Good afternoon, gang!

It's finally, almost, time to wrap up Pintopia 2026. While Zinetopia is now the front page fature, we're still here - and you still have some time left to back projects, if you'd like! CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS will close funding this Thursday, February 12th, at 4 PM EST.

Overall, we have a hell of a lot to offer everybody for this year's first project.

If we closed C3 right now, we would have 69 1.5" pin options for backers. Funny number aside, this is an incredible number of stretch goals covered and designs unlocked. This isn't my biggest campaign financially, but with lower unit costs than normal, it is my biggest volume-wise, nearing GAP in numbers.

69 designs is a lot! So, before surveys, I'll have some group images by animal (birds, canines, cats & critters, mythology and reptiles) so it's a little easier to find everybody.

Our remaining stretch goal pins are:

Blind optimism and fake enthusiasm aren't part of the HUSTLE brand. Realistically, it has not been a good year for artists who participated in Pintopia 2026.

There are many factors that have led to creators far underfunding their listed, and actual, financial goals for projects. While BackerKit lists a base goal we all need to make to collect funds, most of us have real projections that we plan to really, truly, consider things a success: most of us are not meeting them.

At the HUSTLE, we are extremely lucky to have gotten as far as we did under these conditions. This is in no small part due to a high returning backer rate, a larger retention rate than other campaigns, and all of our high-ticket tiers selling out. In layman's terms: loyalty, and higher-than-average pledges.

Before we keep talking shop, I want to thank all of you for being here for CHALLENGE COIN CRITTERS. This was a fairly experimental pin set run during a risky time, and through a lot of frustration this year, I am genuinely, just, so grateful to have as many people interested in a project I really wanted to make.

We still have a few days left, but I can't, in good faith, go "we can still do it!" 

Like many Pintopia creators, we are stagnating at best. C3's retention rate is better than average, but we are still losing pledges every update, and I expect to lose a few of you guys once you read this, remember Pintopia is ending, and panic about the pending card charges.

I'll put together some better graphics for these tonight or tomorrow, but they'll be available on the survey for everyone.

If you are strapped for cash and still want to support the campaign, this is a reminder that we do have a $19 10-sticker tier now. Singles can be purchased as addons for $2, or discounted bulk tiers, too.

I'm expecting a quiet last few days here, but maybe that's OK. We already got pretty far. I'm grateful to have funded, and to have some decent financial wiggle room. I have to finish sticker artwork, then get the pledge manager ready for you guys' surveys.

Custom run backers will get sketches started shortly, so we can have their stuff sent off to the manufacturer first. Then, I need to take a few days to work on samples. I've got some pretty elaborate stuff planned for this year's fall campaign, and I'd like something to show you guys for it.

Other than that, I'm back to work this week after ear and throat crud kept me out of a few paychecks. If you want some in-stock stuff, give the HUSTLE a look.

Otherwise, I'm off to get a nap in and do some housekeeping.

Thanks for reading. We'll check in tomorrow.