It's a short one. Basically, I'm going over written things, doing some personal edits, before I send things off to my awesomeeditor, Steph (https://storyotters.wordpress.com/otters-editing/). While they are looking over things, I'll be working on layout elements and art things.
I have the mushroom forest to paint, and only have one remaining Make-A-Fairy to finish. Though, I do have some small details I still want to add to the Swamp critter fairy.
I'll be finally sending surveys out around the end of March, once the mushroom forest and last make-a-fairy (the venus fly trap one) are finished. I wanted all the art done before I did that.
Anyways, here's some cool art I've finished (and one sticker design I haven't finished yet):
This here is the Crystal Fairy in their final form! They're so beautiful and soooo deadly.
Now, for the swamp critter, I still have some detail stuff I want to do. I want to add scales to the lizard parts, and make the mantis arms look more dynamic. I also realized I didn't add much shadow to the critter itself. I changed the sword to a rusty machete. Thought that was more fitting for the swamp. Also, the jellyfish-like swamp friend just didn't quite fit. So, eventually I'll use that design for some cute critter sticker. If I have enough time, I might even have it ready as an option for sticker packs! I won't promise that. Though, I will absolutely try.
My version of a wisp. Well, at least one form of a wisp. I feel like they take many forms. This particular fairy creature wanders the swamp. They guide lost travelers to safety. They are not to be confused with their evil cousins, whisps. Whisps love to trick and confuse lost travelers.
There really isn't a good way to tell the difference between a wisp or whisp until it's too late.
And that's it for this State of the Fae update. I'll be sure to have more next month!
It's been awhile, huh? Surveys are ready to be sent out, however, I'm waiting another month or two to do a smoke test and then the initial send.
Things have been as chaotic as ever, but I'm mostly on schedule. I'm really glad I built in extra time for myself. I won't mention the horrors of the world directly, but oof bagoof... I'm sure many of you are aware. It's hard not to be a despondent pile of goop as your brain tries to process just what the heck is going on.
The best thing to do is to do what you can. Don't overstretch and / or overstress yourself. If it's 2 in the morning, there's not much you can do about a situation, so try not to panic about it.
Rest when you need it. It's okay to do nothing. I've been having some "do nothing" days myself. My "do nothing" is basically playing a cozy video game, napping, and eating yummy snacks. I'm not productive. I'm just existing.
There's a lot more I could say, however, a lot of things are more situational to where you live and to what's going on around you.
I hope things go okay for you. I hope you have some yummy food and some time to rest.
Where are we on the timeline? I'm still working on some stories. Of the three I have left to write, I've refined my little quick drafts (outline synopsis thingies). Once finished with those, I'll be doing touch-ups.
In March, things will be sent to the editor. During that time, I'll be working on the layout art and more. Then more edits and fixes once the wonderful editor (Otters Editing) has done their thing.
Of course, I'll be giving y'all another update in the middle of February to let you know how it's going.
Beyond March, It's art, layout, and editing until June! Then, I'll order some proofs to make sure I have things looking good. More touch-ups. Once I get a proof that's well and good, it's ordering things, packaging them up, and sending them.
I'm still planning on early September for sending out physical and digital books and rewards. However, if things go smoothly, I might do so earlier. But, well, we'll see.
ART TIME I usually work on my art things during dnd (Dungeons and Dragons) time. Unfortunately, dnd schedules have not been aligning as well as usual. It's a curse many dnd players know well. I think we'll be getting back to more of a routine schedule on all of the campaigns soon (I'm in three of them).
But, I have gotten the outline for the 1st Make-A-Fairy done! It took me a hot minute to figure out how I wanted to do the crystals and background itself.
The symmetry tool did wonders for many aspects of the fairy! I didn't end up using that when it came to the crystals though. I'm thinking a lot of blues for the color scheme. I really like how this almost has a stained glass style to it. At least, I think it does.
I also think I should add some rusty shadings. You see, the mouth for this fairy is not where the mouth is. That's just more of a mimicry. Can you guess where the actual mouth is?
Oh yeah! This design is one of the sticker designs! Isn't she cute?! A fairy holding a fairy friend! So cute! This was a fun one to make. I was going with a different color scheme originally, but these colors worked so much better.
Title Reveals Hey! Want to know what some of the titles of the short stories will be? Heck, I'll even throw in the title of a poem.
Short Stories -The Painter's Fairy Folly -The Gift of Names
Poem -What's for Supper?
Okay, that's all I'm going to bug you with! It's probably a bit longer of an update than people care for. As a quick reminder, the pre-order store is open! If you weren't able to pledge during the campaign, you can still order the book and things. And don't be afraid to share it with those you think might be interested!
How a great day! Fairy kisses and best wished to you all! -Spooky Pickle
Why hello fairy friends and fiends! It's time for a quick update.
I said I was going to do one this weekend on Bluesky. Well, Monday morning will have to do.
Basically, surveys won't be sent out until mid-January. And then, I'll give another wonderful update full of art and more.
After the craziness that was my November, things has settled (relatively). Now I'm able to put all my focus into Fairy Seasons (which I wanted to do in November, but well life and all that). I'm excited for my upcoming five day holiday weekend, and my lack of events for the foreseeable future.
I finished the sketch for the final make-a-fairy! As a reminder: carnivorous plants, mixed with bones, and no face; aside from a masquerade mask, and a hoard of bones won the polls. Now, I don't have the environment sketch done, but I'm pretty excited for what I have in mind. I have a couple other design things to finish up anyways (which I'll share in the next update).
Anyways, here this creepy thing is!
Those arms, by the way, are made of meat. I'll be adding more detail, like bird wings and other things stuck in the arms. I'm also going to have them pop out of a giant pitcher plant rather than just hold themselves up with meat arms. They tend to sleep in the plant, with their arms sticking out. The pitcher plant has roots that can act as legs to help the fairy get around. Their court is full of bones and rotten meat. And they quite like it that way.
I hope your as creeped out by this fairy as much as I am! More lore is coming!
For now, I won't keep you. I wish you some very happy holidays. I hope they are filled with warmth, joy, and peace. I think we could all use a little bit of those right now.
If you'd like smaller updates in between these big ones, I tend to use bluesky for those. I haven't been on as much as I've been taking a social media break. But, I'll be more regular soon enough. Ta ta for now!
PS: Pre-Order and Late Pledges store is open for those interested!!!
Yoooooo! We did it. We reached the end of the campaign. All 22 projects of the Book Bazaar hit 100% funding. All our project combined raised over $50K and we had 1900 backers. Not too shabby for a first year crowdfunding event!
And do it we did.
Everyone in the Bazaar worked so hard and did so well! We often shared each other's posts, cheered each other on when we felt down, and offered advice. Crowdfunding veterans gave us so many tips, made videos, set some helpful deadlines to keep us all on track, and so much more.
I hope to help others in the future!
Without all of you, I wouldn't have reached full funding! Thank you all so much!
Now I can focus solely on fulfillment and more!
I'll be sharing updates monthly. I opened a pre-order store for late pledges and those who wish to pre-order Fairy Seasons (you can find this on the front page of the project). In a few weeks, I'll be sending out a survey. So, look out for that in your email.
Shipping will not be collected right away. It will be collected way closer to shipping date. It doesn't make much sense to collect that now, so early before September 2026 (when I'll be sending things out). Downloads (digital rewards) will be available then, too.
I'll be sharing the sketch for the next fairy soon! I'll also be sharing art updates, too.
Hello fairy friends! Tonight is the last night of the Fairy Seasons Campaign.
I am feeling a lot, I tell ya h-wut. And, you can trust me on that. Oh? Show and don't tell. Listen, it's been a long day and I'm pretty sleepy so I'm not going to do that right now. I'm saving that for the stories.
Besides, I have something even better.
Yes. That's right. It's the results of the final make-a-fairy polls! I am reeeeeeeally excited to draw this one. I mean, I was just as excited for the others, but what y'all picked is really something I think I can draw, like, decently well.
So, without further ado (because ado is forbidden from this point on), the results!
1. The base parts of our new fairy will be carnivorous plants. Think venus flytraps, and pitcher plants. I plan to look plenty of them up. In the environment drawing, I really want to include a corpse flower.
2. This fairy will have elements of bones mixed into their design. As a lover of creepy things and bones, yes! Love this!
3. For the votes on faces, no face and masquerade mask tied. Honestly, that works out super well. So, while there is no actual face, there will be a masquerade mask that gets confused for a face. I loooooove masquerade masks. I'm sort of okay at drawing those. Now's the best time to practice!
4. As for what the fairy protects, a hoard of bones won out of them all. I think that's going to be really creepy in the best way.
Now, I think this one is going to be a little gross in the coolest of ways. I'm so excited to draw it!
By the way, The Primal Rift can still use a couple more backers to reach that 100% funded mark. If they reach that, then everyone in The Book Bazaar ends up completely funded! Yippee!!!
I don't really have anything else that's urgent, aside from urging all of you (who can) to back some other projects and share, share, share!
Thank you all so much for helping me make a really fun campaign. This is / was my first crowdfunding campaign ever. And honestly, it's gone way better than I expected. Thank you all so much for everything!
