A metal bookmark tier ($10), add-on for one metal bookmark ($10) and a pair of both Sakura and Hops bookmarks ($18) add-on have been added to the campaign already due to an unexpectedly large amount of backers saying they would want one! (57% out of a pool of over 100 already) For those pledging to just the bookmark tier with no pins, you can add an additional metal bookmark as an add-on for $9 of your choice (exclusive to this tier) since I'll be able to save some on shipping by using a flat mailer instead of a box.
Printed Bookmarks will likely still be added, but I will only be adding them if I have time to complete the art before the campaign ends. I will update if/when that happens. If you want to vote on which designs will be added if I can first do Iris, Cornflower, Chrysanthemum, and Foxglove... you can do so at this Discord link HEREwhere I already have a poll running.
Slight update to Sakura dragon, where I forgot to fill in the deep red on the back.
Hello everyone! Hope everyone has their orders finalized, we are going to be locking these orders and charging cards on the 9th. As of this update, that's 2 days from now.
Do not worry, if you move between now and dragon time, you can always email me the new address.
It took me a bit of time finalizing a few things, but we are still going underway =)
Samples are in-progress, but here is a look at them thus far:
ALL samples lack their clear enamel fill areas, screen print, and some of the expected details. However, most are looking pretty great. They likely will need some adjustments, but I can't say for sure until the first round of samples is complete.
Here is a summary for July for Bouquet of Dragons:
Survey are still open, 16 backers still need to fill it out! I sent out reminders a little bit ago.
Survey will stay open though until samples are complete
Until Survey lock, you can manually update your address, add more pins / stickers, or select different stuff if you have changed your mind. You can even message me if you want to swap around your stickers for pins to some degree.
The Pre-Order store will be open until samples finalize as well. So if you missed out, you still have a chance to get them steeply discounted.
If you are a backer that can't find your survey, feel free to email me so I can try to help you out. Otherwise you can try this first: Survey Recovery Page
See you all in August, when samples are hopefully more complete!
So, if you used a Pledge Level or Add-on for a 3 sticker pack, you should be able to add more sticker packs on now.
And a note on how, because of my flub, the 3 Beer Dragon sticker pack works on the Pre-order store.
You will have to go through the process of purchasing the pack/your order _BEFORE_ you get the option to choose your stickers. I've noted this on the 3 sticker pack pre-order item as well. This only applies to the pre-order store, not to folks answering the survey. I know that's not ideal, and have submitted feedback to Backerkit about it.
As always, I'm happy to answer questions, and otherwise, Cheers!
PPS, I got some of the new stickers made for Tekko this last weekend, so here's a photo:
top row: Hawaiian Hibiscus, Green Beer Dragon, Mango, bottom row: Amber Ale, Stout.
Got the helping hand from Backerkit and we fixed the broken two-pin tier/add on. If you filled out your survey before and stalled because of the hiccup you should now be good to go. If you managed to complete your survey with a lack of choice you should have gotten an email with a link to your survey to redress.
Surveys in full will be going out shortly, and the pre-order store has the two pin option available again.
Also fixed, the screenprint on Stout:
Stout (green beer) with fixed screenprint.
Stout with fixed screenprint.
The colors on the two pins are slightly different, and I'm likely to use an amalgam on the full production once I have the samples for this and Amber Ale in hand... along with the considerable number of Mango and Hawaiian Hibiscus pins I've ordered.
As always, I'm around for questions, and otherwise, Cheers!
Howdy folks, we found a big enough hiccup with the "A Toast of Two Beer Dragons or Shields" bundle that it needs a fix before I can send out the rest of the surveys. (So if you're having trouble with this option as a smoke test taker, it's not you, and hang tight.)
I've already sent off a help request to Backerkit, but as I need to depart for Tekko shortly I won't have time to address it until I get back.
I've also temporarily hidden this option on the pre-order store.
I should be able to respond to comments, but my responses will be pretty delayed.
By the way, if you're at Tekko you can see the Green Beer Dragon sample pin, and stickers in person! Expect to see another update Monday or Tuesday with a fix in place and the rest of the surveys going out.
I finally got through sending my Kickstarter rewards and doing a count of available pins from The Return for events and the Pledgebox surveys.
Then after much head scratching and fumbling with said survey construction (and much help from the team at Pledgebox!), that's been completed and smoke tests have gone out to about a dozen folks.
Samples for Amber Ale are likely going into round 2, as I was unhappy with the clear enamel chosen for its belly/underside. (It's a little too yellow green.) It'll also need an adjustment to the mold; similar to what I went through with Cascadian Dark. The process that changes the metal color bled into the entire beer glass area, which overpowers the semi transparent white enamel. So while I tried to avoid it having a hard line on the shoulder/wing area "behind" the beer glass, it will be necessary to stop the color bleed.
Samples for Stout are getting an adjustment on the screenprint; both came out too light so we're tying a darker color. I will also likely go one darker on the tail's soft enamel for full production.
The enamel and screenprint color fixes I consider to be minor, the mold fix is more worrisome because if it can't be modified we'll need an entirely new mold. But I trust in the skills of the folks that work with these materials and am likely worrying over nothing.
Here are some photos!
Amber Ale sample, no screenprints.
Stout sample, green beer variant. Screenprint too light, but gosh I love this chonker.
I'm heading to Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) for Tekko this weekend, so if I don't have time to double check and/or adjust after the smoke tests before I hit the road, expect early next week the rest of the surveys will go out. I'll also have info and a link to the (now open) pre-order store to advertise at the convention. Here's the link if you want to pass it on to fellow beer dragon enthusiasts: Drachtoberfest: Green and Gold pre-order store
Thanks again for y'all's patience while I had a ... whole bunch of curveballs thrown at me over the past few months. As always, I'm happy to answer questions and otherwise, Cheers!
Thank you guys for getting those surveys finished!! We are at 90%, and I have a pretty good estimate of the final order counts, but if we can get those last few surveys in, that would be fantastic!
Based on the add-ons, there may also be some reorders of some fan favorites, such as the Rainbow Mythical Dragon (90+ ordered!)
More fun stats:
The Strawberry Family collab pin came in around 205! The Wine dragon collab pin came in at around 170!
Orders will be locked and cards will be charged when we get a closer survey count. Reminders will be sent out, but if they remain unresponsive, we may go forward with locking in the orders we have so we can keep things moving along =)
