Quick update on my COVID + remaining pins and packages
about 3 years ago – Sat, Mar 13, 2021 at 11:27:58 PM

 Small update since some people requested it

1. My COVID was worse than expected

Some of you already know this if you've been following my Instagram and reading my story highlights as I keep regular updates there, but unfortunately my symptoms did indeed develop after two weeks into a moderate infection and I've been dealing with the sickness since and making a slow recovery. My symptoms have progressed enough to let me take another test, however, which means I should be able to release the remaining packages soon, which are already packed and waiting.

2. Heaven and Earth Beetles

These are already in production!! I'm no longer in control of the timing of how fast these get done, but please understand that the manufacturer is doing as much as they can. They are HAND PICKING and HAND INSPECTING every jewel because we were dealing with quality issues in the samples since they are outsourced from a different supplier. This supplier also ran out of stock while we were in the process of putting them into production so that complicated things, but they are receiving the new batch of gems this week. There's a lot going on behind the scenes with making pins that often feels like boring time, but I assure you, all parties involved are working very hard to make sure things get done.

3. Pearl and Volleyball

My manu for these has been less than communicative, but we are still attempting to get the color correct on these, which has been a struggle. Each iteration has come out too dark or too warm, so I'm attempting to get them to move towards the correct color. Unfortunately, they've been bogged down for some time which means I don't get many responses. I am pushing them to go as quickly as they can, but they've been having issues with getting back to me in a timely fashion. Hopefully we can reach an agreement soon regarding the color. They are also making the lapis keychains, which have been in production for a while now. I'm pushing for updates on all fronts.

Also, a reminder to please be kind and remember that COVID affected everyone, including and especially factories in China, who were shut down for many months. I know it's been a long and difficult road and I'm very grateful for your support and patience during this. Please trust me when I say I'm doing all I can to get these pins to you and it's not that nothing is happening behind the scenes.

The color is not accurate on these, please read the above

COVID update + Volleyball photo + Heaven and Earth update
about 3 years ago – Thu, Feb 04, 2021 at 09:07:13 PM

A couple of brief updates!

1. I have caught COVID/I am holding packages

If you've been following along on my Instagram, you may already be aware, but I'm holding packages because I'm currently in quarantine for COVID. Once I'm out, any remaining packages will be released. Just wanted to give you a heads up! I will not be handling merchandise during this time and will sanitize everything upon resuming shipping.

2. Volleyball sample photos

I'm liking the way these samples are turning out better than the last product! One of the challenges I'm facing right now is getting the colors for the transparent enamel correct on Volleyball and Pearl. It's been a bit of a struggle because my manufacturer for these pins is hard to get ahold of now - with the slow rate of production for samples and long response time, I'm trying to problem solve a way to make things work. Please bear with me as I try to get through to them.

The transparent color is not final and there is no screenprinting yet! Please keep this in mind!

3. Heaven and Earth Beetle Updates

Since my manufacturer is out for the Lunar New Year Holiday until the 20th, the beetles will go into production immediately after. I received the final samples and they look great together - I'm in the middle of solving a few quality issues with the gems (and I may lighten the Earth Beetle wing color), but other than that, we are set for production.

As always, please feel free to leave questions or comments below!

Final mold for Heaven + Earth Beetle + shipping progress!
over 3 years ago – Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 06:44:44 PM

Hi everyone! Me again! Wanted to update you on a couple of things!

1. Final samples for the Heaven Beetle!

So happy to be able to share this sample photo with you as I'm finally satisfied with how this mold came out! I made a couple compromises but I think this is faithful to the original design and plus it includes translucent wings!! 

The jewel is brighter and slightly smaller in this version to give it a more delicate feel! I'm currently in the process of getting an Earth Beetle sample made with the correct colors so I can compare the two, but it will use the same mold! Production will be very soon and then they'll be on their way to you! Which leads to the second update!

2. Still shipping steadily! My sticker machine broke!

As the title reads, I suffered a bit of a setback with my sticker cutter going haywire, but I've already outsourced the rest and they should arrive this week! I was making the sticker sheets by hand myself, but it was also going a bit too slowly that way so this might actually expedite the process. I have about 60 orders in the queue left waiting to be sent at the moment, but they will be sent out as soon as I have the sticker sheets in hand!! 

3. Lost packages

I've had a few people let me know their packages have stopped moving! If your package gets stuck or lost please shoot me a message! I will reship if it doesn't move for 30 days!

That's all for now folks! As always, please leave any questions below!

Quick festive correction about shipping ETAs
over 3 years ago – Sat, Dec 26, 2020 at 12:02:35 PM

Hey y'all, wanted to give you a heads up on shipping just in case! In my previous update, I said that the packages would be with the post office by Christmas. While I've been making steady headway through them, I still have about 100 or so left to go through, which means that it's unlikely I'll be able to finish in two days. 

Nevertheless, I will keep trucking and aim to have everything out by the following two weeks. I'm still very busy at my regular job as the holidays have meant things getting relentlessly busier, but I'm really eager to get these packages out to you as soon as possible! I know it's been a bit but I promise you I'm doing everything I can to try and ship these quickly, though I'm quite slow at packing!! We've had a couple of situations where I had to reship some lost packages so that's been taking some time as well. Hopefully, the overall shipping delays and shenanigans with USPS will subside somewhat once the holidays have passed. 

Also, a reminder that you will receive a tracking email when your order ships! Please don't panic if you don't see anything in your inbox quite yet as it doesn't mean your order is lost! 

Lastly, I love the photos I've been seeing of people receiving their stuff - please feel free to share/tag me so I can see them!! 💖 It's super rewarding for me to see people enjoy their new merch!!

Have a wonderful holiday to all those that celebrate during this time and thank you as always for your unending patience in this very weird, very liminal year! It's very much appreciated!!

Shipping update + New Earth Beetle Photo!
over 3 years ago – Tue, Dec 08, 2020 at 06:23:33 PM

Hello!! Hope you’re having a wonderful Tuesday! I wanted to let y’all know a couple things as I’ve received some more messages!   

1. Yes, packages are still being shipped! 

Everything will be with the post office by Christmas!   

2. You will receive individual emails when yours has gone out with a tracking number!  

Sometimes these will go into spam though as I’ve seen it happen so you may want to double check! If you haven’t received a tracking email, it doesn’t mean your order has been lost. It just means it hasn’t been shipped yet!   

Also I’ve mentioned this on Instagram but my post office has been taking their time with scanning packages and have lost about seven of them from last month so if your package doesn’t update after a week, please contact me as that may mean it is lost!   

3. I’m going from oldest to newest to be fair!

So if you pledged earlier your order will go out first!   

 4. New beetle samples came and are looking great! Not the final thing! More samples incoming!

It’s looking much better if I do say so myself! I’m still working on changing the wings as they accidentally used the wrong mold for this. If I produce the beetles with transparent enamel and not stained glass, they will have all the original lineart in the wings. I’m also creating a heaven beetle sample with cutout stained glass wings so that I can compare which is a more viable option. The one with stained glass wings will be missing one or two lines but I’m attempting to get as close to the original as possible and will present them here to see which one you all prefer. I’m looking at different types of center gems as well to see if I can get a lighter color but it may end up being a deep blue green!   

Sorry for the weird blacked out photo, there was some personal stuff in the background!!

Anyways, just wanted to share as I was excited for the progress! Let me know your thoughts!