 The information below covers the kinds of questions I'm most often asked, as well as some info on how to care for your customs. If your question or concern is not addressed here, shoot me an email at custom@cloverflowers.com. I realize the list of questions is a bit disorganized at the moment. Someday I'll get around to putting everything into categories...or something. ;) For now, the newest additions are at the bottom. ***The #1 question I receive*** Will you make me a pony? I hate to sound heartless, but no. I don't take commissions (a commission is when you describe a pony and I make it for you). I have no plans on opening myself up to commissions from the public, either. This question is answered in more detail lower down on the page, but since I get so many emails about it, I thought it needed to be addressed more clearly. Why so many email addresses? I started out with custom_persuasion@hotmail.com, which worked all right for a while, especially since my old webhost's email options were unreliable. However, AOL has begun bouncing most of the email I send from my hotmail account. This was affecting both the update mailing list and my communication with customers. I'm also with a different webhost now, so I'm in the process of switching over to custom@cloverflowers.com. However, I also keep pittchick7@aol.com as a back-up email. It's always okay (and recommended) to CC email to that address to make sure I get it. How do you make a custom pony? Gotta be a bit more specific than that. ;D The short answer is a combination of patience, practice, aggravation, good paintbrushes and Lifetime Movies for background noise. How do you change the hair color? Dye or a reroot. Dye jobs take between five and thirty minutes; reroots take around three hours. Dyes are limited by the hair's original color, while reroots, obviously, can be any color (as long as you can find a hair source). How do you change the body color? Dye or paint. Full paint jobs are tedious and tricky, which is why I don't usually do them; dye jobs are limited by the pony's original color and condition. Dye is also affected by any glue or paint residue on the pony, and some dye jobs fade over time (please keep that in mind when buying a dyed custom from anyone -- body color can fade over the years). How do you paint symbols? I use artist-quality acrylics and small, quality brushes. And I work in thin layers. I also mix my own paint colors, for the most part. I like [insert custom name here], but someone else bought her. Will you make me one, too? I don't replicate exact designs, as I like to keep my customs unique. I like [insert custom name here]. Can I make one, too? It's better to come up with your own designs. I can't stop you from copying my design, but no self-respecting customizer would replicate customs in that manner, especially without the other customizer's permission. Why are you charging [insert price here] for this custom? / Have you raised your prices? My prices are based on the cost of materials, the individual design, the time involved, and customer demand. Reroots cost more than dye jobs, and certain special features or details can add a few dollars to the price. Any flaws with the finished piece (sometimes I'm just not happy with a detail, no matter how much I fuss with it) push the price down a little. Feel free to email me if you'd like to discuss a specific price, but understand that I don't usually bargain. Can I trade you something instead? Probably not. As a freelance writer, I'm not exactly raking in the dough. I sell customs and other toys to keep a little extra money coming in here and there. You can make an offer, but unless it's something like Hugh Jackman, please don't be offended if I decline. ;) How many customs could I get if I traded you Hugh Jackman? You could have every custom I produce from now until the day I die. You want commissions? You'd get commissions! I would create fabulous designs in your honor. Don't forget to punch air holes in Hugh's shipping box, though! ;D How could you customize a perfectly good pony? As long as Hasbro is spewing the new ponies out, I see no problem with buying extras to use as custom bait. If you have a problem with G3s being used for customs, you're welcome to empty your local store shelves of ponies and preserve as many as you wish MIB. ;) It may look like I've customized a lot of reasonably "rare" G3s (like the Minty I in my tutorial), but they were more common than dirt at the time. OMG, you customized a Minty I! I need a Minty I! Do you have an extra I could have? No. How durable are your customs? Very durable. I've dunked my customs in water, styled their hair, etc. However, I don't recommend such things -- these are one-of-a-kind custom pieces, not factory-created toys, and as such, are better suited for display than for play. Also, use common sense when displaying customs -- too much direct sunlight can fade them (just like a "normal" pony), and displaying customs so that they touch other ponies for extended periods of time can cause the transfer of dye or paint stains to the other pony (that's true of any dyed/painted customs -- always treat claims to the contrary with a healthy dose of skepticism). How do you make your customs so perfect? This one surprises me every time. My customs aren't factory-perfect, and I prefer them that way. There are still some brush strokes in the symbols, for example. I'd rather my customs look like customs. I don't want my work to look like it just rolled off the factory conveyor belt with a thousand others just like it. What custom series have you created? My favorite custom theme is Halloween, so I try to do a spooky series each year. In very early 2004 I began a series of fairy/magic-inspired ponies called the Shee (an anglicized version of the Irish term for fairies). Instead of traditional symbols, the Shee have painted wing symbols on their backs. I expanded the Shee series in 2005 with the Shee Seasons and the Masquerade series, and in 2006 with the ShadowShee. I've also done a few pairs or smaller series for other holidays or seasons. Examples from all series can (or will soon) be seen in the gallery. What's with the "background noise" category on some custom listings? That's more for my reference (and for anyone who's just curious). I almost always have the television on while I work, because I need background noise to concentrate. Sometimes I take the time to put something good in the DVD player; more often, I end up with a terrible Lifetime Movie or sitcom reruns. I think it's funny to keep track. I bought a custom, and I'm not happy with her. What should I do? Okay -- to date, I've never been asked this (and let's hope I won't ever have to go back and edit this answer, LOL). But I like to know people are happy with the customs they buy from me. I put a lot of effort into making my work durable and attractive; no custom is perfect, but I don't sell customs with major flaws (and I'm pretty picky about that sort of thing). If a custom has a more minor flaw, it'll be noted in the description or next to the price. I also post plenty of pictures, and I adjust them to make the colors as true to life as possible. Therefore, I ask that customers read the descriptions and look at the pictures before ordering a custom, and I won't automatically refund money just because someone changes their mind down the road. However, if the pony has any notable technical flaws, I will be happy to discuss a refund or free repair work. I tried to email you at the address listed on this site (custom@cloverflowers.com), and I never got a response (or the email bounced). What should I do? Certain kinds of email accounts occasionally have trouble communicating with hotmail-based accounts. If you don't hear back from my hotmail address, please write to PittChick7@aol.com (and put "custom pony" or something similar in the subject header so I can rescue it from AOL's odd spam filters). Do you take commissions? // When will you be taking commissions? // If you're not taking commissions, how come you just showcased [insert custom name here] and said it was a commission? With rare exception, commissions are not my preferred kind of custom work. Part of the inspiration for my designs comes from what I have on hand; commissions usually send me running around, looking for the right supplies. I'm also a perfectionist who finds it difficult to replicate others' designs to my satisfaction (for the same reason, I don't do too many Hasbro-inspired customs). And commissions tend to take several months, as I have to track down bait and order hair and so on. I'm way too picky about my customer service reputation to make people wait that long. To make commissions worthwhile, I'd have to price them higher than my original pieces. As for the commissions I've completed, those were agreed upon before I stopped taking new jobs. While I've enjoyed the challenges presented by the commissions I've finished, I can't say when or if I'll start taking commissions again. I occasionally collaborate on designs, but again, I'm not taking such requests at this time. How do you [insert special technique here -- gradient dye jobs, glitter/shimmer topcoats, etc]? If the trick you're looking for isn't covered in my step-by-step tutorial, it's probably not something I'm willing to explain. I don't like being tight-lipped about customizing details, but a girl's gotta keep a few secrets to herself. Certain details and techniques became staples of my finished customs only to start showing up everywhere a few months later. Honestly, customizing is so much more fun if you come up with your own ideas, rather than copying what someone else came up with. I would rather encourage other customizers to be creative and come up with their own nifty effects than walk them step-by-step through the techniques I'm already using. I bought a custom from you -- can I put her on my website? Absolutely! Just mention somewhere that I made her. A link back to this website is also appreciated but not required. You're welcome to take your own pictures or save the ones from this site, as long as I'm credited as the customizer. Can I use one of your photos of [insert custom name here] on my website? If you're not her owner, probably not. I don't allow my photos to be redistributed without my permission in that manner, so please ask first. And don't hotlink; it's rude. Always upload pictures to your own webspace. On the other hand, if the photo is of a custom you purchased, please feel free to post it on your website (as long as I'm given credit for the design somewhere). Can I resell a custom I purchased from you? I certainly can't stop you, can I? But I'd appreciate it if you'd give me the opportunity to buy the custom back first. I may or may not decide to do so, depending on the individual piece in question. If you do resell, I must insist you give me credit for the custom. Do you do restoration and/or custom repair? I'm more than happy to repair any minor problems that arise with my own customs (although I've yet to hear of any). Things can happen -- glue loosens, ribbons fray. Please contact me if you have any trouble with one of my designs, and I'll gladly discuss repairs (or help you fix it yourself). I don't do general restoration unless the pony is a part of my own collection, and I can't fix other customizers' work, because I'm more than likely unfamiliar with their techniques. Why do you spell it "Shee?" Don't you know it's really "Sidhe?" Sigh. The alternate spelling is intentional, I promise. I found the variant in my copy of Yeats' Irish Fairy and Folk Tales. "Shee" has a certain playfulness and whimsy to it, which I think fits the series quite well. I've seen fairy customs and pixie customs; I've even seen the occasional sidhe. But I've never seen any designs quite like the Shee, and the alternate spelling reflects that originality. What's wrong with nail polish? Nail polish is formulated to stay on your fingernails for a few weeks at the most (and if you have a lot of experience with polish, you know most paint jobs chip after just a few days). It's not made to last forever, so why would you want to use it on a custom you want to keep or sell? I've had a few people point out their success with nail polish on customs, but for every design that holds up for a year or two, I've seen dozens that have flaked, peeled, or become sticky. If that's a chance you want to take, be my guest, but I certainly don't recommend it. That also goes for using clear polish as a sealant. Why do you dye ponies if dye can fade? It looks better than a full-body paint job, especially on the shimmering G3s. It also allows for an even distribution of color with no brush strokes. While the risk of fading is always present, it can be lessened by displaying the custom properly. Just like factory ponies, customs should be kept away from too much direct sunlight. Any pony will fade over time when exposed to too much light. You've kept a pony on hold for someone for more than two weeks. Can I buy it? There are always exceptions to the two-week rule, and if a pony's been on hold longer than that, there's probably a good reason. I do allow certain regular customers to keep ponies on hold for longer periods, usually for the sake of combining shipping. You're welcome to inquire about an on-hold pony, but remember that her original buyer still most likely intends to complete the purchase. Why did [insert custom name here] never go up for sale? She just went straight into the not-for-sale gallery. Did you sell her to someone before officially listing her? That's not fair; I wanted a chance at her, too. Can I get sneak previews and buy customs before they're officially for sale? Some customs do go right to the display-only gallery, and there are several possible explanations. I do keep the occasional design, like The Pony from Oz. Some designs are done as gifts. However, I don't do presales. That wouldn't be fair. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but I make very few to this one. Do you have too much time on your hands or something? No. I think of customizing as a part-time job. It doesn't pay well, but it's a lot less stressful than, say, retail, especially for someone with very strong social anxiety tendencies. How come everything's already on hold? Currently, I'm listing new designs for sale on Tuesdays at 4:00 Eastern time. Some go on hold almost immediately; others stay in the sales gallery for a few hours or days. I don't really have control over whether a design goes on hold quickly. Can you change your release time? I have work/class/etc on Tuesdays. While I understand that the time won't be convenient to everyone, I'm sticking with it for now. If it proves to be a problem, I will (once again) rework my selling process. Honestly, no matter what I do, it's not going to work for everyone. I do plan on listing a few designs on Ebay now and then, as auctions are accessible to more people. What time is 4:00 Eastern where I live? Go to google.com and look up time zone converters, and you should find several sites that'll help you out. ^_^ What is [insert customizing supply/product here], and where do you buy it? Can you send me some? I am currently in the process of developing my links page to answer this very question. If I haven't listed something there yet, feel free to email me and ask, and I'll go ahead and find a link. I won't necessarily be able to tell you exactly where to buy it, but manufacturers' websites often include distributor links. Products can also be Googled. I sell customizing products and/or supplies -- will you include my link? Of course, if I've used your product and can recommend it. I won't link to products I wouldn't use on my own customs, and I can't recommend something I've never tried. I have a better method for rehairing/painting/etc. (or) You should use nail polish remover to remove symbols! (or) Why don't you use that rerooting tool when you're rehairing ponies? I'm always a little surprised when people email me and tell me they have a better way of doing something. Unless your technique is truly, monumentally original, I've probably already heard of it. Different things work well for different people, but my methods are tried-and-true for me, and I am unlikely to switch. |