PurpleNebulaStudios

Hello there! And thank you for following my journal!

The Purple Nebula can now offer these special add-on additions to your custom-designed plush!

- glow in the dark embroidery, available in multiple colours!

- shiny metallic embroidery, available in multiple colors!

- back packs!

- weighted plush! (with polly pellets)

Please note that there would be extra fees for these add-ons. But having the option of them available will truly make your one-of-a-kind creation come to life!

If you have any further questions about custom plush, please visit me at:

Purplenebula.ca

Or email: purplenebulastudios@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Ann.

I wanted to write a short guide about quotes to help educate potential clients. When you ask for a quote from a designer, it’s typically for a custom, one-of-a-kind plush. My quotes are based on the materials used and the time required to complete the project.

For example, a small sphere made from minky fabric would cost less than the same size sphere made from faux fur (or other specialty fabrics) with embroidered details. While size plays a role, the final quote depends largely on how many hours the project will take to complete. A more detailed item will naturally cost more. When compiling a quote, I review all material costs. This includes: whether one or multiple specialty fabrics are used, whether embroidery is required and how much, whether the item needs special thread or safety eyes, foam inserts, internal wiring for structure, poly pellets, or any other extras. It takes time to assess these costs and then factor in the labour involved in making each unique piece.

Since most of my items are custom, I don’t have a standard price list as each creation is entirely different. The only set prices I offer are for pieces I’ve created before. But, that can change if the materials have increased in price since my last one created.

With that in mind, please keep in mind that preparing a quote takes time and effort, especially for one-of-a-kind items. If you’re just curious or aren’t serious about commissioning a piece, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t request a quote. Detailed quotes often involve back-and-forth communication to ensure all elements are included. This exchange of multiple emails or messages takes time that could be spent on actual commissions.

I also ask that you carefully consider what you want before reaching out for a quote. As mentioned, creating a quote is time-intensive, and constant changes during our discussions can be very draining for the maker.

I don’t want to charge for quotes, as some artists do, but unfortunately, the number of people who request detailed quotes and then disappear after I’ve spent hours on them is increasing.

So, I respectfully ask that you only request a quote if you’re ready and serious about commissioning me.

You can get an idea of my pricing from my Etsy store here:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/PurpleNebulaStudios

And a base price list of my ponies here:

https://purplenebula.ca/shop/pony-sizes-available-i-7

This is my full-time job, and I rely on commissions to make a living. I truly appreciate when clients respect an artist’s time and effort.

My quotes are valid for three months. After that, they may change due to fluctuations in material costs or shipping rates. I understand that you may need an estimate to budget for your purchase in advance, and I’m happy to provide a general price range in those cases. Please note, however, that quotes are subject to change after three months.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your understanding means a lot. A little respect goes a long way when working with a passionate artist!

Sincerely,

Ann

Purplenebula.ca

Did you know?

The Purple Nebula believes in quality. Only the best materials are used to forge your plush. This includes:

- Shannon minky fabric

- Dreamy Faux Fur

- Hand selected iridescent, or other textured fabrics

- Polyfil that is hypoallergenic and mold resistant

- Maderia embroidery threads

- Brother Innovis for embroidery and Brother Heavy Duty ST150 for sewing

- Schmetz Gold Embroidery Needles

- all items ship in a plastic, water proof bag

- most item ship in a damage resistant storage container to ensure the safety of your plush

- all items are insured, tracked and expedited

- each item is thoroughly researched, pattern tested and embroidery files approved before starting

- all items are double-stitched for durability

- all items come with a Care Card to help you properly care for your new plush

With over a decade in the profession, you can ensure your plush will be made with the utmost care, attention, and detail. I love what I do and ensure a bit of my spirit goes in to each and every creation I make. So, rest assured that the product you want, will be made with tons of passion and love.

Sincerely,

Ann

Purplenebula.ca

There have been a huge surge of scammers on the internet taking advantage of buyers and scamming them out of their money. Hopefully these points can help with keeping you safe online and educate you on what to look for when purchasing a handmade plush! This is not a fool-proof list, but hopefully it will help to protect some! Feel free to add to it if I have forgotten something.

REPUTATION OF THE SELLER:

The reputation of the seller is crucial when purchasing a plush online. Look at the reviews in their shop. Good reviews could be paid for. Look at the bad/negative reviews/comments, this says a lot about the ethics of the seller. Also look at the date of the reviews. If there is a discrepancy between old and new reviews, this can be a red flag. Look at the comments made about them in online forums. Question other buyers about their experience with a certain seller. Do your research and due diligence before considering commissioning or purchasing from a particular person online. Community engagement is key.

A reputable seller will always provide you with good communication during the entire process of your plush creation, and or purchase. They will never ghost you after a sale. A reputable seller will always verify your address before sending a plush. A scammer is looking to make a quick sale with as little engagement or investment as possible.

A good seller will always provide an accurate tracking number for you to follow. If you see your parcel going to another country upon tracking online, this is a red flag.

A reputable seller/artist will be passionate. This can be seen in their personal projects, the way the talk about their creations, or the way they go about their creativity, whether it be online posts, or in communication with a buyer. A true artist will discuss details. A scammer will lack all these things.

REVERSE IMAGE SEARCH:

This is helpful to see if the person online selling the plush is actually the owner or maker of the plush. A simple reverse search will show if the product is being sold elsewhere, and if it is, by whom.

PRICE:

You know the saying: “If it’s too good to be true...”. Do your research on what size and quality of plush in this genre are usually priced at. Remember that a handmade plush takes a lot of time and good materials to make. If the seller is selling it for significantly less than everyone else, then this might be a red flag.

PAYMENT:

Always use a reputable website or app that encrypts your personal info and can offer you a refund should you not receive the product (buyers protection). PayPal allows you to file a dispute if you are within a 180 days of when the fund was originally sent. Avoid using friends and family PayPal, as this can create issues when filing a dispute. Never use e-Transfer or give out your credit card information.

WATERMARKS:

Watermarks on your pictures can be helpful, but some scammers may just remove them. So be careful with these.

TIME STAMPS:

Time stamps, like Watermarks, can be helpful, but keep in mind that savvy scammers can just Photoshop these. Don’t rely upon these as proof of a product’s availability.

STYLE OF THE PRODUCT/PHOTOS:

Look at the style of the products and backgrounds of the photos. Artists always have their own unique style and often use specific setups for photography. Any inconsistency in the styles, stages, settings, lightings, and camera angels of the photos of the plush in the seller’s store are red flags.

WEBSITE ADDRESS:

If the sellers website was created recently (e.g. the domain name was registered recently), it may be a scam. If the name of website is a little different than the name of original maker’s website (even by one letter or number), it is a scam website. Scammers often register a domain name that may look exactly like the original website. This is often done in scams related to banking websites or UPS (courier websites) to gain your personal information, and or to get you to purchase a product that doesn’t even exist.

BE VIGILENT:

Don’t open any unexpected messages on your phone or computer. These can contain viruses or be phishing scams. Be careful about what you download onto your computer or phone.

Navigating the internet and protecting yourself from fraud is an ever-growing concern for many people and can be overwhelming. Scammers are smart and their fraudulent ways are deceiving and hurtful, but some small tips can help protect you and your family from scammers and fraud.

Finally, listen to you gut. Instinct is rarely wrong.

Wishing you safe online travels and purchasing!

Ann

Owner of Purple Nebula Studios

PurpleNebula.ca