Here is also picture I have taken of the pins so far!
The transparency on the meganeura looks SO good. I was very unsure from the manu photos but it actually looks incredible. I still think the set of antique trilobites is my favourite though. I definitely need to make more designs like that!
SOCKS
They're on the way! Socks are wrapping up production and are shipped! Here's a picture of the packaging.
I have asked to remove the plastic bags, there's no need for that.
I've also been wearing the samples recently and I do have to confirm- they are super comfortable and soft. I wore them at Dokomi when walking 10k steps a day and they were fantastic.
OTHER MERCH
The cicada and stickersheets are made at home therefore there is no rush about them! The cicada came out to be over 2in in size because it way too small with the wings. It's around 7.5cm in width now.
The postcard and singular stickers are currently being made so I am awaiting for them to arrive!
SHIPPING
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room.
I finally have shipping figured out.
I have tested a new broker and confirmed that US packages arrive just fine with them- if a little strange. Neither one incurred tariffs. This is only good news! But at the same time I don't want to say it's foolproof.
Here is a snipper from a shop update I put out a few days ago regarding US shipping on my socials:
So without needing to repeat what I said, US shipping starts at €13, with hopefully prepaid tariffs, and then €17 if your items are over 500g. Which, unless you're ordering like nearly 15 pins you're probably not gonna reach. Or even be over 2kg, which has another charge on it.
Anyway. The second part of shipping changes is that I will ship all pins out in A5 cardboard boxes rather than bubble mail when they're under 100g. Which means the rate jumps from 'small letter' to 'large letter'. This is because I sometimes have had pins arrive with dented pin posts depending on what type of sorting machinery the destination country uses. Large letters are 2.5cm max in depth, so they will no longer have the chance of getting crushed in rollers unless there's a freak accident and car drives over it or a fedex guy curb stomps the pinto the pavement or the postman loses their wife and takes it out on delivering mail by-
Anyway.
Here's the new and REAL price list we will be sticking with.
Untracked shipping (up to 2 pins, stickers, prints, flatmail)
If your package is abnormally large (over 2kg) then I will send two packages and the price will be higher. I will refund any extra charges because it's very difficult to set it up otherwise (it's x2 more expensive if I sent just one package once it's over 2kg.)
This is reflected on the campaign page now too.
YOUR CARDS WILL NOW BE CHARGED FOR SHIPPING.
So please be prepare for it! I'm planning on charging THURSDAY 6pm UTC.
I will now continue to wait for the rest of the stuff, and start grading the pins in the meantime too.
---------
That's all for now folks! I shall return with another update once I have everything else in my hands and ready to ship.
Long time no update. I have been deep in talking with manus for weeks now, preparing files, catching bugs (and errors), and finalising packaging.
Before I begin, here's a reminder to those who haven't filled out their surveys or had declined cards, please try to get them fixed before the project ends!
────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──
So let's talk about all of this!
SOCK SAMPLE UPDATE? WHERE ARE THE BLUE?
If you've been following me on instagram or tiktok you've probably seen the sock oopsie that happened with the second manufacturer.
TLDR; The socks weren't woven, but instead sublimation printed.
This obviously put quite a strain on the timeline of things. Not only did they take very long getting lost in shipment but also getting these remade was a hassle. I didn't go with the second manfuctarurer in the end, and they're only redoing one of the sock designs in the proper way I wanted (I still have not received an update on that.) This was a communication issue because of the language barrier.
Either way, I returned to my previous manu and word vomitted so much on them that the Arthropleura, who should have been a dark grey (the only edit I asked for) turned bubblegum pink.
This is objectively hilarious, who knew this goth icon came in pastels too?
This is of course fixed and thank you to my manu who decided to make a sample first rather than taking my misread thread number as truth. We both messed up there.
THE BLUE SOCKS.
Right the blue socks. The trilobites!!! Right right yes of course.
They look great! I like how bright the actual sock came out, and they translated the patterns really really well into embroidery! I will not be getting a physical sample of this one, simply because that would delay the project by a month. But I'm very happy with how it came out and it's much simpler than the other two.
The socks are in full production now ✨✨
And here's a snippet of the packaging I desgined for them too! No plastic, just cardboard :)
PINS?! BUT WE'RE HERE FOR THE PINS!!!
Okay okay, I won't keep you all in suspense much longer.
Because the majority of the pins I designed use custom effects, special metals, and electroplating, those will take longer. But I have gotten pictures of the simple technique ones that have been completed!
I'm very happy with how the giga arthropleura came out, as well as the antique minis! So cool. So stinking cool. Man we get to make such cool things thanks to everyone's excitement.... wow....
TIMELINE
Now it doesn't escape me that it's nearly the end of May and we're getting closer to the due date for this project. I am in the process of double checking shipping with USA customers for the last time and tweaking details while I have the EU and UK confirmed as working correctly!
I was hoping to have the stuff done at the end of April, shipped in May, received in June. That obviously didn't happen on account of the many holidays that happen during this timeframe overseas. Which is completely fine. We also had the misfortune with socks happen, making all the files correctly, submitting vectors, getting hired on a contract, and a few community group orders I coordinated for Irish artists; it all took a little longer than I expected it to.
Either way, we're on a good road right now. And if it all goes smoothly, I should hopefully have all the stock by the end of June, or early July. It's not a big time slip up in the grand scheme of things, about a month off, but I still think it's worth being transparent with everyone on how things are going!
The stickers and postcard will be made once everything is shipped off to me, on account that they're made locally and will take only a week or two to be complete. So I am not rushing with them, and also need to clean my 'office' (guest bedroom) first from con season. Con-goers- you know how a room looks during con crunch. Even cosplayers, I'm calling all of us out.
────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──
So that's pretty much it for now! I haven't updated for a while because it's not a very substantial update. Just know things are grand for the moment and production is going ahead 👍
On a half related topic- anyone going to Dokomi? I'll be there in Hallf 4! I'll have my older enamel pins with me to be picked up :) Come say hi!
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.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
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.)
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
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.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
THAT'S ALL!! THAT'S ALL I GOT!! Now go forth and edit or finish your surveys before they get locked.
Hello everyone! This is a notification going out to EVERYONE this time to let you know that we have both surveys gone out AND the pre-order store open!
If you missed the main campaign and still want goodies, here's where you'll get em! These will be shipped out alongside campaign rewards. Shipping is charged later!
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
SURVEYS!
Surveys went out two days ago at like 4am, don't ask me why I was awake.
A good portion of you have already answered it, in fact over half of ye did! That's an incredible stat for just two days. Let's get the other half answered now ;D
Here's a few common questions!
Can I change my survey after completing it? Yes, you can change the survey up until it's locked however many times you wish!
Can I change my address? Addresses will be locked much later so you can also change that however many times you wish!
Can I change to a different tier? You should be able to switch to any tier in the settings of your pledge! In the survey too.
When will cards be charged? Once the surveys end and are locked, which will be at the end of the month, so there's time!
Why isn't shipping being calculated? I'm testing out a new broker with my current Etsy orders so I can lower shipping costs for everyone. I estimate shipping to be charged around May once I have everything settled! This will be a third seperate charge. I normally wouldn't do this, but I would much rather the broker work out than charging obscene amounts for tracking.
SURVEYS CLOSE ON THE 31st of MARCH!!
Usually I would give it 10 days to be filled out, HOWEVER, we're waiting for new sock samples, and I want to give people ample time to make informed choices on their purchase! I can't guarantee I'll have the samples in my hands by then, but I will at least have photos.
That said, I would still like if everyone could fill out their surveys for the main pin counts asap. You can edit the survey later for the socks if you're waiting for that, but the sooner I have correct pin counts, the sooner I can put them into production!
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Thank you again for the continued support on this project. I don't think I can ever be thankful enough for everyone trusting me with this vision and being excited to learn about prehistoric creatures.
I'd like to mention as well that this year I will be at Dokomi! It'll be my first time vending in Germany and I will have all my past pins with me along with a bunch of bug stuff. So if you're attending too please come by and say hi and tell me what your favourite bug is!
That's all for today, next update I'm hoping will be about socks ;D
I was going to make this update as part of the survey coming out- but the survey is not out. The few days that had me sick have certainly delayed my progress on defeating pledge manager. I have to descend into the trenches once I'm back from Dublin Comicon this weekend. This entire next week will be dedicated into the surveys, the pre-order store, and sweating.
Once the survey is out, you will get 10 days to fill it out.
The second sock samples are on their way to be produced, along with the new design now too that the manufacturer is back from holiday. They will take about 2 weeks from writing this update.
If you haven't watched my review yet for the previous samples, here it is again: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK
OKAY NEW ARTWORK!
You guys have voted for the anomalocaris foil print for the postcard! That's great because I highkey wanted to do that one too. So here it is!
All the gold will be foil! This postcard comes as a freebie with every order, but you can get extras during the survey.
PIN ARTWORKS
Here they are~
I definitely did not put the wrong text on the trilobite fossils.
Here's the actual Opabinia sticker for backers who pledged within the first 48 hours:
I might put sparkles on it too (it will be homemade!)
You'll see these graphics during the survey too.
For the rubber charm that's free when you spend over €45...
This charm will probably not be shown for confirmation during the survey- That is because I will count your extra survey add-ons (excluding shipping) as part of the pool. So if you only spend €39 during the main campaign with add-ons, you can add extra things during the survey to make it to the €45 mark. Or add the roach itself for a fee (rubs my little roach arms together menacingly.)
I'll add the roach after the surveys are over to everyone's orders. So don't sweat if you don't immediately see it as part of your pledge.
Shipping Headache
My post office is a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED], and I'm sure I sounded like a deranged conspiracy clown from the Live Chat transcript from early this week. Thanks to my collab partner I think I have found another fullfillment partner that would be a dream to work with for tracked mail provided it's not a scam. I will be testing it out with my Etsy and custom orders for the next while.
It could potentially lower the tracked shipping price if we're lucky. This does give me that headache that I may not be able to charge for shipping until I am 100% sure that the service is legit. However, it if does end up being trustworthy, I'll be able to charge €13 for international tracked orders instead of €17-21. Europe is cheaper too. This is mainly for TRACKED things (so if you have 3+ standard pins.)
I think this may be a necessary thing to do in the end, because I want to strangle some CEO throats right now.
Okay I shall see you all next week to continue the project making good headway!! Have a lovely thrusday and friday and weekend ya'll!
Here is also picture I have taken of the pins so far!
The transparency on the meganeura looks SO good. I was very unsure from the manu photos but it actually looks incredible. I still think the set of antique trilobites is my favourite though. I definitely need to make more designs like that!
SOCKS
They're on the way! Socks are wrapping up production and are shipped! Here's a picture of the packaging.
I have asked to remove the plastic bags, there's no need for that.
I've also been wearing the samples recently and I do have to confirm- they are super comfortable and soft. I wore them at Dokomi when walking 10k steps a day and they were fantastic.
OTHER MERCH
The cicada and stickersheets are made at home therefore there is no rush about them! The cicada came out to be over 2in in size because it way too small with the wings. It's around 7.5cm in width now.
The postcard and singular stickers are currently being made so I am awaiting for them to arrive!
SHIPPING
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room.
I finally have shipping figured out.
I have tested a new broker and confirmed that US packages arrive just fine with them- if a little strange. Neither one incurred tariffs. This is only good news! But at the same time I don't want to say it's foolproof.
Here is a snipper from a shop update I put out a few days ago regarding US shipping on my socials:
So without needing to repeat what I said, US shipping starts at €13, with hopefully prepaid tariffs, and then €17 if your items are over 500g. Which, unless you're ordering like nearly 15 pins you're probably not gonna reach. Or even be over 2kg, which has another charge on it.
Anyway. The second part of shipping changes is that I will ship all pins out in A5 cardboard boxes rather than bubble mail when they're under 100g. Which means the rate jumps from 'small letter' to 'large letter'. This is because I sometimes have had pins arrive with dented pin posts depending on what type of sorting machinery the destination country uses. Large letters are 2.5cm max in depth, so they will no longer have the chance of getting crushed in rollers unless there's a freak accident and car drives over it or a fedex guy curb stomps the pinto the pavement or the postman loses their wife and takes it out on delivering mail by-
Anyway.
Here's the new and REAL price list we will be sticking with.
Untracked shipping (up to 2 pins, stickers, prints, flatmail)
If your package is abnormally large (over 2kg) then I will send two packages and the price will be higher. I will refund any extra charges because it's very difficult to set it up otherwise (it's x2 more expensive if I sent just one package once it's over 2kg.)
This is reflected on the campaign page now too.
YOUR CARDS WILL NOW BE CHARGED FOR SHIPPING.
So please be prepare for it! I'm planning on charging THURSDAY 6pm UTC.
I will now continue to wait for the rest of the stuff, and start grading the pins in the meantime too.
---------
That's all for now folks! I shall return with another update once I have everything else in my hands and ready to ship.
Long time no update. I have been deep in talking with manus for weeks now, preparing files, catching bugs (and errors), and finalising packaging.
Before I begin, here's a reminder to those who haven't filled out their surveys or had declined cards, please try to get them fixed before the project ends!
────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──
So let's talk about all of this!
SOCK SAMPLE UPDATE? WHERE ARE THE BLUE?
If you've been following me on instagram or tiktok you've probably seen the sock oopsie that happened with the second manufacturer.
TLDR; The socks weren't woven, but instead sublimation printed.
This obviously put quite a strain on the timeline of things. Not only did they take very long getting lost in shipment but also getting these remade was a hassle. I didn't go with the second manfuctarurer in the end, and they're only redoing one of the sock designs in the proper way I wanted (I still have not received an update on that.) This was a communication issue because of the language barrier.
Either way, I returned to my previous manu and word vomitted so much on them that the Arthropleura, who should have been a dark grey (the only edit I asked for) turned bubblegum pink.
This is objectively hilarious, who knew this goth icon came in pastels too?
This is of course fixed and thank you to my manu who decided to make a sample first rather than taking my misread thread number as truth. We both messed up there.
THE BLUE SOCKS.
Right the blue socks. The trilobites!!! Right right yes of course.
They look great! I like how bright the actual sock came out, and they translated the patterns really really well into embroidery! I will not be getting a physical sample of this one, simply because that would delay the project by a month. But I'm very happy with how it came out and it's much simpler than the other two.
The socks are in full production now ✨✨
And here's a snippet of the packaging I desgined for them too! No plastic, just cardboard :)
PINS?! BUT WE'RE HERE FOR THE PINS!!!
Okay okay, I won't keep you all in suspense much longer.
Because the majority of the pins I designed use custom effects, special metals, and electroplating, those will take longer. But I have gotten pictures of the simple technique ones that have been completed!
I'm very happy with how the giga arthropleura came out, as well as the antique minis! So cool. So stinking cool. Man we get to make such cool things thanks to everyone's excitement.... wow....
TIMELINE
Now it doesn't escape me that it's nearly the end of May and we're getting closer to the due date for this project. I am in the process of double checking shipping with USA customers for the last time and tweaking details while I have the EU and UK confirmed as working correctly!
I was hoping to have the stuff done at the end of April, shipped in May, received in June. That obviously didn't happen on account of the many holidays that happen during this timeframe overseas. Which is completely fine. We also had the misfortune with socks happen, making all the files correctly, submitting vectors, getting hired on a contract, and a few community group orders I coordinated for Irish artists; it all took a little longer than I expected it to.
Either way, we're on a good road right now. And if it all goes smoothly, I should hopefully have all the stock by the end of June, or early July. It's not a big time slip up in the grand scheme of things, about a month off, but I still think it's worth being transparent with everyone on how things are going!
The stickers and postcard will be made once everything is shipped off to me, on account that they're made locally and will take only a week or two to be complete. So I am not rushing with them, and also need to clean my 'office' (guest bedroom) first from con season. Con-goers- you know how a room looks during con crunch. Even cosplayers, I'm calling all of us out.
────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──
So that's pretty much it for now! I haven't updated for a while because it's not a very substantial update. Just know things are grand for the moment and production is going ahead 👍
On a half related topic- anyone going to Dokomi? I'll be there in Hallf 4! I'll have my older enamel pins with me to be picked up :) Come say hi!
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.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
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.)
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
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.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
THAT'S ALL!! THAT'S ALL I GOT!! Now go forth and edit or finish your surveys before they get locked.
Hello everyone! This is a notification going out to EVERYONE this time to let you know that we have both surveys gone out AND the pre-order store open!
If you missed the main campaign and still want goodies, here's where you'll get em! These will be shipped out alongside campaign rewards. Shipping is charged later!
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
SURVEYS!
Surveys went out two days ago at like 4am, don't ask me why I was awake.
A good portion of you have already answered it, in fact over half of ye did! That's an incredible stat for just two days. Let's get the other half answered now ;D
Here's a few common questions!
Can I change my survey after completing it? Yes, you can change the survey up until it's locked however many times you wish!
Can I change my address? Addresses will be locked much later so you can also change that however many times you wish!
Can I change to a different tier? You should be able to switch to any tier in the settings of your pledge! In the survey too.
When will cards be charged? Once the surveys end and are locked, which will be at the end of the month, so there's time!
Why isn't shipping being calculated? I'm testing out a new broker with my current Etsy orders so I can lower shipping costs for everyone. I estimate shipping to be charged around May once I have everything settled! This will be a third seperate charge. I normally wouldn't do this, but I would much rather the broker work out than charging obscene amounts for tracking.
SURVEYS CLOSE ON THE 31st of MARCH!!
Usually I would give it 10 days to be filled out, HOWEVER, we're waiting for new sock samples, and I want to give people ample time to make informed choices on their purchase! I can't guarantee I'll have the samples in my hands by then, but I will at least have photos.
That said, I would still like if everyone could fill out their surveys for the main pin counts asap. You can edit the survey later for the socks if you're waiting for that, but the sooner I have correct pin counts, the sooner I can put them into production!
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Thank you again for the continued support on this project. I don't think I can ever be thankful enough for everyone trusting me with this vision and being excited to learn about prehistoric creatures.
I'd like to mention as well that this year I will be at Dokomi! It'll be my first time vending in Germany and I will have all my past pins with me along with a bunch of bug stuff. So if you're attending too please come by and say hi and tell me what your favourite bug is!
That's all for today, next update I'm hoping will be about socks ;D
