My Petition to God

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“Why is she writing this?” In case you are asking, see my last entry “Petition to God?”

Dear God,

I have been lucky in life and I appreciate all that I have been given. I’m writing to ask for help on my latest adventure.

I opened an ETSY shop selling handmade paper goods that are everyday functional art. And for the people who owns my notebooks or pocket memos, as they live their lives, I hope to bring them smiles, perhaps even some inspirations.

Everything I made, I made it with intention of love and service. When people hold my items in their hands, I could tell they love it because they kept moving their fingers over the covers and edges.

I ask for your help in bringing the same experience to my online shop visitors. It’ll be brilliant if they can share the joy of using these items like my local customers and myself do.

Thank you for hearing my request and I’m grateful for what I already have and what I’ll receive.

Iris, the humble shop owner/designer of Needs To Note

Petition to God?

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Petition to God?
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabath Gilbert‘s voice enter my ears as she went on reading her bestseller Eat, Pray, Love. She asked for her ex to sign the divorce paper. What would I ask for?

Liz’s friend said it’s okay to ask for something for oneself because we are part of the universe. That means, we have the permission, even the right, to make a request for ourselves.

But, I’ve all that I need and a nice, safe place to stay. I don’t even have the desire to ask for the newest iPad.

Petition to God? What would I ask for?

Origin of My Etsy Adventure

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I’ve lost my interest in craft show a while back because every show looks the same. On one cold, rainy day, I decided to visit a holiday craft show, just because.

And as expected, nothing stood out… until I got to the last room. At a corner, columns of square frames caught my eyes. What can I say, I’m a square who loves squares.

Close up, I saw in each frame, interesting matching background image and decorative magnets. The clean and stylish aesthetic was calming compared to the visual noises from other booths. Some even had neon color words scribbled on the clear surface. My favorite, Functional Art!

Before I left, I couldn’t help but to go back for another look. And there she was, the artist rearranging her work. Miss K (Magna Memos) told me she’s a scientist who does this for fun. Ah ha! That’s why I like her stuff. We are both have the logical mind, I, being an engineer in my former life.

She pointed me to Etsy and since that moment on, I knew I should give my handmade notebooks and myself a chance on Etsy.

Few months into the development, as I was stitching up a notebook together, a flash of insight struck me – everything I’ve ever learned all went into making this pile of paper into something beautiful and functional. It took engineering to figure out the best format and process, design to create the desire effects, and writing to inspire more ideas and marketing.

Thank you, Miss K for creating and for taking the time to show me the way.

100% Japan Relief Act

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Have you heard of any charity it’s volunteers spend their own money travel to the place in need of their services? Tzu Chi is this kind of charity. Check out what they are doing everyday to add something wholesome to the world.

Following Tzu Chi’s example of spending 100% of the relief donation on the people in need. From now until 4/30/11, 100% of the net profit from my NeedsToNote shop will be donated through Tzu Chi for their Japan Relief efforts.

Needs to Note 100% Japan Relief Act

I am also doing this because Japan is special to me.

In grade school, I fell in love with Maya in the “Crystal Mask” (ガラスの仮面) manga series. Maya is always with me whenever I feel like giving up.

After I burnt out from my first career, I spent a year in Japan, learning Japanese. Only because I want to read “Crystal Mask” in Japanese.

When I was there, I experienced the college life I didn’t have the first time. I found a friend who I’m still writing with till this day. And thank havens she and her family are okay.

Even if you couldn’t help with a donation, pay attention to how much love and compassion people are sending to Japan, let your good thoughts join that flow and with the combined energy, good things will come for all of us.