Hi everyone,

We’ve been reading the recent comments, and while we still completely understand the frustration, we felt it was important to make one clear update addressing the most common questions and assumptions directly -as it was also suggested. Some of the points below are not brand-new information, but clarifications and repeated answers gathered again in one place for those who may have missed them, forgotten them, or still had questions.

First of all: no, this project is not going to take another 1–2 years to complete.
We are not at the beginning of the process. We are in the final stretch, and that is exactly why we are working so hard right now to resolve the last shipping and logistics issues correctly, rather than rushing into something that would create even more problems.

We know many of you are tired. Please know that we are tired too. We are not happy that this project became so difficult, long, and emotionally exhausting. None of this has been easy on our side either, and we are human beings doing our best to bring this campaign to completion under very difficult circumstances.

❗ PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY.

We took the time to put it together thoughtfully so we could address as many recurring questions, new concerns, and misunderstandings as possible in one place. That is why this update was not rushed.

We have seen several people asking where we are located or where parcels are shipping from, so to clarify once again: We ship from Italy.

The pins are now safely on their way to us and are currently scheduled to arrive to us around April 6–7, based on the latest information we have.

This issue affects shipments going to the United States. It does not affect the rest of the world in the same way.

The shipping block and tariffs-related issue are tied specifically to U.S.-bound parcels, not all international orders worldwide.

These are not extra shipping-related costs.

The additional charges being requested from U.S. backers are import-related and mandatory. More details are explained below.

These are not invented charges, and they are not profit for us. They are tied to U.S. import policies and tariffs that would have had to be paid on arrival regardless.

For several months starting around July/August 2025, shipments from Europe to the United States were completely blocked for us. There was no viable shipping option available at all.

We are now only able to resume U.S. shipping because we secured a DDP (Delivery Duties Paid) solution with our courier. This was not part of our original shipping setup.

With this method, duties and import charges must be paid upfront in order for the shipment to go through. Without it, the parcels simply could not be shipped.

So to be absolutely clear: these are not duplicate shipping charges, and they are not something we created for convenience. Shipping fees and import duties are separate things.

We understand that some backers are in a different financial situation now than they were when they originally pledged. If you are unable to pay right away, your parcel can be held and shipped later once you are able to complete payment.

We are not trying to punish anyone. We are simply trying to work within the only viable shipping method currently available.

 Because of a combination of serious production problems, manufacturer-related issues, and personal hardships, all of which created delays, added costs, and setbacks we had to overcome step by step. 

Yes — we are much closer to the end than some comments are suggesting.

We are in the closing phase of this project, and that is exactly why we are asking everyone to read the updates carefully. Repeated assumptions such as “this will take another two years” are not accurate and only create more confusion for everyone.

 If you lost your survey email, or think you may not have received it, you can recover your survey directly here:

Please enter the email address connected to your pledge, and BackerKit will send you a new survey link.

If your card has expired, your address needs updating, or you need help understanding what you pledged for, please contact us directly through the proper support channel and we will do our best to help.

We want to emphasize again that we are not asking backers to cover every extra cost this campaign created on our side.

We absorbed major production losses caused by manufacturing problems, and we also absorbed shipping cost increases over time. We are not charging you those extra shipping increases.

What we are asking for here is not money for our mistakes, not money for our losses, and not extra profit. These are mandatory import-related charges that U.S. backers would have had to pay upon delivery anyway for parcels entering the United States from abroad. Those funds do not go into our pocket.

And as we have said before, crowdfunding campaigns like this do not create profit for us on their own. Our actual income comes later, through leftovers sales in our shops, only after campaign fulfillment is completed — which is also why it is fully in our interest to finish fulfillment properly.

This project very genuinely could have failed entirely. Instead, we kept going because delivering it to you matters to us.

That does not erase your frustration, and we know that. But it is painful to read comments suggesting that we do not care, that we are doing nothing, or that this project is somehow being dragged out on purpose. That is simply not true.

Please also do not mistake delays for comfort, ease, or indifference. This campaign has not funded some carefree life behind the scenes — it has required ongoing work, sacrifice, and personal cost to keep it moving at all.

We have carried this project through years of problems, production setbacks, personal hardship, and major extra expenses because we wanted to see it through to the end. We are still here, still working, and still doing everything we can to make fulfillment possible.

Comparing this campaign to unrelated creators or campaigns without knowing the full production, shipping, and logistical circumstances is simply not a fair or useful comparison.

We have also seen repeated comparisons to other creators and other campaigns. Respectfully, those comparisons are often not meaningful unless all the circumstances are actually the same — and they almost never are.

Different creators may be producing different numbers of designs, from different Countries, using different manufacturers, different shipping contracts, different parcel routes, different product complexity levels, different team sizes, and different levels of outside support.
Different creators may also have very different funding situation: not just in total amount raised, but in how much funding remains in proportion to what actually has to be produced and paid for. Some campaigns raise substantial surplus beyond their core production and stretch goal costs, while others do not. 

In our case, this campaign includes a large number of highly detailed designs and products, which naturally creates more production steps and more opportunities for things to go wrong.
That does not make your frustration invalid — but it does mean that comparing timelines or outcomes across unrelated campaigns is often misleading.

We also want to gently remind everyone that platforms like BackerKit and Kickstarter are not standard retail shops. They are crowdfunding platforms, which means backers are helping bring products to life that do not yet exist at the time of funding.

That is part of what crowdfunding is: supporting the creation of something new, with the understanding that production, delays, complications, and even total failure can sometimes happen along the way.

That does not mean creators should not be held accountable when problems arise  — and we are not saying that.  Creators should always do their best to resolve those problems whenever possible. We are only saying that crowdfunding is fundamentally different from buying ready-made stock from a regular store, and it comes with different rules, policies, and expectations.

In the end, please think about it: what this project will carry with it is its own story. A story of resilience, of pushing through hardship, and of still choosing to bring something creative and meaningful into the world, despite everything that tried to stop it.
And because of that, the products themselves will carry some of that story and character too. When you look at them, we hope you will be able to remember the resilience, patience, and determination that helped bring them into existence.
For those who supported this project through all of this, there is also something else in it: the knowledge that you were there, that you were part of it, and that your support helped something difficult but meaningful finally come to life. 

We truly do understand why people feel upset. Waiting this long is frustrating, and the added costs are frustrating. We are not dismissing that.

But we also want to say this honestly: problems happen. Frustration does not justify aggressive or passive-aggressive comments, false assumptions, or treating us as though we are creating problems on purpose, acting in bad faith, or trying to scam anyone. Criticism is understandable. Rewriting the facts is not.
We do appreciate those of you who have raised concerns or criticism in a respectful way, without insults or unfair accusations, even indirect ones.

We always put a great deal of time and effort into writing detailed updates, and it is disheartening to find ourselves repeatedly answering the same points that were already addressed. We understand that not everyone reads every update carefully, but that does contribute to confusion, repeated assumptions, and unnecessary hostility.

  

We also want to say this respectfully but clearly: many of the questions currently being repeated in the comments have already been answered in previous updates. One reason we are making this post is precisely to gather those answers again in one place as clearly as possible. We are also pinning this post so it can serve as a clear reference point going forward, and so we can link back to it whenever the same questions come up again.
 

Thank you to everyone who has remained patient, respectful, and willing to read the updates carefully, even if they are long and detailed. It means more than you know.

Final Tiger sample photos for followers only below ⬇️

Here’s the Keychain Sample we finished up:
💚

This puppy is going to be an Add on!
Should I offer it as a base pledge to?

Let me know what you guys think about the lil alien puppy!!

I am SOOOO BEYOND EXCITED AND HONORED to be able to announce: THE MAIN GOAL HAS BEEN REACHED!!!! TAOHUA AND MACARON ARE OFFICIALLY HAPPENING!!!! 🍑🍒😭😭

I am grateful beyond comprehension, truly I cannot convey properly have deep the gratitude I have is for everyone. I never imagined we'd reach the initial goal this fast. I was frankly terrified making the goal $5k and unlocking both Taohua and Macaron in one go, because I was worried that maybe it'd not be possible.

But not only was it possible, it happened in the first few hours of launch, and I genuinely can't believe it nor can I thank you all enough for this. Just, with my entire heart soul and being: thank you, truly and with all my love 🩷

I have added a 3 plushie bundle tier for the regular plush bundle and the bundle with the small ticket goodies included (the care packages)!! If you want to help us hopefully reach our next Fruit Friend goal stop, Muffin the fennec fox, feel free to change your pledge to the 3 plushie bundle/care package if you'll happen to want all three.

Please keep in mind Muffin will not be available as a plush choice unless we reach $8,000 in total funding, but I'm hoping with such a strong start that maybe it can be possible!! 🥹🩷🫐 Muffin's sample has been secured and is being finalized soon, so I'll be able to share updates on Muffin's prototype soon!

I have also brainstormed a 5th friend in case we reach Muffin and Tangerabbit a bit faster than I was anticipating! I've added the design early as a sneak peek for backers to see!

Thank you again, truly, I just cannot believe this at all, and I truly just thank you all for allowing Taohua and Macaron's sweet dream to come true 🩷 Today I have shaken, cried, sobbed, and yelled with joy. Truly a roller coaster of emotions today, and I am so grateful to you all. Thank you thank you thank you thank you always and forever!!!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷

As always, feel free to let me know if you have any questions here or my email ([email protected])!!

THANK YOU!! WE DID IT!! YAY TEAM!!!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷 NEXT STOP: MUFFIN!

Hi everyone! The Fruit Friends are almost here...?!

omg, I truly cannot BELIEVE the project is LAUNCHING TOMORROW?! Where did the time go?! I've been working on setting up this campaign for months and the debut of the Fruit Friends is finally on its way tomorrow!!?? What the heck...

I'm also being so chill and normal and relaxed about it too, like I'm totally not even a LITTLE nervous (yet super pumped and excited as well)!!!! :3

🍒🍑🍊🫐🍒🍑🍊🫐

I also wanted to finally address some questions I get a lot when I launch a new campaign in the form of an FAQ type of thing, which you can find below here!~ <3

If you don't see an answer to your question here in the FAQ or if you need extra clarification on any of the points, feel free to email me ([email protected]) or comment here on this post, and I'll be more than happy to help in any possible way I can!

🍒🍑🍊🫐🍒🍑🍊🫐

Lastly, I have updated Muffin's design ever so slightly so she resembles a fennec fox a little more closely~

Her nose and mouth muzzle will also stick out more due to how a fennec fox's snout actually looks in real life, so she will appear more fox-like all around.

Another small Muffin sidenote: I also already secured the sample for our fox friend Muffin as well, so prototype pictures will be shared really soon! I can't wait to finally share Muffin's sample, since I know everyone's pretty excited for her too ~!

🍒🍑🍊🫐🍒🍑🍊🫐

Thank you as always and forever with my entire heart and being for your support, whether you're new to my plushies/art/etc. or a long time supporter. It's genuinely hard to describe just the sheer amount of gratitude I have for being given the opportunity to host another plush campaign due to your continued (or new/recent which is super awesome too and I'm so grateful!!) support of my designs and work. It means more to me than I can even put into words.

I am just beyond grateful to you all with my whole soul, and I really hope you'll enjoy the launch tomorrow! The project will go live tomorrow at 12:30pm EST, so I really hope to see you there! ;v;!!!! <3

Amazing job all of you to our loyal fans and new fans! 

Thank you so much for getting us this far! We are in the home stretch! I’m setting up the surveys which will go out in a few days after campaign ends and will allow for further add-ons and the pre-order store. 

But can we unlock coy ness before we end?? I think we can! If not you all are amazing and we are so grateful for how far we've gotten! 

We need just a little more to unlock her so lets see if we can!

Hello everyone! I wanted to announce a big yet positive, necessary change to the project...:

After not only deliberating on this for a while, and after doing some calculations to make sure this is actually feasible: I will be changing the initial goal to unlock at $5,000 BUT once reached, BOTH Taohua AND Macaron will BOTH, SIMULTANEOUSLY, BE UNLOCKED AND AVAILABLE TOGETHER! Macaron will no longer be a stretch goal and will be the initial goal ALONGSIDE Taohua!

I think that ultimately, given the poll and with the help of Backerkit's algorithm telling me that a $5,000 goal is very feasible and possible to reach, this is the best outcome and decision I could make regarding the initial goal, so that once it is reached, the two plushies that forefronted this project will be available together. I think this decision will hopefully erase and avoid a lot of disappointment if we don't reach the stretch goal, help with momentum, and create more excitement while avoiding any confusion regarding which of the initial plushies are available since they'll both be available at the same time once $5,000 is reached.

Muffin the fennec fox and Tangerabbit will remain stretch goals but hopefully this all will even help us get those unlocked more easily too!

There will also be discount bundles available for anyone wanting both Taohua and Macaron together.

If you have any questions or anything about any of this change, feel free to email me ([email protected]) or comment here!

I thank you all always for your support and interest in this project and I am super excited to share the smaller ticket goodies as well very soon once those are finalized!

Hope you have a fantastic day everyone, and I hope this decision works best for you, I think it's the best overall decision to make as many people satisfied in the end as possible!