In around 3 hours Teh Kitteh Code 2 raised $2000 (100% of the profits) for the House Of Dreams Cat Shelter, a Portland no kill cat shelter which provides a home for kitties indefinitely.
The kitties actually live in houses, not in cages.
This has been a really fun collaboration, with everyone involved really coming together and working for free.
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Update June 21st: The check was sent out today (June 21st) here's an image of the check. Thanks everybody for making this such a great success.
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Here's the team who's so generously donated their time to help the Kitties:
One Drop is doing the machining and assembly
MonkeyFinger is doing the anodization
Toxic Strings is doing a custom string, each yoyo will include 2 of the custom strings
The Kitteh Code 2 will be distributed exclusively through YoyoExpert (and Andre is taking care of the business end of production)
Sniffy-Yo (also known to myself as me) am doing the packaging and yoyo graphics design
also Turtle Prints has generously donated their time to screen print the Sniffy stickers that will come in the package.
I also want to thank Next Step Manufacturing for donating time to laser Teh Kittehs.
This apology wouldn't be complete without thanking /B for spreading teh original Kitteh meme.
Here's an unboxing video showing both versions...
Here's pics and videos taken over the 4 month process of putting Teh Kitteh project together...
A Kitteh Being Lasered at Next Step Manufacturing
Paul Dang numbers the boxes at One Drop
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Kittehs in their packaging at One Drop
Here's the two colorways Teh Kittehs will come in:
Here's the history of Teh Kitteh Code 2 project:
Feb. 13: I finalized the packaging. Teh Kitteh Code 2 will come in a pearl box lined with velvet. It will include 2 custom made Toxic strings, stickers from each manufacturer involved and a booklet telling the story of teh Kitteh Code 2 with illustrations from the map above.
Feb. 14th: I've almost finished laying out the little booklet that will be included with the Kitteh Code 2.
Feb. 16th: The embossed pearlized boxes have been ordered so I can start working on the packaging comps and figure out how much velvet and packing cotton is needed.
Feb. 22: OneDrop is machining the halves and should have them ready to ship to MokeyfingeR next week for anodizing.
The Boxes also arrived!
Feb. 24th: I just finished laying out all of the mini-stickers that will come in the package - one sticker from each of the companies involved in producing Teh Kitteh Code 2.
March 1st: The halves have been machined and are on their way up to the Mans at MonkeyfingeR for the insanely complicated ano work.
March 10th: The mans at MonkeyfingeR are doing ano testing over the weekend and we should have some pics of that in the next couple of days. We've also been discussing some graphics changes which I think are pretty cool. More on that after we have the test pics.
Evan at Toxic has also ordered thread for the custom strings that will be included and he'll be making up samples in the next few days in both thin and thick formats.
March 19th: The boys up north are experimenting with different finishes. I really like the direction this is going in and it's pretty awesome how they're adding in their own creative touch rather than just reproducing the original illustration.
I just finished setting up the 5 mini-stickers that will be included, one for each company involved. I'll probably send the files to the printer today.
March 20th: We've decided on some color and graphics changes. I'm really excited about these new ideas. Teh Kitteh is a true collaboration with everyone offering their creative input in order to make something really incredible.
March 21st: Got the prototype proofs from the printer.
March 22nd: Whew. I just got some amazing protos from MF. Photos below and above. As you can see we've tweaked the design a bit through the process (so cool to be working with such a creative team). We haven't landed on the exact finished ano yet, but I figure I'd share the different things we're contemplating. As far as design, we're pretty set, mostly now it's just a matter of finalizing what colors go where.
April 1st: Well, just got some images from Monkeyfinger. I think we have the final colors. This has been such a great collaboration, I really like how the color and patterns have transformed over the process.
April 12th: Got updated photos from the guys up north. The ano should be done some time over the weekend. I also had a very generous person offer to screen print the Sniffy stickers. I'll be including his info in this post above.
April 14th: I just talked with Ray at Monkeyfinger and we decided to do half the run in a second colorway. This will be based on an earlier prototype which has colors to match the sniffy site. Very exciting to be able to offer 2 colors.
April 16th: The ano is finished and they look great (pics above). MonkeyfingeR is sending the halves down, one set of each to me for assembly and unboxing, and the rest to OneDrop for the final assembly. So excited.
April 17th: Got the test strings from Toxic today. One set of thick and another thin (the same format as the dragon strings but with color thread) Interesting to be trying that out particularly being Markmont had the dragon strings done in white so there were no dyes to effect play. I've always wanted to see what they would feel like in color.
Haven't broken them in yet, and am curious to see if I'm in tune enough with my own playing to notice a difference. I'll certainly post about my experience.
I think I'll suggest for the Kitteh to come with one of each (thick and thin). We planned to have it come with two custom strings, and I figure everyone would also like to be able to try both types.
April 25th: Got the two Kitteh today, they look fantastic. Two were sent to me directly so I can assemble and finish packaging and the rest were sent to One Drop for final assembly.
All that's left to do is dial in the custom string colors, order the velvet for the packaging and get them all packed up. Should only be another couple of weeks.
May 5th: We're getting really close!
Teh Kittehs are ready for assembly. We plan to do it down at One Drop on or around the 18th. I still need to order some bits for the packaging and have the booklet printed. Also Evan has hit perfectly the blue string, he's doing a bit of tuning of the orange string.
We've planned to do a set of videos for the release as well. One will be a tour of the One Drop shop and the lasering of the little george on the rim, I'll also do an unboxing at One Drop so you can see what each one comes with, and Paul Dang has agreed to do a couple of short throwing vids so you can see how they look spinning. There may be other vids of anything that may be of interest as Paul and I make our way down to One Drop.
May 7th: We're order the last of the packaging materials today decided to go with micro fleece instead of velvet to cradle the yoyo, it will be more of a cushion than the velvet, and will be a nice cleaning cloth as well.
The plan is that Paul and I will take a road trip down to One Drop on the 18th and do the assembly as well as the launch videos.
May 10th: Got the final orange string from Evan at Toxic today. Perfectly dialed in.
May 13th: I decided instead of the accordion style folding booklet, to do a long 17" scroll. Also instead of the sticker on the inside flap, there will be a graphic stamped in gold ink.
May 22nd: Paul and I took our road trip down to One Drop for the assembly and packaging of Teh Kittehs. Loads of fun. I'll be releasing the different videos I took while we were there. They will be getting shipped to YoyoExpert soon for a June launch.
June 3rd: Andre ran the numbers and figured out we hit way over our original donation amount. So rather than raising $1000 for the cat shelter it's going to be $2,000. Pretty cool.
June 21st: The check has been sent out to the shelter. Thanks everybody for making this such a great success.