Inventory

FROM BOOK FIVE
Young Bezaliel is christened to become A Master Gnome by the Elder Gnomes

Just a note to say we will be building inventory of finished books. I will start with 100 of each book, in order to to get them on the shelf, establish the production line and other business details to manage production and distribution. I expect, as I mentioned before, that Limited Editions will be produced at Image of the Mind Studios, however, if as I expect, the new manufacturing process produces the results I hope for, then even higher production will maintain the Hand-Stitched Covers (both in-house & jobbed out) . This new assembly method brings hand-Stitching into competition with machine binding in terms of efficiency. Depending on demand, I will either set-up assembly in-house or job it out. I say all this because we are moving at a good pace to finish the Illustrations for Book Five, which I was concerned about, because that book has a number of of other stories that comprise The Gnomic Tales. As it turns out, we are adjusting nicely to crafting a different look for those books, due to the strylines taking place in the History of Gnomanity.  So far, so good.  I do want to build "The Elder Gnomes Joint Venture to produce and manage this project. So if you are interested as an investor/Board Member, let me know. AG

Updating our Approach

Garden Gnomes/Figurines

I am redressing the Garden Gnome Project.

The First Sculpture (shown below) is Constable Warren.

The first batch of castings were in concrete, 

a material that I am no longer enthused about.

Shipping concrete Garden Gnomes has it's problems,  concrete is heavy.

But more than that, I find that concrete sculptures are too fragile.

We have sculpted Ferny Reading.  It was created using Sculpty.

We are debating about firing Sculpty and I am trying to determine 

how to proceed with creating a mold.

I bought materials, but still need to think this through more.

I am looking to acquire a Kiln and expand what I already have 

in the Sculpting/Puppetry Studio.  

In the meanwhile, I am looking into what needs to be done to set up for 

casting resin (as opposed to concrete).

I have concluded that a resin product, filled with sand would be best. 

I would ship the hollow  Garden Gnome and the end user would 

fill it with sand to give it weight. 

Doing this will avoid breakage.

So, having made that determination, I am furthering discussions 

and actions to set up the CGI workstation 

to develop 3D characters from our existing artwork 

and thus be able to use 3D Printing to create; figurines, puppet heads, molds 

and limited run items for other projects 

(such as the Cyclorama Show).

I am still open to Partnerships for the Ancillary Markets, 

including the Garden Gnomes.

Along those lines, I may job out the casting, 

since the concentration must remain with Publishing the Books.

Above; early work on puppet heads

Below: Ferny Reading in process 

I am still moving forward with plans to build 

a Green Screen/Sound Stage in the Studio, 

to be used with the developing puppetry and other projects.

I have upgraded the video equipment to a three-camera HDV set-up 

along with improving the A/V Editing Suite 

(which still maintains our linear and multi-format options).

I expect to address the Music Composition/Production capabilities 

with an upgrade of Digital Performer and 

to look at recording some samples of additional music.

We expect to begin setting up a CGI workstation, 

mainly to aid with the 3D printing for the figurines 

and to apply it to developing a walk-thru Cyclorama.

And... I am working to integrate MIDI with DMX 

for stage instruments & practical control

associated with the Music Files

(when recorded music is used)

AG