Latest from the Creator
Ken Fiskorne
3 days ago
ALL PINS COMPLETE, SHIPPING THIS WEEK!
Good afternoon, bird gang! It's been a busy one over here, but, I got the final pin photos from my factory, and just paid off the second half of GOLDEN AGE PARROTS' producti...
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Ken Fiskorne
22 days ago
MORE PIN PHOTOS - We're in the home stretch!
Good afternoon, bird gang! Just a quick one for you today, before I head to the evening shift. I got some more photos from the factory today. Here's a nice selection of ...
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Ken Fiskorne
about 1 month ago
STICKERS ARE IN! Starting fulfillment prep
Good evening, bird gang! I'm sending this from my local dive. After hitting the home stretch on our packing slips, I realized my fridge is almost completely empty. I'm no...
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Ken Fiskorne
about 1 month ago
PIN PHOTOS! + Fulfillment starting
Good afternoon, bird gang! So, I sent an email to the GAP factory about potentially doing the upcoming CRITTER CRIMES for me (are you following that campaign yet? you should...
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Ken Fiskorne
about 2 months ago
Production started + CRITTER CRIMES in 10 days
Good afternoon, bird gang! Been a while. I am here to tell you that production has started, post-CNY, on GOLDEN AGE PARROTS' pins. Unfortunately, I don't have photos yet, bu...
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Ken Fiskorne
2 months ago
Production has started, not much else to share!
Good evening, bird gang! It's been 20 days since I came and disgraced your inbox, and I don't feel comfortable leaving you on radio silent for that long. Unfortunately, the...
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
3 days ago

Project Update: ALL PINS COMPLETE, SHIPPING THIS WEEK!

Good afternoon, bird gang!

It's been a busy one over here, but, I got the final pin photos from my factory, and just paid off the second half of GOLDEN AGE PARROTS' production costs.


We are officially in the home stretch for GAP.

I am waiting on a tracking number to finally plan fulfillment dates, but it's in the cards for April. I'm satisfied with the quality, communication and prices from this factory, but we are definitely behind schedule and a little slower - as expected. I'll make my timeline estimate a little more generous for future projects.

Packing slips and stickers are already assigned, so I'll spend a few hours getting shop listings for stickers + pins set up. Retail sales for some stock will begin shortly, with items available in-person at Anthrocon in July.

Until I know when stuff's arriving, there's not much more I can say.

I guess, if you backed CRITTER CRIMES, go see if your survey is filled out yet! They got sent out two days ago, and we need about a hundred more backers to turn out.

Did you not back CRITTER CRIMES? Want some pins? I have both CRIMES pins, stickers, washi tape, and our 2025 charity PRIDE PARROTS up and ready to fly. Check out the preorder store!


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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
22 days ago

Project Update: MORE PIN PHOTOS - We're in the home stretch!

Good afternoon, bird gang!

Just a quick one for you today, before I head to the evening shift. I got some more photos from the factory today.

Here's a nice selection of our 2", 1.5" and GUNBIRD pins. Plus, one of our custom characters for the $400 tier: Oboe!

There's something to note here, though, for everyone who doesn't deal with overseas enamel work. The only pin photos that are color accurate here are the GUNBIRDS and our Crow and Cartoon crow. Please don't be concerned: everything else looks a little bit darker and more washed out than the pins you will be getting in the mail.

Factory photos are taken with the light of a single Yankee candle and a Nick Click. High quality product pictures are my job... or, the job of the local I'm paying in braised pork belly and afternoon custody of my dog.

We will have some better ones once they arrive.

At this time, my factory rep says all pins are either being finished up, or are packaged and ready to go out.

Barring any customs or freight shenanigans, I am expecting them to get to the HUSTLE within 1-3 weeks.

All addresses and selections for GOLDEN AGE PARROTS pins are finalized, but, if you absolutely have to make changes or can't go without one of these shiny little guys, you are welcome to contact me at [email protected]. I can't guarantee anything, but, it's worth a go.

I'll be doing a shop inventory for current stock to make way for GAP stuff some time in the next 2 weeks. I'm not sure when they'll be up, but I will be listing the 3" sticker stock a little bit before pins go up.

My focus after this will be on Anthrocon prep, CRITTER CRIMES... which ends in about 9 hours. Have you checked it out yet? Everything is unlocked, it's a really great time to back without fear of a preferred design or item being missed.

There's some great pins in this one, and if you're getting this email, you'll get a free Barn Owl pin just for backing!



That's all, for now. I'll poke you guys again when I have a confirmed arrival date, and fulfillment dates.

Take it easy this afternoon!
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
about 1 month ago

Project Update: STICKERS ARE IN! Starting fulfillment prep

Good evening, bird gang!

I'm sending this from my local dive. After hitting the home stretch on our packing slips, I realized my fridge is almost completely empty. I'm not driving to Costco at 7:30 on a Saturday.

We have a restaurant that serves dog breed themed hotdogs. It's great. It's especially great because it's under $10 for half my daily calories. If you got local pickup, you probably know where it is. Their kitchen is clean enough post-COVID that I can confidently recommend them. Mac salad still sucks, though.


When it comes to GOLDEN AGE PARROTS, stickers and sticker sheets for GAP came in yesterday. Just like BIRD CRIMES, they're beating the pins to the punch, and they're getting unpacked, graded, and assigned to pledges first. Look at all those chickens!


My sticker guys kicked ass, as always, on these. For a company that mostly makes small-batch anime stuff, I always feel horrible sending them my literal tidal waves of birds, but, they take it in stride and do the job damn well.

I spent Saturday afternoon printing, sorting and color coding pack lists. Tomorrow is going to be for getting stickers and sticker sheets attached to their pledges, and dumping them in a filing cabinet till the rest of my shit gets here from China. GAP stickers will be listed on KEN'S PIN HUSTLE after sticker fulfillment is done, in about a week and a half.

If pins stay on their current track, we're expecting to send packages out within 3-5 weeks.

As a heads up, we have some people who need to come email me ASAP. A few of you...
  • Have an entire pledge unpaid (some over $200)
  • Have shipping or add-ons unpaid
  • Did not respond to emails about cut design substitutes

Most of you dealt with issues back in late 2024, with the design cut fiasco. Thank you for doing that, and thank you again for understanding the mess that led to it. However... a lot of you did not respond to those emails, or reminders to check the card on file with BackerKit.

I have a pile of 11 problem pledges staring at me, next to my 9 PM coffee. A couple of you are also very, very active in the furry corner of that blue website, and I have attempted to reach out to you about your declined card... while you post about spending dealer's den money at cons. Please don't do this.

As it stands, I won't be able to send these orders. If you do not fix these issues, you will be forfeiting your pledge rewards. If you want your pins and stickers, reach out to me at [email protected]. Do NOT wait for an email.

This will be your last chance to correct any problems with payments and claim your rewards - some of which, you may have mostly paid for. I, sadly, have a few of you guys with your campaign items covered, but missing shipping and addons. Go check if this is you - get your money's worth!

Once pins arrive, I will not be honoring any pledges that don't have their pledge, shipping, and addons paid in full. Barring serious health issues or financial emergencies, I will also not be honoring campaign prices for anyone who missed these. This is your final warning: go check if you are all set.

Did you move in the past 3 months? If you did, make sure your stuff's headed to the right place! I will be locking orders 2 days after pins arrive. As it stands, that will be in about a month - if not sooner.

Anyways, that's all for now, unless you want pictures of all the stickers spread across 3 desks tomorrow.

CRITTER CRIMES still launches in 3 days. Go join that email list. If you're getting this, you're qualified for at least one free pin over there.

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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
about 2 months ago

Project Update: Production started + CRITTER CRIMES in 10 days

Good afternoon, bird gang! Been a while.

I am here to tell you that production has started, post-CNY, on GOLDEN AGE PARROTS' pins. Unfortunately, I don't have photos yet, but I should sooner rather than later. Pins were paid back at the end of December, and machine vectors are finally set to go.

It's been a difficult few months for a lot of creators. There's been some extremely stupid, nonsensical shakeups in terms of imports and tariffs that affect most of us. GOLDEN AGE PARROTS is currently not expecting any hiccups from any of this.

With the new factory, I don't have an exact time estimate. These guys do good work, but they're not the fastest on the block: I'm guessing between 6 to 8 weeks till we're ready to ship. Just like photos, once I have a better timeframe, you'll be the first to hear.

Finally, If you are the last custom pin backer, please reach out to me - let's finish your guy up so he's ready to ship with the other birds.

Other than that, until these birds hit my doorstep, it's a new year and it's time for something new.

It's no secret GOLDEN AGE PARROTS didn't do the numbers I needed it to, and it's been a whole lot of lessons to learn at once. But, hard feelings or not, I have to move on and learn from it. This year absolutely destroyed me financially, emotionally and creatively, but the show must go on. According to extensive, welcome feedback from backers...

I'm launching CRITTER CRIMES on February 25th, once again here on BackerKit. Did you like BIRD CRIMES? This one's for you!


Most, if not all, of CRITTER CRIMES' unlock goals have been revealed - and there's more to achieve, including a back vote at $10k. There's a wide selection of critters, including a conniving raccoon, a fraudster deer, a genocidal feral cat, and all of their heinous little accomplices.

If you're getting this email, you've pledged to my projects before. Did you know you're eligible for free pins this time around?

Back any physical tier on CRITTER CRIMES to continue the BIRD CIRMES with a Barn Owl. And, if you're a pin collector, why not cash in your bulk buying tendencies for another free Sparkledog?


A whole lot of HUSTLE customers also voted for me to re-issue the PRIDE PARROTS pins from 2021. The numbers were close, and the timing works out: if things go well, I'll be fulfilling the CRIMES campaign in early summer. So, I'm bundling the two.

Grab any of these four designs (or, all of them for a discount), for a $2 donation to GMHC on each bird. Let's feed the frontlines of HIV crisis management this year - the government sure isn't doing it.



Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ken Fiskorne
CREATOR
about 1 month ago

Project Update: PIN PHOTOS! + Fulfillment starting

Good afternoon, bird gang!

So, I sent an email to the GAP factory about potentially doing the upcoming CRITTER CRIMES for me (are you following that campaign yet? you should be!) At the end of a load of detailed, mechanical, technical bullshit, I dropped a "hey, hope stuff is going well on Golden Age."

I didn't expect production photos of our pins! It looks like things are going pretty fast.

Here's some scandalous, half-naked enamel pins, mid production, for everyone to enjoy. Here's our Dutch gunbird and our lutino cockatiels - pre-cheeks!

Don't look quite right yet? You're right. These guys are missing some fills, screenprint, and their shiny gold plating. Don't worry - they'll get there!

I don't know about you, but, the practice of making enamels has always been super cool to me. I'm always shocked how few people, not to mention, creators, actually know how it works... and how they don't always design pins with the process, or the people making them, in mind. Even if they're made in batches, they're a hand-made product, and a damn awesome art form of their own.

Maybe one day I'll do a big comic, or a write-up, about how it works for you guys.

There are some other photos of the male cockatiel pins, some 1.5"s, and the face minis. It's super cool to see, and I am very happy with how well this factory's been communicating with me.

I can't provide an exact estimate of how long pins will take to be finished, and get to me. I am going to assume my 4 to 6 week timeline as posted in the last update, barring any new information loosening or tightening that timeframe.

I got a notification from my sticker guys last night that my Winter 2024 order, including all of GAP's sheets and 3" birdies, was packed up and sent out from their office yesterday. So...

With all that lining up nicely, I am comfortable saying we are going to start fulfillment prep.

Work schedules worked out pretty nicely, and other than taking a fellow protein junkie to Costco to load up on cheap calories, I have this entire weekend free. Skip the jargon of this next section if you aren't interested - but, if you are, this is what that's gonna look like.
  • This weekend, I'll be printing, annotating, and sorting about 200 packing slips. Items will be highlighted by type (2" pin, 1.5" pin, 1" pin, 3" sticker, 4" sticker sheet) and color coded with highlighters.
  • When stickers arrive, either this weekend or early next week, each packing slip will get a kraft envelope. This will contain my business card, a vinyl sticker disclosure card, and any stickers in that GOLDEN AGE PARROTS pledge.
  • Packing slips and stickers will be filed away until pins arrive.
  • When GOLDEN AGE PARROTS pins arrive from the factory, I will recruit 3-4 "lucky" locals to come to my house, marathon the English ghost stories dub, and grade pins. Anything with screen print issues, fill issues, or metal scuffs will be set aside for B-grade sales, and anything that passes the test will be carded, wrapped, and labelled. GAP has a neat little code system, so, the pins can be safely wrapped in kraft paper to protect them from scruffs and other damage.
  • After all pins are graded, I'll buy postage for all US orders. International packages might need to wait, since their postage has to be purchased manually due to customs... and, on a different site, other than BackerKit, because I'm cheap.
  • Finally, we'll dig out the packing slips and stickers, assign them to each shipping label, and bundle up backed and wrapped pins according to each pledge. I will force my local USPS guy to stop parking in front of my house, doomscrolling for 3 hours a night, and take all 200-something envelopes. 
  • Then, they're out to you.
  • A and B-grade GAP pins will then be inventoried and stocked into the KEN'S PIN HUSTLE store...
  • ...and by that time, they'll probably be ready to go to Anthrocon!

I will probably have my hands clean of GAP's mess(es) by AC, so, unfortunately, I am not offering convention pickup. Maybe for CRITTER CRIMES, though!

If you're interested in picking up anything from the store and combining shipping, you can do that in the next 3-4 weeks and specify it in a note - I'll refund the $5 flat for you (or whatever your international fee is).

It feels good to give you guys a terrible wordy update again. I hope at least one of you found it interesting.

I'll hit you up with a sticker unboxing post when those come in. Stay good for the rest of this week, guys. Thanks for sticking around.

...and, yeah, one last time, go follow CRITTER CRIMES. We launch in less than a week. Do it for the gay birds, if you don't want the mugshots. 


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