Hey Wild Ones!
I'm sneaking in with a quick update on prototypes! In short: we’re waiting on one final material to arrive in order to wrap up Monty’s apron. This new materi...
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Plushpanions
15 days ago
💭 Discord How To & Tariff Update 💭
Hey Wild Ones!
I’ll try to keep this update brief, as I don’t have any major announcements just yet - but I did want to keep you in the loop on where we are, especially in ...
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Plushpanions
27 days ago
🎊📢 Back in Embroidery Business & DISCORD! 📢🎊
Hey Wild Ones!
Fantastic news today, and a lot of it, as we move forward with our Eclipse Pals! Firstly, the embroidery machine has been fixed, so we are back in business!...
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Plushpanions
about 2 months ago
💀 Unlock Dottie Death's-Head! 💀
Hey Wild Ones!
Just a small update to remind you how to help bring Dottie to life, along with some closer looks at Monty! I'll have a full photoshoot of his details, when h...
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Plushpanions
about 2 months ago
🌊 "Surf-eys" Sent - Mothman Prototype Locked! 🌊
Hey Wild Ones!
Here's a small update with fantastic news! 🎉 Surveys are out, and most of you have already completed them - superb job! 🙌
Just a quick reminder: If you’re p...
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Plushpanions
about 2 months ago
📢 BackerKit Surveys Coming Soon - Important Dates! 📢
Hey Wild Ones!
I hope you're doing well, and happy March! Apologies for the delay in updates - I’ve been mass-shipping out Krampus plushies from my first BackerKit campai...
I’ll try to keep this update brief, as I don’t have any major announcements just yet - but I did want to keep you in the loop on where we are, especially in light of the horrifyingly unnecessary tariff situation currently affecting all small businesses in the US. It also seems like a Discord “How To” might be helpful for some folks trying to gain access to the server, so I’ll be including that in this update as well!
💭 US Tariffs - Planning Stages 💭
Right now, my partner and I are working on a few actionable plans for receiving our mothy Plushpanions and shipping them out to you - without being financially wrecked by an absurd tariff. As of this writing ( and it seems to change by the day ), there is a 145% tariff placed on goods imported from China. Our partnered Global Recycled Standard factory is based there, so yes, this would hit us hard.
This is not a sustainable cost for any business, large or small. And businesses that do take it on will likely pass it along to the customer... we'd very much like to avoid that.
We are thinking that our current best option is to receive the plushies in Canada, and ship them to you from there. It's drastic, but may be necessary. We would have to change our "Shipping From" address in BackerKit, but we're working to ensure that it won't adjust the shipping amount that you have already locked, in your survey. We’re aiming to ensure this doesn’t affect your experience at all, so we plan to absorb the cost of any shipping adjustments, as long as BackerKit allows it.
There is more research to be done, and plans to make, but at this point, we’re taking things one day at a time. Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated as major changes become official.
🕯️ Quick Monty Update 🕯️
Monty’s apron is being finalized, and Laisy’s first sample is nearly complete! Sampling is taking a bit longer than usual, but our partnered factories are working diligently amidst this “tariff-ic” time - even going so far as to store products in the hopes the issue is resolved soon. We’re staying patient, and thank you for doing the same.
🤖 Discord: How To! 🤖
We have just updated our Discord Onboarding process, to make it more straightforward, so here’s a quick guide if you're having trouble joining!
I hope you're doing well, and happy March! Apologies for the delay in updates - I’ve been mass-shipping out Krampus plushies from my first BackerKit campaign. Now that those little fellas are on their way ( and surely up to mischief ), I can fully focus on Monty & friends!
🗓️ Estimated Schedule for the Eclipse Pals Campaign 🗓️
1️⃣ BackerKit Surveys ( Coming Soon! )
These surveys confirm your pledge, shipping address, and payment details.
Initially, "Smoke Tests" will go out, meaning a small batch of surveys will be sent at random to ensure everything is working properly.
Once confirmed, all surveys will be sent!
You’ll also be able to grab Add-Ons like extra stickers, including newly added moth stickers, and the collab pin!
📧 Keep an eye on your email ( including spam ). If your survey is incomplete, you’ll be notified!
2️⃣ Survey Deadline – March 17th
This locks your pledge so I know exactly how many of each item to produce.
Moving this year? No worries! Your shipping address can be updated closer to the fulfillment date - just keep reading updates so you know when we’re getting close to shipping!
3️⃣ Charging Cards – March 22nd
This is the Saturday after the survey deadline.
Cards will be charged for any new Add-Ons and shipping fees.
4️⃣ Production Begins!
Stickers, pins, and plushies galore! Production will officially begin on your goodies.
Laisy will be a little behind since their sample needs to be finalized before full production can start.
5️⃣ Quality Checks & Shipping Prep
Once everything arrives, I’ll check for quality before shipping.
Keep an eye on emails for any failed payments or incomplete surveys.
Before shipping begins, I’ll do a final address confirmation for anyone who needs to update theirs.
6️⃣ Shipping & Delivery Estimates
Monty & other items – Estimated to ship in Summer 2025.
Laisy – Estimated to ship closer to Autumn 2025.
⚠️ If your order includes both Monty & Laisy, your order will be held until Laisy is ready. This helps keep shipping costs lower for everyone!
7️⃣ More Adventures Ahead! Once Monty ships, we’ll be diving into a whole new adventure: Plushpanions Series 3 – Fabled Friends!
By following Plushpanions onBackerKit, socials, or our newsletter, you’ll be the first to hear about: ✨ Launch details 🎁 Plush giveaways ( just like we did for Eclipse Pals! ) 🔥 Exclusive pre-order perks
Digby Dragon
Gnolan Gnoll
Griff Gryphon
🦋 NEW Add-Ons! 🦋
I've added some more goodies for you to check out in your surveys - moth stickers!
Each sticker is PVC-free, aka, eco-friendly & recyclable!
They’re around 5cm in size and feature:
🐯 Garden Tiger 🍂 Fall Webworm 🌙 Luna 💀 Death’s-Head 🌺 Rosy Maple
Left to Right: Garden Tiger, Fall Webworm, Luna, Death's-Head, and Rosy Maple moth
Additionally, my collab partner & I have decided to add our collaboration pin to the survey Add-Ons! If you weren’t able to back both campaigns but love the pin, you can grab it now! 🥳
👀 Unlocking Dottie? 👀
There's a new BackerKit feature that I'm trying out - unlocking more Add-Ons! If enough people purchase a specific Add-On, it will unlock for the campaign! In this case, if 95 Dottie Death’s-Head Hawkmoths are pre-ordered, she will officially be unlocked for production! Let’s see if we can bring her to life in the final hour!
This pre-order is open to everyone, even non-backers - be sure to share this page!
Pre-order unlock Dottie plush
⚠️ Important: If the goal isn’t met, all pre-orders for Dottie will be canceled and refunded. You will only be charged if she is officially unlocked.
⏳ Pay Over Time – What to Expect ⏳
If you selected Pay Over Time for your pledge, here’s what you need to know:
Your survey cannot be processed until your full payment is complete! This should align perfectly with the estimated shipping schedule, so no worries!
Please wait until your final payment clears before filling out your survey.
Keep an eye on emails for updates!
🎉 That's about it for now - catch you on the next update! 🎉
In the meantime, if you have any questions and can't find the answer in the FAQ, please feel free to reach out at [email protected]!
I'm sneaking in with a quick update on prototypes! In short: we’re waiting on one final material to arrive in order to wrap up Monty’s apron. This new material is part of the improved snap feature on the neck. Because child-safe snaps are larger, we had to experiment with a different size/material for the neck and waist straps. It's a bit of a long-term time investment, but once we find the right fit, we’ll be all set for future designs!
Also in this update: an adorably fluffy Laisy prototype reveal ~ read on for details!
🌙 Laisy Protoype 🌙
Laisy’s prototype is coming along swimmingly! Their body is all fixed up, and the team is now working on the attached shapes, like those on the head, chest, and back.
Check them out! THEY'RE SO FLUFFY!
Laisy Luna moth plush: Front view
Laisy Luna moth: Back view
Laisy Luna moth, close up: Cheek and wing embroidery
Laisy Luna moth, close up: Tail stripe and fluffy antennae
Want to see a GIF of Laisy in action? Don't forget to join the Discord! You'll often get early access sneak peeks of update content. 👀
🕯️ Monty Mothman 🕯️
We’re really just waiting on Monty’s apron now! As mentioned earlier, we’re testing a new snap feature with a different strap material, rather than Velcro, and once that’s sorted, Monty will be locked in.
Did I mention the candle is a go?! While the original wax-drip shapes on top weren’t possible at this scale, I love the middle-ground solution: a thick embroidered outline! We also added a unique safety feature—the “flame” is embedded into the top of the candle. This makes it less likely to be pulled off while enhancing the look of the melting, “floofy” candle-top design.
Monty's Candle!
One of my favorite aspects about plush design is that while there are limitations, there are also magical solutions to meet each challenge. Every project deepens my understanding of the process and helps shape not just my perception of plush-making, but the direction of Plushpanions as a whole. It’s a very rewarding, symbiotic relationship.
📍 Add-Ons Update 📍
Currently, reprints of the moth stickers and moth heart pins are being inspected by US customs. They should arrive soon, hopefully this week ( they were originally scheduled to arrive last week ). But with customs rules shifting daily… realistically, it could be up to two weeks.
As for the rest of the Add-Ons: postcards, stamp stickers, metal pins, and more, I’m holding off on placing those orders until we secure a Canadian business address. The US tariffs would absolutely melt us, even though these items are imported from the UK and not China, the Tariffs affect us from both regions. Waiting a little also gives us a chance to reassess the order quantities once all Pay Over Time pledges have fully processed. Thankfully, the turnaround time on printed items is short, so this delay shouldn’t impact fulfillment dates.
🦋 Dottie 🦋
We’re still sitting at 31 pre-ordered Dotties in the Pre-Order store! I’ve got a few more shows lined up to spread the word before the final funding deadline. I’ll keep you updated every step of the way—I just have a really good feeling about her!
As always, thank you for your support! I can’t wait to send your little moths flying off to their new homes once they’re all packed up and ready to leave the cocoon. 💚
