Feel like doing some drawing??

Implexus posted the following in the Business forum:

We are doing a traveling sketchbook called Nomadic Portfolio. We have 9 artists from around the world and are looking for 1 more artist (preferably located in somewhere Asia) to be a part of it. Each artist will keep the book for one week, then send it on to the next person. This is just for fun. Ive never done a collaboration before, so Im super excited about it. So if anyone is interested in being a part of this project with us, please check out the Nomadic Portfolio blog and let us know.
http://thenomadicportfolio.blogspot.com/

If you've got a pencil in hand, why not check out this project. The instructions are at the bottom of the page:

http://thescribbleproject.blogspot.com

cheers,
Andrea

Teefury and tee-shirt design competition

Do you know the site TeeFury ? It lists a new tee-shirt every day which is available for only 24 hours. Most of the artists are invited but submissions are accepted.

"TeeFury artists are usually invited to participate in the daily FURY. But fear not! If you have the chops, drop us an email for consideration at: art @ teefury.com. Make sure to include a portfolio of some sort, be it website, flikr, anything that shows a number of your designs, or we probably won't consider your request."

This month the Tokyo based design company Graniph is holding a tee-shirt design competition. The Gold Prize is 1,000,000 yen. Where did I find this out? On JASM the monthly Japanese art and design round-up published online by the Australian Embassy. Check it out!

By the way, I am having a studio clearance sale in my shop for all of February and March in order to make space for some new projects in the Spring. Drop by and take a look.



ja mata
Andrea

One World One Heart

I wanted to let you know about a big give-away that is happening in the blog world right now.

Artists all round the world are offering something to give on their own blogs and there is a compiled list of the participants in the side bar of the blog here.

There is still time to join, or you can hop from one blog to the next and just sign up and hope to win something, there are over 300 people offering prizes so far.

For those with blogs this is a great way to increase traffic and make new friends, I have joined the fun, you can enter by leaving a comment on this post

If you want to join in, read all the rules first on the One World One Heart page.

We Love ETSY - new group.

Do you use We Love Etsy? It is an off-Etsy social networking site and shop directory for Etsians. I have started a new group there to link with this blog. It's a genki site that it easy to navigate and more visually appealing than the Etsy fora. Check it out!
cheers,
Andrea

My most recent listing on AKJapan.

Creators Bank - Japanese online portfolio

Creators Bank is an online portfolio sharing site a little similar to Deviant Art but in Japanese. It is fairly easy to navigate and to set up a free account if your Japanese isn't great (heh, I did it!). You can link it to your blog and website and organise your work into folders. It accepts video and sound as well as still images.　You can see my page here.

While I'm here I'll show you a new picture of the origami squares in my shop. I've been working on more engaging photography.


Have a good weekend,
Andrea

Black Friday Cyber Monday

Anyone doing anything to promote for this?

There's a good article on the storque about it.

Three small fairs coming up in the near future in Kansai

I participate in art fairs roughly 6-8 times a year. I enjoy them because I get out of my studio, get to see different parts of Japan, meet new people and most importantly, from the perspective of getting my work known, meet new gallery owners. I will be attending 2 in the next two weeks in Kobe, one at the end of January, also in Kobe. If anyone is interested here is the link.
The first, third, and fourth link will take you to the application forms.

http://clubjaps.net/kobe/

Thanks,
Dave

Podcast anyone?

I would like to start a podcast. Is anyone familiar with the software? Is anyone else interested in hosting it together? It can be done on the telephone. I would like to get feed back on sections that could be included. My ideas are

• one section on Etsy sellers
• one on current events in Japan, with out the focus of "Isn't Japan weird"
• some kind of question and answer, preferably from listeners

• one section on shows or art fairs going on in Japan

What does everyone think? I am thinking of a time frame of starting within a couple of weeks.
Dave

Giveaway!

Togei & Mee a Bee are teaming up to offer our readers and those interested in Japan the chance to receive a free giveaway!

Togei lives in the mountains of Nara, Japan where he gathers tea together with his neighbors.

Mee a Bee lives near the sunny shores of Izumisano, Japan and loves to sew.

Our giveaway will be a sample of hand-picked Togei tea packaged in a cute Mee a Bee drawstring bag*.

*similar to the one pictured

To enter simply leave a comment telling us what Japanese things you like.
Entries close midnight August 17th, Japan time.
The winner will be picked at random, our decision will be final.
Make sure you leave an email or link back to your blog so we can contact the lucky winner.

Osaka International Gift Show

Information is available online for the 40th Osaka International Gift Show. OIGS features about 200 exhibitors and anticipates about 50,000 visitors. It's scheduled for late September, 2008.

Let's use this event as the basis for a Kansai/Japan Etsy sellers meet-up. I will probably try to attend on the Thursday. Registration is not required.

Tokyo or Kanto residents may be interested in the Tokyo Show for which there is a visitor registration form online, in English.

Yahoo Groups Chat Forums

I found this Yahoo Group a couple of days ago. It's called Etsy Japan. It's a forum with membership required. I've joined!

My store: http://meeabee.etsy.com

Japan Focus Etsy for those outside of Japan

Hello.
If you are interested in helping to form an Etsy team that in part has a focus of getting a foothold in the Japanese market read on.
My main idea is to use my knowledge gained through my 15 years here doing shows and art fairs to help those who are interested in getting a foothold here. I am able to put in a maximum of about one hour a day. That means I need people who are willing to get involved.
To start off with I think it would be useful to have two coordinators for the following sections.

• weaving and sewing
• ceramics and glass
  
• prints and painting
  
• leather and wood
  
• jewelery and metal
• general coordinator
  

These are the sections that are in the upcoming Yamaguchi Craft Fair. Yamaguchi is a major fair so I think it is a good idea to follow their lead on what is accepted. Of course Yamaguchi isn't possible as the deadline is already passed.
If you are interested please leave a comment to this post saying which area you are interested in coordinating.
I will get back to you in the next couple of days.
Thank you,
Dave