine tune this idea. 

I started this blog to make more regular updates and keep everyone informed more, but then promptly forgot that it even existed.  I guess 14 hours sleep in four days is not enough to actually work on, lol.  Well, I found this again so I'm going to try and keep everyone more informed.

First I'll answer the questions that have been coming through, since more of you probably are wondering the same.

1. Why don't we have prices on the site?  You used to, but now they are gone!
• We don't price our items on the site any more because each item we make is unique to the order.  I know, we mould a lot of our items or use the same templates and patterns but that's were things start to change.  We paint some of our items with inexpensive acrylic paint, others use an oil based paint, spray paint or even gold and silver leaf paints.  Fabric types vary as well, from felt to suede to fleece to fun fur to minky.  We found that charging people the same price for the cheap stuff as the expensive wasn't fair so we are now offering our items at a per item pricing.  We make items for Cosplay, we don't mass produce these items nor do we normally keep a large stock.  You order, we make, you love.  
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2. What are you working on now?  You keep saying your working on things but never tell us what!
• We are working on new stock.  I know, still didn't answer your question.  To be honest, we like to keep some of our stock items secret until we have one finished and it's at a quality that we find acceptable.  We also like to keep our ideas from some of our competitors.  We have been making certain items for 2-3 years now and other people have started in on our products.  We want to be able to sell our items so we can continue to fill our tables at the conventions. 
  
• But to that end, we are working on My Little Pony, Power Rangers, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon and a few other little projects.  Specifics to come as we finish the projects.  MAYBE, we will start posting progress pictures, if we have enough people ask us for them. . . hint hint. . .
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3. I have a great idea for a prop, can you make it?
• Of course we can make it.  We can make anything!  The better question is WILL we make it.
• If a company is currently producing an item or the item is still availiable for purchase at a reasonable price, then no we do not make these items (ie, Pokeballs)  The companies that make these shows and games are the ones that we leave to the majority of items.  We prefer to stick with items that companies never made, no longer make, or are so pricey that they do not make good cosplay props.  Things get broken or lost at conventions, and paying $200 for a small prop or $50 for a small prop can be the difference between doing that cosplay or moving on to another, less expensive show or game cosplay.  We want everyone to be their favorite characters; we also want to bring back the older shows and games and introduce them to new generations. 
  
• So in short, if you can go buy it at a store or online for reasonable amounts, then no we won't make it. . .yet!  Wait a few years, we will be happy to make them when the companies are done making their money.
• Though, if you want a stuffy version of a pokeball that is 3-5 feet in diameter, that could be arranged.  Might even open too to hold the official pokemon stuffed toys. . . that is if you want one. . .

Well, time to move on to the next project, EMAIL us!  Seriously!  We LOVE to hear from you. 

We need to hear from you. 

Let us know what you want to see at the next convention or online or just to see if we can do it. 

We love a challenge!

Well Animethon is officially over and we have finally unpacked all our stuff from the car.  We sold out of many of our items, some we expected and others were a great surprise!  We offered many new items inspired by Legends of Zelda, Pokemon, Digimon, My Little Pony, Gurren Lagann, and many other custom items.  We also received many ideas for new items for us to make, that was great! 

But just because we are done with conventions for the year doesn't mean that we stop working.  We are hard at work deciding what to make next and what might be coming out next year that we should look into.  We also are still taking orders and are more than welcoming to getting you new items. 

I have begun revamping the website, with more pictures and more information.

Keep contacting us and join our site to get updates!

Stacey