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Circus Sweeties

Created by Charmsey

Circus Sweeties are 18'' plushies all inspired by frosted circus cookies. There will be a lineup of many different animals, starting with a cat and a rabbit, and followed by a lion, elephant, and giraffe-- and perhaps, much much more!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Reminders + Samples Update
2 days ago – Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 02:27:55 AM

Hello Cookie Crew!!

If you aren't part of the Discord, please consider checking it out for quicker updates/conversation/community!

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/charmsey/circus-sweeties/updates/12856#top



Reminder

**Bold bits to help those who are in a hurry like me!! ;A;


Surveys and the pre-order store will remain open until all prototypes are completed! I estimate that it will be sometime mid-2025, if we're lucky! We have a lot of dolls to prototype, and it all depends on how many revisions they go through and the speed of the manufacturer. I do feel like we have a really great, talented, and responsive manufacturer, so that's good news for us, but things happen! Like... all kinds of things.

I appreciate your trust and faith in me as we go forward. My email is always open if you have any questions or concerns:

[email protected]

I also answer questions over on the Discord, and if I don't get to it quickly, we have a really helpful community so far. If someone knows the answer they'll definitely share it~



Samples

I was... admittedly a little cocky when I thought I'd have all the references drawn by Monday. It has been really difficult the last week, time-wise. I am usually not able to sit at my computer to work until 9pm my time, and by then I'm pooped, but I have been able to get at least 2 refs out a day! 

So far I have paid for:



  • Dotty
  • Una
  • Madame Macaron
  • London

I anticipate I'll definitely have everyone paid for by Friday. We are wrapping things up with Nessie. We had to fix her eye embroidery and her neck accessory. She is a cute shape, but it wasn't exactly easy to get her accessory off, so she will have a cute little snap button to secure it.

After these two changes, Nessie will be complete, and they will start work on Gertie! So, that is some exciting news. After that, it'll be Dotty!

I will keep you, my wonderful Cookie Crew, updated as these come in! Don't worry!

Batty and Lupin should be on their way too. I paid for the shipping, so hopefully not too much longer and we'll have some silly content for everyone! >:3c

Anyway, lookit me... always talking. Here are some references!






**Remember, designs are subject to change based on:



  • Materials available
  • What can reasonably be translated from 2D to 3D

I do my best to think about these things when designing our cookies, but I'm still learning a lot myself! I appreciate the patience and understanding on this. Big thanks to all of you who are like me and will love them no matter what! I've been very happy with every sample so far, even when we've had to make changes.



One more Reminder: I am honoring refunds up until the surveys lock and pre-order store closes. If at any point your cookie isn't baking up the way you hoped, feel free to email me: [email protected] 

You do not have to vent your frustrations/disappointment. Simply let me know things have changed for you and you would like a refund, and I'll help you out!

Please include your email associated with your Backerkit!

I think that covers everything!


P.S.: Contest Winners I will be doing my best to get everyone's complimentary credits in this weekend!! If you are scratching your head wondering about that, it will be done soon. I just have to manually do it. I promise I'm getting there fhfhfhf

P.P.S: I will be addressing Remi Razzles stuff as soon as I get to their reference!

Charmsey




Nessie + Smoke Test --- Update!!
6 days ago – Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 05:52:24 PM

Hello Cookie Crew!!


NESSIE UPDATE

Like an hour after I posted an update yesterday, our manufacturer sent me the updated Nessie featuring the suggestions of the lovely Makeshiftwings!


She is so much floppier, isn't she!? She just looks... more nessie shaped to me! I'm very happy about that. There are a few things I'm unsure about, like the eyes being too close together, but otherwise... I have no doubt she is very squishy and fun to hug! She is even filled with mochi stuffing, which is apparently much softer than regular polyester stuffing.

She looks so dreamy to me. I'll be getting back to them on Monday about any minor changes. (And to pay for the prototypes, of course!)


SMOKE TEST

The smoke test has been sent out for the surveys!! We will be sending out the rest of the surveys tomorrow, once we're sure everything is working correctly! 


REFUNDS

If the cookie you were purchasing isn't the way you imagined, I am processing refunds until surveys and the pre-order store closes!

By the by, you do not need to tell me why you don't like the doll, why you are leaving-- it's okay-- please just ask for a refund and it will be processed. It becomes a little mentally taxing to have to read why this design I finalized, that I love, isn't good enough.

Small creators are not Mattel. We do not have a complaint department that handles these things. We have to read everything ourselves-- the good, the bad, the ugly-- and we generally love the thing we're creating and it can be disappointing for us to have to read your complaints as you leave. 

It's okay to just say, "My situation has changed! Can I get a refund?" Creators will appreciate that much more! 

OH! Please make sure to include your Backerkit email, so I can find you easily in my pledge manager and start the process!

Thank you!!!


CONCLUSION

So, yeah! For the rest of you who are as excited as I am, thank you!!!

I'm really pumped to see the other prototypes. Nessie was a little more complicated, because she is SOOOOO different from the other dolls. But I think everyone else is going to go a lot smoother. Minus Gertie... she's a little tall and awkward-- so her pattern will be a bit different.

Process is being made. We have a lot of waiting to do, so be sure to check out our Discord, if you haven't already! There is a lot of fun to be had, I think!

Discord Information: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/charmsey/circus-sweeties/updates/12856

I will be back soon for more updates!

Thank you so much for all the patience in advance. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, my email is: [email protected]

I try to check regularly. If you don't hear back from me in 24 hours, give me a nudge! I don't mind. I might have missed you.

Okay, bye bye Cookie Crew!! Talk to you soon!!

Charmsey

Nessie Update and More!
7 days ago – Thu, Nov 14, 2024 at 09:33:26 PM

Hello Cookie Crew!

I showed a video of our newest Nessie prototype on Discord, but it's difficult to upload gifs and videos here.  That said, here is some pictures!



As you can see, they determined they could do the pleated neck fin after all. It's a little too long, but I think otherwise it is going to look great!

I had also asked for a shiny embroidery fabric for the spots, but I didn't realize the embroidery would be so blue! It is pretty, but I'm not sure about it and I know no matter what I decide, there will be those of you who prefer the spots blue, and others who prefer them to be white. So, I'm a little nervous to even open that can of worms haha. I told them to make it white again, since it matches all of the art I've done already.

She still isn't nearly as floppy as I was hoping so I spoke to a SUPER talented plushie artist -- Makeshiftwings-- who... if you aren't following you totally should be! They have a Patreon and everything geared around learning to sew dolls and make their own patterns!

https://x.com/_makeshiftwings

She was SUPER kind and gave me some advice, and with it, I think we will be getting a much floppier version of Nessie soon!



Here are some of the conclusions I came to with her help! I'm hopeful, anyway! I honestly was feeling lost and defeated, so I'm super grateful to have such professional input.

Still no news on Gertie, but I know it's gotta be soon! They finished up with Lupin and Batty, so I'll be getting them soon! Expect a bunch of mischievous and fun photos when I do!

They look so silly and up to no good! I just know they're going to be even cuter in person. I cannot wait to make some silly videos with them 'em. 


FUNDS HAVE HIT TOO!! So, I will be paying for all the prototypes very soon! I've been really busy with some family stuff and appointments this week, but it's all winding down now so I'll have time to work on those final references and get quotes and get them paid by Monday. 

That also means surveys are going out soon! I'm aiming for this weekend! We're waiting for Backerkit to approve 'em so... yeah. We're getting there!! I think they'll get back to us tomorrow. 

I really appreciate everyone patience in this process moving forward. It's going to be a lot of waiting, but I will be here to share every update I get along the way! My inbox is always open for questions, which is probably the best way to ask me a question if you aren't in the Discord!

My email is: [email protected]

I try to respond within 24 hours, so if you haven't heard from me in a day, you might want to bump your email up in my inbox by just sending another message!

I think that is everything, unless... I'm forgetting something. Which is very likely... ummmmmmmmmmmm...

I hope not. Okay. I'm going to have confidence in myself and say that is all for now! I will be back soon! I'll be checking for questions in the comments here, as well! Thank you everyone! We are so much closer to getting our cookie friends! 

General Update + Zoey Art
10 days ago – Mon, Nov 11, 2024 at 03:12:06 PM

Hello Cookie Crew!!

I just wanted to pop in and let everyone know that I still don't have any real updates from the manufacturer yet. It's just been little things that they've been asking. I think they're working on the second attempt at Nessie, based on their questions, so hopefully we'll have that update this week!

I've been a little more active on our new Discord, than I thought I would be. It's a great place to be, if you want to engage with the community, and just have fun! Consider joining us, if you haven't already! ^^



I am working on the finalized art for all of our merchandise, too! Here is a completed Zoey, for everyone's enjoyment!


I will be back soon, with more exciting updates! I really appreciate everyone's patience.

Charmsey


Circus Sweeties Discord Information
14 days ago – Thu, Nov 07, 2024 at 08:04:23 PM

Hello Cookie Crew!!!

I'm sorry this took me so long, but... I finally got the Discord together! It's probably not perfect. I set up the bones myself, and Evan helped me with some of the more confusing bits, but... I think it'll work!

Here is an invite link that... shouldn't expire. I hope.:

https://discord.gg/w8Fwx4vu3D

Remember that the Discord is a casual place to hang out and have fun. Please be nice to each other! This will not be a place to argue/discuss heavy topics. I'm sure there are plenty of Discords geared towards that. We should just be chatting about cookies and light stuff, okay?

Thank you!! 

Let's have fun and bond over plushies!!