💖Watch me UNBOX the samples and photos!!
over 2 years ago – Mon, Jul 24, 2023 at 10:16:53 AM

The SAMPLES are here - woohoo!!

My dearest wonder backers, the samples are here, and they are beautiful!! These are the versions of the Deck and Guidebook I've always dreamed of and we are soooo close to getting there, just a few tweaks!

My favorite new features (it's really hard to just pick one, so here's what I love): 

• In LOVE with the velvet soft touch of the Guidebook cover and the lay-flat smyth-sewn binding!
• The window cutout and edge gilding on the Guidebook is just magical!
• The shimmery slightly raised labyrinth detail on the Deck box

The clarity and color of the Guidebook text and illustrations look amazing but samples are digitally printed so they're sending me the final offset sample before bulk production begins to check how the final copy actually looks. "Measure twice, cut once" is so important when printing so many copies!

The edge gilding on the deck is special - it's different than the one on the book, it's less shiny and feels and looks like an old deck of antique cards. I like it a lot and have tried to scratch it to see if it comes off and so far it's pretty durable. I'm going to play with it a bit more before deciding. 

There are still a few production details that I'm ironing out with the printer but I'm very pleased with the samples and hope you are enjoying a glimpse of what's to come!

It's REALLY hard to capture the deep, vivid blue-green of the Deck box and book, so do keep this in mind when viewing these pictures.

✨ SQUEEE...Sneak peek at the samples and halfway point!!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Jul 21, 2023 at 06:10:23 AM

Thank you so much to all my awesome backers, we are fast approaching $50k with 2 weeks away - I am speechless! Also, very excited because the new edition samples are on their way and I should have it in my hands this Sunday where I'll do a GRAND UNBOXING video!

In the meantime, here are teaser pictures from my printer, showing the new cutout window and edge gilding on the Explorer's Journal guidebook, as well as the raised labyrinth on the Deck box (something I wanted to do in the previous edition but it didn't work out). They are also sending sample cover and paper materials for A Diary of Wonder! 

The Deck and Guidebook samples will both be edge gilded so I will also be making the final decisions on this Stretch Goal we unlocked way back in the early days - which item will be edge gilded, both or just one? Stay tuned!

What's coming up in the next week? 

I am getting some final numbers for the matching pouch with ship charm that will be an add-on - there will likely be two sizes, one for just the Deck, and one for a Deck and book (Diary or Guidebook). 

The Grand Unboxing video of the samples and discussion of edge gilding!

Thanks again everyone, exciting times!

🎁 Yay, NEW Reward Tier + how to get the Diary of Wonder!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Jul 13, 2023 at 12:56:00 PM

Recorded another video for you!

As promised, I talked about how to get the new, unlocked Diary of Wonder! Firstly, I appreciate ALL my backers and I wish I can unlock this for every reward tier but the cost is still too high at the moment, but stay tuned, the more funds we raise, the more likely it is to happen.

In the meantime, with the $35k stretch goal surpassed, all backers of reward tier Kindred Explorer ($100) and above will get one FREE copy of this new gently-guided blank journal! When we get to $40k (very close!), Curious Adventurer ($85) backers will also get a free copy! Remember, this is free ONLY during the Kickstarter campaign, as a thank you for backing!

It's also available as an add-on for reward tiers without this unlocked, and for those who want extra copies.

 How can you make sure you get your free copy? 

If your reward tier is eligible, when the fulfillment surveys go out after the campaign ends, you'll see an option to add it.

This will most likely not ship with the Deck and Guidebook as I'll need time to flesh it out, have samples made and proof everything and I don't want to delay the original shipment. There will be an option to wait till the Diary is ready (early 2024) to get all your other rewards, especially if you live overseas and shipping is expensive. 

Will other reward tiers get a free copy later? We'll have to see, it depends on what the funds are like at the end of the campaign, it's definitely possible. Stay tuned!

What else is new?

For everyone who already owns the Deck and Guidebook from the previous Kickstarter or my Curio Shop, there is a new reward tier - The Nocturnal Explorer, yay!! This has the introductory Kickstarter special bundle of the Magical Night Journey Book + the Nocturne Mini E-Course AND the brand new Diary of Wonder! 

There will be a matching zippered pouch and charm coming up as an add-on! I'm not sure if we can make this a Stretch Goal, as the cost is too high still at the moment.

I think that covers everything, questions are welcomed!

✨$35k Stretch Goal UNLOCKED! Woohoo read all about it here...
over 2 years ago – Mon, Jul 10, 2023 at 02:55:38 PM

Goodness wonder-seekers, I'm elated to announce that we made it to $35k! You guys have been absolutely amazing, and as a thank you, we've officially unlocked a BIG Stretch Goal - the matching blank journal! This is where the rubber truly meets the road of wonder, capturing your adventures on paper so that you can be inspired by it over and over again.

Thank you so much to my incredible backers who commented in the last update and offered such great suggestions and feedback. I'll post a video soon with more of my thoughts but in a nutshell, the general consensus seems to be pretty clear: mixed media paper, guided prompts grouped together, ample blank pages and art throughout for inspiration. In the future I might even include bonus printables and audio tutorials.

Meet 'A Diary of Wonder'. 

A gently-guided blank journal based on my own wonder journals to record your day-to-day glimmers with the wonder-walking cards.

Purpose: to help cultivate an everyday habit for wonder while encouraging creative play and enchantment introspection.

Designed to look like a peek into my wonder journals with lay-flat hardcover, mixed media paper (for light watercolor wash) and perhaps even gilded pages and ribbon bookmarks.

What it includes (tentatively, subject to tweaks and changes as I flesh this idea out):

How-to guidance, prompts and refresher pages from the Explorer's Journal Guidebook with ample blank pages to make the practice your own. Some early ideas:

• How to create a Wonder Log
• How to create A Map of Secret Places
• How to create a seasonal Explorer's Chart
• Journaling your Wonder-Walking card and adventures
• Ideas for journaling tools and media (ink, watercolors, collage etc)
• Hand-painted demo pages of all the above to inspire your own pages.
• Interspersed throughout with whimsical watercolor art from my own wonder journals and hand-lettered quotes from the Explorer’s Journal guidebook.

I'll be sending an update over the next few days with ways you can upgrade or add this new item to your pledge, so look out for it! Note: Because this is a completely new item, it won't ship with the current rewards because I'll need time to design, order samples and proof everything. I'm shooting for it to ship sometime in 2024.

Do let me know your thoughts, are you excited about this? Comment below!

❤️ WOW Funded in NINE hours, THANK YOU Guys!!! What's next?
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Jul 06, 2023 at 10:40:55 AM

I recorded a video because OMG! We funded on the same day, in less than 12 hours - about 9 hours to be precise. I am completely blown away and so grateful for all of you who have been incredibly excited and backed early. And not only did we fund so quickly, we were hand-picked by Kickstarter as a 'Project We Love' #projectwelove, which is a coveted honor! Here's what they said in their email:

"Congratulations! We’ve selected A Deck & Explorer's Journal for Wonder-Walking as a “Project We Love,” which is our way of highlighting brilliant examples of creativity. You’ll see a badge under your main image or project video, and we’ll feature your campaign across Kickstarter."

Also now that we're funded, exciting times ahead...and first order of business is...STRETCH GOALS!

The first one is edge gilding, we've already unlocked this - I explain it a bit more in the video. The second is a matching blank journal, will be unlocked at $35k - I have questions. Please comment below with your thoughts on what you'd like to see in this blank journal. Completely blank? Guided? How guided?