Being myself and doing what I love like it's my job.

Hi! My name is Lauren Fairweather.
I make plush toys, video blogs, and songs about books. I think that the world is at its most beautiful when people unapologetically celebrate the things they love and use that enthusiasm to create even more lovely things. 

YouTube in particular lets me share what I do with the world. On my channel, I share my thoughts on things I care about, teach you how to make things, play the songs I write, and document my adventures. Because of that, this campaign will raise money for each video that I create. Below, you will find a list of pledge amounts that you can commit to donating per video I release in exchange for rewards. But more on that later. 

Now, I'm going to talk about money.
Over the years, I've collected small, inconsistent amounts of money from my various creative businesses. Nearly all of that money goes into living expenses. If I have any left over, I invest it back into the things I make. Compared to the many hours I work, I am paid very little and some weeks, nothing at all. I keep doing it because it makes me happy, but I often wonder if I can keep this up the way I'd like to. 

Patreon is a welcome addition to what I've been doing since 2006.
It's like Kickstarter, but Patreon helps to fund people like me who make many small projects over time. Instead of one larger donation, you can pledge a little every time I create something new. This model could provide me with more consistent pay for my work. 

You should not feel obligated to contribute to this campaign. Whether you're interested in pledging or not, I will keep releasing my videos on YouTube for free! If you want to help in another way, consider sharing your favorite thing I've made with your friends on social media. 

If you do choose to become a patron, you'll make it possible for me to invest even more time and money into making more consistent, high quality, and adorable content for everyone to enjoy. And there are some fun rewards for you, like video shoutouts and handwritten letters! You can also set a limit in case I'm super productive some months. For more information on this, click here. 

Here's the serious part.
I may not be able to do what I love for a living forever. I used to tour the US, playing shows full-time. Eventually, touring cost me more than I made at my merch table, so I had to stop. I've made sacrifices in order to be creative full-time, but I may reach a time in my life when I'm no longer willing or able to do that. I'm getting older and I may eventually want to move into a bigger apartment or start a family. 

That's why I need your help. I would absolutely love to keep doing this for a living, and honestly, I haven't found any other job that makes me this happy. Because of that, every bit that you pledge to donate will be so, so appreciated.

How often do I make videos?
Right now, I've been making 4-5 videos each month. You are welcome to set a monthly limit if you'd like! That way, you don't have to worry if I'm feeling super productive.