.: the lizzycakes shop blog:.

Helping Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:21:00 +0000

At 16, I was supposed to travel to Japan.

It was a dream come true. I was a huge Otaku and Nippon-phile. I was teaching myself Japanese, snacking on Pocky, forcing my white bread family to take me to sushi, planning ways to get Dad to take me to a matcha ceremony, to Shinjuku, to temples, to an onsen (traditional spa). I was beside myself with excitement.

Two days before my flight was scheduled to leave for Hong Kong (where I'd meet my father who was coming in from Karachi, since I'd had to cancel that leg of my trip due to security concerns), my mother found me on the floor, unable to swallow, barely able to breathe, hallucinating from a 105 degree fever. I was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with mono.

I never made it to Japan.

It's been the trip I swore I would take by the time I was thirty, the trip that haunts me. I'm not so sad about missing out on Hong Kong, but Tokyo? Talk about regret.

After college, plotting my escape from DC and politics, I'd figured if I didn't get into law school, I'd go teach in Japan. Then I met Nick, got into Baltimore Law- again, directed away from making good on my dream.

Hearing about the earthquake and tsunami broke my heart. While Japan's incredible engineering and preparation saved millions of lives, thousands are dead. Villages and towns are decimated. The added threat to those families immediately around the nuclear power plant- to a country that knows the costs of radiation all too well- furthers the tragic consequences and heartbreak of the Japanese.

The Japanese are an incredibly strong people. They live in the spirit of "gaman", a Japanese word that, very roughly, means keep going, don't stop, stay strong, prevail. It is why the Japanese haven't had the looting and violence we saw in New Orleans, it is why we've seen a sense of community across the country as everyone chips in to help. It is beyond admirable, it is a trait that I hope Americans take note of- and learn.

However, the Japanese still need the world's help. CNN and Fox might be busy covering whether Gaddafi is wearing a green Cap O' Crazy or a red Cap O' Crazy today; whether they have the best bombing footage- but the Japanese crisis has continued, left behind by 24 hour news. Watch NHK, or look at the English Asahi news site. Two weeks after the disaster, many are still in shelters, the nuclear crisis continues, and 10,000 are dead. Elderly are dying in shelters because of a lack of medicine. Food is scarce.

I've donated, both to the Red Cross and through Westlaw by giving all my student reward points to purchase donations to Japan's Red Cross Fund. I wanted to do more, despite my limited financial resources.

So, I crafted. I made three notebooks from my 1969 atlas of Japan, I made kanji cards with a gaman theme. I put them on Etsy at my Lizzycakes shop, and will be donating all of the proceeds to the Japanese Red Cross (courtesy of the link given by NHK). None of the money will be going to me.

Love Japan

Tokyo and Chiba

Hokkaido and the north end of Honshu.

If you're interested in purchasing, click here to go to my Lizzycakes shop.

If you'd rather donate on your own, please consider these charities working in Japan:
Japanese Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Japan Tsunami Animal Help

Additionally, there are tons of other Etsy sellers making stuff to benefit Japan. Threadless also has two fantastic t-shirts, one for the Japanese recovery, the other for the Christchurch (NZ) quake [which hit at the end of February and devastated Christchurch].

Together, we can help keep Japan and it's people strong. Please help make a difference.

ありがとう [Arigato!]

x-posted on liz in life.

A bite of temptation

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:37:00 +0000

In case you were wondering just what you could get for under $4 on sale in the Lizzycakes shop right now (ie, 30% off):

The Irish Girls Notebook, $2.80

Cesar Pavese Card Set, $2.80

The Chelsea Notebook, $3.15

Empire State of Mind Notebook (Vintage!), $3.32

Of course, the sale is over soon, so if you've got your eye on any of these, I'd get to lizzycakes.etsy.com right quick and make sure you snap them up- before someone else does.

The Lizzycakes Summer SALE. Get on it now.

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:49:00 +0000

That's right folks- it's a sale of epic proportions (well, for Lizzycakes, at least). I've put many items on for 30% off in a summer sale. Capitalism at it's best, right?

So, if you've been eyeing, say, the Irish Girls journal for awhile? Yeah, it's on sale. 30%. It's now under $3.00! What about the adorable Cesar Pavese cards? Sale. The Chelsea journal? Sale. The New York journal made from a vintage map? Sale!

However, these sales are in celebration of my upcoming trip to California- so they end August 3rd. Buy after that and it's back to full price.

So act now, jump in, and enjoy the Lizzycakes Summer Sale [click here!]

I miss you, miss you, miss you?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:55:00 +0000

Sometimes, you just have to tell someone you miss them.

What better way to make someone's day than sending them a card that says it not once, but three times.

You know, just to be clear.

Buy me here.

Custom love: You rock my world

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:08:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago, it was Nick's birthday. Of course, I can't ever find a card that's artsy and not too sappy. So, I made one:

The card says, in a font that is light and shows up better when the picture is full size, is "you rock my world." Cause he does. And he inspires me, and so soon, there will be a "You Rock My World"/old maps card set. How lovely.

And yes, that's Boston. I went for irony. Or some sort of awesome symbolism that was totally unintentional.

Just Listed: Blue Pretty Poppies Card Set

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:31:00 +0000

Aren't these just lovely?

I love a good card set. I'm old-school, I love written correspondence. These cards are so pretty, I don't even think you need an envelope- attach them to a present, tuck it in a friend's purse, or leave it on the fridge so someone knows you're thinking of them.

Plus, with a blank inside, you can make them work for any occasion.

Want these cards? Click here.

Just Listed: Brown and Pink Cupcake Card

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 17 May 2010 01:51:00 +0000

I do love these cards, so much that I secretly kept one for me to use. I keep doing that. Darnit.

Anyways, I stand firmly by my belief that no matter what the occasion is, a cupcake says it all.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B is coming soon... in gold. Shiny, right? You can learn more about the brown and pink cupcake card by clicking here.

Love Lizzycakes?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:52:00 +0000

I'm jumping on the shameless self-promotion bandwagon and putting a button out there for people to stick on their blogs and show their love for Lizzycakes. Why? Because I love what I do, I'm proud of what I make, and I wanna scream it from the rooftops, but I think my neighbors would kill me, and so this is second best.

Plus, the Lizzycakes Facebook Page is likely going away. I'm so annoyed at Facebook and their policies regarding privacy that I have no desire to contribute my product to their atmosphere.

Anyways, so I'll give you lots of love if you love me back and put this on your blogs/MySpace/whatever.

<a href="http://lizzycakes.etsy.com" target="_blank"> <img border="0" width="250" height="191" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vh67ALRVfyc/S_BCvv_6pEI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/b8x5MSk_2VI/s800/lizzycakesbutton.png"></a></br>

Coming soon- gratuitous custom projects pictures and other fun things.

Just Listed: Crackled Thank You Card Set

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:32:00 +0000

After a long vacation, we're back with this lovely "crackled" card set made with red ink and gold embossed powder to give a special look that your recipients will appreciate.

Find out more about these cards here.

Just Listed: Vintage 1969 New York Notebook

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:45:00 +0000

It's an Empire State of Mind, baby.

This notebook is also a great example of an "oops" gone right. The notebook was supposed to have the logo on the side with Albany, but then I noticed that I loved the map aspects there with the ridges and details of an ignored area of New York. Besides, I have tons of maps of New York City- but a vintage map of the home of Woodstock in 1969? That's just awesome.

Love it? Want it? Click here.

Just Listed: Seattle Love Notebook

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:18:00 +0000

Seattle, to me, is a mysterious place. A place where the culture is as vibrant as the landscape, there's fresh fish aplenty and an almost European attitude and feel to the city. Maybe it's the Space Needle, the coffee, the Nirvana, but I'm pretty sad that Seattle won't be an option for law school. Consider this my apology, Seattle, for the love affair that never happened.

The Love Seattle Notebook

Just Listed: All You Need is Love Card Set

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:40:00 +0000

All you need is love... do do do de doo... all you need is love... sing it with me, y'all!

Okay, another card set I adore? These. If I had a great occasion coming in to use these, I would. I picture them being great anniversary dinner, engagement party, etc. But, they're blank inside, so you can use this set of seven for any reason- wedding, a simple "i love you" card, birthday for someone special... all you need is love.

Even better, these cards can also be custom requested for a certain bulk amount. Just contact me via email and let me know what you're looking for!

See the whole set here!

Just Listed: Wishing You Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:14:00 +0000

Omg. I seriously almost didn't sell these, and kept one for myself just so I could use it. I love these. Love love love.

Wishing you cupcakes- a card that works for so many different occasions, and there are four of them. Four!

I wish people wished cupcakes more often.

Want? Crave? Click here.

Just Listed: Cesar Pavese Friendship Card set

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:54:00 +0000

See more here- the Cesar Pavese Friendship Card Set by Lizzycakes

Just Listed: The Beantown Pride Notebook

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:50:00 +0000

See the listing here-The Beantown Pride

Coming Soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz in...) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:40:00 +0000

Once I feel brave enough to convert this design into a Lizzycakes design.