Alright, smoke tests are going out. It would help a lot if you could fill them out as soon as is convenient. It gives me an idea of which designs to order most of, especially as we have over 40 options for some things. Since the min order number for things like the notebooks is only three pieces, we decided to just offer all of the designs. It was too hard trying to predict which ones people would like, so this way I know you can definitely get the one that you want. 

Oh, quick note. A couple of the pledge tiers had acrylic keychains and I managed to bind the wrong options. So now you get two acrylic keychains, one from previous campaigns and one from the tarot set. I couldn't take the previous one away so I just added another one. Not going to lie to you guys, I made a couple of massive mistakes setting up the campaign and the survey turned into a bit of a nightmare so there may be a few errors. If you have any issues, please get in touch.

That said, here's a look at what we have in the survey store;

There are 39 main full size pin options, including all of the blood moon pins, the glow in the dark variants, and the four suit designs. The suit designs are just placeholder names for now, since I won't be able to add them later. They have both normal and blood moon options. If you backed the ☆ Full Collection ☆ pledge tier, you'll get four suit cards added automatically - either the classic or the blood moon version depending which set that you pick. 

As of right now the survey is going to make you choose 22 seperate pins for the full set. I've set it up so you should get a question before hand asking if you want to opt into one of the full sets instead. It will still make you answer 22 times after that, but you can just select the first one every time, and we'll send you the full set that you chose instead. If you'd rather pick a selection of 22, go ahead! 

Pin samples are already underway;

We ordered one of each 'type' so we could pick a palette going forward for the rest of the set. The detail they managed to get into the top border is looking really good.

Creature mini pins! We needed more mini pin designs for Pintober so we're converting some of the creature designs. Not all of them work, some have too many spines/thin areas or complicated outlines. There are 16 to choose from, we didn't include the blood moon versions this time. They'll be 1.75" in size (not so tiny mini pins). During Pintober they'll only be available in mystery bags, so this is the only way to pick out the one that you want for now. 

One off print run holo finish major arcana deck. Cards will have holo film back and front. Cards are 5.9*10.2cm in size, and do not match the finished deck. A folding cardboard box will be included. *Card pictured is just an example of the holo foil, the new gulper eel is included. Basically... I wanted a copy of the major deck in holo, and the minimum number is 10 so I'm offering them just in case someone wants one. I won't make them again so if you want one, grab one. Small batch + holo finish costs more, that's why its the same pricing as the main version. Both classic and blood moon are available.

These are the working designs for the notebook right now. The line spacing needs to be increased (its only a6 size, so at least doubled). The border was made a bit chunkier for some foiling options, but the foiling didn't work out unfortunately. Sub in the creature of your choice :). The sticker books will have the exact same cover design, although they're just blank inner pages.

We also have the creator edition of the Mystery Mollusc. It will be soft enamel, with an epoxy coating and a rainbow metal finish. The epoxy coating makes it sturdier and its almost impossible to tell apart from hard enamel. On the right is our lucky white cat, that has the exact same finish. 

The shipping is automatically the cheapest option, please make sure you buy a shipping add on if you want the security of tracking/signiature on delivery. Pledges over £100 will be upgraded automatically. 

And the rest I think is self explainatory. Scroll down for previous campaigns, then further down for other designs and stationery. All of the stock left from the event is listed, we have magnets and keychains, a whole load of stickers and all sorts of extras. 

Cards won't be charged for this until we're nearly ready to ship, and that's gonna be a good while yet. You'll be able to amend your choices right up until then, I'll try to make sure there's plenty of warning.

Everything's going to go quiet for a bit, while I crack on with getting the work done. I'll post the sample pictures when they come in and try to keep you updated on the projected timeline. Thanks for your patience with this one, I know I've been very slow. 

Have a wonderful summer (or appropriate season!) everyone :). 

Sorry for the radio silence, I think I got Covid at that event and its kicking my butt still. I had to take a week or two off completely and then its been crazy busy. But things are happening behind the scenes.

Surveys were delayed while we pondered a couple of extra items. They should be going out very soon, possibly with some surprises in the add-on store. I apologise in advance - a lot of things have every card design as an option, so they are chunky to get through. For example, for the 'full collection' its going to ask you 22 times which pin that you'd like - right now we're figuring out a work around so you can note 'full set' at the beginning, then just pick the top option for each one. You can pick all 22 individually if you want to skip one and double up on another, though.

Sample pin orders are going in today, to check the size for elements like the stars, the marine snow, the detailing on the cards and also so we can approve the fixed palette codes for all the rest. 

Some of the card art is being spiffed up a bit behind the scenes, all laid out there were definitely a few problem children haha. Nothing is changing too much, but you might see a few designs with extra shading, a few more details or a tweak or two in the posing. 

That's it for now. Keep an eye out for a survey announcement soon ~

Firstly, a massive thank you to everyone who pledged. This is a huge deal, and I have a lot of work ahead of me!

First things first though, things are going to go quiet for a week or two. For the next few days we're vending our only in person event of the year. Then the first thing I have to do is send out the surveys, and get the big pin quote. 

I'll make a decision on how many blood moon pins (we were very close!) before the surveys go out. Then I'd really appreciate it if you guys could answer them asap. You'll be able to change your choices around for a long time after, but I need some idea of which pins people would like - some are always more popular than others, and the distribution will make a huge difference on the overall price. You won't be charged for shipping/add-ons until later on, and you'll get a warning beforehand. The surveys are going to be pretty long, since we now have 28 options for most things, so just bear with me.

There are going to be a few extra things in the add-on store. Mostly the prototype products that we really liked, maybe a few of the extra items I already made. I'm going to do a very limited print run for just the major arcana with the holo film - because I want one 😂. The cards will be smaller because the supplier is different. 

We do have another project launching in June, its the Mythical Garden pins. A lot of the work for that was done last year already, and we're launching as part of a community driven event (Pin Quest 2025). If you feel like buying even more pins, back more than one project for a bunch of freebies.

Otherwise, I'll keep you posted :). Thanks all ~

Its the final day! I can't believe it. Thank you everyone who came to support the project, it means the world to us. 

I've spoken a few times about working on this project with my partner. She is the one who brings the real passion for the deep sea, marine biology and all the strange and wonderful things therein. So I asked her to write up the full tarot break down to post on the final day. Both of us are quite new to tarot, and we approached the whole thing collaboratively and with a lot of love. So without further ado, here's our collective interpretation for the Midnight Ocean major arcana, in her words.

The dumbo octopus (grimpoteuthis) represents the Fool. Known for being shy, yet playful and intelligent, the dumbo octopus has the Fool’s innocence and sense of potential. They’re just little guys trying to get by.

Big fin squid (magnapinna) are majestic, alien creatures full of mystery. Little is known about them, but videos of curious magnapinna squid have been mistaken for displays of aggression by the internet at large, leading some to consider them intimidating. Likewise, the Magician is a card of great potential that signifies making the most of one’s abilities.

Sea pigs (Scotoplanes globosa) are cute, unusual little sea cucumbers that move around on eight ‘tube feet’. Unusually for sea cucumbers, they are also capable of free-swimming, and have even been known to carry passengers - juvenile king crabs have been seen clinging to sea pigs like young holding onto their mother. It is this motherly aspect that links them to the High Priestess, who represents womanhood. Sea Pigs are also known to be adept regenerators, providing a strong link to the secondary meaning of the High Priestess - tenacity.

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are some of the largest animals on the planet, and certainly the largest extant fish. Elegant filter-feeders, they have an enormous vertical range and are known to swim on the surface and dive as deep as 1,900 metres below the surface. Despite this, they have many secrets yet to reveal to us, much like the Empress card they represent.

Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernus) are neither vampires nor squid, but actually a form of octopodal cephalopod distinct from both squid and octopus. They are uniquely adapted to live in near anoxic environments and use their unique filaments to filter feed on marine snow. Unlike most cephalopods, vampire squid can mate and produce offspring multiple times over their long lives, meaning they are one of the only cephalopod species capable of winning a ‘father of the year’ award. Likewise, the Emperor balances orthodoxy against originality and strives to be a stern guide, much like many traditional fathers.

The glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) is so called because it is near completely transparent save for its intestine. Like the Hierophant, it believes that clarity and forthrightness are the best policy - when threatened, it uses its photophores to disorient and confuse the attacker before escaping.

Deep-sea angler fish like the Hairy Angler (Caulophryne polynema) exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism. The males are tiny in comparison, and exist for only one purpose - to find a female and bite her. This releases certain hormones and chemicals that cause the male and female to merge into a single organism, essentially turning the male into a pair of testicles. Like the angler fish’s glowing lure, the Lovers card symbolises attraction and success - but also like the angler fish, when reversed this card means an unequal or exploitative relationship.

Comb jellies aren’t jellyfish, but they are covered in combs (or rather cilia) that they use to become active swimmers. The blood belly comb jelly (Lampocteis cruentiventer) on this card is another deep sea creature with a large vertical migratory range, coming up to the surface at night to feed before sinking back into the depths to digest. Their red colouration serves as optical camouflage, hiding any light their often bioluminescent prey may emit and preventing it from giving away the comb jelly’s position. The Chariot represents travel, but also both sides of the quarrel-succour dichotomy. The bloody red of the cruentiventer is reminiscent of poppies and other symbols of war as well, fitting that aspect of the Chariot.

Gulper eels (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) are beautiful and elegant predators - up until the point where they inflate their mouths and start rolling around like underwater beach balls! It takes a lot of courage to build an identity around being silly, and that strength and energy flow through this card as well.

Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) are old. They are thought to be some of the longest lived animals on the planet, with one female estimated to be over four hundred years old. As with the Hermit, old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm. Though many greenland sharks are blinded by parasites, they continue to cruise and hunt in the frigid waters of the north atlantic for centuries.

Long-claw spider crabs (macroregonia macrochira) are related to the more famous Japanese giant spider crab. Like all crustaceans, they go through a cycle of vulnerability and invulnerability as they moult their hard shells in order to grow. Likewise, the Wheel of Fortune is ever turning, bringing with it reward and potential ruin.

Yeti crabs (Kiwa hirsuta) live in the deepest parts of the ocean as part of vent ecosystems. Their hairy setae are home to millions of chemosynthetic bacteria that filter out toxins spewing from the hydrothermal vents they live around and convert them into food that forms the basis of some of the most ancient food webs on the planet. They balance poison against life and so far, their unique Justice has come out on top.

Chimaera are primitive cartilaginous fish distantly related to sharks and rays - one of their common names is the ‘ghost shark’ (Chimaera willwatchi). Though their ancient lineage can be traced all the way back to the devonian period, this relationship with modern fish means they are not classed as ‘living fossils’. Despite this, they have been around for a long time and seen a great many things. Suspended between two worlds, they embody the hanged man who teaches his wisdom to any who care to listen.

The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)  has gotten a poor rap over the years thanks to the Jaws movies, but there is no denying that these enormous sea puppies are dangerous. They are also sociable, curious, and even playful. For a long time it was thought that if they stopped swimming, they would die due to their reliance on ram ventilation. In 2016, however, video footage was caught of a great white named Emma sleeping in a strong current. To die, to sleep - perchance, to dream.

The ‘mystery mollusc’ (Bathydevius caudactylus) is the only nudibranch sea slug to live in the deep water column (that we know of) rather than dwelling on the sea floor or in the pelagic open ocean. Somehow, and we don’t know how, they use their hoods to trap and consume much faster prey such as free-swimming crustaceans. Like Temperance, they are all about economy - moderation of energy expenditure and management of competing interests.

Devil rays (Mobula mobular) are related to the more widely known manta ray, and are so named for their cephalic horns. They are the only mobula species to have a spined tail, and despite their usually gentle nature they are easily mistaken for much more threatening predatory ray species when they loom above you. The Devil card represents vehemence and force balanced against weakness and pettiness. Devil rays have powerful wings and sharp spines, but little desire to bring harm.

The oarfish (Regalecus ruselli) has long been compared to dragons, sea monsters, and hailed as an omen of destruction. They are thought to surface before earthquakes, or even cause them. There is no more fitting fish of the midnight zone for our Tower, the card that represents catastrophe and distraction.

Sea angels (Clione) are deceptively innocent looking sea snails that are active predators hunting down sea butterflies and eating them straight from the shell. Like the star, they promise bright prospects and bring only loss and suffering.

The fireworks jelly (Halitrephes maasi) is gorgeous under the lights of an underwater exploration vehicle, but left to its own devices it floats, near-invisibly, and waits for prey. Like the Moon, it is cloaked in mystery and danger.

Snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei) will never see the sun - while they do not explode when brought to the surface, they do not survive the process either. It is somewhat ironic, then, that they appear so cheerful in their lightless depths with smiling mouths and chubby appearance. Snailfish will never see the sun, but they can be found deeper than any other fish species - and that too is success.

The bright red sea toad or coffinfish (Chaunacops) is a deep sea pufferfish with a glowing lure on its brow and an explosive feeding method. Though they look ungainly and odd, there is no denying the outcome when a coffinfish has you in its sights. Judgement represents a change of position or a decisive outcome balanced against simplicity and careful consideration. As ambush predators who hunt by creating a powerful suction to pull their prey into their mouths and live in a low-nutrient environment, the coffinfish must also practice these virtues.

The viperfish (Chauliodus) travels great distances during its diel vertical migration. They are found all over the world, and are instantly recognisable by their enormous teeth that if misaligned can easily penetrate the viperfish’ own brain case. 

And that's the full set!  We'd love to hear your opinions, alternative interpretations, all that fun stuff.  
For comparison, here are the six guaranteed major arcana blood moon cards;

Not all of the pins are complete yet, but here's the first three;

That leaves the four court cards to come.

I'll be showing some of the concept art and WIP work for the minor arcana cards soon, we're just prepping for our only in person event of the year (this weekend!). Once that's over its back to work. 

I think this is our last major update before the campaign is over, so thank you all again and see you on the other side! 

Just 44 hours left and time for our final card reveal; this time its the Vampire Squid.

They can turn themselves inside out to hide from predators. 

And the fabulous red version;

Finally for today, I have the Mystery Mollusc card pin, to match the rest of the set. And also the card back design. The middle of the design features the same whale fall that's in the background of all of the major arcana cards. Its possible that I might change just the middle section, but this is the overall design. 

Stick around for our final couple of days, we should have at least one more big update tomorrow :).