Okay first of all - big lesson learned: get the samples ready before launch. (⁠｡⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)
It was important to me (and hopefully to you too!) that you could see the plushies before you picked them out in the survey but it's pushed things back by a fair amount so I am grateful for your patience!! This month has also been so busy with spooky frog box, the online shops, markets and shows and personal stuff so I do apologize for the wait!!

That said -

Surveys are ready to go - I'll be sending out a smoke test to a random selection and provided all goes smoothly the rest will be out by the end of the week!

THANK YOU so much for supporting Frog Tree! ♥
Laura

and finally here are the photos of the final samples!!

WAHOOO! Just a small update to say thanks so much to everyone for supporting another froggy plushie campaign! ♥ These unusual froggies wouldn't exist without your support. 

The plushie samples are in the final stages of completion and once they're completed and I can get photos out to you all, surveys will be sent! I'm expecting that to happen in the next two weeks for sure so keep an eye out for another bigger post-campaign update then. 

Please comment or email any questions you may have!! 
Laura

Big update today!
1. After the results of the add-on poll I will be adding plushie beanie keychains as the next stretch goal add-on! They are available to add onto your pledge now and will be officially funded at $25,000 CAD.
2. I am finally getting some rough sample photos in from my factory! Join me on the plushie development journey! 

After checking out the poll results, about 60% voted for the plushie keychains to be unlocked next! They are available now as add-ons to your pledge here: ADD-ONS PAGE
Here's a closer look at the design file:

They'll be made out of the same fabric as the frog plushies, with printed and embroidered details! I am currently only going to put out this green frog design with the possibility of expanding later on! I'm excited that these are happening - I've always wanted a smaller plushie offering and this feels distinct to the burger plushies while also fitting in at Frog Tree! : ))

I think I will still go ahead with producing a sample of the tote bag but it might not be a part of this campaign, depending on how this final week goes! I don't want to overload myself with a load of new products and end up delaying the campaign or the survey too much. 

Usually I wouldn't share the very early sample work but I acknowledge that I really should have arranged for samples much earlier to account for unexpected delays! I expect you're also all curious to see how the new shapes and accessories will be rendered in plushie form and I wanted to bring you along the plushie design journey!

These are the pre-sample samples without custom frog printing. My manufacturer used some old plushie designs on hand to show me what the shapes would look like before they make the final samples with the correct frogs. I'll also talk about some of the notes I've given them as feedback. : )



Wizard Frog! I am SO HAPPY with how the little hat turned out!! You can see the stars are shown as little cut outs as they haven't printed the custom fabric yet so the blue will be much darker. I feel like I need to make a little black and green witch version one day too hehe. Wizard frog will also be just green with matching blue eyes!



Frogbat! Look at his little wing !! That's all there is to see here really but I think it's the perfect size and shape. : )


Cutie! Like frogbat, just the tongue is important here. I think the shape and colour is great!!


Sword Frog! Obviously still needs some refinement but you get a sense of the size of the sword and the removable belt with pouch! Modelled by avocado frog!

Goth Frog samples are still in the works and Skele Frog is just printed so their sample will come with the final round! As I've said before, all final samples will be shown before surveys go out!
I hope that was exciting and interesting to see, haha. Designing plushies is a pretty lengthy process with lots of back and forth and giving feedback until the froggies are perfect!! 

Thank you so much for supporting my project, reading and bringing these froggies into the world. ♥

Laura

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for commenting on my last update re: stretch goals! I was surprised (but excited) to see enthusiasm for all three ideas! I have decided, since we are already over-funded to add the wrist lanyard + acrylic charm set as an add-on available now! There is one design per unusual frog which you can check out right here:
 Just a heads up - the designs are not totally final, I'll be refining the lanyard patterns for production! I will also make sure artwork is finalized before surveys go out! You can add these onto your pledge by clicking 'Manage my Pledge' and you can find them in the add-on section!

For the next stretch goal, I have published a poll to see if there's more interest in unlocking one over the other. Please vote if you have a preference! : ) I have already started working with my manufacturer to get quotes and samples priced out for the campaign and hope to add the next stretch goal at $25,000 CAD on Wednesday!

Plushie samples are also still in production, as soon as I have any pictures from the factory, you'll be the first to see!

As we're entering the home stretch (9 days left) I appreciate any shares on instagram or wherever you think people would be excited to see some unusual frogs! ♥ Thanks so much for backing and I'll be back in touch this week!

Laura

As promised in my last update, I've been thinking about stretch goals! Thank you to everyone who commented - there were so many wild and creative ideas!! :0 To keep the tiers simple and not overextend my budget I don't want to make any new unusual frog plushies in this campaign. I also don't have enough time to go through the plushie sample process for new designs without delaying surveys and fulfillment. I hope that is not too disappointing - there will definitely be more unusual frogs in the future. : )

Crowdfunding presents the exciting opportunity to make NEW things - so that's the approach I've taken with my brainstorming!! Here are my very rough sketches for three add-on ideas I wanted to share with you! Any stretch goals that do get added to the campaign will of course get full artwork completed before the campaign is over.

1. Half Lanyard + Epoxy Charm (of the pin design) for each unusual frog! I'd love to know if people are interested in the lanyard/charm combo or maybe just one or the other! Since the epoxy charms are double sided I'd draw all their little frog butts too!! I'm aiming for the $10-$15 CAD mark for these.

2. 3" Beanie Keychain Plushies of a few previous frog designs and a few new ones! This is the add-on I'm most excited about making! I've always wanted a smaller plushie keychain but couldn't shrink my current plushie design according to my manu. So I like the idea of taking this 2D design I've been working with and filling the belly with beans so he's more like a hacky sack than a round fluffy blob, haha. Eyes, arms and details would also be embroidered!
The frogs I've initially shortlisted for a beanie keychain are onion, dirt, moss, egg, wizard and goth! This might be too many designs for a simple stretch goal - we shall see! If you'd be interested in a plushie keychain - please let me know who you'd like to see! My goal is to have these around the $20 CAD mark for retail, depending on unit cost, but you'd be able to add them onto your pledge at a discount as a backerkit backer!

3. Froggy Shaped Canvas Tote Bag of Onion! This is something I've had in mind for a while, and this seems like a good place to test and see if anyone actually wants it! I'm imagining it being 10"ish, made out of canvas with embroidered details. It's also possible this design would work better as a plushie purse vs. a canvas bag? I also like the idea of all the arms and legs being flappy, hehe. The tote would probably take the longest to get a sample of and be the most expensive add-on and stretch goal. I'm not yet sure how I would price them - but I'm thinking ~$30 CAD.

PLEASE let me know what you think - positive or negative! : ) Nothing has yet been decided and there are still a few logistics to work out around cost and shipping! Feel free also to ask questions or offer other suggestions! Every comment counts. ✨

Thanks again to everyone for being here, supporting Frog Tree and bringing these new froggies to life! ♥
Laura