Production Update: Paint, Printing & Production Progress & Shipping Delay
about 1 month ago
– Sun, Aug 30, 2026 at 09:24:27 PM
Hello everyone!
We’re back with another Bag Lady production update, and there’s been a lot happening at the factory.
Great news: vinyl parts have been cast and production has officially moved into the paint/deco stage! Parts are currently being sprayed, painted, and pad printed as the Companions really start coming to life.
That said, we have hit a couple of production challenges that have pushed our shipping timeline back a bit. We want to keep everyone in the loop on exactly what’s happening.
A Little More Tooling Work
During production, the factory discovered that the mushroom joints connecting the PVC arms and legs weren't holding the parts together as securely as they should.
Rather than accepting something that could potentially cause problems with the finished figures, we had the factory make additional adjustments to the tooling cavity before moving forward with casting all of the PVC parts.
It added some time to production, but this is exactly the kind of issue we want to catch before thousands of finished parts are made. We'd much rather make the correction now and have a stronger final product.
Shown here is one half of the leg mold, including the mushroom-style pin that inserts into the vinyl body. Notice the raised bulges at the top of the pin; these were widened to create a more secure connection and ensure the parts hold together properly after assembly.
The Bag Lady Is Fighting the Pad Print Machine
There has also been a small complication with the pad printing on the front of the bag.
Because the vinyl is softer and has a little natural movement to it, the surface can flex slightly during printing. This is causing the artwork to warp in certain areas rather than printing as cleanly and consistently as we want.
The factory is currently adjusting the machines and printing process to compensate for the movement of the vinyl and get the artwork where it needs to be.
Apparently even in production, The Bag Lady refuses to cooperate.
Again, nothing catastrophic, just one of those manufacturing problems that needs to be solved correctly rather than rushed through.
What is Pad Printing?
Pad printing (also called tampo printing) is a process that uses a soft silicone pad to pick up ink from an etched printing plate and transfer it onto the figure. It’s especially useful for applying detailed artwork to curved or irregular surfaces; like the front of the Bag Lady’s vinyl bag. Each color is applied separately and carefully aligned to build up the final deco.
First Look at the Boxed Companions!
We’re also excited to finally see the first boxed samples of our first four Bag Lady variants!
These are still prototype figures inside prototype packaging, but for the first time we’re able to see everything together, including the finished-style box, window and formed blister tray that holds the figure and accessory in place. (and as you can see here, the pad printing looks fantastic on the prototypes!)
There may still be a few tweaks before final production, but this gives us our best look yet at the complete shelf presentation. Seeing these ladies finally boxed up and looking like actual finished collectibles is a pretty awesome milestone!
And What About Shadow?
We know a lot of you have been waiting for news on the Shadow variant.
The factory is still actively working on the Shadow material/sample and believes they should have something new to show us very soon.
They did however send over images of the DECO SAMPLE for a glimpse as to what the final product will look like :)
This one has presented some unique material challenges, but we're continuing to work with them to find the right solution. As soon as we have the next physical sample in hand; or photos from the factory; we'll share it with everyone.
🖤 Getting Closer 🖤
Unfortunately, these adjustments do mean shipping will be later than originally anticipated. We know nobody likes hearing the word "delay," especially this far into a project, but we don't want to rush through issues that directly affect how the figures look, feel, and hold together.
The important part is that production is moving forward: vinyl is cast, deco is underway, the joint issue has been addressed at the tooling level, and the factory is working through the remaining printing and Shadow challenges.
As for actual shipping date - our original estimate was to be shipping pledges to backers this month, but unfortunately, we are unable to do so. That being said, we hope to have product in hand within the next 2-3 months to start shipping to everyone. As always, stay-tuned to our updates for teh most up-to-date information.
Thank you again for sticking with us and allowing us to make sure these Companions come out the way they're supposed to.
Thank you again for your support and patience!
- Mike and the SEC team.
THE PRINTER UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT. 🛍️
about 2 months ago
– Mon, Aug 17, 2026 at 06:13:12 PM
Sometimes you send a factory a reference and hope they understand what you're going for.
And sometimes... they absolutely nail it.
The I AM NOT BROKEN paper bag props are officially in hand from the printer and came back looking perfectly imperfect.
Brown paper bag.
Big, rough, hand-painted lettering.
I AM NOT BROKEN.
Exactly the way it was supposed to look.
These bags were always one of those weird little details we wanted to make real and seeing a whole stack of them coming off the production line is pretty damn satisfying.
The printer clearly understood the assignment.
Another piece of the Bag Lady project officially done and coming to you soon. Stay Tuned!
Mike
Production Update #18 - One Last Surprise
2 months ago
– Mon, Aug 03, 2026 at 07:00:06 AM
Things are moving right along, and so we have one last surprise to share with everyone!
😊 NEW! Happy Pills 4" Enamel Pin Available for Pre-Order Now! 😊💊
One of our favorite Companion variants has officially made the leap into hard enamel!
The Happy Pills 4" Enamel Pin is now available to purchase as an add-on through BackerKit or directly from our website!
Featuring:
- Massive 4-inch hard enamel construction
- Black nickel metal finish
- Beautiful bright and Dark enamel colors
- Dual metal butterfly clutches
- Screen-printed Happy Pills face and splatter detail
- Limited Edition of only 100 pieces
Once these are gone... they're gone for good.
Great for your jacket, backpack, or any bag that deserves a little more questionable optimism - now's your chance.
Don't miss out on this one!
😊💊
Shipping in September
We will do our best to combine shipping on all orders if you order items like this as a separate Pre-Order. Shipping will be determined one we have a better understanding of when all products will arrive and ready to ship.
Production Update: Enamel Pin Prototypes, Packaging & Shadow Variant
3 months ago
– Thu, Jul 16, 2026 at 08:02:37 PM
Hello again!
We've got another exciting production update to share as we continue moving toward the finish line.
Enamel Pins Nearly Ready for Production
The first finished enamel pin samples have arrived, and we're thrilled with how they turned out! The colors are vibrant, the line work is crisp, and the overall quality exceeded our expectations. We've reviewed the samples, made a few very minor notes, and they're now headed into final production.
These pins are going to be an awesome addition to the campaign rewards, and we can't wait for everyone to have them in hand. (And we can't wait to reveal something special waiting in the wings as well 💊🙂💊)
Packaging Samples Are Looking Great
We've also received the first structural "white box" samples for the companion figures and accessory packs. These plain white mock-ups allow us to verify the box construction, window placement, insert fit, and overall presentation before final artwork is applied.
Everything is fitting together beautifully so far. The figures display nicely through the custom window, the accessory trays fit securely, and the overall presentation is exactly what we envisioned. Once these structural samples receive final approval, we'll move into printed production packaging.
Shadow Variant Update
The only version that still needs a little extra attention is the Shadow Edition.
Because this release uses a unique translucent smoke-colored vinyl, the factory has encountered a few material-related challenges while dialing in the manufacturing process. This isn't uncommon with specialty vinyls, and we'd much rather the factory take the time to get it right than rush into production.
We're currently awaiting the factory's recommended solution and updated samples before giving final approval. As soon as we have more information, we'll be sure to share it with everyone.
Moving Closer Every Week
Every update brings us one step closer to full production. The deco approvals are nearly complete, the enamel pins are heading into manufacturing, the packaging structure has been approved, and we're working through the final material details on the Shadow Edition.
Thank you all for your continued patience and support throughout this journey. We know it's exciting to watch everything come together, and we're just as eager to get these into your hands as you are.
More updates coming soon!
— Michael & the Scrambled Eggs Creative Team
Production Update: DECO SAMPLES + Enamel Pins & Art Prints
3 months ago
– Tue, Jul 07, 2026 at 09:02:52 PM
Hi everyone!
We've got another exciting production update to share as I AM NOT BROKEN – Bag Lady continues moving toward full production.
(Almost) Final Deco Sample images Have Arrived!
The factory has sent over the latest painted deco sample images for several editions of the figure, including Prototypical, Glow-in-the-Dark, Happy Pills, and Heartbreaker.
Overall, we're extremely happy with how they're turning out! As expected, with first-pass samples, we've made a few notes for minor paint and deco adjustments, and this is the result thus far. We will have some more minor notes on these samples, and once those revisions are completed and approved, the factory will begin full production.
The only remaining edition still in development is Shadow (the clear smoke vinyl version), which requires a different manufacturing process. We'll be sharing updates on that version as soon as those samples arrive.
Enamel Pins & Art Prints
Production is also moving ahead on the campaign extras!
Our enamel pins have reached the tooling stage, and we've received images of the completed metal molds along with the first metal blanks before enamel colors are applied. It's always fun seeing how these are manufactured, and they're looking fantastic so far. (We did opt to go with soft enamel over hard enamel pins as this is what the factory recommended for this specific design. Stay tuned for final images.)
We've also received sample proofs of the 11" x 17" art prints, featuring Shawn Coss's incredible artwork. The prints look fantastic, and we're excited to get these into your hands alongside the figures.
Schedule - Still on Track
At this point, we're still on schedule and getting very close to the start of full production. There are a few final approvals to complete, but everything is progressing well, and we're excited to move into the next phase.
As always, thank you for your continued support and patience. Every approval brings us one step closer to delivering Bag Lady to all of you, and we can't wait to share the next update!
— Michael & the Scrambled Eggs Creative Team
