I’ve got our first physical samples to show you, and I also have some quick housekeeping notes.
🐁 Sample Previews: Angel Opossum + Hanging Mouse Charm (Hard vs Soft Enamel)
I uploaded a YouTube video (about 15 minutes long) showing the sample pins in detail:
📹 Feel free to watch on 2x speed and/or jump around! And apologies if I sound a little stuffy in it, I was under the weather at the time. 😅
In the video, I show:
Hard enamel Angel Opossum + Mouse Charm
Soft enamel with epoxy Angel Opossum + Mouse Charm
Side-by-side comparisons + close-ups
“Shake tests” (to simulate friction from the charm on the halo loop)
Additional colored metal samples my manufacturer sent that are apparently more durable than the chrome plating options
While the images below are a great quick glance, I highly recommend watching the video, as seeing the pins in motion can make all the difference.
Here’s the gist of what you’re seeing (with more detailed notes below):
Hard Enamel
Enamel and metal are sanded/polished to sit level with one another
Texture: because there's no epoxy coating, you can feel the metal ridges
Colors appear just as they do in the Pantone book
Soft Enamel + Epoxy
Enamel sits deeper in the mold causing subtle shadowing in the fills
Texture: smoother overall because epoxy sits on top and levels everything out
Screen print sits on top of the epoxy and can cast light “depth” shadows
More detailed notes (for those who like specifics 😉):
The enamel colors appear slightly more “true” for the hard enamel (I mostly notice this in the tan, which appears darker in the soft enamel version, though this can be remedied by choosing a lighter Pantone to compensate). In soft enamel, the fills sit deeper, so you get a little natural shadowing. The screen printing itself looks consistent across both, but in the soft enamel version, since the print sits on top of the epoxy layer, you can sometimes see faint shadowing depending on lighting. The metal lines also appear slightly thinner in soft enamel because the enamel can “climb” the edges of the mold, whereas hard enamel gets sanded flush, so the metal ridges stay fully visible. Finally, hard enamel has more tactile ridges versus the soft enamel + epoxy feeling smoother.
Below are images showing the pins before and after shake testing them:
The tough part: friction at the halo loop
Unfortunately, neither variant holds up as well as I’d like at the exact friction hotspot where the Mouse charm rubs. The epoxy struggles to coat very thin, narrow metal sections evenly, so while it can protect wide surfaces, thin metal edges still end up being a weak point.
BUT this is where the additional samples my manufacturer sent become very interesting…
🔮 A Possible Solution: “Translucent” Metal Plating (Soft Enamel Only)
My manufacturer recommends a more durable colored metal approach that's essentially a translucent tinted layer that (per her) holds up better than chrome-style colored electroplating. In the video I describe it as something like “clear epoxy mixed with enamel coloring,” but the key point is:
✅ it may let us keep colorful metal vibes ✅ it may be more durable than the chrome-style plating ⚠️ it can only be done on soft enamel pins (not hard enamel)
So here’s where I'd like to hear from you guys! Vote in the poll to help me decide what to sample next 👉 [POLL LINK]
Sample A: Soft enamel + epoxy with the translucent metal plating
Sample B: Hard enamel with a rose gold plating (the closest pink alternative)
Sample Both: It’s hard to know without seeing them, so maybe both
I don’t want to progress into more sample production until I have a clearer read on what you all are comfortable with, but I will keep vectoring and finalizing designs while we decide on the final finish for our pins~ 😊
🧿 $150+ Bonus Omen Charm (Good News)
All remaining qualified $150+ backers should now see an $8 credit in their surveys (including the Pay Over Time folks)! Your survey should also be unlocked, allowing you to make your Bonus Omen Charm selection.
How it works: use the $8 credit to add the Cryptic Omen Charm you want in your survey and the credit will cover it.
If you believe you qualify and don’t see the credit yet, please message me and I’ll take a look! 💛
💵 Note on Charging Remaining Balances
Some of you may have noticed I did not charge cards in April for survey add-ons/upgrades, even though I’d previously mentioned a date.
I decided I didn't feel comfortable charging remaining balances until we’ve landed on a direction you all feel good about and production can officially move forward. I hope this didn’t negatively affect anyone, and once we’ve got the next sample(s) that we’re happy with, I’ll share a clear date before any remaining balances are charged. 🙏
🎬 Behind-the-Scenes Progress
Even though sample decisions are in flux, the work continues:
Almost all charm vectors are complete
Archangel Raccoon is well underway
I’m doing a final cleanup pass on the Purrincipality Cats
After that, I’ll begin the base mold vector for the Purrincipalities
Occasionally, I'll stream some things to Twitch, so feel free to peek in for some Choir Critters vids 👉 [LINK]
Thank you again for your patience, your opinions, and your trust while we make sure Choir Critters is not only gorgeous, but long-lasting. I appreciate you all so much, and I hope you have a lovely remainder of your week. 😇💛
~ Qesque 🎨 Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky: @Qesque
Hi friends! I’m going live today for a relaxed art stream: vectoring Choir Critters charms and chatting with my friend Sarah. 🎨
It'll just be a cozy, low-stakes work session with an unreasonable amount of zooming in on tiny linework. If you’d like a peek behind the curtain at how pin art gets prepped for production, come hang out, feel free to lurk, or just enjoy the vibes~ 💛
(I've updated the link to direct you to my Twitch channel so you can see what videos are available there!~)
I’ve seen the feedback (and concerns) about colored electroplating / chrome-style finishes, especially in situations where there’s metal-on-metal friction (loops, clasps, hanging hardware). Thank you for being so candid. I’m taking it seriously, and durability is the priority.
❓ What I’m Doing About It (Before we Commit to Full Production)
I’m actively testing multiple approaches with my manufacturer so we can choose the best path without changing the overall look/feel you pledged for:
Hard enamel remains my goal (it’s also the best base for clean screen-prints).
I’m having multiple samples created and exploring protective finish options.
If the colored plating can’t hold up, I’m going to pivot to more proven platings like gold, rose gold, silver, and black nickel rather than switch the pin style!
I’ll share photos/video as soon as I have them in-hand, and I’ll be transparent about the final decision and why. ☺️
🕜 Survey + Pre-Order Timing (And When Cards are Charged)
A quick logistical note so nobody gets surprised:
The surveys and Pre-order Shop will lock/close on Friday, April 10 (end of day CT).
Any remaining balances for add-ons/upgrades will be charged on Monday, April 13. (If you aren’t adding anything new, you won’t be charged again.)
Shipping will be collected later, closer to fulfillment, once I have final package weights, and I’ll post an update before any shipping charges run!
Pay Over Time Backers: you won’t be locked out. Your survey is released after your final payment clears, and I’ll keep a window open so you can submit your choices even if I’ve locked the main batch of orders.
Thank you again for your patience and for helping me make the most durable, high-quality version of these little guardians possible~ I’ll post again as soon as I have some sample media and a clear finish decision. 💛
~ Qesque 🎨 Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky: @Qesque
Hi friends! 💛 I know it’s been a minute since my last update, and I promise I haven’t been avoiding you (or Choir Critters)! 🙏
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of con-booth redesign and travel, taxes/behind-the-scenes admin, and staying in close contact with my manufacturer as we move into production.
🌈 Chrome / Colored Electroplating: What my Manufacturer Warned Me About
A quick manufacturing note: My manufacturer cautioned that colored electroplating is not as durable as standard plating, and it can wear or chip faster if it experiences repeated friction or “collision.” In Choir Critters' case, that matters a bit more than usual because some designs include metal loops + lobster claw clasps / hanging components, which means there’s a higher chance of tiny parts rubbing against the plating over time.
I asked whether a protective epoxy coating could be applied to hard enamel to help with this, but they’ve tested it and haven’t had success with epoxy over hard enamel in a way they’re confident in.
🪽 What We’re Doing About It: Two Angel Opossum Samples
To make the best call before we mass-produce anything, I’m having two Angel Opossum samples made:
Hard enamel + colored electroplating (original plan)
Soft enamel + epoxy over electroplating (more tolerant of friction from attachments)
According to my manufacturer, the pins are receiving plating now, so I’m hoping to have photos/videos soon! 📸 I’ve also requested that both samples be shipped to me so I can physically test scratch resistance, see the finish in person, and then share results with you all. Once I’ve got them in-hand (and gotten your feedback), I’ll be able to move forward with the next round of samples with much more confidence! 💪
In the meantime, here’s a peek at the finished mold for our little Angel Opossum:
🛍️ Survey + Pre-order Shop: Locking Date
Because convention prep took longer than expected (and I promised you an announcement before I lock things), I’m setting:
📌 Next Friday, April 10 as the day I’ll be locking orders and closing the pre-order shop!
If you haven’t completed your survey yet, please try to get it in before then so I can lock counts and keep production moving~
🗓️ Pay Over Time Backers
No stress! You won’t be left behind. Your surveys are released after your final payment clears, and I’ll keep a window open so you can submit your choices even if I’ve already locked the main order counts. (BackerKit sends the survey link within ~72 hours after the final installment processes, so no fear if you don't get it right away!)
🐾🎪 A Little Look at the Con
As mentioned, I redesigned my whole booth and got to show off Choir Critters a bit at C2E2! Huge thank you to everyone who stopped by and/or placed pre-orders at the con. It was an amazing weekend, and I’d love to attend again next year. 💛
That’s all for now!
I’m hoping to share photos/videos of the Angel Opossum samples soon. Until then, have a wonderful weekend, and thank you again for your patience while I do my best to make these little guardians as durable (and delightful) as possible. 😇✨
~ Qesque 🎨 Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky: @Qesque
Surveys have officially been sent! If you haven’t seen yours yet, please check your Spam / Promotions folder (and search your inbox for BackerKit). Thank you so much to everyone who’s already been filling them out promptly, it helps a ton with final counts~ 💛
🐾 New Add-Ons: Sticker Packs (Bundle Deals!)
A couple of folks have asked about sticker packs, so I went ahead and added two bundle options to the survey / Pre-order Shop:
10 Purrincipalities Sticker Pack (one of each Purrincipality)
7 Large Stickers Pack (all Deluxe Critter designs) (priced the same as the original 6-pack, plus one additional Large Sticker)
A couple notes for clarity:
These bundles are the only packs I’m offering for now.
The Large Sticker Pack is not mix-and-match (it’s the full set) - this is as a little thank-you to the early backers who jumped in during the campaign.
If you want duplicates, you can still add individual stickers alongside the bundles!
If you already added stickers individually before the bundles were listed, no worries, you can edit your survey and swap your Add-ons around.
🧪 Production Progress: First Samples Ordered!
Fun news: I’ve already sent two vectors to my manufacturer! 🎉
The Angel Opossum pin and the hanging Mouse Charm are now having samples made, so hopefully I’ll have photos to share soon~
🌌🐉 Freebie Sticker Winner: Aurora Seraphim!
The final votes are in, and our community-chosen freebie sticker winner is the Aurora Seraphim!!
That means:
All campaign backers receiving physical rewards will get one Aurora Seraphim sticker for free, and
Pre-order Shop orders of $18+ will also receive one for free~
Thank you again for voting! I can’t wait to get these printed with a fancy finish. 👀✨
More Field Reports to come. 😇🐭💫
~ Qesque 🎨 Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky: @Qesque
