Ancient Astronaut space mission patches featuring Stonehenge, Easter Island Moai heads, Sphinx & pyramids as NASA-style insignia.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
NAZCA Officer's Insignia: Stretch Goal Patch
almost 8 years ago
– Wed, Jul 27, 2016 at 10:13:58 PM
SUT RESI MARGIDDA
Just a quick update to let you know about the 3rd stretch goal patch which was already unlocked at the $10,000 funding mark: the NAZCA Officer's Insignia patch.
NAZCA Ancient Astronaut Officer's Insignia patch design
The ship blasts off into space towards it's Earthly destination from the deep blue home planet of Nibiru whose orbit brings it close to our solar system every 3,600 Earth years.
The enigmatic text is in the cuneiform alphabet, and it reads "Earth God" (KIA ILU). Unfortunately there was not enough room to include the text SUT RESI MARGIDDA, or "Commanders of the Celestial Chariot"
Commanders (those of the head) - SUT RESI
Chariot (celestial chariot) - MARGIDDA
In my book, you are all SUT RESI MARGIDDA no matter what.
This design features one of the Golden Spaceships immortalized in the effigy artifacts discovered in South America.
Other Mission Briefings
Dont'f forget to sign up for my email newsletter for early info and exclusive backer items when the Cryptid Command 2 patch set campaign launches. Mothman, Chupacabra and the Kraken!
And a sneak peek at the upcoming Halloween-themed patch set as well…
Thank You!
Thanks again for making the NAZCA campaign a huge success!
Since the last update not too long ago, we surpassed the 450% funding mark, exceeded 220 backers and also passed the $10,000 funding mark and unlocked the third stretch goal patch!
All backers at the NAZCA patch 3-pack or higher will now receive and astounding 3 bonus patches and 5 die-cut magnets as part of their reward! Regular backers know that my campaigns are all about paying out dividends if the campaign does well :) The better the campaign does, the more stuff you get. I see this as a team effort, a collaboration.
I do not have the artwork for the third patch finalized yet, but I will be sharing it very soon.
I am truly flattered and humbled by the response. It's very gratifying to see so much interest in these patches. I've been quite excited to reveal them ever since the idea first came to me back in October 2015. To have them meet this kind of response has been wonderful. Thank you so much for being a part of the success.
Reward Fulfillment Details
As mentioned in previous updates, I will be using the third-party campaign reward fulfillment service BackerKit to help make the process a bit easier on my end. With 4 campaign fulfillments behind me, I know that after 100 backers it can get kind of crazy to keep track of things. Especially since there's just one of me handling it all.
The cool thing about BackerKit is that in addition to all the tools that will make my end of things easier for organizing the fulfillment and shipping process, the service also allows me to offer backers an easy way to manage their pledges themselves.
This includes adding Velcro to any patches you may have overlooked as stretch goal items were unlocked, or getting multiples of any patches you might want a few extras of. Many of you chose the "catch up" rewards to pick up patches from earlier campaigns, but there are still more patches not offered during the campaign (to keep the reward choices from getting out of hand).
So if you wanted to pick up the Grassman/Skunk Ape/Yowie patch set, or get the Bigfoot series silhouette patches for any of the Bigfoot creatures — not to mention the stickers, magnets and membership kit upgrades — BackerKit will let you manage all that on your own.
I'll be posting a backer update with some more details as to how it all works once the campaign wraps up. But it's a really well-done service and it seems very intuitive to use. And now that I've paid my sign up fee, I'll probably be using the service for campaigns from here on out.
By the way — BackerKit is totally optional for you as a backer, but it's going to be a big help to me and will get your rewards shipped out faster.
Patch Production Update
I've received initial feedback from the patch manufacturer as far as the patch designs, and so far all is in order. My task this final week will be to work out the patch thread colors ahead of time while the manufacturer preps the art for the embroidery.
It will save much time if I send thread colors to begin with, as opposed waiting for their initial sew-out (a manufactured physical sample prepared for approval to go into full production). For the first Cryptid Command campaign, I requested an embroidery thread swatch book so I could more easily revise the colors to get them just right. This time around I'm just going to start with my color requests. I am hoping this will get us into production more quickly.
Since Kickstarter takes two weeks to transfer the funds, I can't approve production until that actually happens (have to make sure the funds are in-hand). But I should be ready to OK production as soon as that transfer does happen.
The magnets, and the patch display cards will print and ship in 7-10 days, so I will have those long before the patches (those will take 3-5 weeks to manufacture and ship to me). I'm finalizing the design for the patch display cards and will share previews here once ready.
I'm also finalizing things for all you email subscriber Day One backers. For those of you new to my campaigns, I send out a code phrase in my email newsletter prior to campaign launches, and by backing on day one and messaging me the secret phrase, you get an additional bonus item as part of your reward.
Upcoming Campaigns & Patches
Speaking of my email newsletter, I am getting ready to send one out this week and it will include details on the Cryptid Command 2 patch set, which will feature the Mothman, the Chupacabra and the Kraken. Continuing with the Army/Navy/Air Force and land/sea/air theme, this patch set is a companion to the Bigfoot Army, Nessie Navy and Alien Air Force patch set.
Because my goal is to have the Mothman patches in time for this year's Mothman Festival at which I'll have an artist table, I need to run the Cryptid Command 2 campaign as soon as the NAZCA campaign ends. I'd much prefer to space out these campaigns more, but the timing on this one just kind of made this necessary.
I'm also working on the final color concept sketches for the patch campaign to follow, a Halloween-themed patch set featuring skeletons, phantoms and jack-o-lanterns. And maybe even witches, black cats and the Grim Reaper himself…
Patreon backers will be getting the exclusive first look as well as process sketch updates not shared anywhere else, but email subscribers will get early looks at the final art as always.
Thank You
Once again, thank you so much for the astounding support on this campaign. It obviously makes the production of these patches possible, but more so it makes me excited and motivated to keep working on future patch sets and other merchandise.
The funding is of course awesome, but your attention is even more valuable. I can't express what a creative inspiration it is to have an engaged audience. It's like a collective muse :)
I've also come to discover that these Kickstarter deadlines are an incredibly powerful artist resource. It's easy to let creative ideas sit in sketchbooks, or languish forgotten on hard drives. These deadlines help to focus and finalize those ideas into actual works of artist merchandise. Thank you for helping to make that happen.
And thank you for collaborating with me to get these ideas out into the world, and into your hands. I've got so much more to share with you, if you're up for it.
Thank you for helping me get this far and for being a part of the journey. I hope you'll continue on with me for more.
First, I wanted to thank all the new backers who joined the landing crew since the last update. We surpassed the 200% funding mark and 100 backers, all within the first 5 days!
And this is in addition to funding this campaign in 8 hours on Day One, and getting chosen as an official Kickstarter "Project We Love" on day two.
And now we are on our way to exceeding 350% funding and 170 backers at just over halfway through the campaign!
So cool. Thank you everyone. Your early pledges helped big time with that "Projects We Love" award, and will help us get more exposure on the Kickstarter site — which ideally will translate into more backers, and this more bonus stretch goal items for you.
New Stretch Goal Items
Speaking of stretch goals: since you awesome folks unlocked the first two stretch goals so quickly, to be honest I was caught a bit off guard as far as the next stretch goals items. But now that we have surpassed $6,000 I think we've unlocked a third stretch goal even if you guys weren't aware of it!
So now all backers who qualify for stretch goal items are going to receive all three main patches as die-cut magnets! Yep, absolutely free.
And when we surpass the $8,000 mark, the two stretch goal designs will be unlocked as magnets as well!
Magnets got the biggest response from backers when I asked about magnets vs. stickers in previous updates.
And for any of you backing at the single patch level, I think this is a good time to consider upgrading your reward level. For not much more money, you'll be receiving all 3 main patches, the 2 stretch goal patches, and now at least 3 magnets as well. And probably more!
I'm also working on a new stretch goal item for the $10,000 mark. I'll give you a hint: it's a new patch design!
Velcro Details
One last thing about the stretch goal items: if you increased your pledge to add Velcro backing to your patches, you'll also need to do so for the 2 stretch goal patches if you haven't already. It's an additional $1 per patch for Velcro backing. Check the campaign FAQs (at the very bottom of the campaign page) for info on how to do this.
Production Updates
The awesome thing about funding a patch campaign so early is that I can get the pre-production going on the patches right now, so these can be put into production as soon as the funding hits my account. I had this eureka last campaign, and it worked out great.
The patches take about 4-5 weeks from artwork submission to having them in hand here at the studio. I can do the first half of that while the campaign runs.
Printed items like cards, stickers and magnets never take more than 2 weeks for production and shipping, so those will be here long before the patches.
What's Next?
The final art for all the patches is already off to the patch manufacturer to get the pre-production going. I should have the sew-out photos (the pre-production physical sample) before the campaign ends.
I spent this week emailing my media list to aim for some blog/podcast/social media exposure. I'll be honest, my marketing skills are not the best. I primarily focus on making the best art and running the most rewarding campaigns, and attracting backers and fans to subscribe to my email list. But we did get some press (thanks GeekMom.com) ! and some promises for more.
I've been fortunate to have collected a superb bunch of repeat backers over the past 5 campaigns, and these campaigns do well because of that core support.
Any help you can offer in spreading the word of this campaign would be appreciated. Ideas for media sources to contact would be a big help. I've got a list of geek and lowbrow art blogs and podcasts, as well as artist toy sites, but those are hit and miss. I feel like there may be a target audience I am overlooking. And I suspect there are message boards and forums that are probably a much better source for new backers, but I'm not sure where to begin.
Have a tip on the right niche to target? Can you share what attracted you most to these patches? The better I know my backers, the better I can find similar backers.
I'm glad to put in the work, if you can point me in the right direction.
The Future
As I've been mentioning, I'll be following up this campaign with Cryptid Command: Series 2 patch set, featuring Chupacabra, the Kraken and the Mothman. Again following the cryptozoological land/sea/air theme (paralleling the military Army/Navy/Air Force theme). And following that up will be a Halloween-themed patch set that I can't wait to share with everyone.
Email subscribers get early look at the artwork, and Patreon supporters get exclusive first look at all upcoming campaign and patch/merchandise art.
I've already begun finalizing the Cryptid Command 2 patch art (Patreon backers have been seeing the development progress), and sketches on the Halloween patch set have begun and will be shared on Patreon soon.
Thank You!
In the meantime, we have a campaign to send into the stratosphere and beyond. Thanks to everyone who made this campaign a stellar success in the first week.
As I've mentioned in past campaigns, updates and newsletters, these Kickstarter campaigns are so much more than just a way to raise funds for merchandise. While yes, your pledges help me build a portfolio of my artist merchandise, they also allow me to slowly transform my business into one where I can devote all my time to creative projects like this.
In a very direct and immediate way, your pledge inspires me, make it possible me to keep doing these kinds of creative projects, and directly supports an independent artist.
Thank you!
George
Kickstarter "Projects We Love" • Stretch Goal #2 Unlocked!
almost 8 years ago
– Sun, Jul 17, 2016 at 08:12:13 AM
Kickstarter "Projects We Love"
I got an email earlier today from the Kickstarter staff letting me know that the NAZCA campaign was chosen as one of their prestigious "Projects We Love" campaigns, which means it will be featured in a more prominent place in the various Kickstarter site and app listings and promotions!
The added exposure should be a big help to the campaign. It gets in in front of far more eyes than it would otherwise, and Kickstarter is always a top source for new backers.
Stretch Goal #2 Unlocked!
Along with the "Projects We Love", the campaign also exceeded the $3,750 amount which means stretch goal #2 has been unlocked!
And even better, I finally finished the artwork for the second stretch goal patch — the Pharaoh Astronaut! This one took some finessing to get it just right, but I'm really happy with the final art. It was worth the perfectionism :)
NAZCA Pharaoh Astronaut patch artwork
Now that both initial stretch goals are unlocked, I'm going to have to dig into the spreadsheet and see where the next one fits in. A quick look tells me somewhere around $5,000 — $5,500 or so.
The most straightforward option for the next stretch goal would be to get one or more of the existing designs created as lapel pins or stickers. I could easily see the Winged Capsule or the Pharaoh Astronaut as lapel pins. But those are on the higher end of the price range. Stickers are much less expensive, meaning we could perhaps get all of the designs made up if we went that route. And die-cut magnets are another option to consider.
I'm going to let this marinate for a while, and of course I am open to backer suggestions for the next stretch goal items. Let me know in the comments section on this update if you have a lapel pin/magnet/sticker preference, or if you have any ideas for something not mentioned.
Thank You!
A big thanks to everyone who had pledged so far. It's been great to see so many familiar backers again on this one, and also great to see a bunch of new backers as well. I hope you are all "future familiar backers" :)
I can't thank you enough for the support of this project, and in turn your support of my efforts to become a fully independent artist. For those of you who have supported previous campaigns, it has gone along way in enabling me to take things further than I would have been able to otherwise.
I deeply appreciate the opportunities you've opened up for me by supporting these campaigns. It directly amplifies my enthusiasm and creativity, not to mention enables me to continue to produce this merchandise.
I've got a ton of super cool ideas I can't wait to develop, finalize and share with you all (like the Cryptid Command 2 patch set, with Mothman, Chupacabra and the Kraken, as well as a Halloween-themed patch set).
Each one of these successful campaigns brings me closer to being able to make those happen. Thank you for being an integral part of that.
As always, you can drop me a line any time with kudos, complaints, questions, suggestions, or corny jokes.
George
P.S. Don't forget to sign up for my email list for updates, art previews & subscriber-exclusive Kickstarter rewards.
And check out my Patreon campaign for even more exclusive access to in-development projects, future Kickstarter campaigns including artwork and process info not shared anywhere else.
