Good afternoon, jailbirds!

Quick boring update today: not much happening, sadly. We're in the slow part of the campaign, just waiting for things to happen. Sticker order numbers are locked in, and we're waiting on pin color samples.

Things are going to be a little weird on my end, with my "full" Monday work day lost to some family things. CUSTOM CRIME sketches will get done Sunday and Tuesday afternoon. And shit, I still owe you guys those freebie sticker designs. Sorry about that.

This is more a reminder to check your status!

Did you back BIRD CRIMES? Check your email and get your survey done! The normal survey deadline is May 15th (5/15). After that, you risk not having items available, or if you're really late, forfeitting your pledge rewards. We're sitting at a comfy 82% completion right now, which means all backers have earned a freebie voter sticker!

Did you buy the UK PLACEHOLDER TIER? We're still missing a few of you! Check your email inboxes (including spam and junk) for an email from [email protected]. You'll need to fill out your alternate form before May 15th, but I'll tolerate it until May 20th. Remember, this is the only way UK buyers will be able to get BIRD CRIMES items.

Are you following the project, but missed out on backing BIRD CRIMES? The PREORDER STORE is open until May 15th to get stuff, still! Your purchased items will be shipped at the same time as campaign backers. This is also the only way to get the new, upcoming LITTLE SHITS sets, so give it a look!

Did you buy a CUSTOM CRIME? CUSTOM CRIMES were an option for backers to purchase their very own BIRD CRIME. I am getting these done this coming week. There is one backer with a CUSTOM CRIME who hasn't filled their survey out yet. Not only will you be at the bottom of the queue, you are risking forfeiting your badge if you don't get your deets in by May 15th!

Did you buy a CUSTOM CRIME and fill out your survey? Did you maybe even get your sketch, or full artwork already? I am offering physical badge versions for free to you! If you've got any amount of work done, or know you submitted details, make sure you follow up with me! These will either ship with your other rewards, or be ripe and ready to go at Anthrocon!

Let me know which of these options you'd like, and how you'd like them, in a follow-up email. Again, they are FREE if you already backed for the CUSTOM CRIMES tier!

If you've already done your part, then, sorry you read all that. Get well soon.

I'll see you guys soon, probably with some pictures of our guinea pig badges, the 80% backing free stickers, or the cockatiel color sample. I wonder which is going to be ready first?

Good evening, jailbirds!

First off, I owe you guys an apology. The sticker giveaway link was busted last update. Grab it here. Enter on Twitter for a chance to win some free KEN'S PIN HUSTLE vinyls. I'll cover shipping if you're in America, too, so it's actually, truly free! Ends May 20th. Get that shit.

This is your reminder, too, that the PREORDER STORE is open. CRIMES stuff will not be sold retail for quite a bit, and if you missed out, grab 'em now to get 'em when backers do! It's currently the only way to secure LITTLE SHITS from the BIRDS 2 and MAMMALS sets. Otherwise they'll only be on the HUSTLE in early summer.

Second, come suffer thru some production updates! I promise, there's fun stuff after this.

But, the color test sample is still in production, and expected soon-ish. BIRD CRIMES' stickers, and the order containing them, will probably be placed this week.

I am waiting for 80% survey completion to make final count estimates. We are currently at 78%! Get your shit in, if it's done by May 3rd I'll give you jerks another free thing, on my dime. You guys voted for the house sparrow option, but honestly, I think I'm just gonna do them all and do it gacha-style unless you request something special. The vote was so close, it's barely fair.

I am neck deep in getting the CUSTOM CRIMES done. You guys might have gotten sketches, or even final artwork for these already! They're a ton of fun, and I'm glad I made them an option. I get to stare at you guy's cute birds all day. 

I figure it's worth mentioning, the dissonance between my character clients and my bird owners: furries seem to like goofy fun antics like shotgunning energy drinks, while everyone who's sent me a pet bird has TRAUMA. You guys are dumping some war stories in that pledge survey and I'm here for it. Good lord.

In a stroke of overtired genius today, I realized that a lamination machine costs about as much as I'm charging you suckers for those things.

To make sure everyone is getting their money's worth, but, honestly, mostly to reduce the workload on Corviforms, I decided to just go buy one of the stupid things. It'll be here in a few days, and ready for its maiden voyage laminating LITTLE SHITS diagrams for my in-person buyers.

Physical badges will now be available at no additional charge to CUSTOM CRIMES backers. You have two options: 3-inch tiny badges and 5-inch con badges!

These are completely free to people who have bought CUSTOM CRIMES. However, if you're one of those tech people, I'll toss an NFC tag impregnated with whatever data you need in for $3. Yes, that is the actual term. I hate it too.

When you get the email for your sketch, please let me know if you're interested in either of these options. If you already have artwork, just shoot me another email with what you'd like, and the info you want on it! These will ship with BIRD CRIMES rewards unless requested otherwise.

You can still ask to pick them up at Anthrocon 2024, too! I'll be holding a meetup at the National Aviary the Thursday before the main event, for badge pickups, free bird goodies, and a super-serious game of BIRD BINGO. Grab your badge, grab some freebies, and come support one of the coolest things in Pittsburgh!

Otherwise, I'll be at Dealer's Table G20 with my Pintopia collab partner, Corviforms, scaring kids in raptor masks with my resting bitch face. I've had a bunch of people tell me that I look like this guy from The Bear. Come say hi and see if that's true. I still don't know if that's a good thing.

The jury is still out on full-order pickup at AC. I will have to see what timelines look like, but the minute it looks feasible, you guys will be the first to know. If it happens, I'll pack 'em up real nice for you guys, with a few special con-only freebies ;)

That's all for today, thanks for tolerating the big update. Take it easy tomorrow!

Good afternoon, Jailbirds!

It's a terrible, rainy, awful Sunday here. "I'm going to go get daylight pics of the new stickers," says Ken, forgetting he lives in Lake Country NY, and that we had a nice day yesterday and now have to suffer. Hope you felons are faring better.

As of about 5 minutes ago, all surveys have been sent to backers.

Rapidfire info for backers:

We are still missing several UK backers. If you haven't gotten the google form survey in your email yet, please double check - this is the ONLY WAY you will be able to get any rewards from BIRD CRIMES.

I updated the HUSTLE (main store) shipping and return policy last night. I am following these guidelines for shipping BIRD CRIMES, from this point forward. I strongly recommend reading this.

Did you miss out on BIRD CRIMES? No problem! Check out the PREORDER STORE! You can pick up (most) campaign items here. They will be shipped with all other pledges. Remember: the seagull and kakapo designs have been unlocked for both pins and 2" mugshot stickers.

This, as well as pledges to the main campaign, are currently the only ways to get LITTLE SHITS stickers from the "BIRDS 2" and "MAMMALS THAT AREN'T DOGS" sets. They will not be stocked in the HUSTLE until summer. If you want some of these guys for the upcoming convention season, give campaign addons or the preorder store a look.

Speaking of stickers, I just got a ton of them in yesterday. Due to multiple, overlapping, insane circumstances, I am overstocked on nearly every design. Out of the goodness of my heart (or, free advertising, same shit, whatever), I'm giving away three packs of them!

Click the image above, make your way to my twitter, and enter for your chance to win some free birds (or dogs, if you're weird.) 

That's all for now. Enjoy your weekend, and take it easy!

hi gang quick update

28th is not a monday, it's tomorrow

remember, this is a good chance to fix your credit cards if they failed

i'm tired. see you then. 

Good evening, jailbirds!

Short update, just a cool thing for all you who actually care about production. Skip this part if you aren't a nerd.

To make sure all the finicky warm grays in the set will look right, I'm having my factory do a test bird.

Enamel pins are hand-filled with heat treated, colored fills, and those colors basically use the same system as house paint. You know, when you go to Lowe's and they put a certain number of drops into the white paint bucket, to color the whole thing. Every color has a code, which decides how many drops of every pigment goes in, and they can be messy. This is called the Pantone system, it is widely used and widely hated by artists since the pulled their proprietary shit out of Photoshop last year. Think the Vantablack situation, except with actual repercussions beyond stupid internet drama. But everyone still uses it, so we have to, too.

Skin tones, yellows, purples, and grays are famously the worst Pantones to get down. You can only get so close to digital RBG and CYMK colors with the Pantones that exist, and screens don't always show them correctly. Some factories will allow you to add a certain % of white to lighten and mute colors, like mine, but some of them also have a stick up their ass and would rather make your Disney princess highlighter yellow.

If you have a lot of colors like that, it pays to do samples. Unfortunately for me, BIRD CRIMES is literally only grays. My case is just a color test, so I'm not paying extra for another metal mold, or for things to be sent to me to inspect - I just need to make sure things look correct all together, in a few different lights.

The cockatiel is the guinea pig here - if he turns out good, the rest of the pins will go into production. We're super under budget, and way ahead of schedule, so it's a pretty obvious choice to ensure things look right.

I'll share pictures of Mr. Cockatiel here as soon as I get photos of his mugshot. I look forward to it. I hope you do, too!

Good morning, Jailbirds!

Didn't back? Didn't have the money? Want my stupid birds? The PREORDER STORE is now open! Get your BIRD CRIMES pins and mugshots, as well as LITTLE SHITS here, for fulfillment after backers but before retail.

Click here to get some of this crap. If you are current backer and just want to add more shit to your pledge, do it with ADDONS DURING YOUR SURVEY. Save yourself the shipping.

As you may have noticed, sadly, smoke tests did not go out yesterday. We had an issue with back-end stuff that would make your eyes go in two different directions if I tried to describe it, so, I'll just leave it at "there was a problem preventing them from going out."

This should be fixed by this afternoon, and 5% of backers should expect to get their surveys today after work (4/23). Please check the last update for details on what this means, and what's expected of you. Backers who find critical errors in surveys will get a free sticker sheet from the HUSTLE shop.

We are still scheduled to launch main surveys on April 28th (next Monday).

Please get your surveys in ASAP so I can get good numbers for my pin and sticker manufacturers. The sooner we have 80% of surveys complete, the better: this is the number I will be basing final orders on, based on the percentages of each pin ordered. If we get 80% of surveys in by that Friday (5/3), I'll toss in a free sticker for everyone ;) I can't show it because I haven't drawn it yet. But, I promise. It will exist if you guys make it exist.

If you bought a CUSTOM CRIME, prioritize filling out your damn survey! I will be working on these on a first-come, first-serve basis. Don't be the idiot who gets yours last. 

There are 412 of you who qualify for the CORVID CRIMES pin! "I'm never going to use that," you said, in third grade math class! Ha! Joke's on you, I didn't even pass third grade math class. I had to ask everyone else in the Pintopia discord to double check it, because I felt like it was too easy. But, I guess it worked, because I did whatever process it was on both projects' backer numbers like a chimp aimlessly slapping a calculator, and got 412 both times, so, here we are.

If you're one of those people, make sure to consider if you want combined shipping. When you fill out your survey, you will be asked to opt in/opt out of getting your BIRD CRIMES and BACKYARD BIRDS rewards all together.

There is a good chance we will be getting a bunch of caffeine, a long weekend, and paying a friend's kid in $20s and Pokemon booster packs setting up a streamlined, professional combined shipping operation later this year. I will post updates as they become available, with dates and details, but currently it's looking like we'll refund one of your pledges' shipping and just tossing everything in the same package.

Keep in mind, due to production cycles, this may mean getting your BIRD CRIMES rewards a little later. Corvi's project is WAY bigger than mine, and manufacturing times reflect this. Current estimates (if nothing gets scuffed) mean BIRD CRIMES are looking to come in far ahead of schedule, but I can't speak for BACKYARD BIRDS.

Wow, that was an awful, text-heavy update. Thanks for reading. Here's some stickers I'll be stocking in late spring. They won't be available thru the campaign, but I'll have them on the HUSTLE... and maybe a few at Anthrocon? How many of you am I gonna see there?

If things go as ahead of schedule as they've been, I might be able to offer con pickup for orders. Let's see how things pan out.

Take it easy this week, Jailbirds. Stay good.

Good evening, jailbirds.

Short update incoming, a family issue is taking me away from writing anything funny today. But, I promised. Let's keep this short and sweet.

I have sent off BIRD CRIMES proofs to the factory for a final quote and a sample to test the finicky sepia tones and their added white tints.

Even with all our stretch goals, freebies, and packaging included, fulfilling all pledges as purchased would not even amount to 25% of raised funds.

Manufacturing estimates were based on industry standard for similar pins, and were laughably high compared to what I am actually paying. Including my half of the Pintopia freebies, the vinyl sticker sheet, and shipping supplies, our actual fund usage for BIRD CRIMES would be just below $3000. This would include about 400 stock pins, too. Labor, of course, also costs money, but not $10,000 money.

In the spirit of complete transparency, I do not feel this is fair when we had some much-hyped designs that are technically not available yet. So, I'm making them available.

The KAKAPO and SEAGULL crimes will be available as choices during the backer survey.

Backers will be able to select either of these designs for pins and MUGSHOTS stickers.

Surveys are expected on-schedule, if early. I am waiting until the 23rd to send smoke tests to wait for some declined cards to be fixed.

United Kingdom backers should be getting emails between tonight and Monday.

Thanks, jailbirds. Take it easy. Happy Friday.

Good evening, Jailbirds! And, congrats, fellow Pintopia artists!

This is the final update for the actual fun part of the campaign. But, unfortunately for you, it is not the last time you'll be hearing from me.

Bird crimes closed at 1 PM PST/4 PM EST today. Don't cry because it's over, smile because you people somehow raised $14,043. Jesus christ.

Before we get to the boring technical business crap, let's go over some numbers and milestones.

$1k of that nauseating $14.05k was raised in 17 minutes. We launched 5 minutes before I went to work, and when I went to change my stupid podcast, we were funded. Let that sink in. In the time it took me to get to work, scrub up, and deal with a couple customers, you guys fully funded this campaign.

In about four hours, you smashed $4k and unlocked every initial stretch goal. The Parrotlet, Lovebird, Zebra Finch, Rooster and Broody Hen pins were hot and ready for all backers by the time I was done showering, feeding the dog, and getting a mid-day shitty Korean coffee.

Corviforms' BACKYARD BIRDS was funded in full, which is the understatement of the century. So, all mutual backers will be getting two free pins! If you joined a physical tier (even stickers only) for BIRD CRIMES, and got at least one pin from Corvi, you qualify.

Bird Crimes MUGSHOTS are available for all backers! These are vinyl stickers of each unlocked design available for $2. You could either add these to your pledge, or, you can grab them in your survey later.
 
You unlocked a free sticker sheet for all backers! Every backer who pledged for a physical tier will get the 4" vinyl CRIMES sticker sheet as part of their order.

Not including addons, British "people" or edited/cancelled pledges, 876 BIRD CRIMES pins have been purchased. At 1 oz. each, that is roughly half of my dog worth of pins. I expect three quarters, to one full dog, to weigh in once surveys are complete.

Eight stretch goal birds have been unlocked. All together, the Cockatiel, Budgie, Green Cheek Conure, Parrotlet, Lovebird, Zebra Finch, Rooster, Broody Hen, Sparrow, Pigeon and Cockatoo will be available for 1.75" pins and MUGSHOTS.

While we'll miss the seagull, wren and kakapo, these scumbag recidivists always re-offend. They might be back at a later date.

And finally, when it comes to backers, there are 469 of you! That's a pretty unfortunate number to have up on the campaign page for eternity, but that's an awesome turnout. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to each and every one of you, for making this stupid thing happen.

If you are one of those backers, you will probably want to pay attention for a little longer. It is time to talk about surveys.

If not: there WILL be items available on the preorder store! That update will go out later this week.

Good evening, jailbirds!

Quick little update: smoke tests have been sent to roughly 5% of backers.

I don't control who gets them, so if you did, this is normal. You are getting an early survey to troubleshoot and root out problems.

Report all problems to me immediately: if items are missing a design variant, shipping prices look incorrect, or you are unable to purchase an addon you want, come to me as soon as you can.

The first backer to report each major issue will receive a free vinyl sticker sheet from KEN'S PIN HUSTLE (6x4 with 7-10 stickers) with their pledge rewards.

If you do not get your smoke test in the next 1-2 days, you are in the normal survey bracket. Expect to see yours starting 4/28! Do you know what pins you're getting yet? Did the availability of the kakapo and seagull shake things up? Remember: if you pledged during the campaign, but want a couple more pins, you can always add them on during checkout!

If we have 80% survey completion (375 backers) by 5/3 (next Friday) I will design some stupid sticker and put it in all your packages. Vote below on what you want that to be. 

Finally, some annoying reminders: we have quite a few failed credit cards still. Either check yours now, or wait until you get your survey. You will not be able to finish your survey and confirm your rewards unless you have a validated credit card (you only get what you pay for, stupid!) 

We have 5 UK backers who have not responded to their email survey. Your deadline for this is May 15th, but sooner is always better. Please check your email if you are a UK backer for further instructions.

Good afternoon, jailbirds!

Pretty boring technical update today.

Smoke tests will be going out TOMORROW, April 22nd. You may receive an early survey tomorrow. This is to weed out any issues with the survey process. If this is you, please fill your survey out as normal - pick your pin/sticker choices, answer any questions, and provide shipping information.

As a reward for being extra special and cutting the line, you have to do some work. Sorry. Nothing is free.

If you get your survey tomorrow, please look for discrepancies/broken questions. 

I will give a free 6x4 sticker sheet to any backer who finds a critical issue and reports it to me first. Nothing for typos, just a fatherly pat on the back. Your choice of any design I have in-stock by the time your order ships. Thanks, boys.

Regular surveys will go out April 28th, 2024. The deadline for ALL surveys will be May 15th.

After smoke tests clear the survey for any issues, start looking for your survey NEXT MONDAY (4/28).

Just like the smoke test backers above, you will need to pick designs for all the stickers and pins you purchased during the campaign. You will also be able to add additional pins, stickers, and LITTLE SHITS at this stage.

Non-backers should also have access to the CRIMES preorder store starting the 28th.

Importantly, you will also be able to correct failed credit cards. Of all backers, we have under ten who haven't been charged yet, and just under thirty whose charges failed. I ask that you fix these as soon as possible, but you will be required to fix to complete your survey.

I am in talks with Corviforms about offering combined shipping for BIRD CRIMES + BACKYARD BIRDS buyers. Nothing concrete yet, but if timelines line up, this would be offered to all dual backers. However, with a disclaimer: BIRD CRIMES is looking to be ahead of schedule, production-wise.

I will offer the option for combined shipping (if available) in the survey for these backers. You may get your BIRD CRIMES at a later date than other backers, if you opt for this. However, especially if you are international, I strongly recommend still doing it: you will save us both a LOT of money.

UK BACKERS: CHECK YOUR EMAILS! I have three of you who have not filled out my Great Value brand BackerKit survey. Your deadline is May 15th, like other surveys, but earlier is better since I have to go manually do shit.

That should be all for now. Keep an eye out for smoke tests tomorrow. Thanks, as always.

It's 10 PM, not going to bug you too much, but the Vandalism Cockatoo is now available for all backers! Someone just pushed us over the $13k mark while I was joking about being at $12,995 with a friend. Thank you, random citizen.

With under 48 hours left, I'm not expecting to get any more stretch goals, but our next milestone is the seagull - the most voted pin in the backer poll. Who knows? Can popularity get this smug swindling jerk unlocked?

Let's find out.

As always, stay good. Goodnight, jailbirds. Thank you for getting us this far.

Good afternoon, jailbirds!

By the time you get this email, we will be 48 hours away from the end of Pintopia. Remember: any campaigns you want to back, do it by 1 PM PST/4 PM EST!

Have you checked out Corviforms' BACKYARD BIRDS yet? Her backers are troopers, and just unlocked one of my favorite birds! Backyard Birds has outgrown the backyard, and now has some beautiful birds of prey up for grabs.

Remember: we're both handcuffed together by Pintopia, so if you buy shit from both of us, you get TWO free pins!

On the BIRD CRIMES end of things, we are in the home stretch for another stretch goal. $300 more, and the Vandalism Cockatoo will be available to backers. Can you send our campaign to your friends and flock, and net this cacophonous cockatoo?

This was announced yesterday, but this is a reminder to all backers that LITTLE SHITS sets for BIRDS 2 and MAMMALS are now finished and ready to view!

These tiny little 1" stickers are available in customized bundles, or giant bulk set packs. There are 264 designs in total, and there's sure to be something you like in there. 

While Birds 1 has been available for preorder through KEN'S PIN HUSTLE for a little over a month, BIRDS 2 and MAMMALS will only be available from BIRD CRIMES for a little while.

If you want any of these tiny little things for your luggage, phone case or ID badges during the upcoming con season, get them now! They are weatherproof, UV proof, and dishwasher-safe, for your hydroflask you definitely need, and definitely need to wash, if you're going to any of those animal suit conventions this summer.

I'll have a few at Anthrocon, but otherwise, you won't be seeing them until late summer or early fall.

Thank you as always for reading (if you read all this crap), and to backers, for your support. I am still in awe of how far you got this stupid thing.

That's all for now! Hope you're having an easy Tuesday, and getting some nice weather. 

Good morning, jailbirds!

As I type this, we have about six hours left on BIRD CRIMES. This will be the last update you guys get during the actual campaign runtime. It's a little bittersweet, honestly.

Get any last-minute pledges in, and, if you got it in you, share the campaign around just one more time?

If everyone beams their support into the sky like a cheesy anime for babies, we might just unlock one more stretch goal. We'd need about 1.5k more in these last 6 hours. Can you do it?

...even if not, I still love you guys. 

Campaign summary and final update after everything wraps up.