Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there. Your webcam must be off! Haha, I’m just kidding. Welcome to Rushin’ Forward, the official blog of the Kickstarter that wants to bring knitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment to Etsy!
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Seriously? Etsy doesn’t already have kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment?” I know; it’s crazy. When I first discovered this glaring omission, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew that if I didn’t fill this void (no pun intended!) someone else would… but would they do it right? I couldn’t take that risk, and that’s how the dream began.
I know what you’re thinking now. “Why a Kickstarter?” “Do you really need 50,000 dollars to start an Etsy store?” “How can one man possibly satisfy the demands of the kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment market?” No, I’m not psychic! These are some of the questions the creation of my Kickstarter prompted, so I created this blog to answer them. Rushin’ Forward is also the place to be for updates on the campaign and, if we hit our third stretch goal, previews of what the store will have for sale!
First things first—yes, I do need 50,000 dollars. Sure, you could go to any craft fair and find kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment for a few bucks a pop, but are those replicas knitted with only the finest imported Peruvian llama hair? Are they painstakingly compared to the real deal to ensure perfect accuracy? Do they come with a one year warranty and a certificate of authenticity? I thought not.
In the interest of full disclosure, I admit that a portion of the money will be going towards my living expenses. Allow me to explain why this is necessary. Every moment I spend making, nay, giving birth to kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment is a moment I can’t spend making wax replicas of antebellum American farming equipment. And that’s what pays the bills.
Don’t get me wrong—I pour blood, sweat and tears into my wax replicas of antebellum American farming equipment. It’s a labour of love. But I don’t feel called to them the way I feel called to kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment. But it’s going to take time for the latter to turn a profit, and that’s why I’m humbly asking for your help. I promise that when my Etsy store starts making money, I will give back every penny spent on living expenses to a scholarship I’m establishing for art students who want to specialise in making their very own kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment and/or wax replicas of antebellum American farming equipment and/or stainless steel replicas of the novelty party hats of Cold War Europe. I take, but I also give. Give to me, and I will give not only to you, but to the future.
Sadly, as you may have seen on my Twitter feed, @KnitRepRussGynEquip, the Kickstarter is off to a slow start. So far we’re raised $12.50, and while I sincerely appreciate these early donations, we’ve got a long way to go. That’s why I started a Tumblr account to help promote the effort. To reiterate what was posted on it and the official Facebook page this morning, here’s what’s in it for you if you donate.
$1.00 – The personal satisfaction of helping an artistic dream take flight.
$5.00 – A non-personalised thank you email.
$20.00 – A personalised thank you email.
$50.00 – A shout out on this very blog!
$100.00 – A spot on the replica pre-order list.
$500.00 – A spot on the pre-order list, and your choice of wool colour!
$1000.00 – Exclusive first access to new replica models.
$5000.00 – A custom replica based on a piece of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment in your collection!
$10,000.00 – Buy three replicas, get one free!
$25,000.00 – Buy two replicas, get one free!
$50,000.00 – “Brought to you by *your name here*” will be stitched onto every replica.
As you can see, your donations pay for themselves. But to sweeten the deal, for every dollar you donate you’ll receive a ticket for a raffle to win the very first replica I create! (Limited time offer, those who have already donated are not eligible.) It’s going to be a special one, folks, so cross your fingers. And remember—the more you donate, the better your chances!
As the inspirational Instagrams I shared with you this morning suggested, I’m feeling optimistic. But I can’t succeed without your help. And not just financially—every Facebook share, every retweet, every reddit post and YouTube video brings us a step closer to a world where you can buy kitted replicas of early 19th century Russian gynaecological equipment for a reasonable fee, plus shipping and handling and modest convenience charges. That, my friends, is a world I want to live in. Do you?
P.S. Be sure to check out my Pinterest account!