I have now sent every package out except one, which we are continuing to work on getting their dearly departed sticker perfect.
As such, the project is considered completed enough that the 1-month countdown has officially begun! You have until July 31st to complete your survey and resolve any payments, or else you will no longer be able to redeem rewards!
To everyone else, thank you so much for your patience. The beginning of this year has been a long and hard struggle, and I continue to get sick often from stress in my life. Allowing me the grace of extra time really means a lot to me.
And now, for some very upsetting news.
APL and The Tornados:
As I've talked about, the Animal Protective League here in Springfield (Where donations from this project moving forward were to be donated to) was destroyed earlier this month from severe storms. The roofs of all their facilities were torn off, the offices and pens flooded, and devastating damage was done to the grounds.
All the animals and staff are safe, but the property is totaled. I've been spending time helping out as much as I can, even with my limited capacity and full-time working schedule.
At the moment, I am working to ensure donations continue to get to them, or they are turned into critically requested items from their wish list. Whatever they need as I sell enamel pins through the Dearly Departed series.
At this time, APL is focusing on recovering and regrouping; there have not been any public statements about permanent closures. As such, donations will continue to go to them.
If that changes, and APL stops operations, I will make an update on the new charities the funds will go to.
At this time, their website does not have the most up-to-date information, and their Facebook is the best way to check out their situation.
I am starting the package making and shipping palooza today, so the Miaws will be arriving soon at their new homes. Thank you so much for all your patience and understanding, but most of all for being a part of my creative life and journey 🥰
On another good note: Today, I also launchMischief Gnomes, a new campaign for Pin Quest 2. So if you have time, go check it out and let me know what you think ✨
I wanted to share that we have finished quality checking and backed 1500+ pins ready for fulfillment! The freebie art print arrived and looks great! We are still waiting for the last item, the keychains, to arrive (production of the keychains was completed last week and is currently in transit to us). In the meantime, we have already begun fulfilling pledges with the items that are ready to ship. Here are some photos of the pins and packed orders.
🎃 Canada & International Pledges Fulfilled & Shipped! 🎃
The majority of Canadian and International pledges (outside of Canada & US) have been fulfilled. We have already dropped off packages and sent out tracking numbers (please check your email inbox).
If your order was fulfilled by PostNL (Post Netherlands), you may see a blank page or an error page at first. The tracking link page may need to be refreshed several times to display accurate tracking updates. You may also check the same tracking number with your domestic shipping carrier once the package has been handed off to the last-mile carrier (domestic shipping carrier of the shipping address).
For pledges fulfilled by PostNL (Post Netherlands) and APC, there is no return service, and returned shipments will be disposed of by the carrier if undeliverable. If your package becomes undeliverable, please message us on Backerkit or via email: [email protected].
If your order included a keychain, we have set your package aside and will ship your rewards as soon as the keychains arrive!
🦇 US Pledges Fulfillment Update 🦇
After the keychains arrive, we will be sending our pins, keychains, and art prints from Canada to a third-party fulfillment company in the US for fulfilling US pledges. Your order will be fulfilled within the US, and hopefully, there will be fewer duty fees and taxes by using a third-party fulfillment company. We will provide another update once everything is ready to ship to the US.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us on Backerkit or via email: [email protected].
We’re happy to share that all pins have been fully produced and have arrived safely at our home. Everything is ready on our end, and we’re preparing to begin shipping very soon.
Before we start, we need a few quick actions from you:
Please confirm your shipping address Kindly review and confirm your address within 2 days. After this period, all orders will be locked, and we won’t be able to make changes once shipping begins.
If you haven’t completed your survey yet, please do so as soon as possible. We can’t ship your rewards without a completed survey.
Our Black and Gold Cat Campaign Is Live
Our black and gold cat enamel pin campaign is currently live, and we’d love for you to check it out if you haven’t already.
The campaign includes early bird rewards and multiple freebies, available only to eligible backers. Your support and even a simple follow help the project reach more people and build momentum, which means a lot to us as small creators.
Hopping into your mailbox with an update! (In case you backed my previous project, sorry for all the extra emails that almost reads the same, ahaha!) The survey's have been locked and cards have been charged! There are currently 8 with failed card charges but that won't stop me from preparing for the fulfillment. Do check if you have a message about your failed charge and have it fixed asap!
So what next?
As we speak my partner has been un-bagging all the pins ready to check the quality of them all. This week I'll order the backing cards for the pins! The pins will have to wait until these arrive, but in the meantime other orders I'll be collecting all the orders to a speedy fulfillment once the cards arrive.
In total I have about 80 parcels to pack for this project and with other deadlines still active (along with an active crowdfunding project at the same time) I'll be packing them at a slower pace. In February the parcels will all be shipped off to their new homes tho!
Finalize your address!
Now is the time to finalize the address you want me to ship the items to! If you need more time for a final address, due to a move or something, please let me know (comments below, dm on instagram/bsky, contact through contact form on my webshop) and I'll think along as what we can do.
Leftovers of this crowdfunding project will hit my webshop later and will be available at the upcoming conventions as well.
That's it for now. Leaving you with an army of pins on our dining table. The sun came out so nicely too, does make the colours a bit off. The little candy are still bagged but they look so cute.
Great news today in my inbox from my contact, the Floris the Frog enamel pins are being shipped off! She added a bunch of pictures of them and they look so good, I can't wait to see them irl.
The surveys will be locked and charged when the pins arrive. If I have to pin-point a date for it I would say around 26th January. Fulfillment will start once they arrived and grading has been done. May this be your heads up for the charge of the card!
And that's it for now! Here are the pictures of the pins, as it's always fun to see! - Appel
I hope you’re having a great week. I am sending out smoke test for the surveys, please keep an eye out for an email. If there are no issues surveys will be sent out.
I finished the Art Witch designs. I know the stained glass accessory had the most votes, but it just wasn’t coming together as a cohesive collection, so we have a painting artist. 🎨
If you have any questions or issues with your survey please comment on this update.
We did it! 🥳 And we unlocked the Art Witch Set at the very end! Thank you so much for bringing this project to life! I will have the designs finished before the survey is sent out on the 15th.
Failed Pledges As stated in the campaign graphic: Just remember, only pledges completed prior to surveys being sent unlock the magickal extras like free gifts, stretch goals, and campaign bonuses.
Any bonuses will be added to your pledge prior to surveys being sent. Bonuses will be added based on FUNDS PAID, not Pledged.
✨Plus: If ALL PLEDGES ARE PAID PRIOR TO SURVEYS, EVERYONE WILL GET A BONUS MINI PIN of a new design!✨
So take a moment to double check your pledge payment has processed. If you selected the “Pay Over Time” option you have nothing to worry about as long as each installment payment clears.
I will post another update closer to surveys as a reminder that they are being sent. Surveys will be due on Nov. 30th. This is when shipping costs and any funds owed from add-ons will be charged.
As we did not reach the full goal, I am only able to fund two pin designs. Please choose your favorite! The two most voted for will be made as pins, and the other designs will be avaliable as keychains if not funded as a stretch goal during the survey. Thank you!
