Smoke tests are on hold because the samples of CC's jewelry have mostly been rejected, for fairly obvious reasons up close but some of the details are hard to show in photos.
Of course, the most egregious is arguably that the Cœur de Chat pendant's stone should have been cut to have a smooth base on both sides. It's practically a weapon as-is. We are both really baffled as to why this was done and why there were no progress photos so that this could have been intercepted.
Sample remakes shouldn't take long because the molds are of course approved, the material is now settled, and the components are mostly agreed upon! The big gem being a problem shouldn't be a huge deal to iron out, either. But some of the issues are plating and polishing related, and given those are final steps it will take around 2 weeks to see the updated changes.
These photos Chocolat Chaud took are really beautiful and I hope they help keep the hype alive!! ✨️
We really thank you for your patience! Truly don't have words for how disheartening it is to be having these issues.
The smoke tests for the surveys will be sent out once the samples are approved, along with an accompanying update. We don't want to be continuing to promise things that haven't been 100% guaranteed yet, given the debacle we had with material issues already.
In good news:
The spoons are done!
I also wanted to show that my guillotines all have colors approved now!
Thank you for your faith too because as promised, the enamel application is so much cleaner now! With the samples they had to apply it on top of the ones that had unapproved coloring/glitter, which is why it was so sloppy looking. They are now headed to mass production for the enameling so they'll be done soon. Such a huge relief!
This 2nd pic for red is because I asked for one without a giant shadow over it, but the lighter one is now a bit overexposed and warmer (you can see if you compare it to the metal color for the other black ones and orangey background), so expect the result to look somewhat in between these pics. Sorry about that. I'm including both of those pics and that info for the red option in the survey (unless they are finished before it's sent out, in which case I'll replace with a better photo!).
Lastly, I've received the pins sooner than expected! I haven't had a chance to grade them as I'm still trickling out my overdue orders from my monster girl campaigns. Lots and I mean lots of doctor appointments recently, and still to come. So sorry about all that, but I will get to them soon. I did however count them and all is well there. While counting, most did seem good!
You can kind of see the pearlescent sheen in the white, but my camera isn't as good as it used to be. I didn't get more purple produced, so this example is still from the prior batch!
The glitter is holographic as promised! Doesn't really like to play nice with the camera either.
Much easier to see in video !
Silver will be an option in the survey!
These came out SO cute and dainty!!
Last but not least, she came out well also!
We've also almost reached the point we will be ordering the stickers! So stay tuned for those pictures some time after surveys have been sent!
Thank you again for your patience! Please email me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns!
Hello! Just letting everyone know that the updated quantities were accepted so we are moving forward. If you didn't see the last update, please check it out in order to understand what I mean.
The one thing we are still waiting on is confirmation on whether or not the spikes & ribbon earrings look okay in stainless steel.
This means I can try to get the survey ready to go out soon, and that it will be sent out once we know that for sure. We are going to have to discuss further what we will do with a preorder store if anything, but we'll have that ironed out soon.
In the survey will be another disclaimer front and center to collar pin backers about them now being brass, and to backers of everything that will now be silver about that change too.
Lastly, I do have a pretty minor update but it still is one: my new pin logo is now being used on the spoons now too (this was one they sampled with the new design)!
Needs replating now that this has been engraved but gives a good picture so far of what it will look like.
I think it came out very cute. The previous design on the spoons was doodled kind of on a whim, and is of course still on the spoons currently in stock.
Older picture comparing the paw logo as well...I am indecisive.
RIP old spoon logo from 8 years ago, it has served me well.
Last thing: shipping to Hawaii and US terrotories is dramatically increasing in a few days so I'll need to figure out how to account for that in shipping charges.
Thank you for your flexibility and understanding through these curveballs!
We urgently need backer feedback on an important change to materials for the collar pins. I usually ask for people to email me with requests, but in this instance I am asking for comments so backer sentiment is easier to see in one big picture (including up and down votes).
I (Midnight Springs) was forewarned early on before I even paid for my sample to be made that stainless steel would be too complex for my design, it wouldn't come out well. That's what I was told. However, despite us having the same manufacturer and our representative knowing all this time that we are friends, they did not afford the same courtesy to Chocolat Chaud. We were operating under the assumption that the stainless steel would be fine, and that there would be no issues with polishing. After all, the designs are fundamentally different from my guillotine, which has many tiny recessed details and a little channel for the blade to pass through. Rather, CC's designs have many broad surface areas that you would think would be easy to polish. Unfortunately, we were seemingly deliberately misled; they're very aware of the standards each of us hold for visible appearance of each of our pieces and these absolutely do not meet them.
The biggest issue is that the stainless steel is very gritty on these pieces, and apparently they can't polish them further. The only options provided were to switch to sterling silver, which is more than 2x the price per piece of every design, or to switch Chocolat Chaud's designs to plated brass like mine are at the same price as quoted for steel.
We have come to the conclusion that it makes the most sense for the collar pins to be converted to brass, but we aren't sure how people will feel about the rest of what they've ordered or planned to order, which is why we need your feedback. Currently, the plan we have is to bring an altered quantity list back to the rep and firmly ascertain that they absolutely need to work with us on a lower quantity per design for these items in order to help us afford them. That's the absolute least they could do, because they refuse to offer any other kind of compensation despite repeatedly saying they could deliver beautiful polished pieces resembling the 3D models and past works made by Chocolat Chaud.
That being said, we will go to the rep with our proposal after we have received feedback in the comments, they have not yet agreed to this.
Our idea is this: • The Vitrail necklaces will be changed to sterling silver. Because of the massive price hike, quantity will need to be severely reduced and leftovers will also need to be much higher priced. As a result, they will not be possible to offer on the survey if we go this route. • The rings will be changed to silver. Same as with the necklaces, quantity will be severely reduced, will not be available in survey, and price will unfortunately need to be much higher when in stock. • The Cœur de Chat will be changed to silver. Same as with the necklaces and rings, quantity will be severely reduced, will not be available in survey, and price will need to be very, very high in stock. • The spikes & ribbons earrings should still be fine in stainless steel, but we're waiting on confirmation. We would reduce quantity of these in order to afford the silver cost for the designs above.
The black cat earrings also have to be dropped because of this mess. My guillotines and spoons already went into production before the CC design samples were finished, so there is no way to alter those quantities. Backers for just those are unaffected.
No one is going to be asked to pay any extra for silver pieces!! You'll be able to just think of it as a bargain. This post, and our humble request for your feedback, is mostly directed to those who backed for collar pins as they will have to have brass with platinum plating as the material instead of the previously-promised steel. All findings (chains, etc) would still remain stainless steel. The plating is thick and not easy to wear down.
There are a couple of options available to anyone who is understandably unhappy with this: • We can discuss with you privately swapping your (now-brass) collar pins to designs that are being made in silver in their limited stock. You would still be charged campaign pricing but have to pay the difference assuming there is one. This can be done on the back-end and does not require much. • We can switch your pledge to add-ons that still have stock available if you would prefer to then drop the pledge tier and swap it for our miscellaneous premade merch. • We can offer a refund for the item(s) that were originally promised to be stainless steel only.
Please also keep in mind again that the guillotines and all my previous designs are this hypoallergenic brass, and even the septum rings (which are in a very...moist environment when worn) have received really good feedback over the years, with no reports of allergic reactions. I've sold hundreds of the septum rings alone over the last 5 or so years, closer to 1k if I count my necklaces (which do have stainless steel chains). If not for allergen reasons, I really ask you to understand that this was completely unanticipated and a seriously devastating blow, and to not look too unfavorably at the brass... We both did everything right on our ends to try to make sure they understood what was needed for CC's designs to turn out as envisioned. In fact, I can very confidently say they understood perfectly and just didn't think we'd complain, as I've been in this spot so many times with pin manufacturers in the last several years. Just really sad the apathy reached this resource as well.
Thank you for your time and please do think this over and let us know your thoughts. More specifically, we absolutely want to hear from backers of the collar pins, those who are allergic to s925 silver, those allergic to platinum (both the brass and s925 will have platinum plating), and those who were planning on getting other designs via the survey and would be unable to with these changes.
All pins are in production now!! In the survey, the bonus pins for the $150+ and $200+ pledges will not be available a la carte, but will be added manually to anyone who newly-applies if they added more on! Chocolat Chaud has finished almost all of their portion of survey setup, so it's just up to me now to get my butt in gear and have that ready to go out ASAP. The preorder store will go live at the same time as the survey is sent out!
The jewelry manufacturer is still extremely swamped, so we have only just gotten the final invoice yesterday and subsequently paid. The physical samples of Chocolat Chaud's designs still aren't complete, but we will immediately show pictures when they are!! After those are approved is when the mass production will begin for those.
As for the guillotines, here are the adjusted enamel colors for white and pink:
I'm very happy about these! That dark-dark pink that was unedited and used in the black/red mockup (the gem color was mocked up) is still going to be used for that colorway as it's a great rose-red color, and we are still working on the purple shade. Stone colors have been picked!
There is something we had to decide: there will be no pink CZ Vitrail de Cristal of any design available in the surveys, because no one pledged for them during the campaign run. We know there is the super slim chance that someone who pledged for a set wanted pink, but if that's the case please reach out via email ([email protected]) if you don't want any other color so we can help resolve things in a satisfactory way. Because of the way we have to order things, there has to be a minimum produced of every colorway for everything, and Chocolat Chaud really can't risk having dead stock indefinitely, I certainly couldn't either. Especially given how hard it will be to ship to the US once the remaining stock has been sent to Japan where they are located. I really hope you can understand!
Where we left off with payments was that there is $553.50 from 7 backers that remained errored through the payment deadline, and the next POT payment of about $910 is dropping in about a week. Some of you did reply to me letting me know you'll pay the errored balance during the surveys - I really appreciate you getting back to me about it!
Thank you for your patience!!
PS: I have some notes after wearing my guillotine sample to Colossalcon weekend! I was also wearing a lanyard of course, which kept twisting the pendant around. If the chain gets twisted, it will not move properly and the blade may even get "stuck" in an odd position. This is not an issue when the necklace is worn normally, and it doesn't do the...chopping motion unless deliberately moved to do so, even if you're moving around a lot! Technically it's reversible: either CZ in front or CZ in back, doesn't matter, just don't let the chain twist and you're good to go! I was really happy to hear the compliments it received over the weekend and I'm really looking forward to sharing the next updated samples with you!
Currently, failed charges are at $878.25 from 12 backers. It looks like all initial POT payments were collected successfully, so they are included in the 99 backers that have paid! Thank you!
If in a week this does not go down significantly, I'll be sending individual emails. To give a better idea of the scale of this: because of the high volume of POT pledges and the errored pledges being nearly 1k, for this first deposit we will be receiving $4.5k less than what was raised (this is due to platform and processing fees as well, but those are worked into the goal and are not an issue!). I'm communicating this for transparency, because while creators do have to work margins into the goals (including 10% for fees) and be flexible on timeframes for things like POT, it's still notable and unexpected for nearly another 7% to be errored completely and over 20% to be in limbo at the time of production start.
We're really hoping we can reduce the errored charges by at least half by the end of this month and we will do our best while setting up the surveys to make sure each and every POT backer has their counts fully reserved even though the surveys won't be sent to them until August! The pledge average for this campaign was over $100, which is astonishing - we can't even begin to express how grateful we are for your support and belief in our designs!! 💓 we are so so grateful to each and every one of you!
Once this first week has passed we will also negotiate our first payments with the manufacturers to make sure paying them in installments will work just fine as previously agreed upon! To help with the other guillotine colorways, I'll reduce spoon quantities since the pledged-for quantity wasn't very high (I know they're very niche). Stickers will also be paid for last, after 2 more POT payments. That way the red and purple guillotines can start production with everything else. We hope that with primarily jewelry that this will be a really smooth process compared to pin-majority projects. Knock on wood, really, but we will do our best to streamline it!🤞
