bookplates and disaster relief updates

I am waaay overdue to post an update on two topics for which you, my dear readers, have given your invaluable input. The first pertains to the etegami bookplates. I was pleased to receive some great feedback from the winners of the bookplate giveaway. All the feedback was encouraging and supportive, and many suggested thoughtful improvements. That got my creative juices flowing, and I began devising all sorts of variations on my original bookplate designs. Then, inevitably, I became distracted by other enthusiasms (I have so many, I don't know what to do with myself!). So, I regret to say that the bookplates are not nearly ready to be listed on my Etsy shop. They will percolate a while longer in my brain, if you don't mind. :)

Now, the second, and more important topic, is the "We Are Connected" flying carp t-shirt I designed to raise funds to help the victims of the March 11, 2011 Japan Earthquake/Tsunami disaster get back on their feet. In your country, the media may have stopped reporting on the disaster, but we are still a long way (probably decades away) from recovery.  After learning that my original choice of disaster relief organizations was no longer functioning, I submitted the first year's sales proceeds to the Japan Red Cross. Sales of the t-shirt have picked up a bit recently for some reason, so I'm hoping to be able to make a second donation at the end of this year. Thank you thank you for your generous support of this project! If you haven't yet purchased your totally customizable flying carp t-shirt, click on the t-shirt photo at the top right corner of this page to find out how you can.