I'm a little late in joining the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, but I figured that later is better than never. Below are two items (click on images to view listings) that I will be donating 100% of proceeds from towards this cause, via the American Red Cross: https://www.paypal-donations.com/campaign_20.html
Fall Chai Tea Circadian Agate Wire Wrapped Pendant
Tourmaline and Sunstone Pendant
A donation receipt will be emailed to the buyer once the amount is donated.
*PLEASE, NO COUPON CODES WITH THESE PURCHASES.*
P.S. For 50% off your order (excluding donation items, for obvious reasons), enter VOTE2012 at Etsy checkout. Coupon ends at midnight on election day--remember to vote!
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Update:
On 11/14/12, I was lucky enough to be included inthisTreasury filled with donation items to benefit those rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy.
I'm back already from my week-long away-from-shop vacation? Nope. Just wanted to blog about music.
I have recently found inspiration in Alana Davis' album, "Surrender Dorothy," which I've had in my collection for over a handful of years now. The actual CD, folks. The album has been on repeat on this daylight-savings Sunday. It is a tangibly-optimistic mix of funk, soul, and jazz--a heavenly, grounding combination for the overwhelmed in thought.
In vain, I searched on YouTube today for the song, "Vision" (which is from the album), but found nothing. That's what I get for enjoying music by singer-songwriters of the free-spirited, yet relatable, variety. We are a rare breed, indeed?
However, I did come across a promotional-type video for "Surrender Dorothy." In the video, Davis sings a song, "Letter," from the album. The song is prefaced by a short interview with Davis, in which she discusses her musical roots: her Black American father was an accomplished jazz bebop pianist, and her White American mother, a noted jazz singer. You "get" Davis' vibe right away; she's genuinely down-to-earth and humble--a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. This mentality/vibe, in my opinion, is so rare today in a world preoccupied with putting on airs and creating false self-images to make ourselves feel better, or worse: in the name of marketing and musical popularity; in response to societal standards and measurements of beauty.
To get back to the main point of this post, humility and mellow is what I need right now. Lots of it...on repeat. This is where I find inspiration, and it feels right:
Initially, I was not sure if I should blog about this topic, but I have decided to in order to maintain an awareness of the lingering effects of the Japan earthquake and tsunami that occurred nearly a year ago today. On March 11, 2011, the "Great East Japan Earthquake," a magnitude 9 earthquake that lasted six minutes, rocked the eastern coast of Japan. Why and how does this matter today...and for the future?
My first ever Etsy shop sale was to a woman who lived on the eastern coast of Japan. Shortly after the disaster, I found myself wondering about whether or not she, a complete stranger, was affected by the earthquake and/or tsunami. They were some heavy thoughts, I tell you.
With the first anniversary closing in, there has recently been a few news stories on the Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011. Either last week or the week before, the local news reported that Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, which was directly in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami's path, will need continuous, around-the-clock maintenance for the next 30-40 years to avoid a complete nuclear disaster. Also, within the last few months there have been a few online articles about how the pets of Fukushima, who were left behind in the designated nuclear disaster site due to their high levels of radiation exposure, have had to face the frigid, cold winter of 2011-2012 without adequate food and shelter. And there was a short news segment on how the debris from the 2011 disaster in Japan will finally float towards the western US coast sometime in the next year.
In short, the disaster that occurred a year ago will continue to have a lasting effects on our lives, even if the news stories are not highly publicized. Even as our memories of the event fade into the recesses of our minds, our busy lives.
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This is not an impassioned plea for sales, but I have three more items in the HELP JAPAN section of my Etsy shop for sale. 100% of the proceeds from the remaining two pendants and 50% of the proceeds from the remaining collage will be donated to GlobalGiving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund upon purchase. To help these items sell, I have lowered their prices, considerably.
To date, I have donated $51.00, and will donate $10.00 for each of the three remaining items after purchase ($30.00 in total). Yes, I do realize that the listings' descriptions do not state that $10.00 will be donated per item: the pendants are under $10.00 in price, and for the collage, it says that only $8.00 is to be donated. I will go into my pocketbook to donate the few remaining dollars because it's the least that I can do.
Donating is more than for publicity's sake because to truly live is to remember that we are all connected in this world, no matter how many degrees of separation there may be from the event--or how indirectly we are affected by it. Every action has its consequences, and donating ismyact of connection.
My Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Holiday (whatever you want to call it--I'm not too picky) BOGO sale in my Etsy shop sale officially begins tomorrow! But for my readers, I will let you in on a little secret: I am starting the sale later on today. I've added numerous new items, and will be adding a few more throughout the day today, so that you will have a wider range of items to choose from. BOGO sale ends on November 30th.
Also, I still have three HELP JAPAN items left for sale--50% (the collage)-100% (the pendants) of the listing price from these items will go to GlobalGiving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. The BOGO sale does not include these items, but I thought I'd mention them for good measure.
Don't forget to type the word, "earrings" into the "Notes to Seller" portion of the Etsy checkout for a complimentary pair of earrings. Spreading the thanks...thank you for helping me celebrate my 1-year Etsy anniversary.
P.S. Happy early Thanksgiving! Enjoy the food (oh, the food!) and the family and friends. I think the main point of the holiday is to be thankful for what we have, and not pining for what we have not yet attained. For the holidays, points of contention within the family are put aside in the name of familial cohesion. But what if we just consciously let go of our feuds, and just accept that things are the way they are? We cannot change the trajectory of events, but we can forgive and move on. This way, we can be thankful without forging the authenticity behind the act. That is what is important to me. On that note, wishing you all a blissful and safe Thanksgiving.
It has been a good week for me, with the start of Handmade with Purpose and the return of some truly wonderful buyers to my shop! I am so honored, humbled, really, when buyers return more than once to peruse my shop, let alone purchase again. :) They've left such kind feedback, too, which makes me remember why this artistic endeavor is all the worthwhile when I'm feeling low, lacking a sense of creative self, or there is a huge lull in sales. My customers inspire me to greater artistic heights.
I'm glad that the publicizing of Etsy sellers who will donate to Japan has not subsided. collectingcreations has recently created a beautiful Treasury, "Always Room to Help," with items whose proceeds will be donated to help with Japan's relief efforts. My Unique Carnelian Disk Pendant is included in this Treasury.
As noted in the previous blog, there are three Treasuries created for Handmade with Purpose that feature one of my items. Wow! I currently have three pendants left for sale, where all proceeds go to help with rebuilding Japan. There is also a fourth pendant for sale in the loveforjapan shop. So, in total, I've sold five! Thank you for helping me donate $41.00 so far to GlobalGiving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. I still have four left to sell, so if you need a Mother's Day gift or an early graduation gift (okay, or even a gift for yourself), please consider purchasing one of these 100% proceeds donated (excluding the shipping), items. Sorry, you cannot use a coupon code for the donation items.
The loveforjapan shop is getting some love, too (pun intended). In the previous blog, I mentioned a Treasury that was created for the loveforjapan shop. UPDATE--4/11/11: To see a blog entry that discusses why we should purchase from donation shops, like loveforjapan, please click the following link: http://handmadewithpurpose.blogspot.com/2011/04/love-for-japan-etsy-collective-shop.html
All of these promotional tools have been created in less than two weeks!
Imagine how much good can be done if donating (and volunteering) is carried out not only on a local, state, or nation-based scale, but a globally-based one by all who can afford to help (because it is all about having the funds or the physical (wo)manpower to help). The mere image of this imaginary, but hopeful, act moves me beyond comprehension.
Lastly...
ohhmystarsandgarters has featured a new item of mine, listed for sale yesterday (and one that I had been holding on tightly to for awhile!), in the their Treasury, "N Is For...". Click here to see the Treasury!
I'm a member of the Night Owls of Etsy team, and have been leaving information about Handmade with Purpose and loveforjapan, there. NOTE: I found out about Handmade with Purpose from oneinthehand in the joyforjapan team (I'm a member there, too). The usually solitary and and non-joiner in me decided to be a part of not one, but two, Etsy teams--it was very much worth it.
I know that I've been discussing my donating to help with Japan's relief efforts quite a bit, as well as Handmade with Purpose. I'm not aiming to market myself--or any of the other participants in Handmade with Purpose. I just believe in making informed choices about consumerism and spending, in general. Our purchasing power is necessary for personal commodities, survival (physical and economic), and of course, for gifts.
Why not spend money at a shop where certain proceeds go towards a good cause? Supporting small brick and mortars, as well as small online shops, is a good way to go, too. These shops are perfect for Mother's Day gifts, birthdays, an early Father's Day gift, etc., because of their donations and/or philosophy (shopping small businesses will keep big business from completely engulfing us all, giving us more choices and variety). After all, small (independently-run) businesses comprise the backbone of America. The American dream. We can't let an American tradition slip away, although, I admit, it is more economical to shop big business.
Independent, small businesses are a less guilty place to shop for yourself, too. I've documented this (personal) moral dilemma, here, and am wearing a beautiful moonstone ring as its result. Just food for thought...
I'm participating in an event to donate to good causes called, Handmade with Purpose, through the month of April. Well, actually April 2nd to 30th (minus the irony of April Fool's Day)! There is a blog, http://handmadewithpurpose.blogspot.com/, which gives the blog buttons and links of participating shops and blogs. There are over twenty--yes, OVER twenty--of us! Can you tell that I'm excited?!
Here is what it is about, directly from the words of its founder:
The purpose is to spread the word that we are a community of shop owners and bloggers who are working for the greater good. We want to give back. The month of April was chosen b/c last year I teamed up with another shop owner to raise month for Autism and April is Autism awareness month.
How am I contributing?
I am donating 100% of proceeds from HELP JAPAN items to GlobalGiving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, via PayPal. This is an extension of my efforts that have begun nearly a month ago (as chronicled in my blog).
(I have four pendants left--plus one on www.loveforjapan.etsy.com--where the entire proceeds will go to this cause. I am publicizing my donation via Handmade with Purpose, so I can sell these remaining pendants and donate the funds from these sales to help a good cause. I'm itching to donate...it's honestly the least I could do. I've raised $31.00 so far.)
To view the participating shops and blogs in this endeavor, please click on the Handmade with Purpose blog button below:
My HELP JAPAN items will stay listed until they all sell. I will donate the item's price (excluding shipping costs) via PayPal to GlobalGiving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, and will email the donation's receipt information to the buyer.
I have also recently donated an item to loveforjapan's shop (all items are donated by sellers)--all proceeds from this shop will go to Japan's relief efforts via the American Red Cross.
I truly appreciate your support--we're all connected in this endeavor.
I have markednine items in my shop as "HELP JAPAN"--100% of the proceeds of these items (excluding the shipping price) will go towards the tsunami and earthquake relief efforts in Japan. My husband and I have had a difficult time figuring out which organization to donate through, but this is the first step...getting the funds to donate. We will figure out the logistics later (UPDATE: We will most likely donate through PayPal).
This decision to donate the proceeds of nine items from my shop (with bright red, round/oval stones, representing the Japanese flag) was inspired by the Etsy Treasury, "Our Love to Japan,"by MagnusJournals, and the sellers it includes.
**PLEASE do not use coupon codes for the "HELP JAPAN" purchases.
Purchases of these items with a coupon code will be canceled. Thanks for understanding this donation effort--I truly appreciate your support.
