Update and Recommendations!
over 9 years ago
– Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 10:01:16 PM
Aloha!
I usually like to time these updates to align with good news, so I had to wait a while to send out this one. I went through a spell of bad luck with Stamps.com but now I have arrived at an amicable solution. When the second 70 lb scale arrived to replace the non functioning first one, it didn't even turn on. I called in a second replacement (the third 70 pounder) and its readings kept jumping around. After many hours on hold with customer service, they agreed to send me a 400 lb scale for my troubles, so I finally have a functioning postage scale! That's one good news. Because nothing can be too easy, the thermal printer I got has had many a troublesome hiccup- usually every other batch or two of shipping labels I print has had major errors requiring an hour or two of customer service technical repair. This was fine when each batch had hundreds of orders, but now that each one is one or two package types, it is very inefficient. I ordered a replacement printer, but it didn't arrive before I headed to an event to read Blue in Florida a couple weeks ago. I returned to still no scale, hoping it would be here before the holiday. Upon my return home after Thanksgiving, still no scale. SO, I went to Office Depot and purchased my own there. So NOW I have a functioning scale AND a functioning printer for the first time! I know this sounds as Shakespearian as the recent election was, but that is how it has been. All dramas and comedies aside, it is finally time for the denouement.
We are at 93% of the orders shipped, so there are only about a hundred orders remaining. I should be able to get all of the rest out in the next calendar week, so definitely everything will arrive long before the holidays.
Once the orders of everyone that has filled out their surveys have shipped, I will move to those who have not yet filled out their surveys. You can see if that is you by going to this link https://blue-a-mindfulness-tale.backerkit.com/ If you have not filled out a scale or accidentally opted for no reward when you in fact wanted one, you can remedy that there. If yours is already complete, you should be getting an email very soon. Orders arriving in the last couple months will be shipped soon as well.
Again, for any comments or questions about shipping info, please message me on Kickstarter or through Blue's Facebook page.
MORE GOOD NEWS!
The literary push toward mindful, conscious parenting and happy living for all ages is going strong. There are two main projects that I really want you guys to check out!
One is called The Millennial's Guide to Making Happiness, and it an informative, hilarious book by Chris Butsch, who also spent some time at Magnolia Grove, about how to go about increasing your personal happiness. This positive psychology book has only a couple days left on Kickstarter, so click here to check it out https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisbutsch/the-millennials-guide-to-making-happiness-volume-i and get your signed copy guaranteed before Christmas. Also, it includes some of my poetry and is just all around a great read. Check it out!
The other project I want to bring your attention to is The Conscious Bedtime Story Club's new book- The Hug Who Got Stuck. This collection of intentional parenting bedtimes stories is totally aligned with the messages of Blue. I know that any parent who wants Blue's lessons in their children's or friends' lives would love these books. Here's the link https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poemcatcher/conscious-bedtime-story-club-the-hug-who-got-stuck Such a beautiful project, with just a couple days to go as well. So for growing minds and hearts young and old, please take a moment to explore and back these projects near and dear to Blue's heart.
Looking forward to completing all the orders super soon!
With love and gratitude,
Hill
88% Shipped and More!
over 9 years ago
– Wed, Nov 02, 2016 at 12:41:36 PM
Hallo!
As of today, 88% of the orders have shipped from our nest to yours!!! I hope your family, friends, and your beautiful self love them as much as we loved bringing them to you!
If you could, please post any loving, heartfelt reviews on the comments section of the campaign- the most glowing ones may be used to help promote Blue! (With permission, of course.) No need to treat it as a contest though, just speak your heart! We put a lot of love into creating these, and would love to hear what you think! For anything else, including questions, comments, and concerns, please send as Direct Messages via Kickstarter, or preferably Facebook Messages, though both will be answered as quickly as possible. Here is the Facebook link- https://www.facebook.com/blueamindfulnesstale/ -Give it a like if you haven't already! I'd prefer to keep the comments section of the Kickstarter page positive, so if you could please respond through those segmented avenues, it would be very appreciated.
"But wait, it's November! Why haven't all the books shipped?" I can sum that up in two words- scale issues. As I mentioned in a previous update, I am personally shipping all of the orders using a postage scale and printer from Stamps dot com. The first 70 lb scale I ordered had calibration issues and the replacement they sent wouldn't even turn on. I'm still waiting on a working 70 lb scale, but a 5 lb scale finally arrived on Friday and we began shipping then. Shipping hundreds of boxes was no small feat- my forearm feels like Popeye's from overusing the tape gun, though I have become a cardboard box folding ninja.
So far, 500 orders have been shipped from the top seven order choices. These were able to be fulfilled so quickly because I could easily fold and pack hundreds of boxes and apply shipping labels then they were good to go. The remaining orders are highly segmented reward combinations (forty two different package combos), so it will be much more technical and time consuming to figure out proper packaging and data entry for my shipping label software, but I am very on top of it. The software has been sending out emails alerting (most of) the backers when their package has shipped, so please stay tuned over the next week-ish as I get the last of the orders out. Don't fret if you haven't gotten an email yet. I will post very soon saying that all of the orders are shipped, and shortly thereafter, they will all be in your hands. Again, your patience so very appreciated! Some people have already received their copies, and I am certain that all the orders will be received in time to share them with your families for Thanksgiving. Blue will be flying all over the world- landing in twelve countries in the coming weeks!
If your address has changed, PLEASE use this link to forward your mail!
In summary: Most of the copies have already shipped, the rest are shipping very soon, please take a moment to post any heartfelt reviews in the comments section of the Kickstarter page, please send the rest of the communications through Messages to Blue's Facebook page (linked above) or directly to me via Kickstarter so the comments stay nice and shiny, and all of the copies will be arriving in the coming weeks in time to share with your families and loved ones before the holidays!
Thank you so much everyone! It was truly a joy to see the names of my friends and family as I applied the shipping labels, as well as all the new names of those who welcome Blue into their nests. We are all doing a great thing together. Happy new November, you will be hearing from me soon!
With love and gratitude,
Hill
The Books Are Here!
over 9 years ago
– Wed, Sep 28, 2016 at 12:17:43 AM
Howdy partners!
The books have made their way to the nest, and they look spectacular! The image quality of Nuri's art on the pages and cover are indescribably better than the proof I was sent before. The laminated cover makes the subtle hues of the blues and greens really pop. I could go on and on about how amazing they look, but you will see for yourself soon.
Unfortunately, they won't be arriving as soon as planned, as there have been some hiccups since the last update. First, the shipping fulfillment service I had planned to use emailed me with the news that they had a policy change and now only ship items that have individual bar codes. The other fulfillment services want to charge thousands more than my first choice, and to top it off, the printer hit me with almost a thousand dollars in fees.
So, I will be handling all of the packing and shipping of the thousand plus orders from Kickstarter and Backerkit myself. This will be a monumental task, with lots of steps along the way, so I am sorry to say that the estimated delivery date of the beginning of October will be pushed back by a few weeks to the end of October.
To help cut down on shipping costs and to get Blue into the hands of some of you sooner, I am making local pickup available starting tomorrow. To incentivize this, anyone who comes to pick up their copies will get a free custom inscription by me. If this interests you, please email me your name and phone number to [email protected] and we can discuss a pickup time that works for you. This would REALLY help out the process and would allow you to be among the first few to receive your books.
Last week I worked with the lovely folks at Vision Lab to print all of the posters, coasters, and jigsaw puzzles, and they look outstanding. You are going to be very, very happy with all of your rewards in one moon's time.
Thank you for your patience and support through this journey. This IS my first rodeo, but as the chipmunk says~
"Change your relationship with failure, don't let it get you stressing.
See your mistakes as lessons, and you'll count them as blessings."
With love and gratitude,
Hill
<3
VERY LAST CHANCE TO UPDATE ADDRESSES!
over 9 years ago
– Mon, Sep 12, 2016 at 06:36:13 AM
Ahoy!
The books should be leaving the printer by the weekend, so today is the very very final chance to update your address if necessary. The books should arrive to you by late September/ early October, so please take a moment to double check that you address is current here > https://blue-a-mindfulness-tale.backerkit.com/ It only takes a second.
THANK YOU!!!
Love,
Hill
Final Address Updates Needed!
over 9 years ago
– Thu, Sep 01, 2016 at 04:52:56 PM
Greetings everyone!
With about two weeks left in the printing process, it is imperative that everyone's shipping addresses are up to date this week for an early October delivery. Please take a moment to visit this link to ensure your rewards will come to the right address: https://blue-a-mindfulness-tale.backerkit.com/ Enter your email and update your address if necessary.
Timelines!
Currently, the books are set to ship from the printer to our fulfillment center on September 15th. The puppets have already arrived, and the blankets are on the looms and will ship next week. I will be visiting Vision Lab next week to finalize all of the posters, coasters, and jigsaw puzzles as well. The bookplates should arrive any day now to be signed by myself and Nuri. Everything is in line and on time for the expected delivery date of the first week of October, though some stragglers may be arriving during the second week.
Again, please check to make certain that your address is current through October! Also, backers who purchased the private reading rewards will be hearing from us in the coming weeks to plan your event.
I just spent a wonderful weekend in North Carolina headlining Three Days of Light music festival. I just love the shift of joy and peace that Blue brings a crowd. So excited to bring that into your homes soon!
With love and gratitude,
Hill
