The MicroCosmic Oracle

Campaign is over- THANK YOU ALL
over 2 years ago – Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 05:20:01 PM

After 4 weeks, this campaign has ended and I could not be happier or more exhausted. Thank you to every single last one of you who helped make my dream into a reality. Whether you contributed $1 or a few hundred, your support means the world to me and I am so grateful to have you along on this journey. 

First order of business- I am going to have dinner and go to sleep without looking obsessively at the internet. I've put in countless hours every day for the past month promoting and managing this campaign and I really just need a moment of quiet before I can start on the next steps. 

Later this week, I will be sending all of your backer surveys where you can select your art prints, t-shirts, sticker packs, and anything else with a variant. As soon as Kickstarter collects your pledges, I'll start shipping out any rewards that are immediately available for delivery. And then I'll get in to the more complicated process of getting the deck completed and produced, and I'll give you updates every step of the way as that happens. 

I'll post a more thorough update soon, but I couldn't let this moment pass without expressing my gratitude. 

~Julia Y

$12,000 stretch goal unlocked! Expanded guidebook & upgraded box 📦
over 2 years ago – Sun, Nov 12, 2023 at 01:37:51 PM

I’m writing this on my phone behind my booth at an expo in between customers, so there are more typos and fewer infographics than usual :D But I wanted to share the good news.

Last night we reached the $12,000 stretch goal! That means every copy of the MicroCosmic Oracle will include an expanded guidebook and upgraded box with a magnetic closure. I’m really excited about this and I hope you all are too.

We are almost down to the last 2 days of the campaign, but that’s still enough time to go for another stretch goal. If funding reaches $14,000 I’ll be upgrading the guidebook to full color interior pages! We’re already 1/4 of the way there so I’m cautiously optimistic that we can get there.

And after that… I honestly don’t know what’s next! This campaign has gone far better than I anticipated and I’m running out of stretch goals. I’d like to give YOU, my fabulous backers, an opportunity to decide what is next.

What do YOU want to unlock next? Are there features you’d want added to the oracle deck? Shiny foil details? Even larger guidebook? How about more shirt options? New products I haven’t thought of yet? Please comment below and let me know what you’d like to see. I’ll include your suggestions if we’re able to add more stretch goals, or save them for next year’s campaign.

Thanks!

-JY

STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED! Rainbow foil edges for all decks!
over 2 years ago – Tue, Nov 07, 2023 at 10:32:53 PM

Woohoo! We've hit $10,000 and unlocked the first stretch goal! That means that every copy of The MicroCosmic Oracle will have cards with shiny rainbow foil edges. I'm so grateful that I get to make an even fancier deck, and it's all thanks to every one of you for backing. 

For those of you who have expressed interest in the art prints and original paintings, I put together a page with larger images of all 60 available art prints and indicated which originals are still available for purchase. You can see them all here. If you have too many favorites, you can always add additional art prints to your order as add-ons. :) 

We are now down to the last week of the campaign, but I am hoping we can still reach the next stretch goal- an expanded guidebook and fancier box will be unlocked at $12,000. This is the deck that I want to be able to release out into the world! I've spent five years researching for this project and there are so much I want to share with you in the guidebook about the stories and symbols I packed into the imagery in the cards. 

If we do not reach the next stretch goal, these are the specs of the basic deck: 

• 60 cards at 2.75x4.75” 
• 350gsm high-end quality art paper with glossy UV coating. 
• Paper is FSC certified and comes from sustainable forests.
• Black rainbow holographic foil edges
• 3.25x5.25” two part box
• 2.75x4.75” ~200 page black and white guidebook with brief descriptions of each card 

...and if we DO hit the next stretch goal, the specs for the deluxe deck will be:

• Cards specs stay the same
• Box is upgraded to a 5x6.5" book shaped box with a magnetic closure flap
• Guidebook is upgraded to 4.5x6” ~200 page black and white guidebook
• Expanded card interpretations and reversals
• More descriptions of the symbolism & research behind each card
• Information on the cross-cultural deities and myths associated with each plant and animal

I'm really excited about this, are you? Are there any additional features you would like to see in this deck? I'd love to hear from you in the comments. You'll hear from me next when we hit the next goal or when the campaign ends on 11/14. Until then, thank you so much for your support. 

~Julia Y

Week 1 roundup
over 2 years ago – Wed, Oct 25, 2023 at 02:21:06 PM

Hello and thank you all for your support of my project. It's been one week since launch and I'm really pleased with how the campaign is progressing. In the first seven days I've received pledges from nearly 100 backers for over 70 oracle decks and 6 original paintings! And we still have three weeks to go before the campaign ends. 

We're nearly half way to the next stretch goal of adding rainbow holographic foil edges to the cards. Because what color could possibly go with every card except for RAINBOW? 

I've been busy working on the oracle deck and some of the other rewards. I already started working on the new t-shirt designs for BEES and RAM. Below are some super rough works-in-progress. I'm enjoying how these designs are evolving and can't wait to show you the finals. I've also got my play-testers reviewing the MicroCosmic Oracle and the feedback I'm getting is helping me to make improvements on the deck & guidebook before it goes to print. 

I'll check in with you next time we reach an exciting milestone. Until then, thank you for choosing to support my campaign. 

~Julia Y

FUNDED in under two days! Thank you all!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Oct 19, 2023 at 10:58:27 AM

Woooooooooot! I woke up this morning to a project that was 98% funded, and before I could finish my first cup of tea I got one more backer to push it over the finish line,  (and a few more while I was typing this update). With the base goal met, I WILL be able to get the oracle deck printed! 

I want to thank each and every one of you for helping me make this project into a reality. From my regular supporters who are back for your seventh campaign to all of the brand new folks who chose this project from the vast selection on Kickstarter, I'm genuinely touched by your support. 

We still have 26 days left in the campaign and I am hoping we'll unlock some stretch goals. Why just make a regular deck when it could be SHINY?! The printer I am working with does some gorgeous rainbow foil edges, and I'll be adding those to the deck if I'm able to reach $10,000 in backing. 

The more funding I get the better the deck gets! As an independent artist running this campaign solo, I really appreciate if you are able to share my campaign to your friends on social media. I know everything on the internet asks you to do that, but it really would help this project. 

I will be away from my computer this weekend while I'm vending my art at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo in Portland, OR (which you should totally come to if you are in the area). But I'll be back to posting updates Monday and hopefully we'll have a new stretch goal by then. 

Thank you thank you thank you all once again. 

~Julia Y