Mermaid Postal Project

This project is to support my boyfriend who was deployed out to sea as of September 2024. As a small business owner I do not have the financial stability to afford sending support packages as I wish I could, so I created this project to help with that on the side of my other work. My goal is at least one box per-month, if possible then two, with meals, snacks, hygiene and handmade gifts. Below will be a summery elaborating the why for those not familiar with enlisted loved ones; then below that will have all the other details including my goals and how I'm running this project.

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Why Did I Start This Project?

Being enlisted in the military means serving your country, not only potentially going out into the field if there is war, but includes having a completely different work environment compared to normal jobs. I can't disclose all I know while I've been by his side since the beginning when he enlisted, but what I can say with how it's handled can have negative mental and physical affects on a person. Many people who do not have close or loved ones in the military may not know just how much this can affect somebody. It can change them for the best or the worst, it can test their limits of what they can handle and make them feel absolutely isolated.

Support Packages or letters is one way to ward off those negative affects. Reminding them there are people who care wanting them home and packages that fill what the military fails to give. I love him and scared for his life, not if the war will get him, but if all that darkness will take him while he's out there so far away. My heart also goes out to the rest of them as well. Although due to restrictions I am not allowed to send packages or letters for any soldier, what extra he has left over in the package he can give to others.

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Why Choose Pin-Ups and Mermaids?

Pin-ups have always been a way to keep the morale of soldiers and I myself love them too. I wanted to keep this tradition of beautiful women when making this project in heart of my Navy boyfriend, their warm and pleasing looks easing the heavy hearts of those enlisted. Which is also why I chose mermaids, to represent him being in the Navy and it's origin years ago starting with wooden ships. The myth of mermaids being that sort of start of pin-ups, the idea of finding beautiful women while out to sea and being guides to reaching their destination safely. I want each of my packages safely arrive in his hands and guide him back home.

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About the Project Itself

The cost of these support packages will depend on change of prices, shipping and any added material needed if not already available to me. Due to unpredictable southern weather prices for material and shipping may change a lot during his deployment, so my overall goal amount isn't one I can have 100% certain. Extra left over money will be going into affording the physical reward packages and be saved for the on going support packages to him; including upcoming Christmas gifts to him, Valentine's gift and Birthday Gift. That way he doesn't feel as though he missed important moments while far away.

Now I don't mind being given just donations, but I wanted to offer something in exchange for this support. So what I've decided is digital art, stickers and other rewards. Things I can afford to do right now and seemed the easiest with what else I have to work on. Hopefully I can offer more than just that, such as: keychains, bags, shirts and etc. Something you can physically keep and not just digital files. After some research the hosting site I chose is Patreon. Now, there is a chance due to it's history with NSFW that at some point mine can be taken down, but if it does I will quickly rebuild it on another platform. The physical items will be put into an online shop after it's month is over, so November items will be available in the shop in December then so on. This is due to needing to have a manufacture make my items, in which I normally have to order in bulk. Below is the list of Tiers.

Notice: Due to Pin-Up nature this Project is considered NSFW! Especially for the art included the 'Siren Songs' Tier and other tiers with it's reward. By becoming a member you agree to being of age and hold yourself accountable if lying about your age, especially for the 'Mermaid's Delivery' tier.

Patreon Tier Rewards and Prices

Example Pieces

These are the examples for the November 2024 tiers! Tier one has more mild pin-ups for those who aren't ones for spice, but love soft booba and thighs all the same. Tier two has the more spicy variants, showing more skin; a bit more suggestive and all over more a tease. There will be a mix of my original characters with some franchise characters, as well Vtubers who in which give permission, such as: DokiBird and RainbowSparklesVT, both I have emailed and asked for permission prier.

Number of pieces to be done each month will range from one to three or more. Every piece will be turned into stickers for Tier Five, left over being available for sale on the linked shop. Some may even return as re-sell stickers if you missed your chance or not one of the members. They will also be prints and hopefully other optional goods down the road. There will also be shown drafts as a fun before and after how I come to create each artwork.

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Answering Potential Questions

These are just in case there are some questions not answered within the long paragraph post. If I miss anything, I will come back and edit this list.

"What will you do with the Patreon after he gets back?"

With permission from him directly, since this was made in heart for him, he doesn't mind if I continue with the Patreon to be part of my business. He wishes for my success in my dreams of an art career online and if this Patreon becomes successful will want it to go towards me. Meaning this Patreon will stay active and ongoing, though descriptions may change and potential added tiers if able. Otherwise if he ever gets deployed again, this Patreon will serve once more in support of him again each time.

"When will he get back?"

As to when he gets back, that I am not allowed to give as public info and I myself do not know. With the climate of the world as of late it could be a long while, which is why this Patreon exists in the first place. My first idea was commissions, but I have a hard time keeping up with those like I use to. The other was adoptables, but I wasn't sure how well they would have gone since the market isn't a promising unless I'm already well known. Others was selling more merch, but that's been very slow; then another was selling more assets, but I need more time to learn Live2D at some point since I only sell static, which even then I don't earn a whole lot from it each month yet. Thus pin-ups was something I always loved and wanted to do, so this served as a push forward to start those while also supporting him, plus he loves pin-ups too which he'll see every girl I draw.

"What is the money being used for?"

The money as described is being used to fund packages to send to him, more than likely having excess goods for him to hand to others who may need it. Excess money will be saved, a portion of it going to see him and spend time with him after he returned, otherwise will be put back into my own savings towards my dream business and life in whole.

"Will you deliver internationally for Physical Rewards?"

I will, but I will not be able to if your country does not allow mail from the USA. Please check online before becoming a member for Tier 5. Note there will likely be no tracking for these rewards due to cost.

"When can I expect my rewards to arrive?"

Arrival of rewards can vary. Since the rewards are limited to a handful of members, for now, I will be adding tracking by hand for those. If your reward has not arrived, please check the number or with your post office. If something may have happened to it and proof is shown, then I will a second postal.

"Will the rewards be available to others outside the Five tier?"

YES! They will be after a month or so has passed. I planned for select artworks to return as re-sell merch with limited stock and limited time. Wanting the tier to keep its value of being special for it's physical rewards I won't sell too many. There may be select artworks however that I will have as permanent merch that I'll continue to sell until it doesn't anymore. Otherwise left over ordered designs I will sell as overflow after every month.

"Why do you have older rewards on an Online Store?"

I have them there to sell excess left over, but as well have it available to others who may not be subscribed to Tier 5. Right now it's not completely planned out, but I plan to offer other goods on the shop at some point I otherwise wouldn't be able to on the Patreon easily.

"When will the shop be available?"

As of right now, no idea. I don't have a lot of spending money to get the merch up on there and a lot of print-on-demand services were pretty expensive for what I'm trying to do; as well I am unable to control the quality in which I value highly for anybody who purchases goods from me. I rather be able to know what I sell is good and not have a chunk taken from what is suppose to be saved for my love. There will be an announcement when it's ready.

"Why is 'Siren Songs' and 'Fintale Tavern' two separate Tiers?"

I kept their rewards separated since I know some people don't want super sexy pin-ups while others do. This way if they only want the basic pin-ups then they can just pay for that, but if they just want the spicy variants they can just pay for that one. In which if they want both, they can pay for the 'Pirate's Sweetheart' with an added bonus reward. 'Mermaid's Delivery' get access to all tiers with physical rewards too.

"Why is Tier 5 Limited?"

Due to being new to this, I wanted to keep potential deliveries to a minimum of at least 10. It'll be easier to work with and less of a hassle. Though I don't personally see it ever getting maxed out due to the $50 price on it, if it does at least it's an amount I can handle. Also most places I order my merch to be made have at least a 10 min quantity requirement, so it works out.

"Why do I need to wait 2 payments for my Tier 5 Rewards?"

I will be handling shipping costs from the money earned and will have to rely on manufactures for said rewards, which can be expensive due to bulk ordering which most require. As to prevent those who may want to be hit-n-run support for rewards, two payments insures I have the money needed to invest and that they are real supporters. I will send the rewards of the month they started supporting and that second month.

"Will this affect my commission?"

This will not affect commissions. I will be re-making my schedule so that I can make sure to work on them and do this project. My goal is to pre-make rewards until I have enough people to do polls for. I do again thank each one very deeply for being so patient with me.

"Will you do real life people, streamers or Vtubers?"

I will not do anybody out of real life or real-life streamers, being something uncomfortable and frankly not appropriate for what this project is for. Meaning, no, I will not do you or anybody you know personal or not. As for Vtubers, I will want their explicit permission and will only do those I personally choose.