I want to tell you about some of the other projects I discovered on Kickstarter–and backed myself. I love the idea of Kickstarter. It promotes entrepreneurship, and in today’s economy, that is what we have to fall back on when big business is failing us. We have normal, everyday individuals with big spirits, work ethic, drive, and determination. These are “idea people” who see a need and seek to fill it, making up their own jobs out of thin air when jobs aren’t available. One project I backed is the Snowville Creamery Yogurt project. I have an attachment to anyone in the small dairy business, trying to bring milk products to the consumer that are close to the source and as unadulterated as possible. They slow-pasteurize their milk, which makes it good cheese making milk, and they’re in Ohio, which isn’t far from where I am, so I felt a special connection and wanted to back them.
I also backed the Two Birds project. Their philosophy just appealed to me. They want funding for a grilled cheese sandwich cart–and for each sandwich sold, they will donate to hunger projects. Both the Two Birds project and the Snowville Creamery projects are at risk of not making their funding in time, which also made me want to help them.
And I backed the Victorian Candy Equipment project because, quite honestly, I just wanted some delicious candy and I think they’re doing a really neat thing.
That is what is so wonderful to me about Kickstarter. You can discover entrepreneurial projects that you believe in and back them. It’s a global community effort to support creative idea-driven small business. The best thing we have going for us all in today’s economy are our ideas and our spirits and our willingness to work. Just when I feel as if there is nothing that I can do to help the economy, I realize I can. I can support the heart of entrepreneurship in America.
You can see my Studio at Sassafras Farm project here. It’s nervewracking to watch the “days left” and the funding numbers. It’s all or nothing! You’re required to post the 100 percent completion goal as your number. No halfway stuff! It’s all the way or nothing. You’re accountable to your pledge contributors to finish the job and open your doors.
Every dollar counts, and you can contribute as little as one dollar. If everyone reading this today contributed one dollar, the Studio at Sassafras Farm would be funded. If you can contribute more, for as little as $10, you will receive a reward in the form of a 4 x 6 print from my Smugmug shop of the cute farm animals. (The photo at the top of this post is just one of the many photos from which you could choose.) Rewards are on a graduated level, up to and including workshops and farm suppers at the blazing-new studio this year. Pledges will not be charged until the final day of the funding project, which is March 3. If the project doesn’t meet its goal, the pledges will disappear and you will be charged nothing. The purpose of the all-or-nothing approach is to guarantee that a project can be fully completed. You can also help in a very significant way by nothing more than sharing the link!
I have the “ticker” in my sidebar now so you can bite your nails along with me and watch it! Right now (as I post this), I’m at 19 percent funded! (If you want to use the widget, too, you can get it from my Kickstarter page. At the top of the Kickstarter project page under the photo of Poky, click on Embed.)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! If nothing else, let’s have fun seeing what happens in the 30 days I have to build my fund.
Kickstarter depends on community gathering around ideas and philosophies they believe in. Please keep sharing my Kickstarter link!
The Studio at Sassafras Farm project
CATRAY44 says:
Re-posting on FB. I hope we get this done in record time!
On February 3, 2012 at 8:20 am
Rah says:
If yesterday was any example, you’re going to make that goal! It is so wonderful that Kickstarter provides this opportunity. I believe in you and want you to succeed! Hugs and blessings!
On February 3, 2012 at 8:23 am
KellyWalkerStudios says:
I love Kickstarter too. Been watching it for sometime now and even have a project ready to launch. I just need to have time to do it “when” I get funded. 🙂 I hope others will continue to follow Kickstarter and help those creative folks out there that are trying to follow their dreams!
On February 3, 2012 at 8:40 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Kelly, let me know when you launch your project so I can support it!
On February 3, 2012 at 8:52 am
AngelaS says:
Just made my pledge! Thank you for your site. It has really helped me through a rough couple of months. :fairy:
On February 3, 2012 at 9:31 am
Karen Templeton says:
Pledged and reposted link on FB. Go, go, go, go, go! :woof:
On February 3, 2012 at 11:30 am
Dawn Carrica says:
I am so impressed with this that I have set aside 27.2 minutes this afternoon to do further investigation! What an awesome idea. I’ll be sure to pay it forward and support you and whatever other interesting pursuits I can find!
Dawn
https://rollingthunderranch.blogspot.com/
On February 3, 2012 at 12:27 pm
CindyP says:
24% :woof:
Yes, Kelly, let us know!! We’ll rally behind you, too! Even those with little extra money can all donate $1 at least to help an entrepreneur get their foot off the ground! Thousands of $1 donations can make a dream come true!
On February 3, 2012 at 12:29 pm
beforethedawn says:
Posted to Facebook and Twitter. I hope you meet the goal!
On February 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm
JeannieB says:
Just made a contribution, need to investigate other Kickstart projects!
On February 3, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Eva says:
Thank you for explaining. I will donate.
On February 3, 2012 at 8:40 pm
kitler says:
Done, done, and done! Re-posted on FB, so good luck!!
On February 3, 2012 at 9:06 pm
princessvanessa says:
I pledged $30 per month ($360 a year) and my first $30 donation (for January) was paid last week through Paypal with my debit card. I will make my February pledge next week. I do not, however, see where I am on the list of pledge donors. As I can I will donate more.
I severly broke my arm/shoulder 8 months ago and was in the hospital for 4 days and off work for 3-1/2 months and last month I had resperatory failure (from pneumonia) and was in the hospital for 5 days and off work for over 2 weeks. As I am single, finances are still pretty tight; with a total of $4000 out-of-pocket hospital bills.
Please add me to your list of Sassafras Farm Studio project donors.
—Vanessa Zumwalt—
On February 4, 2012 at 3:00 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Vanessa, I haven’t compiled the list yet! You will be on it! I will be compiling the list that goes on my website, and the same list on the wall in the studio, after the Kickstarter drive is over, and everyone who donated through my site (instead of Kickstarter) will also be on it! (Sorry about the confusion! Where were you looking at a list? I’m confused.)
On February 4, 2012 at 5:17 am
MousE says:
I pledged! I love the link to Amazon thru Kickstart, that’s a brilliant idea and makes things easier.
And now you are at 29%! Woo hoo! :snoopy:
On February 4, 2012 at 3:11 am
princessvanessa says:
Suzanne, I clicked the hyperlink “The Studio at Sassafras Farm” (last sentence in your blog post) and then clicked on the center tab “backers” (located at the top of the Kickstarter page/post).
I only want to be sure that my pledge is on Kickstarter so that you will get the 100% of your completion goal. My pledge will still stand, no matter what.
Do I need to register through Kickstarter so that my pledge adds to your 100% goal? Also, does Kickstarter allow you to pledge on a month by month basis rather than a lump sum? I can do $30 a month for a total of $360 a year but $360 all at once, right now, is hard to do.
Sorry about the pity party posting, my arm was hurting and I was coughing pretty bad when I made the post. 😥 Feeling better this morning, lol. :wave:
On February 4, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
I’m sorry, I’m not “in charge” of what appears on Kickstarter. What appears there is only those who have contributed directly through Kickstarter. What appears there is NOT the same thing as what I will put on my wall of honor page on my website and on the wall in the studio. What appears on the “backers” on Kickstarter does not include those who have contributed directly through my site (because Kickstarter doesn’t even have access to that info, and I don’t have access to add to Kickstarter’s list either–they are completely separate). Whether you contribute through Kickstarter or through my site, your name will appear on the wall of honor page as helping to build the studio! But, if you want to contribute toward the funding goal on Kickstarter, you actually have to contribute through Kickstarter, not through my site. (Because Kickstarter doesn’t count what is contributed through my site.)
Either way, Thank you!!!!
On February 4, 2012 at 5:50 pm