How to order: Just send an e-mail to spark.costumes@gmail.com and let me know what you want. :) That simple! However, I highly recommend that you read the policies, procedures, and "fine print" on this page, so that you know what to expect, especially if you're ordering a large item such as a fursuit. And be aware that your order will not actually be put on my project list until you've sent at least a down payment.
I am currently accepting large commissions for completion around* July of 2010. Large commissions include fursuits, partials, heads, and large/complicated plushes.
Small commissions such as tails, ear sets, or Loonakit style plushes are always open, and usually take 2-3 weeks for completion. You can order these items at any time. Medium items such as small plushes and paws are also available, but take 6-8 weeks for completion.
And one last note: When sending payment, by paypal or by any other means, PLEASE include some information that will let me identify you. If I've been discussing a fox tail with "sexyfoxie123" and I get a check in the mail from "John Smith" I'm not going to know that these two things are related. Also "for the suit" or "for the tail" are not useful, I make a lot of suits and even more tails. Species information is helpful, your e-mail or IM name are even more helpful. :)
Now that you've read those important bits of information, read on for detailed prices and policies.
Commission Prices:
The prices given here are "standard" prices. A standard suit is made from high quality fur. It includes things like a moving jaw on the head, simple markings, etc. Standard suit work is the kind of care and quality I put into my own personal suits. Standard does not, however, include anything really strange, odd, or difficult. Contact me to get an exact quote on your suit.
All prices include shipping within the USA. International customers may have a small additional shipping fee.
Quad/Feral suit: $2,200 A quad suit is a suit designed to go on all fours like a real animal. Very difficult to wear, so be warned before ordering.
Padded full suit: Includes digitigrade legs and padded muscled or fem chest. $1,600
Painted full suit: A suit with spots, stripes, or other markings painted on the whole thing. $1,700.
Plain full suit: $1,300
Partial suit: (Head, hand and foot paws, tail.) $900
Head: (This includes moving jaw.) $550
Add realistic detailing You can have realistic detailing, all the tiny little extra things (like doing the ear rims with individual hairs rather than folding fabric over the edges to cover them) that I don't put into my standard suits, and which take a lot of extra time and effort. Add $200 to any head/partial/fullsuit price. What does realistic detail look like? Compare the heads of the Kali suit with the Flame Song suit in my personal gallery, and that should give you some idea.
Handpaws: (These are with fake leather or pawpads, sculpey claws and are shoulder high) $150. Budget paws, wrist high without claws or pawpads, $70.
Footpaws: Ankle high outdoor feet w. claws $140 Ankle high indoor feet with claws and pawpads $160.
Wings: Bat/dragon wings: $100, bird/angel wings: $150. (Wings are small, a 4-foot wingspan max. The engineering on my large wings failed, and I am not comfortable offering large wings to customers if they're just going to fall apart, so they're not available until I can figure out a better solution to the problem.)
Ears: $25
Body suits: $400
Tails: Tails run from $25 to $200, depending on the species. Most are around $50. Contact me for a quote.
Plushes: Plushes come in too many categories and have too many possible features to list them all. Contact me for a specific quote. Loonakit plushes begin at $15, and have their own page with pricing information.
Other stuff: Shaped delrin spines for tails, stand alone pieces like eyes or jawsets for suits, there are all kinds of other things available, just ask!
If you're curious about why my prices are what they are, have a look at my mini-essay on pricing. If my prices are out of your budget, but you still want something from me, and are willing to go to a little extra effort, you may be able to get something at nearly half price.
Commission policies and procedures:
First, contact me for an exact quote. Most suits will be priced exactly as listed here, but there are occasional exceptions, particularly if you want stripes, spots, or other elaborate markings.
Note: If there is a particular suit I've already created whose features or style you like, be sure to let me know. I sometimes try new methods, so if you're really fond of one of my old methods, notifying me will insure that you get your suit made the way you want. If you do not specify details, I will assume that you have no preference, and will use my own judgment.
Next, reserve your space. After we've agreed on what your suit will be like and how much it will cost, you need to reserve your commission slot by putting down a down payment. This covers my costs in buying supplies such as fur, foam, stuffing, etc., as well as my day-to-day business costs such as advertising, sewing machine repair, etc. and the time spent and work done in discussing and designing your suit. This is non-refundable. (I am flexible in how I receive payments, so to be clear, the non-refundable portion of your payments is 30% of the total cost of your item.)
Reserving your space means that I have set aside a certain amount of time to work on your project, but all completion estimates are only that, estimates. If you have an exact deadline that needs to be met, please let me know, otherwise I may move your time slot around to accommodate the needs of other customers.
Then, I sew, you make payments. If you don't choose to pay for your suit in full at the beginning, you may make payments however you choose. Your suit must be completely paid for before I will ship it out to you. (Shipping is free in the USA!)
And lastly, you enjoy your suit!
Copyright policy:
I've gotten enough questions about this that I've decided to set it down here. I will not create a costume or plush of a copyrighted design without written permission from the owner of that copyright. This means firstly that I will not be making Bugs Bunny, Disney's Robin Hood, or Pikachu. It also means that I will not be making ZigZag, or Fisk, or any other furry character, without permission from the owner of that character.
The exceptions to this rule are as follows: If a character is based off of a real species, I can do a suit of that species in a similar style. For example, there's a video game character named Chiepoo, who is an orange tabby. I did an anime styled orange tabby head for somebody that was inspired by that character. I can't do Bugs Bunny, but I can do cartoon rabbits.
Also, there are some characters whose copyrights have expired. H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu, for example, is public domain, and I am happy to make Chtulhu costumes and plushes. Likewise Lewis Carrol's Cheshire Cat is in the public domain, and I've done several costumes already based on him.
But please do not ask me to exactly copy a copyrighted character, or to copy one with only tiny changes, such as color or body jewelry. I'm not going to do it.
The fine print:
All my suits are made and stored in a smoke-free home. However, I own cats, and it is impossible to keep them out of my materials and work spaces. I am not the best choice if you are highly allergic.
I want my customers to be happy! If you have any problems with your suit, let me know. There are some things that can't be helped (eye fogging in globe style eyes, for example,) but if something isn't right and it's possible to fix, I will be happy to do so for you! If you're completely dissatisfied with the suit, or have a problem that can't be fixed, you may return the suit in new condition for a full refund, minus initial deposit. (If you've sweated in it, worn it out, or otherwise damaged it yourself, full refunds are not available. It was obviously good enough for you to wear and enjoy, and that wearing and enjoying is what you've paid for. I am quite willing to fix anything that fell apart in the first wearing though. Suits should be good for more than one use!)
Suits are costume pieces and are not meant for everyday wear. Suits are intended for stage performance only. I am not responsible for damage caused to suits, or to persons wearing suits, while running, doing acrobatics**, wrestling, or engaging in other energetic activity. I am happy to fix any problems that might result from mistakes on my part, but will not do repairs on suits that have been abused. However, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any problem with your suit! I am always looking for feedback and ways to improve, and while I don't feel it's fair for me to have to fix the results of rough-housing, if a suit immediately falls apart that is my fault and I want to know so that I can fix it and so I can improve my future suits. The satisfaction of my customers is very important to me.
Persons ordering a suit who are annoying, obnoxious, rude, or otherwise getting on my nerves are subject to an idiot fee. :D
*Remember, completion estimates are just that, estimates. Life sometimes happens, and I occasionally have to (or choose to) shuffle projects around. Always let me know if there's a specific date you need your project by!
** Suits designed as sports mascots can be double stitched and have sturdier heads without moving parts, and thus are safe to do various acrobatic activities in, and will be fixed free of charge if they break down within the first six months of wear. However, double stitching costs an extra $80.