Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a good week so far.
I wanted to update again with more manufacturer sneak peeks, as I know you're as excited as I am to see!
Please keep in mind, that these are manufacturer photos, so any B-grade defects shown on any will be things I will be vetting for when they eventually arrive and I can check their individual quality before fulfillment.
This is all I have for now, but I hope you enjoy seeing these!
Hey everyone quick update that surveys will lock tomorrow!! As for the vote regarding Jersey Devil, it was close to being a 50/50 split. So here’s what’s going to happen.
By default it will be fluffy for the oversized Jersey Devil. However there will now be an option in your survey to change it to the ‘non fluffy’ Jersey Devil oversized plush.
I am giving everyone 24 hours before surveys lock tomorrow change it to non fluffy if they want the non fluffy. Then it will be locked in place. So please keep that in mind! Surveys will lock with a final notice sent out tomorrow which means they will automatically lock another 24 hours after the notice is sent out via email.
Change your surveys if you do not want a fluffy oversized Jersey Devil. I will only be ordering the amount of non fluffy ones that are requested via the pledge count amounts. No extras of the non fluffy will be ordered.
The final art has been created for the dragon tide pins collection. You can see the silver and gold color variants below! The water in both variants is intended to be a gradient pearl shimmer. Pearlescent colors are typically done with transparent enamel on top to bind everything together before polishing. The lighter water marks and shaping will be printed on top of this with UV printing, and will not contain pearlescent sheen itself.
Of course, this means more stitch markers are available too, as they are able to share the same mold as the pins and earrings!
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Smoke Test Surveys
The smoke test surveys are heading out. If you receive one of the smoke tests, let me know if you have any issues with using the pledge manager or checking out!
I've got another small update of pin images from my manufacturer to share as a few sneak peeks! They are looking SO CUTE and I can't wait to show you all more.
✨Production Progress
⭐ Mini Enamel Pins: Currently in production
⭐ Cat Enamel Pins: Currently in production ⭐ Freebie Collab Pin: Currently in production
⭐ Sticker Sheets: Shipped, on their way to me ⭐ Vinyl Stickers: In-Hand, though will be placing another order because you guys cleared me out adding extras to your pledge! ⭐ Freebie Sticker: Placing order soon! ⭐ Pin Backer Cards: In-hand
This is all I have for now! I will continue to keep you all updated as things progress.
- Zandra
🎪 Whimsical Woodlands Guest Artist Spotlight
My friend and fellow artist Liz Schmidt is running another big plush campaign for her successful circus animals series! 🎪✨
I've been a guest artist on almost all of her previous projects and this time I had the honor of doing two designs for two characters! I illustrated a shaker keychain for Hickory the Brown Bear and an enamel pin design for Nettles the leucistic raccoon. Hickory is a foodie and Nettles loves insects and it seemed like a perfect fit for them!
Hello little grasshoppers, I have a new update for you like promised about the socks!
Here is V2 from a second manu, which includes the BLUE trilobite socks too!
I think they look fantastic, the colours are so vivid and bright.
Now of course these are pictures from the manufacturer, and I highly doubt I will have them in my hands before March 31st (when surveys close.) So visual pictures is all we have right now of these.
I think the blue trilobites look great, so I hope you all enjoy them <3
Here are the current contenders for popularity!
I think you lot are just as biased about arthropleura as I am... teehee
Now I know surveys close on March 31st which means you won't be able to edit your survey once they're locked.....
HOWEVER....
If you prefer to wait for a review video from me like before before selecting or adding More Socks to your order, you CAN contact me through Backerkit after March 31st, and I can edit that in your order form! I can add more items and charge for them, or change your selection entirely. So don't worry! What you shouldn't do is add another preorder. Because then you'll be charged twice for shipping, and I don't want that to happen for you.
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Pin Status?
I just got a quote for all the pins, and were refining some details with the manu to make the designs work :]
I have all the manufacturing documents prepared, AND backing cards are done as well.
The main big pins will all come with unique backing cards to match with name and fun fact.
Sorry for the horrible screenshot lol
Mini pins will share cards, as well as the trilobite fossils. I'll be pinning those myself based on how many minis you ordered.
OH and of course, something to mention too... While the minis only have one pinback, it WILL be a locking pin.
These pinbacks are notoriously difficult to get off. Because they lock. On account of their name. Anyway, this makes sure your minis and filler pins don't fall off as easily. Or at all. I think maybe you'd rip a chunk of your bag off sooner than get that pinback off. (I'm not looking forward to taking these off to put on cards.)
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FUN STATS
Popularity contest! Who's most popular of the main pins?
Of all the pins ordered so far, Arthropleura is in the lead!! (with 69, Nice) And you guys just keep proving to me that I am right to be biased. Everyone craves the worms. The long bois. The slim gals.
It's okay, I get it.
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THAT'S ALL!! THAT'S ALL I GOT!! Now go forth and edit or finish your surveys before they get locked.
The smoke test is 88% complete with no apparent issues, so surveys have been sent to all backers! Check your email for a link.
As a reminder, the survey is mandatory to receive your rewards. it allows me to collect item counts for manufacturing, but also addresses and shipping fees. If I don't have your address, there's no way for me to send you your pins.
FAQs
When are Surveys Due? I will leave surveys open until the first week of April. I am tentatively placing the survey closing date at APRIL 7. That's 3 weeks to fill out surveys. If you do not fill out your survey by the time orders lock, I may not be able to guarantee you'll receive your first choice of rewards.
If your survey goes unanswered by the time fulfillment is complete, your pledge will be considered a donation and it will not be refunded.
What about Pay Over Time Backers? Pay Over Time backers will receive their surveys when their payment is completed (4 installments total). I will be keeping these folks in mind as I finalize item counts.
Can I switch my Pledge Tier After I get my Survey? Yes, you can! Most pledge tiers are enabled for switching. If you'd like to easily upgrade your pledge, click the "Switch your Pledge Level" link under the big green Get Started button when you first open your survey.
The pledge switch button will allow you to change your pledge tier.
Please note, you are not able to switch your pledge tier back if you change your mind!
How is Shipping Calculated? As outlined before, shipping is not only based on location, but the total weight of your cart. A US backer pledging for the highest tier should expect about $10 in shipping. A US backer pledging for a single pin will see a shipping fee around $6.
Furthermore, if you add multiple add-on pins to your cart, expect your shipping fee to go up incrementally. The heaviest items are the dangling pins and the Six-Legged Stag pin. When will I be Charged? When you complete your survey, you will not immediately be charged for shipping & any extra add-ons. Cards will be charged at a later date, which I will post here via updates. I will wait until closer to fulfillment to charge cards—most likely after I have the pins.
Questions?
As usual, free free to email me at [email protected] or use the "need help?" button at the top right of your survey (next to where your email address is listed).
Location of the help button on your surveys
That's all for now! Expect an update early April when surveys lock. Thank you!
For faster updates, more updates, direct easier communication with meeee, a fun atmosphere and basically a wholesome weirdo family xD It is 18+ so please be aware.
A few minutes ago I've sent off all the surveys! The smoke test (a small % of backers get the survey early to test if things go well) showed one hiccup with the local pickup but it should all be good now! In this update a short summary of things to keep in mind.
What to expect
In your mail you will receive an email with an url to my survey. Follow all the steps, add any items you might missed out on, fill in your address and hit 'place order'. This will make sure your survey is finished and I will receive a tally of all chosen enamel pin designs, which I need to place an order for all the enamel pin designs. Around the time the enamel pins are done with their production I will write another update I am about to lock and charge the survey. This means the choices you've made will be permanent and means you will pay the missing amount. This amount is extra added add-on's, shipping (and possible tariff duty fees) and any missing initial payments.
When the enamel pins are being sent my way (this will be late May early June) I will update again and lock the addresses. Until that update your got all the time to change your address if need be due to a move for instance. But no worries, I will write an update for that before starting fulfillment.
PLEASE fill in your survey as soon as you possibly can! I will need these choices to place an order. I usually wait until 80% is filled in to have an accurate overview.
For those that qualify for Early Amphibian sticker, Returning Amphibian sticker, Pin banner sticker and/or Cross collab freebie, you will find those items in your survey basket already set up!
Combined shipping -> "Local Pickup"
For those who backed both Birds of North America and Frogtastic Frogs you qualify for combined shipping if you want to. You will pay the shipping costs at Birds of North America but these won't be paid in Frogtastic Frogs #2. In my survey you will fill in your address as otherwise except for your country you choose 'Local Pickup'. I URGE you to fill in the rest of your address this due to administrative paperwork on my end. Important notice: this is only available if backed both of our projects. We will check if you qualify for this.
Also good to know is that actual local pickup (at cons or otherwise) is NOT possible.
Only backed Frogtastic Frogs If you only backed Frogtastic Frogs, you can ignore this information and carry on like usual for surveys and fill in your shipping information so you pay the correct amount.
Pre-order shop is open
For those who missed out or have friends asking about enamel pins, the pre-order shop is open. This is a shop via Backerkit which means it's credit card only and fulfillment of these orders will be done together with the Backer pledges. (In de pre-order shop you cannot get the Early/Returning/Pin banner freebies, nor the cross collab freebie pin.)
I believe that's all the important parts, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via Backerkit support (the 'Contact us for help' button on your pledge page). Or you can use the contact form on my website, that way you reach me immediately by email and I can help you out much easier. Please keep an eye on your email when you reach out. I usually respond within 48h to your questions.
I just wanted to post a reminder that surveys are due for this campaign on the 15th!
Thank you to everyone who has already filled it out! There are 11 of you who still need to, so please fill it out ASAP.
Outside of that, I've launched a new campaign as part of the A Pin Of Pride group collab! Love is Super Effective is an expansion on my existing Pokeball mini pins, now with pride flags! Follow the campaign HEREor click the banner!
If you back 3+ campaigns in the collab, you'll get a free pin from each of us! And since you've backed a previous campaign of mine, you will get a free sticker as well if you back!
I hope you all are having a good March so far! Thank you again for all the support!
We have been working on preparing our surveys, and we plan to start sending them by the end of this first week of March.
In the meanwhile, or if you missed the campaign, we have opened up our Pre-order shop for a limited time, here, in Backerkit.
With it, we decided to give another chance to the 'Vampi' Fluffypede Pin, and we have added it as a stretch goal add-on in the Pre-order shop. It will be unlocked if we get at least 10 units ordered.
And we have also added a new 'Flufflock' Vinyl Sticker add-on. Now we have one sticker for each of the 6 main Fluffipedes. And with that we are also adding one add-on: a set of the 6 stickers at a discount!
Both 'Vampi' Fluffypede Pin and the new Sticker and 6 Sticker set will also be added to the surveys.
With these surveys and in the pre-order shop we will not be charging shipping yet. We will do it later, closer to fulfillment.
Finally, the Pre-order shop will only be open for a couple of weeks. Don't miss it!
