Hi everybody,

Greg from AlpenCrowd here. I’m helping Julia with the logistical side of things so she can stay focused on the creative part. Getting the bookkeeping right took a bit longer than expected, and the distribution of backers turned out to be a little different than we anticipated, so we had to make a few adjustments.

All of these dates have been confirmed with the necessary partners involved.

The current US administration has announced new tariffs on EU goods starting August 1. These would add 30 percent to the total value of your order.

I believe the US and the EU are likely to reach an agreement before long. For that reason, waiting out the negotiation seems like the best option at no extra cost to you. We have storage available and will check in again at the end of August to decide whether to move forward with shipping or wait a bit longer.

There will also be an option to pay the additional charges and receive your rewards earlier. I assumed most people would prefer to wait, but the faster route is available if needed.

If you are not located in the United States, your fulfillment is not affected.

My role in this project is supportive, but I’m a creator as well. I design updated versions of traditional, non-poker card decks. My current Kickstarter features a beginner-friendly version of Tarok, a Central European cousin of Tarot used for specific games. If that sounds interesting, feel free to check it out here.

If you have any questions, just post them in the comments. I’ll do my best to get you an answer and help make fulfillment as smooth as possible!

All the best,
Greg

Hi everyone!

I’m so proud (and a little nervous!) to share a new add-on I’ve been working on. A handcrafted zodiac necklace.

Each pendant features your zodiac sign, carved into natural wood with its own unique grain. You can choose between rich walnut or warm cherry—cherry has this soft reddish glow. Both woods shift in color depending on the angle of the light, revealing beautiful textures and patterns that are impossible to capture in photos.

I really wish I could show you how magical they look in person.

You can choose between a steel casing with a matching chain, or a golden casing with a leather cord.

Every necklace is made to order and hand-assembled by me. You’ll find the new add-on in the Pledge Manager and the Pre-Order store now. I hope you like it!

- Julia

Hi everyone! 

Great news: The smoke test went smoothly, and I’ve just sent out the surveys to all backers! Keep an eye on your inbox for that email. 

Also, the Pre-Order Store is now open! Feel free to take a look here.

Thanks so much for all your support ❤️
 – Julia

First off, so sorry for the delay!

Over the past few weeks, Greg has been wrestling with getting Stripe to play nice with AlpenCrowd’s bookkeeping software… and let’s just say it’s been a bit more stubborn than expected. Normally, Stripe is super EU-friendly and integrates easily, so this little hiccup took us by surprise.

Since this is a fairly small project and surprise CPA bills can add up fast, we held off on launching the pledge manager to avoid increasing the number of transactions. We have now committed on launching a pledge manager next week and figuring it out as we go.

First, since the coins are engraved locally, that gave us the flexibility to just go ahead and start production on the first batch of non-personalized coins. So while the pledge manager’s a little late, production is already rolling and will run in parallel. The timeline’s not taking a hit at this point.

Second, I used the extra time to lock in suppliers and take some more photos! Especially for things like the pouches and printed guides, you’ll now see the final product in the pledge manager.

Can’t wait to open it up next week!

Thanks so much for your patience and support.
Julia

I just wanted to say thank you!

This is my first crowdfunding campaign ever and I am stoked that over a 100 people joined!

Next steps: the pledge manager will go live in about two weeks. That’s where you’ll be able to customize your coins and finalize your order.

I can`t wait!

best,
- Julia