Let’s jump right into it – we have 24 hours left before Be Not Apurred on KickStarter ends! This is your last chance to back it, and be the first to get these celestial key chains.
We have hit our base goal, but we haven’t hit our stretch goals yet. If we get even 4 more backers, we can make these Biblically accurate cat angel key chains ~HOLOGRAPHIC~ yo!
The more support this campaign gets, the more key chains we can rain on the world – which means more cat angels.
SO…if you have the means to back the campaign, be sure to…
Broke? Feel free to share the link to the cat lovers in your life. Sharing is caring and it helps more than you know. If it makes it easier, just copy/paste tinyurl.com/bnakeychain to make it happen.
And lo, the two-tailed cat gazed down upon the children of Creation with its three faces, and out of their multitude of mouths declared,
“BE NOT APURRED.”
With a puff of smoke and a shining golden light, the angel disappeared, only to reform as…a keychain?
WHAT?
Here’s the thing: I run a project called Kitties By Kelci. With it, I draw cat-themed art to make into products. These products began on RedBubble, which may have a wide selection of things to print designs on – but it doesn’t have everything.
In fact, I have to get keychains printed myself. Which is why we’re here!
These keychains will be about 3 inches tall, with double-sided printing and an acrylic epoxy on the front. It would come with a standard keychain loop and chain attached.
WHY THIS DESIGN?
You mean, besides the fact that it looks cool?
I want to get this printed to make it real. And, if this project succeeds, that means more designs in the future from Kitties by Kelci that exist outside of RedBubble. I want Kitties by Kelci to grow! And this campaign is the first step.
To bestow Biblically accurate cat angel blessings on your bags, head over to…
You have UNTIL JULY 6 at 7:45 am! So back it if you can, and/or share the link and spread the word! Be sure to use tinyurl.com/bnakeychains to make it easier to share.
Funny story: I turned in my notice at my office job. To get ready for returning to full-time art-making, I took a hard look at a bunch of numbers. For this story, just know that I was looking at the tally of sales I made online.
(I have a separate spreadsheet for convention sales, but I’ll get to that).
After looking at the data, I realized a surprising fact…
Prints made up 47% of all online sales. That’s close to half of everything!
This blew my mind. When I looked at the spreadsheet for convention sales, prints didn’t even make it to the top 3 categories. But prints DID make it in the top 3 sales categories on Ko-Fi, right up there with original art and PDFs.
So people are buying prints. Which goes against what I initially thought in the original announcement.
WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONVENTIONS AND KO-FI?
What makes prints sell better on Ko-Fi than at conventions?
I think it’s two things: prints don’t usually appear on my convention table due to space restrictions. And the best-selling prints on Ko-fi were limited edition AND framed.
Keep in mind that shoppers are, above all, lazy. If you can offer a framed piece of art (original or print), that saves the shopper the time and effort of finding a frame to fit it. Shoppers are willing to pay for the convenience if it means less work for them.
SO MOVING FORWARD…
Prints are coming back – and staying exclusive to online. That means Ko-Fi, crowdfunding campaigns like KickStarter and Crowdfundr, and possibly even Faire.com. (I’m not on Faire yet, but I’m looking to join.)
That said – prints and original art will be collected into art books. So if you have the means to get upcoming prints, great! If you miss your chance, watch for future art book announcements.
The best way to know when new prints and original art is coming out is to be on my email newsletter (shameless plug). So be sure to sign up to get the first sweet, sweet notice when new stuff comes out.
I have returned on YouTube with a new, short video. This time, it’s all about why there is no “right way” to be creative.
Here’s the thing – we know the starving artist stereotype. And we know the stereotype of the “sell-out” artist. So I hope that this video with my thoughts on the matter helps give a little clarity.
At the very least, you’ll know this: what works for one person doesn’t always work for another.
It’s actually hilarious that I finished this video, in which I mention having a full-time office job. Because I just turned in my notice. My last day at this office is June 30.
After that? I’m returning to being a full-time creative.
I’m doing this for my own health – the office was (and is) hugely transphobic, the HR department is shit, there are no benefits, and the job no longer serves me. The place is awful, and I can earn my living through other means.
Honestly, this works for me. Quitting a day job may not be the thing for you right now. And if you’re unable to do so, man do I get that HARD. I wasn’t able to quit this one until recently. So I get it. Hang in there, my dude-erinos.
Find me at SPACE this weekend! That’s the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo in Columbus, OH. I’m sharing a table with Canonwrite Productions. Find us at table W26, yo.
If you’re in Columbus – I’m sending a special email to my newsletter subs. It’s about a reward for folks who can make it to SPACE. If you want to know more, get on the newsletter.
At SPACE, I’m marking down all stickers and mystery bags. Stickers are 2 for $1 (or get 1 free with a book purchase), and mystery bags are 2 for $5 (or get 1 free with a book purchase). I want to clear out all the stickers and mystery bags to make room for new things, like more keychains and pins!
I’m also bringing misprints of The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 1, available for $12 each. I still have a BUNCH of these, too.
Also at SPACE: original pages from my sketchbooks, a framed piece of art (this one will be pricier), and the last of my 11 x 17 prints. Again, I want to clear out a BUNCH of stuff to make room for new things.
IF TIME ALLOWS…I’ll bring along BOYZ, my Dragonball Z zine. I make no guarantees on this one, though.
There will be a newsletter sign-up sheet there, as well. Do you think I WOULDN’T talk about my new tabletop RPG, Toe Beans & Broomsticks? I mean, it’s coming out in less than 10 days, on June 17! It’s available on my newsletter first before the rest of the world gets the game. That’s why I’m bringing the sign-up sheet – so folks can sign up to get the game!
Toe Beans & Broomsticks is a game where players roleplay as magic-casting Cat Witches, Dog Warlocks, Crow Witches, and Owl Wizards. Practice magics like Neko-mancy, cast spells like Meow-maturgy or Purr-estidigitation, and fight alongside friends against the dark forces of The Madam.
If you can’t make it to SPACE, but you reeeeeeally want Toe Beans & Broomsticks – good news! You can sign up for the newsletter using this link and get the game on release date.
And with that, I must be going. I have some last-minute prep to do for the show.
BY THE WAY…
I was featured this week on the Columbus Cartoon Coalition’s YouTube channel! Check it out, yo.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at the show!
