The Pins are On Their Way!
4 months ago
– Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 03:06:15 PM
Hey besties!
Quick update to let you know that the pins are coming! I repeat: the Warden pins are on their way!!
These are all images from my manufacturer; I couldn't be more stoked about how they turned out!!
In the next few days, I'm going to be sharing more updates on shipping timelines (just waiting for good ol' FedEx to update their tracking information) and will be locking shipping address. I can't wait to get y'all your pins at long last!!
Love,
Cam (+ Warden)
First Pin Photos!
4 months ago
– Thu, Jul 11, 2024 at 10:15:27 AM
Hi, everyone!
Awesome news – I'm so stoked to share the first few images of the pins from my manufacturer! The Pintopia 2024 collab pin is completed and approved, as is Bag Head Warden (which was eeeeeveryone's favorite LOL). Take a look!
Two of the other pins – Pride Warden and Regal Warden – are actively in progress, and we're retooling part of the metal on Blankie Warden because it kept sticking up. All good things, and I'm so excited to share more updates soon!!
Until next time,
Cam
Pin Production + Smarty Updates
5 months ago
– Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 05:31:13 PM
Hi everyone – and happy Pride Month!! A few updates to get the week going:
Thank you for supporting Smarty!
(This is being shared with permission from Smarty's humans.) Warden's feline friend Smarty is doing VERY well; thanks to your generosity, we were able to gift his family over $230 toward his care!!
It was determined by his healthcare professionals that his elevated blood cell count was indeed due to his need for dental surgery; as of this writing, he's had all the affected teeth pulled and is doing wonderfully. This is, by far, the best-case scenario for him and his humans. Thank you all for your support, donations, and good vibes <3
Pin manufacturing update
My awesome manufacturers have been hard at work creating my pins; due to their exceptional attention to detail, the production process has been a bit slower than my past orders (this is the most complex design set I've ever sent them!), but I've been told to expect the first set of progress photos in the next couple days or so!
Currently, the estimated completion date for the pins is somewhere around July 20th – which is perfect, since I'm still in the process of a cross-country move, and by then, I'll be totally unpacked and able to pack up pins and ship them!
Speaking of which...
Address locking!
Whether you (like me) moved, or have another change-of-address-related woe, you will have until July 10th, 2024 to update your shipping address. I'll be sharing another update closer to the time to be sure everyone is fully aware!
Finally...
Names on notecards
I have a little bit of overhead left in my budget, so I'm going to make some cute little thank-you cards to include with everyone's pin order! I know that the name on one's shipping label may not match their preferred name, and some folks may be sending pins to someone else as a gift
. If you would like your note addressed to a name other than what's on the shipping label, please send me an email at [email protected] with:
- The email address attached to your Backerkit account (so I can look up your pledge)
- The name you would like me to address the note to
Thank you so much for your support – and see you soon!
-Cam
Smashing Surveys + Pin Production: What's Next?
6 months ago
– Thu, May 16, 2024 at 09:18:56 AM
Dang, y'all are fast!
As of this writing, 90% of folks have filled out their survey for this campaign! That's pretty darn cool – thank you for making my job so easy!
Time to check: HAVE YOU FILLED OUT YOUR SURVEY?
If you're one of the few who haven't yet gotten around to filling out your survey, I've just triggered a re-send of the email. Please check the email address associated with your BackerKit account and fill out the survey before May 25. On that date, your orders will be locked and you cannot make any changes.
MEANWHILE...
Because so many of you fantastic human beings have filled out the surveys, I can get started on pin production! I have an accurate enough count to guesstimate how many pins will be needed, which is great news!
There's more pin nerdery ahead because I like to be transparent about my process but TL;DR: Pin production timelines vary, but I estimate it will take about a month and a half until I get the pins in my hot little hands. Updates will be shared here as they come!
The nitty gritty: I've worked with my pin manufacturer on every single enamel pin I've ever created since 2021; we've never had any significant production delays and they're really good at sharing progress photos so I can do quality checks at a distance. Because I already have pin mockup colors and codes, it's a function of me sending them a spreadsheet of the pins, colors and counts, and then them making the molds and doing their whole enamel-pin-making-thing.
Over the course of them doing their thing, my manufacturer rep will send me photos so I can ensure everything is being done right. When that happens, I'll share the photos here so y'all can see what's coming! This is one of my favorite parts of the process; I love watching pins come to life!
WHAT'S NEXT?
"So Cam," you may be asking, "once the pins are done, what happens after?" I'm so glad you asked!
After the pins arrive, they go through a quality check process called
grading. When I grade pins, I look for flaws in the enamel and the front of the pin and ensure that the pin posts are straight so the pin backs stay on.
Only A grade pins (pins where I don't see any flaws under direct light and less than an arm's length away)
will be sent to backers.
This pin grading process will likely take me a week to complete, owing to the sheer number of pins that will be coming my way (this is a good problem to have!!). Historically, my manufacturer's work has been so good that only ~3% of the pins are not A grades, so I don't forsee an issue there.
After grading, it's time for order packing. This will likely happen around the July 4th holiday or a bit after. I'll be keeping y'all apprised of when, and let you know when shipping addresses will be locked.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to comment here or reach out:
[email protected]. Please note: I am a one-woman show, so allowing 24-48 hours for a response is always appreciated :)
With eternal gratitude and thanks for your support,
Cam <3 (and Warden)
Surveys Sent!! + Smarty Update
6 months ago
– Sat, May 11, 2024 at 09:33:44 AM
Hello, friends!
Over the course of the next 24 hours, you'll receive a survey from me + BackerKit in your email inbox. The survey is how you tell me which pin(s) you want, so please fill it out ASAP.
Survey Walkthrough
Your survey will have four main sections.
- Pledge Questions: This first section is where you pick out all the rewards that come with your pledge level. If you pledged for 1 pin, you'll have to select a design only once. If you pledged for 4 pins, you'll have to select a design four separate times.
- Add-Ons: This is the section where you can add any additional pins/stickers to your pledge.
- Shipping Address: The third section is where you add your shipping address. You will be able to edit this until July 2024.
- Order Details: This is where you add payment details if you decided to purchase extra add-ons. Review your order and then hit the green button to ensure your order is complete.
A few things to note about the surveys:
-
You will have 2 weeks, until 25 May 2024, to fill out the survey. This includes selecting any extra pins or other add-ons. After that date, the survey will be locked because I need to ensure I order enough pins (and not too many)!
- Again, the survey lockdown date is May 25, 2024. The estimated date for your card to be charged for any add-ons is May 26, 2024.
-
I will lock the orders and the shipping on two separate days. If you, like me, are planning to move between now and when I ship out pins in July, don't worry – you'll be able to edit your shipping address up until mid-July. I'll keep you posted on exactly when.
-
I recommend filling out the survey on a laptop or desktop. While it can be done on a mobile device, it's a bit more challenging.
-
Pay attention to the pin reference photos. On each pledge question, you'll see blown-up images of each pin to help ensure you're selecting the correct pin.
- On the add-ons page, you will see a tip jar option. This is where, if you so choose, you can donate to my friends' cat, Smarty, who is in the process of getting a diagnosis and treatment for an emerging, urgent medical need. To read more, check out this update here.
Pre-Order Store
If you or someone you know wanted a Warden pin and didn't get one when the crowdfunding campaign was live, I've made the
pre-order store live for additional purchases!
Please note that if you are a backer and you make a purchase from this store, it will likely ship separately and you will need to pay additional shipping. The pre-order store will close at the end of May, so get in there while you can!
Speaking of Smarty...
Smarty's parents are still in the process of pursuing a definitive diagnosis – the good news is that they've been told there's a good chance his elevated blood cell count is due to the physical strain he's under because of the dental work he needs done. This is the best possible scenario for his parents (much better than cancer or polycythemia vera), but it's still going to be incredibly expensive. The money meant for his dental work has gone to this diagnostic testing, and pet insurance will only cover so much.
All proceeds from the tip jar will be going to Smarty's parents, two of my dear friends who have given me and Warden so much over the years. It's my honor to support them and their baby through mutual aid, and I'm grateful to y'all for choosing to join me in taking care of their kitty cat. Send all the best vibes toward him and his parents, and I'll keep you posted as I'm given permission to do so :)
Love,
Cam
P.S. Any questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to
[email protected]. Please note that this entire campaign is a one-woman show; while I endeavor to be prompt in all my email and message responses, it may take me up to 48 business hours to respond. Thank you in advance for your patience :)