🧭 May Dispatch: Regaining Ground

The month begins with the expedition firmly rooted in the workshop, where steady progress continues across the current order queue. From a backlog that had grown to over 200 pieces, more than 80 have now been completed and are either already delivered or preparing to ship in the days ahead. The work is ongoing, but the pace is strong and the path forward remains clear.
 

As the month draws to a close, the road will call once again. Our next live appearance will take us to Fan Expo Philadelphia from May 29th through the 31st at booth# 543, followed immediately by Indiana Comic Con from June 5th through the 7th at booth# 1738. As always, these journeys are undertaken by road, carrying the workshop from city to city, and during this stretch the studio will operate in a limited capacity from May 25th through June 10th. Production will continue behind the scenes, though responses and correspondence may take a little longer as the expedition travels.
 

The expedition’s growth has also begun to take shape beyond the workshop itself. Our newly launched monthly newsletter has already drawn a strong response, bringing more eyes to our work and connecting with fellow travelers along the trail. Each month now carries two dispatches: the first a general report from the workshop with updates and provisions, and the second a deeper correspondence from the archives, revealing the story behind a single artifact and its creation.
 

If you would like to receive these messages from the trail, you can enlist here:
-Join our monthly newsletter here-
 

⚙️ Workshop Log: Tending the Instruments

The upgrades and refinements made to the workshop last month are already yielding results. Both laser systems are now running with a level of efficiency we have not seen in years, allowing us to move through production with greater speed and consistency. For those awaiting their pieces, this means the tools of the workshop are working steadily to bring each order across the finish line.
 

With that momentum building, we are also preparing for the next phase of growth. The possibility of welcoming another member to the expedition is now on the horizon, a step that would allow us to expand our output while maintaining the level of craftsmanship each piece demands. Until then, the current crew continues its work, moving through the queue with care, precision, and purpose.
 

🧭 Dispatch on Provisions & Pricing

We have an important update to share about our pricing. For years we held the line as material costs rose around us, doing everything possible to keep our work accessible without compromising its craftsmanship. That time has finally caught up with us, and in order for the expedition to continue forward, we’ve had to adjust our prices across the board. This wasn’t a decision made lightly, but one made so we can keep creating the maps, landmarks, and artifacts that define our journey. We’re grateful for everyone who has supported us through every season, and we hope these changes are met with the same understanding you’ve always given us. Our wooden art remains available through Etsy and Shopify, our textile designs live under Retro-Realm on Redbubble, and The 3rd Unit continues its run in both print and digital form on Amazon.
 

🔭 Mission Log: New Charts on the Horizon

The next wave of artifacts is rapidly taking shape on the drafting table. The Men in Black: Alien Attack map is nearing completion, with the final character illustrations now being finished, marking the last step before its public debut. Its release is close at hand, and we expect to reveal it very soon.
 

Alongside it, the city of Ironforge has been fully designed and now awaits its turn in production. This piece explores a visual style unlike anything we have created before, and we are especially eager to bring it to the show floor in the coming weeks.

A surprise addition has also found its way into the workshop. Joining our horror collection is a new sign inspired by Mushnik’s Flowers from Little Shop of Horrors, which will be appearing online shortly and making its first in-person appearance at our upcoming shows.
 

Beyond these immediate releases, early work has begun on a new series focused on the original 1982 EPCOT Center. This collection will include a full opening-day park map, along with layered schematics for Spaceship Earth, World of Motion, Living with the Land, and Horizons. While these pieces remain further out on the horizon, we look forward to sharing their progress in the months ahead.
 

🌅 Forward Momentum: Regaining the Rhythm

No expedition moves forward on its own. Each step we take, whether on the road or within the workshop, is made possible by those who continue to follow along and support what we create. From those who visit us at our shows to those who walk the trail with us online, your encouragement remains the driving force behind everything we do.
 

For that, we offer our sincere thanks.

​

— Mike & Kara
IONOX Media: M & K Cartography