The Charmed Life: Japan

Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

Monday, March 28, 2011

Maneki Nekos to Watch Over Japan Part III

The continuing events in Japan remind us that help is still urgently needed, so here are my maneki neko earrings to benefit Japan.

The Maneki Neko, or Good Fortune Cat, is a traditional symbol in Japan. It is said that a Maneki Neko with the right paw raised brings fortune, one with the left paw raised brings business, and one with both paws raised brings both.

The Maneki Neko has long been a symbol of protection in Japan, as well. There are many stories of the maneki neko (some of which you can find right here in the blog), in which a cat saves a monastery, a lady of the evening, sailors, Santa's Elves, an emperor, and more.

Some back-story: When the earthquake a tsunami hit two weeks ago, I began to ponder a way to help Japan, and created Maneki Nekos for Japan ~ good fortune kitty earrings whose proceeds would benefit various agencies aiding Japan. The traditional Japanese Lucky Cats did their job. So far, together, we raised $1030 for various relief organizations: Red Cross, Save the Children, The International Medical Corp., the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, MercyCorps, Peace Winds Japan, Doctors Without Borders, Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, and World Vets

There are many maneki neko earrings available here on the blog. The entire $30 purchase price goes to your chosen charity. I only ask for a $3.50 shipping/handling fee to cover the cost of shipping and the inevitable PayPal fees. For those who do not wear earrings, I can make charms, zipper pulls, and cell phone charms, too. There are also some bracelets and necklaces available on this blog.

If you see a pair of earrings you like, leave a comment here, or message me on FaceBook. (Messages are not seen by the public without me approving them, so your contact info is secure.) I will send you an invoice and ask you to choose your charity from the list above. When you pay, I will ship your earrings, send the money to your chosen charity, and send you confirmation of the donation.

The need in Japan in great, and I am very proud that so many of you have done so much to help.

Left Paw Seashell Maneki Neko

Black Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Roly Poly Neko

All-Knowing Yellow Left Paw Maneki Neko

Lefty Righty Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Neko (asymmetrical)

Lounging Pink Nekos

Yellow Dangling Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Smiling Two-Paw Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos

Banish the Blues Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Dapper Tuxedo Dangling Nekos

Happy Coat Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Happy Guy White Crystal Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Red Flower Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Dainty Green Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Pretty in Pink Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Lucky Flower Topaz Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Dangling Right Paw Black Keep-Away Evil Maneki Nekos

Dangling Green Left Paw Maneki Nekos

Dangling Peruvian Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Red Fortune Two Paw Maneki Nekos

And, last but not least, Lampwork Glass Left Paw Maneki Neko

Monday, March 21, 2011

Maneki Nekos for Japan - Part II

Last week I started Maneki Nekos for Japan as a fundraiser, and your response has been nothing short of awesome. So far, together, we have raised $750 for various relief organizations. I spent last week making a LOT of maneki neko earrings.

To back up a bit, the Maneki Neko, or Japanese Beckoning Cat, has long been a symbol of protection in Japan. There are many stories of the maneki neko (some of which you can find right here in the blog), in which a cat saves a monastery, a lady of the evening, sailors, Santa's Elves, an emperor, and more. It is said that a neko with the right paw raised brings fortune; one with the left paw raised brings business; one with both paws raised brings both.

Watching the events unfold in Japan, I find myself wondering what we can do to help. There are a number of organizations mounting aid missions, and I've added a few more this week: the Red Cross, Save the Children, The International Medical Corp., the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, MercyCorps, Peace Winds Japan, Doctors Without Borders, Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, and World Vets, to name some.

So I made some more maneki neko earrings. LOTS more maneki neko earrings, which I will sell for $30 a set. 100% of the money you pay for the earrings goes to the charity of your choice, selected from the list above. I only ask that you pay the shipping ($3.50 within the United States/contact me for shipping prices elsewhere).

Let's continue to pull together with some traditional Japanese protection to help protect Japan today. Please tell your friends. Share the link.

Tell me which ones you want, and I'll send you an invoice. Once you pay, I will send you documentation that 100% of your purchase price went to the charity you chose. If the ones you want have been sold, I'll try to make you a similar set.

Later this week, I'll be listing some bracelets and necklaces with maneki nekos, as well, so stay tuned.

Here's this week's parade of maneki nekos.

Left Paw Seashore Maneki Neko

Black Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Roly Poly Neko

All-Knowing Yellow Left Paw Maneki Neko

Red, White and Black Two Paw Maneki Neko

Lefty Righty Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Neko (asymmetrical)

Lounging Pink Nekos

Yellow Dangling Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Smiling Two-Paw Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos

Banish the Blues Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Dapper Tuxedo Dangling Nekos

Happy Guy Two Paw Red Crystal Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos

Happy Coat Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Fortune Left Paw Maneki Nekos

Happy Guy White Crystal Keep-Away-Evil Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Red Flower Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Pewter Dangling Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Dainty Green Dangling Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Pretty in Pink Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Lucky Flower Topaz Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Dangling Right Paw Black Keep-Away Evil Maneki Nekos

Pretty in Red Lucky Flower Two Paw Maneki Nekos

Dangling Green Left Paw Maneki Nekos

Dangling Peruvian Right Paw Maneki Nekos

Happy Dangling Red Black Two Paw Keep-Away-Evil Maneki Nekos

Red Fortune Two paw Maneki Nekos

And as a happy bonus, here's an article about Japan's Cat Island.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Maneki Nekos for Japan

The Maneki Neko, or Japanese Beckoning Cat, has long been a symbol of protection in Japan. There are many stories of the maneki neko, in which a cat saves a traveler, an emperor, a lady of the evening, sailors, and more. It is said that a neko with the right paw raised brings fortune; one with the left paw raised brings business; one with both paws raised brings both.

Watching the events unfold in Japan, I find myself wondering what we can do to help. There are a number of organizations mounting aid missions: the Red Cross, Save the Children, The International Medical Corp., the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, MercyCorps, which is gathering donations for its overseas partner, Peace Winds Japan, and Doctors Without Borders, to name several.

So I made some maneki neko earrings. LOTS of maneki neko earrings, which I will sell for $30 a set. 100% of the money you pay for the earrings goes to the charity of your choice, selected from the list above. I only ask that you pay the shipping ($3.50 within the United States/contact me for shipping prices elsewhere).

Let's pull together with some traditional Japanese protection to help protect Japan today.

Tell me which ones you want, and I'll send you an invoice. Once you pay, I will send you documentation that 100% of your purchase price went to the charity you chose. If the ones you want have been sold, I'll try to make you a similar set.

Here is the parade of maneki nekos:

Happy Blue Two Paw