Weekly Release: pocket size mini Keymaster Tarot
about 4 years ago – Sun, Mar 01, 2020 at 08:09:31 PM

Hello everybody!

It is time for the second release, we are half way and the campaign reached 330% funding. It is possible that we reach 400% and unlock the 4th stretch goal. Warm thank you for being here!

In this update:

• Pocket size mini Keymaster Tarot as add-on
• Keymaster Ultimate lids arrived in Sweden
• Things I am still working on
• The Circus

Pocket Size Keymaster (or travel size, or just mini deck)

Based on my previous kickstarter campaigns, I noticed that there is a big interest for mini decks. They are so cute they almost can challenge the picture of a kitten. Kind of. :)

The mini Keymaster are up for grab as add-ons.  

How to get it?

The Keymaster mini deck is an ADD-ON only. You can add as many as you want on top of your current pledge. 

Specs:

• Price: 160 SEK/each 
• Card Size: 45x84mm (regular keymaster cards are 65x120mm).
• Tuckbox included.
• 78 cards on linen finish playing card paper (Cartamundi's B9 slim, or similar).
• no gold foil, no gilding. It is just not possible with low numbers.
• no extra shipping fees.
• One for free for backers in Attic Reward.
• Two for free for Librarians.

 Unfamiliar with add-ons? 

I explained how to add items step by step in this update 

 In the picture above:

• top left: The House of the Rising Spade - Cartomancer Variant (poker size)
• top center: The Parlour Playing Cards mini-deck (44x63mm)
• top right: The Parlour Playing Cards mini-deck tuck-box
• bottom left: Keymaster Tarot regular cards (65x120mm)
• bottom center: Keymaster mini (card size 45x84mm)
• bottom right: Keymaster mini tuckbox (not 100% complete, still working on it)

Keymaster Ultimate pre-series

I received here in Stockholm the 10 gates that have been produced as pre-series. These are exactly the same as those you will get in the rewards. The manufacturer did a great job. I took a few extra pictures to show the quality and the resolution of these pieces.

Note: as they are hand-painted, there are small differences among all of them. 

Things I am still working on

• I am not ready with the design of the custom seal, but you will see it soon.
• About the tarot cloth, 99% done, just waiting for the tailor to complete the prototype with the border that allows to use both sides.
•  Mini deck tuckbox not complete, but I will show it soon.
• Final texts for the art book arrived, I post a couple of pages in the next update.
• considering to tweak the back design and make it symmetrical (again, I listen to backers' expertise).

The Circus

Marianne Larsen is  a Scandinavian illustrator who made this exquisite deck of playing cards poker size: Circus Playing Cards in limited edition. The project is live on kickstarter and funded, plenty of items and unlocked stretch goals. 

Barely 2 days remaining, campaign page here

That's all for now, thank you so much for being a backer of Keymaster Tarot.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to write a mail (check FAQs first) :)

Cheers

Lorenzo - Stockholm17 Playing Cards

Improvements/tweak to Superior and Ultimate
about 4 years ago – Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 05:36:43 PM

Hi all!

I listen.

I did a post on my Instagram showing the new graphics for the tray, and among the comments there was one that triggered this improvement.

YES, HE IS RIGHT! thank you for pointing it out!

It is better if I swap position of the graphics.

Why?

Keymaster Ultimate's lid shows already a lot of information, including the logo. Having the logo on the back of Keymaster Ultimate is redundant and that layout works better as front side. Also, it is almost a standard practice to have the back design of the cards placed as back design of the box.

KEYMASTER SUPERIOR:  updated layout

Here I show in details how the box looks, inside and outside. It is not 100% complete, a few minor tweaks and adds will be made.

KEYMASTER ULTIMATE: updated layout

Since Superior and Ultimate variants share the same tray, the Keymaster Ultimate will look like this. The seal (1st stretch goal) is just a placeholder, working on it.

 It just makes much more sense :)

What´s next?

Mid campaign release on Sunday. Just stay tuned.

Also, I am about to finalize the Tarot Cloth. Finally I found the manufacturer of that wide decorated gold border (or trimming) and with that width the cloth can work on both sides: you can decide if you want blue floral pattern on black background or the other way round. Double Face Tarot Cloth.

A shoutout to GameTree

Gametree is helping out with an extra push to the Keymaster Tarot project, I think the minimum I can do is to give them a shoutout for their ongoing Kickstarter campaign.

The app already exists and it is running. It is an app for players of all kind (online and table-top games) that cannot find matching play-mates for their daily dose of fun and entertainment. Basically it is like Tinder for online gamers of all ages - No dirty thoughts!!! - lol. Oh,  It is web-based, too.

You can search for one or more players matching your gaming style (e.g.: just for fun and a laugh, or extremely committed in clan wars or similar), and it works for all games and all platforms.

Now they are running a kickstarter campaign, click here to learn more.

That's all for now, new release in a couple of days. Please do not forget to spread the word and involve your tarot friends via social media or just with a old fashion phone call, or a handwritten letter :D

More backers = more stretch goals = more upgrades = more things for each backer.

Thank you for backing the Keymaster Tarot!

Lorenzo - Stockholm17 Playing Cards

300% Stretch Goal Unlocked! mini-booklet for all variants
about 4 years ago – Mon, Feb 24, 2020 at 07:38:29 PM

Hello everybody,

we unlocked the 3rd stretch goal! The campaign reached 300% funding and as upgrade all the variants will get a mini booklet explaining the cards. This booklet partially contains the texts written in the Art Book, but here are no illustrations and it is in black and white.

Remember it is card-size (65x120mm) and the space is very limited. When you buy a tarot deck, usually you get a booklet of this kind included. This one counts 32 pages and it cannot be too thick otherwise it does not fit in the boxes. 

Specs list:

• 32 pages in black and white
• intro, explanation of the cards, spreads
• size 65x120mm (as the cards)
• black and white
• texts in english 
• Texts by Regina Hopingardner (read her cartomancy tales on instagram: cartomancytales)

Here is a preview of the content, work in progress.

More news from the manufacturer

For Keymaster Ultimate, good news.They completed the handmade paint-job and sent this picture.

What you see here is the final version of the lid. Since it is hand-painted with "antique" effect, every piece is slightly different from the others. I will get a sample soon, so I can check in person. Some tonality tweak might be done. The picture does not do justice to the piece.

That's all for now :)

If you have questions, do not hesitate to write a message. Check FAQs as well so you do not waste time.

Thank you so much for backing the project and spread the word :)

Lorenzo

Weekly Release: Tarot Cloth
about 4 years ago – Sat, Feb 22, 2020 at 10:33:23 PM

Hi all!

First of all, warm welcome to the new backers, thank you for the support. Do not hesitate to write a message if there is something unclear or if you have questions.

In this update:

• Tarot Cloth released
• How Add-ons work on kickstarter
• Court Cards gallery

Tarot Cloth Released

If interested to this item, it is now possible to add the tarot cloth on top of your pledge. Before you do that, please be aware that I am still working on it, and that I am looking for a nice trim (or call it border) that makes the cloth work on both sides. 

• The fabric is Jacquard with floral pattern in black and blue (see update #2 for more details) 
• Made in Italy
• size 70x70cm (27.5x27.5in)
• border/trim for double face feature (work in progress)
• price: 360 SEK 
•  included in Attic reward tier (as part of "New items released during the campaign")

These trims are tricky, I have no experience with sewing and this flaw is slowing down the final decision on this item. At the end the tarot cloth will have a nice border, but I do not know how it will look, yet. I hope to solve this before the end of the campaign.

I want offer a high quality tarot cloth, elegant, versatile, neutral, durable. I discarded the idea of having printed graphics on velvet or satin. You can use this cloth for all your reading without visual interferences.

NEW BUNDLE  AVAILABLE: "The Scholar"

• 1x Keymaster Superior
• 1x Pouch
• 1x Art Book
• 1x Tarot Cloth 70x70cm
• 1x Card Stand
• FREE SHIPPING USA+EU+others
• EU-FRIENDLY PARCEL

How Add-ons work on kickstarter

On kickstarter add-ons are always tricky if you are not used to this system. I guide you through a simple example and I try to explain step by step.

EXAMPLE:

1. You are backer and you picked the reward called ◆SUPERIOR BUNDLE◆. This means that your total pledge is 1020 SEK (plus shipping for a few cases) and that you  belong to a group of backers that will receive the following items:

• 1x Keymaster Superior
• 1x Card Stand
• 1x Card Guard
• 1x Art Book

2. you want to add one or more items and there is no user interface on kickstarter that allows it, correct? But on the campaign page you can read a list of items called add-ons. 

Here is the full list:

• Art Book for 350 SEK
• Card Stand for 95 SEK
• Card Guard for 110 SEK
• Pouch for 60 SEK
• Uncut Sheet for 400 SEK
• Tarot Cloth for 360 SEK
• Keymaster Basic for 370 SEK
• Keymaster Superior for 550 SEK
• Keymaster Ultimate for 990 SEK

3. Let's say that you want to ADD another deck and some items. You decided for the following:

• +1 Tarot Cloth for 360 SEK
• +1 Keymaster Basic for 370 SEK
• +2 Card Stands for 95x2 = 190 SEK

4. The total pledged amount is the SUM of the REWARD+ADDons you choose. Just do a simple math. 

• 1020 (your reward called Superior Bundle)
• +360 (1x tarot cloth)
• +370 (1x Keymaster basic)
• +190 (2x card stands)
• TOTAL= 1940 SEK

5. Find the "MANAGE YOUR PLEDGE" BUTTON and update your total amount. 

6. Once you updated the amount, it is done. In your package you will find the following:

• 1x Keymaster Superior
• 1x Keymaster Basic
• 3x Card Stand
• 1x Card Guard
• 1x Art Book
• 1x Tarot Cloth

That's it. You will specify the items AFTER THE CAMPAIGN when you receive the email with the survey.

Please remember that you can update the total pledged amount any time during the campaign. Also, I will use a backer-management platform called Backerkit that allows you to specify what items you added, and in case you can add more even if the campaign is over.

COURT CARDS gallery

I realized that I did not show all the court cards on the campaign page, so I prepared a gallery on my website in case you want to see them in big.

Click here to check the gallery

That's all for now. Thank you so much for the amazing support. I keep you posted about Tarot Cloth development and other incoming items. We are near the 3rd stretch goal, too! 

Have a great weekend

Lorenzo 

Packaging graphics, Tarot Cloth sneak peek.
about 4 years ago – Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 11:10:53 PM

Hi everybody,

first of all, warm welcome to the new backers! Please do not hesitate to write a message if something is not clear, I will reply as soon as possible. Check FAQs as well on the campaign page.

In this update:

• graphics on the back of the tray
• Tarot Cloth sneak peek

Graphics on the back of the tray

Keymaster Ultimate and Keymaster Superior share the same tray, of course the big difference is the lid. The campaign page does not show how the graphics look, because this part is still under development.

I made a couple of photoshop renderings to show how the 2 variants will look.

Keymaster Tarot Superior

Keymaster Tarot Ultimate

Same as Superior, with the addition of the custom seal, which is not ready yet. Sorry for the ugly picture, it comes straight from the manufacturer.

The seal will be metallic gold paper, with black graphics. I might put the total number of produced units on the top part.

Tarot Cloth

Not yet released, therefore not yet available as add-on. Working on it.

When I decided to include a tarot cloth, I though of doing custom graphics printed all over a standard velvet or satin cloth, as many others seen on the web. CHEAP! Eventually I decided to take another direction and focus on the fabric and offer a neutral cloth without logo or graphics.

I picked a Jacquard fabric with floral pattern in blue and black from an Italian manufacturer, near my hometown. A border/trim in antique gold fabric will complete the cloth. Simple, durable, elegant, timeless, neutral. You can use it for your readings with other decks, too.

Click here to read what Jacquard is.

Tarot Cloth Specs:

• 70x70cm 
• Jacquard with blue floral pattern on black background
• border/trim in gold (work in progress)
• price: to be calculated, not ready

The border (or the trim)

I am no expert in fashion design and I am struggling a little, that's why I had to put the tarot cloth on hold and make it a release during the campaign.

I found this border, which is very nice, but it is a little too narrow. Also, the tailor who applied it, did the job on the wrong side - lol - I am investigating another solution, but so far this is the result.

The fabric is very nice and reminds me the victorian times. I think it works with tarot cards and the blue give depth. 

About the cloth, stay tuned. I am planning to release it in a few days if everything goes well with the trims.

Backers in Attic reward tiers get the cloth for free, included in the whole package (as stated in the reward description).

That's all for now, thank you again for the great support! :)

Lorenzo

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