Hello again my lovely Cookie Crew!!

I have good news and maybe (?) bad news? Let's start with the 100% good stuff! The Pre-order store is now open. PLEASE remember, if you are a BACKER, do NOT buy anything via the pre-order store. You can use it window shop, if you want too, however! You'll be able to to add everything you want once the survey goes out~!

To reiterate!

Backers do NOT need to purchase through the pre-order store.
Everyone else --> Yes! If you missed the campaign while it was going or just decided to wait, go check it out.

The pre-order store will be open until all of the samples are complete, and surveys close!

Have fun everyone!!!

https://circus-sweeties.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/

I have finally heard back from the manufacturer and they have said that creating a zipper in the hair will not be the best option. It will create an unappealing effect, and warp the shape of the head-- basically it will just look awkward. They also said they could only place the zipper to the side of the hair.

However, I had doodled up a couple other options that they said would work!


One of my kiddos friends at DnD recommended sprinkles on the brain haha, so I did it. I also see people recommending a more candy like brain, like marshmallows and such. I could make it gummy worm colored, too? Like a gummy brain? Maybe if it was any color other than pink?


I'll include another poll, but I guess at the end of the day, I will have to make the decision one way or another. I hope this might be a good middle ground, though!

To address those with sensory issues, I am doing my best to figure out how to make this a non-nightmare. I didn't go into Circus Sweeties planning to be 100% sensory friendly (I mean I didn't plan for it to be a sensory nightmare either lol), but if I CAN avoid awful feeling things I will, as I'm also sensitive to certain textures. My kiddo is. My best friend is. If the zipper on the forehead can be concealed by fabric that maybe has a scar embroidered on it, I will do that, but I'm not sure what is possible yet. I'm just trying to figure out the brain issue at the moment! ^^;

We still have plenty of time to determine what we're going to do with Remi, but I'd love to figure them out sooner rather than later.

I also really loved the suggestion of having another group of Circus Sweeties called Sideshow Sours! Maybe they could be a band, since Remi plays guitar in my mind hehehe. I am really hype about that.

Anyway, I'll leave this for now! There is a lot to do still, outside of this. I have a lot of art to finalize for merch, and a lot of characters to make ref sheets before we pay for their prototypes. ^^

I'm still working on the Discord too, I swear!

ALSO ALSO!!!

I made a huge mistake when picking the winners of the writing contest, so please congratulate another plushie winner: ashtonamaya5!

They wrote 'The Lion, The Costumes, and The Wardrobe' and it was really good! If you haven't read it and you like to read, you should check it out!

Charmsey

Hello Cookie Crew!

I have been trying to read all of the suggestions, and opinions, and everything else. It makes my head spin, a bit, if I'm going to be honest.

I would like to apologize to everyone who pledged based on whichever version of Remi you saw, only to realize they were still a really big WIP. I thought I had expressed it enough in writing, in various places, but I realize not everyone can see everything.

I'm also sorry to everyone who was unaware there was more than one poll. I don't know how to handle this in the future, yet. I thought making updates and including new polls as they happen was enough, but it doesn't seem to be? I'm going to have to figure that out for the future!

I've had MANY suggestions, and I appreciate it, but some are more feasible than others.

For example, I loved the idea of magnets, but the more I thought about it, the more I worried it might look strange? I worry the manufacturer won't be able to shape it to where it sits on the head in a way that it looks like its poking out and not just... sitting on the head.

Another suggestion was manufacturing both, and making them twins. I don't know if that is feasible from a financial standpoint.

A lot of people are recommending zippers, which I am for, but others say that it is a sensory issue.

So, I'm kind of feeling a little trapped, and I know that ultimately, there is no way to make everyone happy when it comes to this issue.

I have reached out to the manufacturer, asking if the concepts I think are feasible are... you know, actually feasible haha.

I don't want to show any of my concepts until after I speak with the manufacturer, however, because I don't want to put anything in anyone's head and inadvertently create more disappointment! I will definitely be back later tonight. I just wanted to address some things and apologize.

If you need to back out of the project because Remi isn't what you expected or wanted I understand! If I need to manually issue refunds, I will.

I hope that most of you will decide that you love Remi no matter what, but I also understand people have preferences!

Thank you in advance for that patience and understanding. I'm about to pack up and I'm on my way home from some obligations I had today, but I have more updates coming!!

Charmsey

Hello Cookie Crew!

Sorry it took me so long to get to this big, important update! I am always busy on Saturday, but I have some time now and we have a lot to cover don't we!?

I just want to thank everyone again for being here. Do you all know how honored I am yet?? I hope you do! It's a super lot. I'm walking on clouds right now!

Yesterday was so amazing. I didn't expect, or even know that people could continue to back after 7pm. I was so confused at first, and then super excited. It lasted so much longer than I could have anticipated. It was very exciting!

It's over now, but... not really! I know some of you would like a Discord, which I'm considering deeply-- though I am kind of bad at Discord. I know I need to get better at it, and now might be the perfect time to work on it, given that I might not be working on commissions 24/7. It was really all I could think about for a long time! So, we'll see. I'll post another update with Discord information, if/when I have it set up! 

2nd-14thish -  Pledges will be processing. Any failed payments are being retried automatically by Backerkit. Now is the time to make sure your payment went through or update your card info if it didn't.

3rd - Preorder store opens! (Backers DO NOT place an order in the preorder store or you'll be charged twice for shipping. Orders DO NOT automatically combine.)

15th - Backers are imported into the pledge manager, survey smoke test goes out to 5% of backers to make sure everything is working correctly.

16th - All surveys go out (unless you're on a payment plan). These will remain open until all prototypes are finalized so you can edit/add/remove items at any time!

16th and onward - Funds are released to me so prototyping can start in earnest!

Additional preorder store and survey note: you won't be charged right away. The preorder store funds and any added survey charges will be collected when surveys lock/the preorder store closes.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave them below, or message me on Twitter (This is a great way to reach me quickly), or email me: [email protected]!

Believe it or not, they are mostly complete! There were some changes that needed to be made with their face embroidery, but it is very minor. The manufacturer is working on that now, and then they will be shipped to me, so hopefully in the next few weeks we will have tons of mischievous photos and footage. I MEAN, it IS Batty and Lupin. I can only imagine the trouble they will get up to as soon as they arrive. Good thing Catsie and Bella are relaxing while they can!

In fact, I have some fun news about those two! They actually fit in BAB clothes!

Lookit how darn cute they are! I especially liked Bella in her iridescent pants, not gonna lie! She was rocking it. So... do with this news as you will. I'm not saying you should stock up on some outfits, if you don't already have some, but... I mean.

Come on.

I don't even know how to start this one ahaha. There is such a divide. I need just a couple days, if that is okay? I was going to do some doodles, look over peoples comments/emails (I have seen them!!) and maybe talk to the manufacturer before I make any decisions, just to be sure it's feasible!

I really appreciate the patience in advance. I really want to make everyone happy on this one. When I first designed them, I never imagined the brains would be an issue for some. 

As of now, brains are in the lead, but if we could find a middle ground where both sides would be happy, that'd be really cool for Remi, don't you think? I'd hate for 50+ folks to pass up on our cute little rockstar if there was a way around that.

I am steadily working on the sticker sheet for the add-ons! Here is a cute rough Zoey and Elliot to hopefully help tide everyone over!



Elliot needs a darn bubble, but hopefully the safety gear will suffice! If not, Ellie will take care of her I'm sure hehe.


Okay! I think that is it for this update! I realize there are other things I'm probably missing, and I haven't even looked at my email today, but I am about to! ^^ I appreciate the patience again!

Talk to you again very soon!

Charmsey

Hello Cookie Crew!

I apologize that this took me so long. I was determined to have it figured out today, and I think I managed with Evan's help hehe.

It was a really tough decision. These stories will live rent free in my head for awhile. I just loved 'em all! I can't believe how long some of them were, too! Like wow, some of y'all can really write!!

It was a good time, though! It was so cool to see everyone's take on our cookie friends! Some of them were exactly what I imagined, and others were different and exciting for it. It was just so cool and I think I'm even more attached to everyone after reading everything ehehe.

Okay, enough rambling!

Top 3 Winners for the Plushie Prize!

5 Runnerups!

To everyone else, thank you so much for participating too! Please please know I didn't make this decision easily. It was so dififcult.

But I am so glad we had a writing contest, and we are DEFINITELY doing it for Series 2, and I hope all of you return and dazzle me with more tales!

I was writing down thoughts as I finished each story, so if you wrote a story and want to read what I was thinking in the moment, please check out this document!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5ANUcAZVB_8jgpYIdlV6QsPCiKX8a6CsOOz7qDgdfo/edit?usp=sharing

I also think I need everyone's email associated with Backerkit, so feel free to email that to me!

I will make another update tomorrow after a little rest regarding our campaign being over and how wonderful we did and more!! All I can manage right now is a BIG big thank you to everyone. This has been so exciting and I am so happy to have each and every one of you here! 

Goodnight Cookie Crew! I will be back ZzZzZz~

Hey Cookie Crew!!

I am such a doofus. I didn't realize this was an option, but I've enabled this option which might help some of you!

SORRY IM SO SILLY OMG.