Okay, I Finally Did It.

[kalalanekent]

I broke down and put in a custom request at etsy for my Margot Lois Lane doll. Fairly certain that Anissa wasn't able to find one or someone to make it, so I'm doing it myself. I will have this damn doll if it kills me. I know where to get the Chris Superman statue for a good price; I just need her. After fifteen years of looking, it's time I had her. And I've already had someone offer to do the painting for her face if someone will just make her.

*gears up for the first battle of 2010: The Battle For A Lois Lane Doll*

Comments

[repmetsyrrah.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I really hope you get someone make one for you. And I hope it's exactly what you wanted as well!

Keep us updated, I'm interested to see how this commissioning thing works.

[ferdalump.livejournal.com]

Did you see my etsy custom order horror story? Just make sure you research their work REALLY well. I had someone do a dozy on me. :(

And hmmmmm, I wonder if I could do it for you... Are you looking for a Barbie or bigger? You want a certain outfit or ???

You have seen my Lois doll, right?

[kalalanekent.livejournal.com]

Do you think you could? I didn't want to bug anyone about it, but it would be a relief if you could. The price point I was looking at was between $70 and $100. Is that possible?

This is what I requested: http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/request.php?id=161619

[ferdalump.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to try, but honestly I am much more comfortable in the realm of Barbies than Tonners or other high end dolls, customizing Barbies are what I have the most experience in--but I'm not sure if that size (12") would match with the Supes you have.

Typically what is done for most customs is you find a doll with similar coloring (hair, eyes, etc) and go from there as far as restyling/cutting the hair and removing the facial paint (fully if necessary) and repaint and shade the dolls featueres to favor the person you are looking to have a doll of.

Then the outfit can either be custom sewn or purchased, just when mimicking an exact outfit (the pinstripe for example) you just have to find material in the right scale of the doll. It can be tricky, but not impossible. (I should also add that most seamstresses will tell you they would rather sew for a full grown adult than a doll. The sewing of something so tiny is very tedious. There's a reason doll outfits sell for so much. ;) )

If you are looking for a Tonner doll or something similar, even a base doll for the artist to work from is easily going to be $70 or more (unless you find one for a steal.) That is just for the doll and then the custom painting and clothing would be additional. So it just depends on how far you want to take it and how the person who does it for you works. You can look around on ebay at Tonners (used basic/non-character ones) and see what they sell for just to get an idea.

I've done a few customs, mainly for myself for fun and a few for friends, but I am by no means a doll expert.

[kalalanekent.livejournal.com]

*thoughtful* Now let me ask you this. If I had you make her from a Barbie, would that make the base price easier to swallow and give you more room money-wise to spend on the materials? I obviously trust you on this, especially in how well your Erica turned out. To be honestly, I'm a lot more comfortable with asking you, as I actually know you. Also, it's not like you live half a country away, either.

Let me know what you think you could do and let's go from there. Sound good?

[ferdalump.livejournal.com]

Let me see what I can find and I'll see what I can do. I can keep you posted.

BTW, do you have a stash of some screengrabs of her in the white suit? I have the movie and the Donner cut, but I figure if you already have them screengrabbed it would save me a step. :p

[kalalanekent.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Ferd. And thank you for the offer so very much. And of course! I have have various ones. Not sure how many are full body, but I'll gather them. I'll zip them up in the morning and PM them to you from sendspace.

[chickadilly.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I hope you can find someone! :D

[kalalanekent.livejournal.com]

I actually just had a reply from someone over there that makes horror dolls who would be willing to do it. Her stuff is actually pretty good despite what it is, her likenesses are decent, but I'm not willing to chance it not being the look I want.

It's only been up a day. Not too bad thus far. :D

[xenokattz.livejournal.com]

You're going to show it off after, right?