Timeline Update (August) and Shipping Addresses
10 months ago – Mon, Jul 03, 2023 at 07:53:15 AM

Hi hello and happy American independence day,

Cutting straight to it: we're now looking at early-mid August for the decks to be shipped out. So far, I've only been able to make educated guesses about the progress of things, so I'm pleased to finally have official word directly from the source. Here's word-for-word what I got from my manufacturing and fulfillment partner this morning:

• Blue/Green PLAY Deck: Tucks printed week of 6/19, Sheets printing week of 7/17. Completion late July/early August.
• Red/Orange PLAY Deck: Tucks printed week of 6/19, Sheets printing week of 7/17. Completion late July/early August.
• ART Deck: Tucks printed, waiting to be folded and glued, Sheets printing week of 7/17. Completion late July/early August. Fancy foiled Tucks will be ready the third week of July 2023.

Note when reading the above: Tucks = the card boxes, Sheets = the cards themselves. 

The assembled PLAY decks and the ART deck cards, once completed, will then make the journey from Kentucky to Texas, where the ART cards will be joined with their foiled tuck boxes, and all orders will be assembled and fulfilled. 

I know news of another delay is a bit of a bummer, it certainly is for me. The timeline has proven again and again and again to be the hardest thing to predict with this project, but progress continues to be made and we continue to gain clarity about what to expect. I can't stress enough how much I appreciate your patience!

Pssst - is your shipping address correct?

Here's how to update your shipping address, with some troubleshooting suggestions:

• Log into Backerkit using your email address. Backerkit is the service that originally collected your shipping information and is managing the data associated with my Kickstarter. If you updated your address on Kickstarter, it may not have synced up with Backerkit so it's important for you to log in and double check. 
• If you forgot your password, click 'forgot password' and follow the instructions to reset it.
• If resetting your password doesn't work, go to your email and search "Backerkit" to find your original Backerkit invite link. Everyone's invite link is unique, so I unfortunately can't just paste one here. Following that invite link, you should be able to get in to update your shipping address.
• If you cannot reset your password or find your invite link, or you think your Backerkit is associated with a relay email address or any other address that you no longer have access to, or you have any additional questions or issues, send me an email ([email protected]) and I will send you your personal invite link and/or do my best to help you figure it out. There are thousands of y'all and only one of me so thanks for bearing with me!

If you are moving in the next month and unsure whether the decks will ship before or after you reach your new address, hold off on changing it for now. You'll be able to update your addresses right up until a few days before the ship date, and I will send out additional reminders before then. Early August is only an estimate right now - once I know for sure when orders will go out, so shall you, and you can make a more informed decision at that time 💞

Shipping Addresses and Stretch Goal Rewards
10 months ago – Mon, Jun 26, 2023 at 10:38:57 AM

Hello howdy and happy Monday,

The countdown until the estimated ship date (July 14) continues! I am getting a LOT of emails about shipping addresses, so I'm hoping this note will help remind and assist anyone that still needs to update theirs. 

Here's how to update your shipping address, with some troubleshooting suggestions:

• Log into Backerkit using your email address. Backerkit is the service that originally collected your shipping information and is managing the data associated with my Kickstarter. If you updated your address on Kickstarter, it may not have synced up with Backerkit so it's important for you to log in and double check. 
• If you forgot your password, click 'forgot password' and follow the instructions to reset it. 
• If resetting your password doesn't work, go to your email and search "Backerkit" to find your original Backerkit invite link. Everyone's invite link is unique, so I unfortunately can't just paste one here. Following that invite link, you should be able to get in to update your shipping address. 
• If you cannot reset your password or find your invite link, or you think your Backerkit is associated with a relay email address or any other address that you no longer have access to, or you have any additional questions or issues, send me an email ([email protected]) and I will send you your personal invite link and/or do my best to help you figure it out. There are thousands of y'all and only one of me so I appreciate your patience!

If you are moving in the next month and unsure whether the decks will ship before or after you reach your new address, hold off on changing it for now. You'll be able to update your addresses right up until a few days before the ship date, and I will send out additional reminders before then. July 14 is only an estimate right now - once I know for sure when orders will go out, so shall you, and you can make a more informed decision at that time 💞

Okay phew! Now that that's out of the way, 

Here's some more exciting stuff about the stretch goal rewards:

Stretch Goal 1, 150% funding: The Three Back Sticker Packs

I've been hard at work the last week turning over 6000 stickers into over 2000 sticker packs, each including one life-size sticker of each of the At The Table deck back designs. A Three Back Sticker Pack will be automatically included in everyone's rewards 🥰

Stretch Goal 2, 200% funding: Custom Packaging

I had to make the difficult call deciding what custom packaging to prioritize, and due to budget and quantity limitations, the Half Brick Box (6 decks) will be the only custom packaging being produced for this edition of the At the Table cards. That being said, she's gorgeous. I created the design to look like a table with a table cloth and runner, to serve as a call back to the theme of the deck. Split down the middle with orange detailing on one side and green on the other, it visually represents three orange/red and three green/blue PLAY decks within. If a Half Brick was part of your pledge, it will come in it's own box similar to the proof pictured below. If you pledged for a Brick, you'll receive that in the form of two Half Bricks 🤩

Stretch Goal 3, 300% funding: An Extra PLAY Deck in each reward

I'm thrilled I was able to follow through on this! Those who backed for a single PLAY deck will instead get a Pair of PLAYs (one of each color). All other pledges had an extra PLAY deck added to them for you to do whatever you want with 🥳

I'll be honest, my stretch goals were ambitious, and it unfortunately became an either-or situation between the custom packaging for the Pair of PLAYS and the extra PLAY deck for everyone. The extra PLAY deck felt like the far more meaningful upgrade to give everyone and so that's ultimately what I chose to follow through on. The world could probably benefit from a little less packaging in it anyway 😅

I'm so excited for y'all to get your rewards!! 🎉

Taryn | @arynlei

Shipping in July 🎉
12 months ago – Fri, May 19, 2023 at 07:56:22 AM

Artwork? Approved. Contracts? Signed. Invoices? PAID. Shipments are estimated to start July 14 🎉

Need to change your shipping address? Head over to BackerKit and log in using your email address to change your shipping information. If you have trouble with this, I am happy to assist from the backend, just send me an email at [email protected].

In case you missed it: Limited edition fine art prints of all cards are here: arynlei.com/shop. As a thank you for your ongoing patience and support, Kickstarter backers get 30% off your first print order with code KICK30. Collect your favorites before they're gone.

Keeping it short and sweet today 💞

Taryn | @arynlei 

Update - working on artwork approvals
about 1 year ago – Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 11:36:09 AM

Hi friends, thank you for your patience with me as I push through the final stages of this project.

Some FAQs I've gotten from kind folks following this process on IG:

I thought the cards were done, so what are you currently working on? Artwork approvals with the manufacturers. What may seem like a simple thing is actually weeks of back and forth as I comb through the fronts and backs of 168 cards (three decks 🙃), three tuck boxes,  and two closure stickers, while making sure every detail and color looks as good as it can. Its lengthy but worth it, I promise.

What happens when artwork approvals are done? A 6-8 week countdown begins, at the end of which the decks will be done and shipping will begin. I was going to wait to make this update until I could confidently shout that estimated shipping date from the rooftops, but in the spirit of openness this is the most I can say at the present moment. For what it's worth, I'm hoping to finish approvals next week.

How do I change my shipping address? This is easy, just go over to BackerKit and log in using your email address to change your shipping information. If you have trouble with this, I am happy to assist from the backend, just send me an email at [email protected].

A quick note, I am forever grateful for the way this project has changed my life and the ongoing support it continues to receive. The entire experience has been truly humbling. I am an artist at heart and I get to exist in this world as an artist, and that's amazing. Unfortunately, I lack expertise in public relations, customer service, project management, and dozens of other roles I also have to fill as a one-person operation. I cannot emphasize enough how much your ongoing patience, understanding, and empathy means to me. 

I'm exhibiting art from this series for the first time, the opening reception is tonight and I'm nervous so wish me luck! If you're in the Chicagoland area and free tonight, please come say hi! We'll be partying with drinks and apps at The Hoxton, Chicago, tonight from 6:30-8:30pm. The works will be exhibited for the next 3 months so if you can't make it tonight, there's plenty of time to see the work in person another time.

I love that you made it this far into the update, here are some rough mockups of the PLAY deck tucks as thanks:

That's all I got,

Taryn | @arynlei

40 Cards Down - the end is in sight :)
over 1 year ago – Fri, Dec 02, 2022 at 06:07:39 AM

Dear Backers,

I’m so so pleased to announce the pip cards (a-10) for the At the Table Deck are finally finished. I have poured countless hours into each and every card, and I am so excited to soon finally be able to tell their stories. psst - you can view them on my website

A timeline update:

Unfortunately, despite dedicating 100% of my efforts to the final illustrations in the last few months, I have reached my estimated design deadline with work still to be done. There will be a delay in when the cards can be delivered as a result. I am obviously disappointed to deliver this news, but am taking full responsibility for my error in timeline estimation.

Ensuring that the quality of the artwork continues to honor the stories shared with me, resulting in the most thoughtful and flushed out final product I’m capable of making, continues to be my highest priority. Your grace, patience, and encouragement continue to be appreciated as I push though the final court cards.

I am looking to the end of April as a new, realistic shipment estimate. The cards could very well come sooner than that, but to account for variables in the lengthy manufacturing process, this is the timeline I feel confident presenting at this time. Again, I can't thank you all enough for bearing with me. I'm just one artist who's putting together something truly magical for you all.

A note on surveys:

94% of you have completed your surveys through Backerkit, but 6% remain unaccounted for.  I need your information to know where to send your backer rewards, so if you have not yet completed your survey, now is the time! 

If you suspect you did not complete your survey, please check your email inbox and spam folder. This morning, I resent reminders to those who have not yet completed the survey, so it should be right at the top. If you have trouble accessing your survey, or need any other assistance with the Backerkit platform, please message me on Kickstarter so I, or a member of the Backerkit team, can assist you. That includes changing your shipping address if necessary :)

Let's keep in touch:

I share card illustration updates as well as general project updates daily over on Instagram (@arynlei) - stop by and say hello! (I'm also very excited to bring you all of the unseen card episodes the moment I'm done designing!)

That's all for now, thanks again so so much for helping me make the largest project of my career a tangible reality. 

See you At the Table,

Taryn | @arynlei