Regarding the Posts in this blog / Garden Gnomes

Posts 

    I have discussed the progress of this project numerous times over the years. You will find that I have addressed the same subject more than once, often with a slightly different perspective and somewhat divergent opinions as to how I am, or we expect to proceed.  What this means is that this project and our methods are evolving. So you must take into account the date on each post. The older posts still contain important information, but the modus operandi may no longer be valid as circumstances have changed.

  We have an EXTENSIVE collection of artwork and many options for assorted product lines, many of which will include Collectable Editions.

I'm thinking that; If we make Brad the Fiddler & Zebby playing his Flute into Garden Gnomes,
we could make them solar, motion controlled with Music from the Show.
We could do that with a number of characters.
What do you think of that idea?

Garden Gnomes / Figurines

UPDATE ; 2/22/24

   The Garden Gnome project was very exciting as we began to develop the project. We have two sculptures for the Garden Gnomes, but only one mold for "Constable Warren", the other Garden Gnome sculpture is of "Ferny Reading".  You can find photos of these Garden Gnomes and some paperwork posted below. 

   Now we are developing the Figurines. The figurines will be between 4" & 6" and most likely cast with resin. "Zach & Zebby" are underway and we have a very fine artist who is sculpting these figurines. Eventually, I expect to use 3D renderings of the artwork used for the illustrations to print characters that are precise renditions of the Illustrations. But I have to say that sculpted interpretations of the characters have a very enthralling aesthetic quality about them. So both and all interpretations of our characters are entirely valid and will be presented for purchase to our enthusiasts and patrons.

   I tend to believe that we must make the figurines available as souvenirs for the stage show, but we will be developing a catalogue where all these materials will be made available.

   Further, as you can seer below, there was a project under development for Lawn Displays with a Christmas theme called "Santa and his Elves". These are flat lawn displays that people can set up for their Christmas decorations. We will be developing the same type of flat lawn displays for The Gnomes of New Hope. This project is underway and will be another type of Garden Gnome created using the exact same artwork in the Illustrated Storybook. So look for more postings on that project, most likely after the Illustrated Storybook layouts are completely finished.

ARCHIVE

   Particularly, in our approach to producing Garden Gnomes and Figurines, what was intended to be classic cement Garden Gnomes has proven to be less viable than once believed. Not that they are not good or could be produced, but the fragility of cement and shipping weight of cement does not allow us to easily produce these products.  I certainly will pursue cement, if that material is sought after and I can produce those Garden Gnomes in house, but the items will (unexpectedly) need to have metal armatures to prevent breakage and either need to be picked up or delivered via our truck within a reasonable distance. This will make the item more expense than originally thought. Also, the current cost of shipping has made large promotion of the cement items prohibitive. 

   Hence both the Garden Gnomes and Figurines will be made of hollow resin (or blow-mold) . In this way, as a Garden Gnome, the item can be shipped without the weight of cement, but filled with sand by the end user to achieve the weight desired.  We are currently developing the product lines taking this into account.

   As usual, we are opened to Partnerships and Licensing in this and other product lines.

AG

Binding...

Here's the Libretto and the drafts of the Score

UPDATE 2/20/24;

   As I have mentioned in numerous other posts, the Illustrated Storybooks will be Hand-Stitched. I've discussed just how much superior this binding is to machine bound books, so I will be striving to keep ALL the books Hand-Stitched. This means I will need to be hiring people to stitch books, It's easy and fun. I will be paying piecework, meaning anyone stitching books will be paid for each book they stitch. If you would like to stitch books, send me an email and we can talk about it. My first goal is to put one thousand collections on the shelf... that amounts to seven thousand books, because the full collection consists of seven books. We already have at least four books ready for production and the other three books are almost ready to begin publishing and binding.  We are setting up and maintaining production facilities in Southampton Pennsylvania. AG

ARCHIVE;

 Since I am engaged in finalizing the core materials and refining the production line (along with other studio activities) I continue to post my thoughts here, where I address subjects directly, as if I were speaking directly to the business partners who are or will be involved in this project.  I find, for myself, that this is the best approach to conveying my positions directly and that by so doing, the people I talk to on any of these subjects, are already appraised of my thinking and what we need to do.  Certainly, I can communicate directly at any time, via email or telephone, so don't hesitate to reach out and be specific if we need to advance our activities or relationship. (text first, I get too many distracting solicitations calls.)

   The other side of it is that; I work out of my studio, so if we need to get down to it, you are invited to visit me to discuss matters.  But please communicate with me first, if you intend , or want, to pay a visit.  Without doing so first, it may be a wasted trip, as I do work on-the-road on a regular basis and I never know when I will be called away.

    I have come up with a method of production that looks to be a viable approach to the Hand-stitched Books.  So the specifications for suppliers of the printed product are now set to accommodate our binding operation. I still need to do time studies to determine turn-around.

   As it stands now, I will be building inventory up to one thousand of each book on the shelf, before we release them for Retail distribution.  That quantity needs to remain as our in-house production number. I can do more if I receive orders from one or more distributors, but as it stands now, we will keep publishing and binding in house, until such time as the quantities become too much to handle.  Given that manufacturing times for larger quantities involve months for turn around, any distributor who may seek to have us deliver higher quantities will need to make that known, so that when we enter into building inventory, we can take that into account.  Books can be ordered directly from the Studio at any time for Direct Sales at the current MSRP of $34.95 plus shipping (with no discounts).  Wholesale pricing begins at One Gross.

   You can see from my last post that I haver other matters to attend to, so delivering books for retail distribution, although important, is not on the top of the list, mainly because meeting retail demands is distracting from film & theatre production. That would be a reason to job out the books,  but, distribution at the wholesale level needs to take place through IMS.  It's all about the numbers and quality control. That subject is open to discussion.

    I would like to avoid delays in being able to deliver product, so a heads up is a good idea. Otherwise I will just settle into distributing quantities that I am comfortable with (as opposed to large scale distribution).  I will not deplete IMS inventory for any one buyer, since I also need to sell individual books connected to the Signed and Numbered Editions. So if you are a buyer who would seek quantities higher than 250 units (of each book), let me know so I can prepare for that. Obviously, larger quantities and other distribution scenarios require discussion.

AG