Really exciting sneak peek for you all today: I received images of a first Byte prototype from one of my suppliers!!
The face of a BABY
As is generally the case with plush manufacturing, it'll probably take a few passes to land on the desired design, but this version already has potential and I'm so stoked.
My adjustment requests include a couple material swaps, removing/adding/changing the color of some embroidery, increasing the size of the tail, and adding more dimension to the nose pattern. I'm also checking to make sure the bandana has a closure mechanism rather than just slipping on and off, since the intention is to offer it as a separate item if desired!
Here's a look at the photos I was sent (left) and a collection of edits with their associated change notes (right) —
From cute to even cuter!
A detail I'm absolutely delighted with as-is are the little square paw pads. Perfect peets, no notes!!
GENTLY LIFT DA BABY
I requested a video of Byte being picked up to get an idea of the current leg situation. She'll definitely need looser stuffing, we'll see what can be managed!
Leg notes that were also sent to the supplier!
No images yet from the other manufacturer; as a reminder, I did contract two of them to produce samples, to increase the odds of quickly landing on something we like. I'm already a bit in love with aspects of this one, but the other supplier was recommended to me as being particularly skilled at handling unusual shapes, so I bet picking the final Byte to run with will be a hard decision in the end.
I'm VERY excited to see the second pass on this version, and also the prototype that the other supplier comes up with, and I hope that you are too!
Before we wrap up this update: I've gone ahead and ordered samples of the five Light line pins, their alternates, and another fun surprise~
But wait, there's more! One of the spec sheets sent to my pin manufacturer.
The Light units will feature yellow star clutches to mirror the black stars on the Void pins. 🌟
Honeypot handily won the last poll, and will for sure join Heap as an alternate colorway stretch goal!
Those teal heart backings reallyyy got me wanting Transistor in this colorway too, ngl.
We're also deviating from the sparkly effect relying on the sandblasted metal itself for this colorway - since the crystal clear tinted enamel is additive, you can't wind up with an effect lighter than the plating itself. That bright green-blue of the mockup feels just perfect for the desired aurora vibe, so I'm going to explore more of a translucency + inlaid glitter effect!
And one last reveal for the night --
THE SMALLEST BOARD FILLER
A wonderful backer last campaign requested a miniature version of Pause, and I loved the idea. This itty bitty version of a previous favorite will be one of the backer rewards possible to earn! More on that to come as our launch date approaches.
Thanks so much for reading, and please share the Soft Circuit launch party page with anyone you think would be interested!! I hope the holidays have been treating you all kindly. <3
Closing link reminders --
Short Circuit Discord: To see the video of the Byte prototype and hang out with some lovely folks 💚 Spooky Circuit Pre-Order Store: If you missed out on the last campaign, the pre-order store for Spooky Circuit is still live 🕸️
