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
