Beware: Fursuit Maker Plagiarism - Starrik

[williamca.livejournal.com]

WHO: Starrik, StarrikKyrubui, WonderFursStudios

WHERE:

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/wonderfursstudios/

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/starrik

Also there was trouble at FWA2014 during our convention. Also at Anthrocon 2014 regarding seams popping and various

other things falling off / breaking. Namely pawpads, and the tail zipper being reversed.

WHAT:

1400$ for Full digitigrade fursuit, including movable jaw, and 3d follow me toony eyes.

WHEN:

Starrik showed me Turbowolf's head as an example and the Resin head as well for examples. I also at this time

requested fullbody suit examples to which she stated she had no pictures taken but built Turbo's

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/1375132686.awesomepawsome_1374768980.fuchsia_turbohead.jpg and

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/1367806068.awesomepawsome_jcheadwithhandpaws.jpg

I liked the style of both heads enough to approve her and give her my details and confirm with her.

Initial payment was March 3rd

Conversations discussing what I wanted took place shortly after through twitter DMs

Suit work didn't begin til later that month.

Signs of trouble began to show almost immediately when she refused to provide updates for unknown reasons and stated

that I approved of the handpaws claws, pawpads. Along with the fact the paws did not fit properly between my thumb

and pointer digit.

She later hired several other people and formed a business named "Wonderfursstudios" with herself and several

friends.

Final payment was sent on June 10th in the amount of 350 as I was told I owed.

A rough time line of the situation from initial conversation, to 1st payment (or agreement of trade) to signs of

trouble.

PROOF:

All of her business transactions were done through her boyfriends PayPal account. Sekioh.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-08%20at%2004.45.14%29.png

Statement of how much I owed http://puu.sh/a2Gpb/b4c8f2933e.png
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-11%20at%2007.33.33%29.png final payment

There was also a sewing machine I had to buy for her which was part of the payment valued at 50$

EXPLAIN:

Trouble started about half way when I was given an estimation by her that I would have "at least" a partial in time

for FWA. Though while we were at FWA she claimed several people had contacted her claiming I was going to "dispute

payment" and "chargeback scam" her. One of which being a good friend by the name of Sovy Kurosei upon asking him had

he contacted her he stated he did not know her let alone that she was making my suit at the time. When I had also

requested her for proof of the notes / DMs containing all of that she magically lost them and claimed FA glitched and

deleted them all.

After I saw the handpaws in person with the Silicone installed in them I was very displeased and with how things were

going so far I just wanted to be done with it all honestly. The center pawpad on the handpaws were rough and looked

realistic and not toony as I had requested. Not to mention the handpaw also did not fit on my thumb and index

properly.

Out of the 1400$ and having to also buy her a sewing machine and her running out of money for parts, eg; the silicone

for handpaws, or resin for jawset.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-08%20at%2005.39.39%29.png

Below was her quote of how much a foam based head from her would cost. Along with the none shaving of handpaws. I

figured I could get someone else to shave it.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-08%20at%2003.44.09%29.png

Later on I found out that was a good choice after they used a regular hair trimmer, and not a dog grooming trimmer.

Likely with the default blade...which broke part way through shaving my head and caused nasty deep cuts on the suit.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brfkc_8IIAAMphS%20%281%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brfxb66IQAAozLx.jpg

She has been trying to help me fix the suit but the main reason I am doing this is because I have learned now she is

in no way the fursuit maker that made the Turbowolf head. Let alone able to produce quality of what she plagiarized

as her work to coax me to buy from her.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Screenshot_2014-07-08-21-20-37.png

There is a large stress point on the left side of my suit despite her having made a DTD with me and the assistance of

Sekioh. The left footpaw does not fit my left foot properly and is loose. Both footpaws the right inner claw was

popping out because she had only glued one side.

Not to mention the footpaws are completely different sizes..and shapes

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp8gDZIAAA2j7N.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp8hHAIUAAUxht.jpg

She used BLACK SEWING STRING for WHITE FELT TEETH..

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140708_170426.jpg

She did not properly hatch the silicone for the handpaws and they were popping off at Anthrocon at the lightest

touches. Not to mention the fur where they were going to be installed at was not cut but actually melted by the hot

glue.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp_mNaIIAA4TyI.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140707_184638.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp9vPGIgAENHRc.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp_iv8IQAAJH34.jpg

Not to mention when I told her I was unhappy with the handpaws this was her response. She puts her own likes above

mine and feels the need to state she LIKES them herself as if to influence my opinion. I saw the handpaws only with

the fur, never with the pawpads or claws.

http://puu.sh/a35Da/41efd4de77.png

The eyes had exposed glue everywhere, and one spot was not even glued properly and the material used for the eye

around it was not a hard material but a foam like one.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/BrqHQ9qIcAAzNOe.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp7UQSIQAEeJQM.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp_poSIQAAOlLn.jpg

There was exposed foam in several places on the head along with seams.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140708_165624.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp7kk2IcAAZ-k1.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp7UQSIQAEeJQM.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/Brp71MRIQAAz8WM.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/BrqDF1lIAAAh2Sl.jpg - sewing not tied off properly

Pictures of an overall view of the head. Bare in mind I did have it touch up trimmed at Anthrocon, and reglued by

another fursuit maker. You can see though the head is clearly off centered by a lot and not to mention my markings as

well.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140708_170426.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140708_170420.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140708_170414.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/BrqEX0DIIAAejjL.jpg

When I asked her to give me the fur scraps / left over fur from my downpayment I received this.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-08%20at%2010.56.39%29.png

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-08%20at%2010.56.55%29.png

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-08%20at%2010.55.19%29.png

I believe she can properly repair the footpaws, and handpaws, or make new ones that are improved. I do not desire a

refund for these but rather a proper repair along with these the bodysuit.

I do not wish risk having her make another head. So with that I expect a refund in the valuation of the head as she

quoted above of a price between "$500 to $600" as it is not possible above examples is the quality of her work. Thus

I believe I was wronged by this maker in full about the quality of fursuit heads outcome.

Which was a complete scam/forgery on her part to try and claim someone elses work as her own and according the

FuchsiaPossum http://puu.sh/a35Wl/37c257838d.png Starrik was only her PR for the most

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/twitterfuchsia.png a statement from the maker stating she NEVER

even helped on that head. According to Fuchsia all she assisted with was the stress test.

At this point she has zero intention of refunding me but insisting she can repair all of this damage, and has

actually requested me if I desired new claws for my fursuit handpaws I would have to pay for them myself. Even if they

are a $10 set from DVC and the current set is a set I never approved nor was happy with to begin with.

7/23/2014 UPDATE:
We have met an agreement in which the following will take place
The fursuit head will be fully refunded - $400 (though was quoted $500-$600 for a head alone without a suit) of which no money has been received yet.
Handpaws are to be remade
Footpaws are to be remade
Bodysuit is to be FULLY repaired to quality standard. Otherwise it will be FULLY refunded.

​7/30/2014 Additional pictures/evidence of bodysuit:
A lot of handsewing had to be done in the tail to fix the markings by Starrik at Anthrocon. Updates of 12 holes repaired total, and in the tail itself as well.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140719_182436.jpg - Left side stress point, I am unable to raise my arm higher than this.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140719_182443.jpg - Right side lift can go a bit higher
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140719_182536.jpg - Assymetry of markings
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140719_182718.jpg - Suit wants to slip off the left side of my shoulder.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140719_182629.jpg - Example 2 of the shoulder slipping off left side.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140719_182708.jpg - Current tail attachment arrangement.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140709_130111.jpg - The temporary belt attachment fix at AnthroCon
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140731_015756.jpg - Non-sewn area
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140731_015843.jpg - Hole in the center of fur
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140731_015911.jpg - Inside shot of clumped machine sewn fur
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/20140731_015930.jpg - Outside shot of clumped machine sewn fur

9/6/2014 UPDATE:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/ss%2B%282014-09-06%2Bat%2B10.10.50%29.png - Email of agreement, request of when she will pay. Along with statement of handpaws / footpaws would be done "by the first" which is another example of them setting personal deadlines and missing them.

9/21/2014 STATUS UPDATE:
400$ Refund: not yet received
New handpaws / footpaws: not yet received

Comments

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

Most of what is posted here isn't really a beware- the thread ends is pretty common in machine and hand stitching, can't see a difference in feetpaw sizes from 2 seperate photos, only looks like the bottoms are a touch off, etc, etc.

The head is pretty terrible, and the plagarism definitely warrants a beware, but this could be a much, much shorter article(And therefore get more views/circulation).

[williamca.livejournal.com]

One is a bear foot the other is basically a well... kinda normal foot I guess?

[anuvia.livejournal.com]

So...to be clear about some of this.

She lied to you about the examples of suits she made and gave you examples of another markers work.

She said she didn't have your suit in time for FWA because she "heard rumors" you may file charge backs. Instead of talking to you directly, she took these "rumors" (possible lie) as an excuse to not contact you and not do the work paid for based on that? Unacceptable.

She made -you- pay additional costs for things that should have been standard with the original price and even made you buy her a sewing machine? For the record, $1400 is more than enough to afford the cost of the materials spent on this fursuit. She may have had to take a cut out of the labor wage she set in the price, but she had no right to charge you extra when you paid her that amount.

Furthermore, her excuses for the paws were unacceptable. Instead of trying to make them the way you wanted or even ASKING how you wanted them, she tried to guilt trip you as a commissioner by telling you that "you are never satisfied" and tried to make it seem like it was -your- fault for her quality not matching the expectations she set.

None of this is right, and she is obligated to fix that mess she tried to pass off as paws, stat. You should not be forced to pay for the repairs or fixes on a product you paid full price for and received in broken condition.

[williamca.livejournal.com]

Yes, she showed me pictures of a Turbowolf head anda resin head and handpaws that AwesomePawesome aka FuchsiaPossum's fursuit making business that she previously worked PR only for.

FWA was just a missed deadline that she set for herself stating she would "At least have a partial for me then" but during our convention time there I was told by her she had "people contacting her threatening I was going to charge her back" and that one of my best friends "SovyKurosei" had contacted her telling her to just refund me.

Her sewing machine "died" magically after she received my details and was about to begin (after completing a tail for someone else) previously when I stated I was unhappy with the paws she stated she could not afford silicone and insinuated I would have to buy it if I desired new pads, or claws.

I mentioned to her from the start "I do not mind DVC pawpads I like them and their claws are fine too." but was told if I desired those I would have to pay for them.

[tentacleluvgdss.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry you had to go through all this. :( The bait-and-switch deception with using Fuchsia's work as examples of her own is terrible, as is her constant "well I LIKE IT" excuse.

And as others have stated above, the cost of supplies should have been covered in the original cost of the suit. She should not have made you pay for a sewing machine or silicone or what have you. The only 'extra' cost that a customer should expect above a received quote is shipping and customs fees (if conducting International business).

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

Oh dear..

[gaturguts.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's really shady to use another fursuit maker's work and pass it off as their own. I instantly recognized those as AwesomePawsome's work, but she isn't very well known so it's easy to see how you were fooled.

I don't have anything useful to add, but this is why it's very important to make sure the fursuit maker you pay has a good track record and a few examples of everything. I would've been suspicious when all she gave you were two head examples and you were buying a fullbody. :(

I'm very sorry this happened to you.
A beware well warranted, especially for the plagiarism. That's so not okay.

[williamca.livejournal.com]

The problem was, I more so knew Starrik as a friend, and I knew that they used to work for Fuchsia for a short while I just didn't know what they did exactly. So I trusted their word.

Though once a friend had Fuchsia step into the twitter convo things began to unfold.

[funkicarus.livejournal.com]

holy moly
i don't even make suits and the incredibly mismatched eyes/paw shapes just seem LAZY. like not just inexperience, pure lack of care. like wow just create a paper shape and trace it onto the fabric so at least they're symetrical, this isn't flippin' rocket science.

[sekioh.livejournal.com]

They were traced from ducttape, to patterning, to fur, and were cut symmetrically in pretty much every case. Everyone is quick to say everything was falling apart when they have not seen it in person, the only part of the suit lacking in quality was the head, the reason IT and only it is unsymmetrical was they were tired and pulled the fur over the foam as they were attaching it, which foam is a soft material so half is nicely aligned and the other half got pulled out of shape. The foam padding in the feet were even cut of same-templated pieces, except for the outdoor-sole. Adhering the sole to the frame did cause it to pull the foam into slightly differing shapes and is the reason one feels a little looser it seems from our observations after the fact.

[corghi.livejournal.com]

It's really unfortunate that a close friend of yours took you for granted. I genuinely hope she learns a very valuable lesson.

What makes my blood boil is that regardless of you paying $1400, she was asking you to buy your DVC paw pads/claws. What?????? Materials alone shouldn't be more than $200-300 (possibly more, I don't make suits, but definitely NOT 1400!) That's just flat out petty.

I really hope it works out for you, I hope she pulls through and fixes the mistakes she's made and refunds you.

[thatdangcat.livejournal.com]

You're right. It's about 200-300 depending on what kind of material that they got. Full body suits tend to range a tiny bit higher depending on size. I've been making my own and so far, it's gotten up there. x.x If it was 1400, then they better of had the most expensive and precious stuff available. Like the long furs that cost about 20ish for just a small piece of it. Lol

[mitsonga.livejournal.com]

I do have a few things I think could use some clarification.

Do you have any record of her telling you specifically that she made the Fuchsia made head?

Was there any specific instruction to not use silicone for the hand paws?

The linked evidence you have posted regarding payment owed has no mentions of the sewing machine. The amount owed is also quoted as 325.00 in the DMs, not the 300.00 you had mentioned.

If you declined the use of resin for the parts, would an alternative have been utilized?

Did you contact her with before this journal with clear instructions of what your expectations are to resolve this conflict?

While I do not think this was a straight scam, it's very clear that Starrik's demonstrated lack of compromise, and common outbursts of emotional red herrings sabotaged reasonable attempts to reconcile fairly easily solved problems. Because of this, the problems compounded into a much lager issue.

Personally, I would tell her that any attempt for her to rectify the situation outside of a refund, or a 3rd party repair/remake will only further complicate matters. I would remind her that the key to tagging this AB as "resolved" is to own up to problems, and confront them head on. That her reputation well suffer very little if she is willing to do so.

[williamca.livejournal.com]

Yes there is a log in there in which she claims she partook in making the head, and Fuchsia said she had nothing to do with that head.

I asked her to use silicone for the handpaws, but she used her own and made it in a style I did not like then claimed I approved it.

I send extra to cover paypal fees usually see https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19358828/Starrik/ss%20%282014-07-11%20at%2007.33.33%29.png that Iforgot.

I never declined the use of resin for parts? I encouraged her to use a lightweight resin mount. The one she made though was too heavy for the head.

Yes I did contact her before this stating how unhappy I was with it. She was very intent on blaming all the errors on TSA.

[sapphistscot.livejournal.com]

Quality of the suit aside, (definitely not worth $1400 IMO) it's really skeevy for her to be using pictures of another maker's work as examples of her own if she had no hand in making them. And even if she had helped, there's a huge difference between "I made this head" and "I helped to fur this head". As someone's already said, it's pretty much a bait and switch.

[sekioh.livejournal.com]

As far as either of Starrik or I can remember, she never did say "I made this" in those words, even now both of us would say there was a hand in it and that she could produce that quality in that style (resin base, which was consented to not use after the commission started and the other issues arose). No bait and switch involved at all, and after the deposit we even did offer to accommodate whatever style changes would be to his liking. Williamca at no point has ever, EVER, said no or disagreed with any progress that was made or shown in person to him, he prefers to subtweet or lie after the fact that it wasn't what he went into the commission expecting.

[germanchoclates.livejournal.com]

Aside from the quality of the head and the entire fiasco, something in one conversation caught my eye. Did they want you to send the payments as a gift as opposed to service to avoid Paypal fees? The conversation is cut off, but it's potentially implied in the conversation.

[williamca.livejournal.com]

No, but I told them as a precaution I was sending it as a service and not a gift. As I do know some artists that try to request that. Generally I try to cover the fee.

She did not request it sent as a gift.

Dispute

[sekioh.livejournal.com]

I don't know where to begin, Starrik has trying to be in constant contact at all points of the commission, and EVERYTHING had been approved of by Williamca. Whether it was because he was 'backing down' because of his claims of confrontation that he likes to blame it on, every single time I've been around when she asked "we want to use this because of this reason" he's said "yes that's fine".

Nothing was paid for 'in excess' of the quote, whatever was spent on the reorder and sewing machine he likes to bring up that 'he paid for it' came off the bottom of the bill at the end. We mentioned to our friend we would get to it in a few days, but Williamca insisted he could buy it then if it'd help the suit come along faster. Just because it didn't come out of the very first 'non refundable deposit for materials' he assumes it's his money that we're using for extra replacement or excess. As others know, it's a quote and the 30% deposit rule doesn't always cover complex suits in full. The quote was also for such a fullsuit of this quality was at nearly half off discount. He's quick to say we spent his money and asked for more, but he wasn't making regular payments exactly one month apart, so yes we needed more to get the rest of the parts AFTER his first deposit payment. It was not rolling over the quote, he's made no payments over what she originally asked for.

She didn't say we'd not have it in time because of that. We said it was a worry that we LOAN the suit out to him with no guarantee of final payment, and that it was a concern brought up that there may be a chargeback, it was NOT mentioned to be Sovy, as she had only a small conversation with Williamca about what Sovy did for a living and other smalltalk and was in no relation to any suit-talk. He was only halfway in on his payments at the point. She promised they could get the suit done between TFF and FWA if it was paid for. He insisted that if it was done in time he should wear it. That's where there was refusal and dispute. I have not heard of a maker getting the suit done before it was finished paid for and letting the commissioner wear it without completing payment.

There was some work done on the head examples in question, and it's quite easily replicable in style from her old experiences in suit making and skillset. There was a rather stupid falling out between Fuschia and Starrik, because at the time they were starting to work together Starrik said she was a suit maker and let her know. While still working with Fuschia and we helped clean, and supply out of our pockets organizational drawers and bins, and bought food and cooked while over there so she could keep working. Starrik took on a suit project of her own, Fuschia got mad for 'taking business' from her and a statement someone recorded at an event that we had disapproved of 'some of her business practices' which is not a mean slanderous thing to say if she was backed up for multiple years of commissions (re: her own artist beware). She never claimed to BE the maker of the head, only that she helped and was an example of what she could make. At the point of commission, he like the style as he said, and Starrik thought it a nice thing to do to ask for permission to imitate the style, and was promptly told to quote "go fuck yourself". So she told Williamca that since he wanted a more toony-realism style anyway, that she could do a foam base, and that's where that continued from.

Re: Dispute

[sekioh.livejournal.com]

A lot of this story looks worse as it's had personal details left out conveniently, which I won't get into the nitty gritty, but he's claiming no updates were given when he was LIVING with us for a week for transient living. Once he was settled in with friends we helped him live with, he constantly nagged for updates, and during the entire first payment until last timeframe, he's received in progress shots and updates except for TWO specific times, one when he was drunk, demanding updates on the feet, which had drying spray-glue (which suggests strongly not to disturb), for which she replied she couldn't disturb them and so no he would only get updates later. The other time he was strongly wanting her to 'get on Skype scrub' but she only had her phone with her over at the other employees house doing work, so she had no skype access so she said so that she couldn't get on. He promptly said something like 'fuck you' and BLOCKED her on multiple communication gateways (we have screenshots of the block screen on Twitter).

He's quick to quote the 'never satisfied' screenshot but that was when the suit was almost done and he was already threatening A_B (a few times he's said it was a joke or something like a motivational tool) it was NOT in relation to the paws at all, he had already approved of them and we could pull multiple people in on this of at least a half dozen other witnesses at the local meet when he got to try them on weeks before the rest of the suit was worked on. She had in that same screenshot offered a refund he said no and that he liked most of the stuff. So now he's complaining about unshaven paws and feet "oh it's a good thing cause the shaver broke", no, he had already said he WANTED them scruffy and thick furred cause of the shaggy were-form look. We would have been happy to buy an upgraded shaver if all the changes and last minute problems that there was a small rush on because of his threats of not meeting the deadline. To which she said she would gladly fix any decently realistic problems after the convention, and was only making sure he could debut and have it at the con. It was stressed multiple times that YES the paws would fall off, and they'd be replaced correctly AFTER THE CONVENTION, but there was not enough time to pour the remainder of the silicon, have it cure, and recut new hands if he wanted to have his head completed for the convention. The only reason they did was because he was in such a rush to see progress shots that Starrik had forgotten to shove some felt on the back of them before they set completely, his misunderstanding of the process for silicone that you can't score or hatch silicon without it quickly ripping or reducing it's integrity, and we explained that it'd certainly fall of if he did anything rough with them like high-fives because they were just glued down. The fur was not melted to them for integrity and it was hand cut with some scissors, but it wasn't shaved to backing so yes plastic based fur melts a little when you hit it with hot glue, that should not matter at all in this context.

Her sewing machine didn't magically die, we didn't even own one of OUR own, we would have worked at her families house on the big sprees, but that would have been long weekends and gas out of our way, at that point Williamca had offered to buy one retail until we had found the friend with one for sale and we had pointed out it'd take a little longer to sew the suit by hand but her stitching was just as strong (which has been tested by holding people off the ground or full weight leaning back).

Questions Answered

[starrikkyrubui.livejournal.com]

Everyone is wondering one question, 'Why is Sekioh answering something that the Maker [Myself] should be answering?"

Because Sekioh was ALWAYS there by me in person, as well as other members of our team. He knows just as much about this situation as I do and at this current time we thought it be best for him to say what needed to be said. Sekioh was also the intentional one the engaged Williamca to commission us.

I have been as good of a maker to the commissioner as any other. Spent time at AC fixing things that were a miss and even being there emotionally for him. I even took him into my home where he watched me foam his feet and head out. His consistent behavior caused stress on everyone, mostly me, on the team because he practically BULLIED us into rushing your suit.

I didn't out right say Fuchsia's work was my own. I actually distinctly remember trying to give you the option of not her style because no matter how mad Fuchsia is with me, I'd never disrespect her. I told him, in person at TFF 2014, that these are some heads I WORKED on. I guess I should've explained further. I worked on them meaning I fixed the mistakes with the head [Turbo's Jaw so he could wear it without hurting himself]. I never meant to make him think I built them completely. I would NEVER disrespect any artist like that. I told him I could MAKE that quality, though Quality takes time. If you want cheap and quality, it takes time. If you want fast and cheap, there is no quality.

I have a screenshot here that I offered the commissioner a complete refund [- 30% for materials because of the Down payment], but he DECLINED in a way. That is the last time I ever heard or read the word REFUND. All my logs are complete.

Here's that link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2za7enc5t8v6uz/WilliamcaRefundDenial.png

Please take into consideration that this was one of those days that was 2 full nighters to get this suit finished as best to our capabilities and before his AC deadline.


The commissioner also demanded that I give him all the Brick Red fur, even the fur we [Sekioh and I] were billed for and paid for with our own money, NOT the commissioner's. The FWA deadline was broken because of Mendels mis-sending of the wrong red fur. The fur arrived while we were gone at FWA, the commissioner knew this and even told me that the FWA incident wouldn't count against me due to it not being my fault.

He has, by all means, to have the scraps that were from his order. have no objections to this.

Here are the DM's between him and I that involve A_B threats and the Scrap situation:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/opzf6wcob9hs794/WilliamcaFurDemand1.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhm2uazku3i8pv8/WilliamcaFurDemand2.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6cmwovz5xja1ot7/WilliamcaFurDemand3.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yrnojsjl59wrnwo/WilliamcaFurDemand4.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/82um92z0rpqbs4w/WilliamcaFurDemand5.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ejnefjiikyrpc3/WilliamcaFurDemand6.png

I did get a tad bit snippy with him, I admit, but it was late at night and I was stressing over the suit already. I know it's an excuse but after this lovely conversation, he blocked me and than proceeded to block me everywhere.

Also, just so everything is out in the open, the sewing machine was deducted from his price. The actual price he paid was $1325 + 75$ for the machine. He makes me out like I told him to buy me the machine. No, I didn't. He offered and I declined [Several Times in Person] though he insisted and so I caved. I didn't think he'd use it as an excuse every time he got angry with me.

[starrikkyrubui.livejournal.com]

The A_B and bad review threats he gave, he said served as a motivational tool. No, I'm sorry but as any good artist knows, horrible reviews are hurtful to one's business so that was stressing me out. If an artist stresses out, the quality falls.

I am aware that that head has some flaws, though he kept telling me [after we told him the shaver had died], "it's okay! I have a friend that can fix it at AC!" Alright, that's fine. We agreed to the other artist doing the shaving, though he didn't bring up any of the other flaws until AFTER he had someone else fix them.

We all agree that we rushed on the head. We honestly did and that's on us but we have also offered to fix the head and even partially rebuild it if he wanted us too.

Now addressing the Sovy issue. I never said Sovy talked to me, ever, not once. I said that I've heard of him and commented on a few pieces of art that others have done for him. Sovy was only the topic of conversation because I asked what he did for a living. The people that contacted me were trolls. I even mentioned the names to Williamca and he confirmed that they were trolls trying to harass him.



As for TSA, I only prompted that TSA may have opened his tote because of the metal spine that was in the tail. Williamca himself said that he even forced the whole suit into the tote and it was at busting levels. I'm not saying I'm surprised at the holes, since they were admittedly hand-sewn, though the forced packing and such didn't help either. I never completely blamed anyone for the holes in the tail, it was a multitude of things.


Lastly,

Before this A_B was made, we came to an agreement, verbal agreement, that I'll make a new pair of hand paws, put elastic in the ankles [Which was his idea] and take the aluminum cord spine out of the tail than attach the tail to the body suit after filling it with polyfil. This was the agreement. There was never a time he asked me for a refund and I declined. That is completely false.


I would love to get this resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible, as I stated at AC, before this was written. I don't appreciate the commissioner blocking all communications with me ads of AC, except text messages.

[williamca.livejournal.com]

"
I have a screenshot here that I offered the commissioner a complete refund [- 30% for materials because of the Down payment], but he DECLINED in a way. That is the last time I ever heard or read the word REFUND. All my logs are complete.
"

That wasn't an outright decline. That was a chance to improve things rather than taking the money back immediately. As at that point you only had handpaws at most.

"The commissioner also demanded that I give him all the Brick Red fur" yes the fur that I had paid for, and not what you had bought with your own money.

"I am aware that that head has some flaws, though he kept telling me [after we told him the shaver had died], "it's okay! I have a friend that can fix it at AC!"

No, I said I could likely find someone/a friend at Anthrocon to fix it. These pictures were taken BEFORE she even clipped it so don't try to push the blame on them.


"put elastic in the ankles [Which was his idea]"

No, you and Splattermonster advised that. I merely said "it could work." I mentioned the left foot was also too big and you offered no way to fix that. Rather excuses that nothing can be done.

I never said you declined a refund?

[alexdowski.livejournal.com]

I am sorry that you have had to go through this trouble. It seems like there was a lack of communication on both sides with this, and it sucks. However, the overwhelming amounts of screenshots you've posted, as well as the fact the suit maker and her SO are constantly bringing up personal information (claiming you were drunk and bringing up that you were living with them for a short period of time) leads me to lean towards your story. But there's a lot going on here that just isn't good between anyone. You were lead to believe you were getting a certain quality work, and you did not receive that. Also the fact that you received a 'discount' on this with such shoddy seams and work on it really shows that this is not even worth what you paid for it. Better luck in the future. At the most this beware is warranted for the fact they claimed work as their own when it was not, and you were charged for work that was not up to par.

[sekioh.livejournal.com]

The reason for the personal information of living with us was to clear the air that he was claiming for the entire first phase of the commission there was no communication, when during day 1 he was in person in the house in our room. So there shouldn't have been any photographic proof of Twitter/Facebook/etc. posts about status updates. Which I mentioned that he was conviniently leaving out that personal information, you're correct it shouldn't be brought up but in this case it was very relevant to his case of seeing examples of work and progress.

[doomyrabbit.livejournal.com]

This all sounds more like a lack of communication/misunderstandings, more so than a beware.

While plagiarizing someone elses work certainly is something to stay away from, there is no proof for either side and this has turned into a 'he said she said' battle.

Yes the suit is beginner quality and its clear you're upset about not getting what you paid for; however, purchasing a poor quality suit only boils down to a lack of research and an overcharging maker.

Also, looks to me like she has offered what she could to resolve this (a refund namely)

[starrikkyrubui.livejournal.com]

All I want is to resolve this.
Seriously.

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

unbelievable.

[ducttapeninja.livejournal.com]

What a goddamn mess.

[fuchsiapossum.livejournal.com]

There is a lot to read, but I am going to reply to what I have read so far where I seem to be involved. I'm going to try to keep it as short and sweet as I can.



"she never did say "I made this" in those words, even now both of us would say there was a hand in it and that she could produce that quality in that style"

But there was never a hand in it. I have always worked on heads alone and I've always made it clear that only I work on the heads. If Starrik did help me with any of the heads I made, I would have properly credited her on the FA submissions.


"There was some work done on the head examples in question, and it's quite easily replicable in style from her old experiences in suit making and skillset."

Again, no. There was never any work done by Starrik on either of the examples.


"There was a rather stupid falling out between Fuschia and Starrik, because at the time they were starting to work together Starrik said she was a suit maker and let her know."

I wasn't aware that she was trying to become a suit maker on her own until the last time I confronted her on skype. That's all fine and dandy, I would never get mad over something like that.


While still working with Fuschia and we helped clean, and supply out of our pockets organizational drawers and bins, and bought food and cooked while over there so she could keep working."

That is absolutely true and I would never deny that. I even told Williamca about that on Twitter and even told him I was very thankful.


"Starrik took on a suit project of her own, Fuschia got mad for 'taking business' from her and a statement someone recorded at an event that we had disapproved of 'some of her business practices' which is not a mean slanderous thing to say if she was backed up for multiple years of commissions (re: her own artist beware)."

That is absolutely not true and I don't know how that assumption was made. Also my artist beware is irrelevant to the current situation at hand, and that beware has even been resolved.


"She never claimed to BE the maker of the head, only that she helped and was an example of what she could make."

Third time I am mentioning this. No, she never helped with either of those suits.


"I worked on them meaning I fixed the mistakes with the head [Turbo's Jaw so he could wear it without hurting himself]."

I had Turbo try the head on at Megaplex. The lower jaw was too tight around him, so when Starrik and Sekioh took me home from Megaplex, they stayed with me at my place a little while longer. I fixed the lower jaw myself, and it was a quick and easy fix. I gave the head to them trusting that the head would be back in Turbo's possession shortly, yet he did not get it back until Furloween. I believed Starrik when she said she could never get in contact with him. I don't know whether it was true or not now, but it's irrelevant and we don't need to get into that.

[ducttapeninja.livejournal.com]

I'm really interested in seeing what Starrik and Sekioh's responses are to your post here-- though I think it's telling that neither of them have addressed it at all.

I'm so sorry you got dragged into this mess. :/

[kaiiju.livejournal.com]

" I told him I could MAKE that quality, though"
the quality of the two suits are NOWHERE near the same and to promise the same quality of a suit that you, yourself, did not make and had no hand in is absolutely asinine and incredibly misleading

[sekioh.livejournal.com]

This suit is not of the same stylization and so, no, it's not of the same quality for something that was meant to be more toony, even still, yes she's admitted in other posts there was some failure in the head work due to last minute finishing up.

There is another suit in progress that if I wasn't requested to not post personal information of them or bring them into this, there's picture proof that we have in person a suit of identical quality to the examples provided. So COULD MAKE and the option of foam base toon style are incomparable in this quotation in question.

[lugiacollector.livejournal.com]

Just some of my thoughts....

If a fursuit maker uses a different material than requested without permission, there should be a clear communication open between buyer and maker as often as possible. If not, then it should be halted until there can be communication.

If a fursuit maker is given a deadline that's crazy, I think it's their responsibility to decline. I know things can come up, thus I can't give any promises about deadlines for my fursuit creations, but I take careful time with every task to be sure it's 100% correct without any thread missing/holes and that the durability is as best as I can make it, durability tests are not something to take lightly. I smack things I make against the wall, wear them, do all kinds of poses and movements and I make sure that no thread has popped. Any problems with my durability tests and i go right back and fix it/re-do it, and go through the test phase again. this is why I decline deadlines, to be sure they're getting quality and all the materials they agree upon.

I also feel no, a fursuit maker should never charge more for materials. They also should have your full payment on hand or a backup bank account/cash stored SOMEWHERE if a customer needs a refund. It's crucial to be responsible with cash and have some cash stored some place for emergencies, extra materials, and refunding within a month. And not everyone's going to take my advice, I know, but we're talking business and customers.

A customer buying a fursuit maker things is absolutely un-acceptable. A customer is not the same thing as a parent, and a refund should be given instead if the project can not be completed.

I just feel really bad when I see quotes related to "if an artist is stressed, its their fault and I wont send the quality because i'm stressed out", it's the artist who is responsible for quality.... I'm a perfectionist, I triple check everything. I just feel that every time I make something, it HAS to be quality and carefully done, else i'm not sending it to anyone until it's done with high quality. Because it'd tick me off and my customer off >_< The words Slow and Steady and very important. A fursuit is supposed to be used for wearing and using. *sigh*

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, as Starrik keeps mentioning that they would like to resolve this issue: What would you consider a resolution, Will?

[williamca.livejournal.com]

To make it public.

As I stated above I feel repair to the feet, body, handpaws and such / revamps to the handpaws to look and fit better would be suitable.

I don't feel much can really be done to save the head at all. So I can't ask her to really repair anything on it only to have it refunded because I am unhappy with it so it'd be better to go with just a refund in which she corrected her quote of such to me for $400 now.

As a head alone is $500-600 but a head with a suit is $400
http://puu.sh/a8uBs/ac301674a8.png

[roxyfur.livejournal.com]

I'm glad this was brought out into the light.

I saw this suit at AC, along with several other friends who have experience in suit building. I'm no professional, but I have made 2 heads and various body parts for a couple of different suits, personal and by commission. And even after the suit was repaired somewhat by other makers at the convention, it was in appalling condition. There was foam visible on the face, hot glue spilling out of the seams in the eyes, and the foam carve itself was noticeably crooked. Not to mention how awful the handpaws looked. The claws were poorly shaped and the pawpads looked like uneven lumps glued to the tips of the fur. I don't know why Starrik just didn't use DVC materials, or any other professional parts builder for that matter.

I know this has already been mentioned, but this suit is in no way worth $1400. Not even close. Beware well warranted.

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

I really feel like this maker needs a lot more practice before taking on paid commission work.

Good luck to all involved!

[tealmoonxiv.livejournal.com]

That suit looks horrible, I made a partial with cheap-ass fur that looked better than that.

Regardless of how she acts if that is the quality she's going to put out she should not be doing commissions.

[viciousgoldmoon.livejournal.com]

^ This. I hope her conscience allows her to fully refund the commissioner. Because... wow. That quality is bad.

[doggiy.livejournal.com]

This behaviour is beyond gross. It makes me feel lucky to have chosen the maker I did, even if she is a beginner. Lying about examples and practically stealing your money is unforgivable. :c