February 2025 Update
Hello neighbors!
A few updates to share:
It has become clear that weather impacts our banners a little more than I anticipated. A few of you reached out, which I appreciate! Please rest assured that I hear you and share your concerns. The main issues are:
Curling corners (they tend to curl out when it's dry, curl in when it's humid)
Fraying edges (this issue doesn't appear to be universal but no less frustrating)
Clatter from swaying in the wind (seems solvable!)
So, I plan to revisit materials and suppliers in the coming weeks. I have ideas for how to solve these problems but need a bit of time to test and iterate.
For what it's worth, the hummingbird banners you can see flying in Montford appear to have a similar response to dry and humid weather, though several of their owners have implemented some interesting workarounds (details below!). Hopefully, with some troubleshooting, I'll be able to come through with preventative measures as well!
All that said, I am committed to making sure everyone is really happy about their purchase and proud to fly their banner in all weather! Please bear with me as I work the kinks out. I will be back in touch with everyone as soon as I have everything sorted!
For those of you who ordered and received a banner in the previous round of preorders — I am happy to provide a replacement *at cost* to anyone who is dissatisfied. Please contact me via email at gpsmn.shop@gmail.com to request a replacement.
For those of you who ordered a banner from the current round of preorders — The estimated date for pick-up/delivery is TBD as I work on addressing these issues. I am optimistic the delay will not persist too long. Stay tuned!
If you ordered a garden flag or magnet — I'll have those ready for pick-up/delivery by end of February!
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In the meantime…
Below are a few strategies below for anchoring the bottom of your banner to a fixed position where it flies on your home. I managed to do a bit of experimenting and reconnaissance in the past few weeks and found some workarounds!
Museum wax!: This one is my favorite little fix! It's cheap, accessible, easy to use, and unlikely to leave marks on sensitive surfaces. You can use it either on the dowel end (top) of your banner to stick it to your home and prevent it from getting jostled by the wind. You can also use it on the back of the bottom corners/edges of the banner itself to ensure it lays flat against your home. There are other useful applications for museum wax beyond this banner too. It is working well for me so far!
Command Velcro Hanging Strips: I'm sure many of you are familiar with this product. They come in a few different sizes and can be really useful for wall hanging projects in which you want to limit damage to walls and exteriors. In my experience, paint stripping *can* happen if you aren't careful with eventual removal, but we confirmed a few of our friends in Montford use them for their banners on the top and bottom to fix it in position. They seem to do the job!
Nails, screws, and staples: For obvious reasons, putting additional holes in a wall or exterior isn't always an option depending on the surface, but nonetheless it is a simple and easy way to ensure all desired corners of the banner stay fixed to the spot! Some of our neighbors and a few Montfordians have used this method as well.
I want to thank everyone for your patience and understanding in this whole endeavor. As I'm sure many of you know, developing and delivering high quality products can be tricky and frustrating! I will do everything I can ASAP to overcome this little hitch and push ahead with the vision.
Cheers!
Lindsey