Tidal Treasures is officially funded! Once again I’m so so grateful for your support allowing me to create these dream projects and share them with you! I was especially excited to see so many returning backers—I hope that means you trust me to keep making awesome stuff! Whether this is the first or sixth of my projects you’ve backed, please know that I really couldn’t do this without you, and I promise to keep doing my best to keep delivering more awesome stuff.

What happens next?

My job will transition from running the live campaign to finalizing artwork and prepping for production and fulfillment, and I’ll be sure to share updates with you on the process and timeline along the way. You’ll also see an update shortly before Backer Surveys go out.

Backerkit is currently collecting funds from pledges and they’ll be released to me in a couple of weeks, at which point we get started on pre-production. You’ll receive a Backer Survey in your inbox that will take you to the Pledge Manager, where you can confirm your shipping address and the rewards you’ve selected and a final opportunity to grab any add-ons you may have missed.

We crushed so many of the stretch goals but there were still a couple of pins to unlock, so by popular request they’ll be available to unlock in the Pledge Manager. If enough people want to purchase one, we’ll make it happen.

Please note that your original pledged amount and any additional purchases from the Pledge Manager will be charged separately and before the final charge for shipping fees, which will be charged closer to fulfillment. This allows us to give all of our Backers the most accurate and cost effective prices for shipping.

That’s all for now! If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback the best and fastest way to reach me directly is by emailing [email protected].

Thank you again for all of your support!

<3 Carrie

There's only one week left to go for Tidal Treasures! We're so close to unlocking the California Two-spot octopus pin, and there's still time to vote for which pin you want to unlock as a freebie for all backers when we reach $19k.

It's been really fun to hear which of the pin designs and creatures are your favorites, and now I want to know...

Have you ever been tide pooling? Where’s your favorite place to go?

One of my favorite places is Salt Creek Recreation Area, near Washington state’s most northern coast. Above is a photo I took of a tide pool containing purple encrusting sea sponges, black leather chitons, acorn barnacles, and an aggregate green anemone. The longer you look the more creatures you can find—can you spot anything I missed? 

Besides being home to all kinds of amazing tide pool species. Salt Creek is also just an incredibly beautiful place to visit and stay, and you absolutely can’t beat a cliffside campsite overlooking the Pacific ocean.
 

Check out more tide pool photos and some of my plein air sketches and paintings from a 2020 trip report here: Art & Exploration at Salt Creek Recreation Area

And since it’s Pride month I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it’s where my wife and I had our wedding ceremony two years ago!

Join the discussion—leave a comment and share a story about a tide pooling trip! Where's your favorite place to go, or what was your most exciting find?

<3 Carrie

Thank you to everyone who voted in the last poll, and now by popular demand here are the four possible designs for the free mini pin I'm hoping to unlock!


Cast your vote for which tide pool creature should be added to the collection!

The winning design will be revealed when we reach $19k or one hour before the end of the campaign, at 5 PM PST on June 25th, whichever comes first.

<3 Carrie

We’re entering the second week of the campaign and thanks to your support we’re super close to reaching $17k and unlocking the next new pin, the California Two-Spot Octopus!


Once we reach that goal, I hope to unlock a free mini pin for all backers.

Which brings us to an important question, backers…
Do you want to see the designs and vote now on what the mini pin will be, or wait until we reach $19k and the pin unlocks? Vote below and help me decide!

Finally, if you’re a fan and follower of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you probably heard about the passing of their beloved otter Rosa last week. She had joined the aquarium in June 2002 and at 24 years old was one of the worlds’ longest-lived Southern Sea Otters, and she was a treasured ambassador for her species.

Living in the Bay Area for half my life I visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium a lot and their otters were a big inspiration for this pin collection, so I just had to make some art to commemorate Rosa. Here she is enjoying a little clam treat in her boomer ball!



That’s all for now!

<3 Carrie

We've already unlocked the first THREE stretch goals, which means every backer is getting two free stickers and we're adding some fun washi tape to the product line up—you can find it in the Add-ons!

We're so close to the next stretch goal to unlock the Frosted Nudibranch pin! This new pin and all future stretch goal pins will be included at no cost for everyone who has pledged for the Pin & Sticker Bundle and the All-in Collection, or you'll be able to get it as an add-on to your pledge.

Early Bird discounts and rewards are only available until 9AM PST tomorrow (June 6), so don't miss your chance to get the best value on the entire collection!

Being a self-employed indie artist is challenging, but getting to create the things that I want to see in the world and knowing that you believe in me and want these things too is so fulfilling. Thank you again for all of your support, and I hope you'll share this campaign with anyone who you think would love it! 

<3 Carrie