Jessica Swift's rain boots Kickstarter project

these boots are made for walking!

a Kickstarter project by Jessica Swift

I've just pledged a donation to help artist/fabric designer Jessica Swift launch her own line of rain boots. You can too! Check out her blogpost and her project page on Kickstarter. You'll get something back for your donation! For just a dollar, you'll get a thank you postcard; for $10, a set of 10 illustrated postcards specially created for the project; for $100, a pair of boots! Lots of rewards levels, check out the Kickstarter page for the rain boots to see them all. If you're a non-US resident, please take note at the bottom of the page of the little extra you should add to your donation for postal charges. Your pledged amount won't be deducted until the total funding is met. Jessica needs $18,000 to get the rain boots into production. If you like her work (great stuff at her website) and/or need some rain boots, help her get there!

Read more about Kickstarter in this post I wrote. The Kickstarter website helps creative people find funding to get their ideas off the ground, and gives you the opportunity to support great ideas that you'd like to see realized. Get kicking!

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by liberal sprinkles

Kickstarter projects and Jessica Swift rain boots

Kickstarter: Drawing Machine, Jessica Swift rain boots

Do you have a great creative idea but no money to fund it? Try Kickstarter. It helped fund a project to build this machine:


Drawing Machine [MaxMSP, Processing] by Harvey Moon from CreativeApplications.Net on Vimeo

Drawing Machine is a robotic machine that turns scanned photos into wall art. Each piece of art can take weeks or months to complete, so the process itself is something of an artform. The machine was invented by Chicago-based Harvey Moon, who sought $450 in funding from the public earlier this year through Kickstarted to build a more precise second version of his machine, which he said already worked then. He found 54 backers, who pledged a total of $3,147.

Here's Moon, a 22-year-old photographer, New Media artist and student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, talking about his machine on his Kickstarter project page.


More about Harvey Moon's works at his website unanything.com and in this Co.Design article.

If you're a creator, Kickstarter can help you find investors and because the starting amounts can be small, you have a better chance of finding a group of people to support your ideas. You keep 100 percent ownership of your project, which must be a "creative" one. The idea has to be approved before the project can be kickstarted. And each project must be fully funded before its expiry time; otherwise, pledges do not have to be met. If a project is successfully funded, the owner pays Kickstarter a 5 percent fee and Amazon's credit card fees. Read the Kickstarter FAQ and rules here.

If you haven't come up with a cool idea, you can still take part in one by funding it. Wouldn't it be fantastic to see a great idea take off with your help? But the responsibility lies with you to carefully check out the credentials of the creator and the project. You get something in return for funding a project. Kickstarter makes rewards essential; how they are packaged is up to the creators but here's a Kickstart blogpost on reward pricing.

For the Drawing Machine, Moon's reward structure was like this: The more money pledged, the more rewards were given. Every $10-29 donation got a donator a test strip from the machine; every $30-99, a 6 to 8 inch drawing made with the wall mount model; every $100-499, a full-size completed drawing from the machine (drawing size increases with the amount donated); and for every $500 or more donation, a donator could have the machine draw an original artpiece from his/her own photo.

Among the current Kickstarter projects trying to take off:

:: All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records. This has already met his funding target, so Colin Hanks' documentary film on Tower Records will get finished.

:: Moonshot magazine 2011 season, a print magazine of the literary and fine arts, which is seeking funds for its print issue.

:: 155 Freeman, a new arts and culture center to be launched in Brooklyn in September by non-profit groups Triple Canopy, Light Industry and The Public School New York. Performances, classes, artist talks, workshops, concerts and film screenings are among the events that will be organized. Donations will go towards supporting the initiative.


And artist/fabric designer Jessica Swift is about to launch her own Kickstarter project. If you don't already know Jessica's work, go and check out her website. She does fabulous, bright, colorful, uplifting illustrations and designs like these:

The Next Step by Jessica Swift | 8.5x11"| $18

windy ocean by Jessica Swift | 8x8" | $18

Beautiful, no? You can buy her prints, as well as coasters, notebooks, pocket mirrors, cards and more at her website shop or Etsy shop.

I've admired Jessica's works for some time and hey, we can now take part in a project of hers. She wants to launch her own rain boots line and you can help her get it off the ground by supporting her Kickstarter project, which is about to kick off. And if you know any retail purchasers, please email her so she can get her boots into stores. Wouldn't you love to own one (or more??) of these cute boots?

an upcoming Kickstarter project by Jessica Swift

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by liberal sprinkles

#Quakebook paperback version now on sale

#Quakebook 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake is now available as a  paperback for $11.99 at Amazon. This book, which first appeared as an e-book, contains essays, artwork and photos on the Japan earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. It was Twitter-sourced and produced in one month by citizen journalists and volunteers.

The Amazon link on the left is an affiliate link, but for the first 3,600 copies, 100 percent of the price you pay for the book (after taxes) goes to the Japanese Red Cross Society to help in its relief efforts. For the copies after that, the publisher Amazon is donating to the Red Cross all profits, deducting only print costs.

If you would like to know more about how this book came about and read an interview with Roberto De Vido, who helped manage the project, please read my earlier post 2:46 #Quakebook interview and Operation Yashima.

For background information about the disaster, please take a look at my Japan earthquake and tsunami facts posts.


[ check out my other facts posts ]

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2:46 #Quakebook interview and Operation Yashima, post-quake and tsunami

300 strangers...One week...One book...89 stories on Japan quake and tsunami...100% for charity.
This is a story about 2:46 #QUAKEBOOK.   Buy the book at Amazon

MARCH 11, 2011

2:46pm: 9.0 earthquake rocks Japan's northeast coast, triggering a devastating tsunami and a nuclear crisis that hasn't yet ended. At least 12,300 are killed, more than 15,300 are still missing.

MARCH 18, 2011

Our Man in Abiko, a British blogger in Japan, sends a tweet calling for contributions to a book of shorts stories of life in the aftermath to raise funds for relief efforts in Japan. Within 15 hours, he receives 79 mini essays, photos and illustrations.

MARCH 25, 2011

2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake is set to hit the e-presses.

#Quakebook, as the book is also known by its Twitter hashtag, is a story about the triumph of good will and the power of social media. It is a wonderful story about how 300 strangers came together to produce a collection of 89 stories about people's experiences of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. It was all done in one week. It is all for charity. Roberto De Vido, who managed the project, spoke to liberal sprinkles about the experience but first,  this is how it all started:

Japan earthquake, tsunami: How to help

Japan earthquake/ tsunami disaster: How to help

(first published March 16, last edited April 5)

Hello,
If you would like to help in the Japan earthquake/tsunami relief efforts, here are a few links that you can check out. For a small amount, you can help and try your luck in raffles organised by crafters, too.

Buy 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake: 100% of procceds go to the Japanese Red Cross Society

HELP LOCATE PEOPLE AND TRANSLATE

1.Google Person Finder 2011 Japan Earthquake (you can use this to locate or provide info about a victim)
2. Volunteer interpreters (Japan Association of Translators)

DONATE

1. Donate with PayPal: Japan earthquake and tsunami relief (100% goes to charity of your choice; 8 participating non-profits)
2. Yahoo! link to where you can donate: Japan earthquake and tsunami: How to help
3. Google Crisis Response: resources, Japan earthquake donation page for Japanese Red Cross, Unicef, Save The Children
4. How to help: Earthquake relief options (Huffington Post)
5. donate via GlobalGiving GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps, Save the Children, and other organizations on the ground to provide support
6. You can also start your own fundraiser at FirstGiving or JustGiving
7. Japan Society earthquake relief fund
8. Save the Children Japan emergency relief fund
charitynavigator's advice on donating + charities rated

OTHER FUNDRAISERS (ART AND CRAFT)

(list of those that are over at the bottom of post)

1. Buy #Quakebook or 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake, a book on the stories and experiences of people on the ground during the earthquake. The Quakebook project started with one tweet and led to over 200 people getting involved. The book was written in a week. It will be available any time now as an online download for $9.99, then in print. Proceed to the Japanese Red Cross. Read about the project at the Quakebook blog.

2:46 Quakebook project

 2. one thousand wishes - an initiative by Ali at the dotted line. 100% or proceeds from sales at the shop will go to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Fund.
If you have any craft items you can donate to the shop, please contact her.


3. Pikaland - Mogu Takahashi’s Chotto Omoshiroi poster
4. Submit your work to Illustration Rally to help fund donation efforts for Japan via the Ganbare Nippon project (via Pikaland)
5. Buy US$5 Lady Gaga 'We Pray for Japan' prayer bracelet
6. Help Japan poster and raffle at YHBHS
7. limited edition photos by Alicia Bock for the Red Cross
8. links at Jean Snow's site to more arty fundraisers
9. Etsy stores ("Japan relief" search) donating partial or full amount of sale of handmade products to relief efforts.
10. Global PechaKucha Day on April 16. Many PechaKucha cities around the world will hold events broadcasting to the world and Japan over multipule Ustreams 20x20 presentations (20 images x 20 seconds). Donate at the door or online. Proceeds go to Architecture for Humanity.
11. Heather from A La Mode fabric is organising a raffle of quilts donated by crafters. Details at Modern Relief Japan (April 4-May16). One ticket for every US$10 donation to Mercy Corps.


If you know of any other fundraisers or ways of helping, please just add in a comment below. If you would like to know more about the disaster, please see my earlier post where you can find bite-sized information broken down into categories, and links to news and educational resources. FACTS: Japan earthquake, tsunami, nuclear crisis March 2011

If you found this useful, please consider linking back to this post to spread the word. Thank you.

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[all photos published with permission ] 


OVER
26. raffle for this quilt (not the dog!) by Stephanie of Loft Creations. Donate $10 directly to American Red Cross. (to March 26)

quilt for Japan, by Stephanie of Loft Creations

OVER raffle at Pink Penguin (book and magazine from Ayumi, quilt patterns and fabric craft kits from other crafters)
OVER raffle for Tokyo Subway Map quilt by Oh Fransson for American Red Cross (to March 23)
OVER raffle for quilt by Tallgrass Prairie Studio for American Red Cross 
1. Handmade for Japan auctions on ebay March 24-27. 100% net proceeds to relief efforts. items from various artists.
2. raffle for 4 quilts at Pleasentree. Donate $10 directly to American Red Cross, 1 entry for every $10 (to March 26)

one of the quilts being raffled at Pleasentree

3. raffle for fabric at Tokyo Textiles (to March 23). £3.00 per ticket. 100% proceeds to Japanese Red Cross Society
6. Mike Perry studio 100% online sales in March to help Japan
23. raffle for bag, magazine, painting at verypurpleperson (to March25). donate directly to GlobalGiving
8. auction for fabric, book, sewing patterns by Toni at Make It Perfect (to March 26). Winner donates directly to Save the Children Japan emergency fund. (Toni organized the Queensland appeal which raised A$99,089)

Toni is auctioning a signed copy of her book and other goodies

11. auction for art quilt by Lisa Call (march 21-29)
auctions of prints at Print Okushon from various illustrators and designers. 100 proceeds to relief fund
4. Tiny Showcase - 'Rising Sun' screen print by Jesse LeDoux
5. The Working Proof - Susan Schwake print for Médecins Sans Frontières
9. raffle for yarn etc by kitchen sink dyeworks for AmeriCares (winner announced April 2)
10. raffle carved crayons by The Pleasure of Tiny Things - 100% to Japanese Red Cross Society
12. raffle for blouse by nettevivante (Burda Style member). donate $10 directly to Global Giving
13. raffle for playsuit by molly-made (Burda Style member). donate $10 directly to Global Giving
17. Buy $5 Hello Sandwich Giftwrapping Zine pdf to help Japan. info on the zine
11. a list of bloggers who've joined the Japan Quake Appeal organised by A bit of this and a bit of that.

Education Week

auction for Queensland flood relief

if you would like to know some facts about the Queensland/Australia floods in 2011, please see my other post Queensland flood facts - December 2010 - January 2011 ~ liberal sprinkles

the auction is now closed. thank you!
winner: Maureen Dempsey
I will be contacting you

Thanks to Toni of Make It Perfect, craft bloggers are running auctions, raffles and sales to help in the Queensland floods relief efforts. All proceeds go to the Queensland Government Relief Fund.

I am auctioning off a necklace and 2 pairs of earrings I made. They are being auctioned as a package.

This necklace was handmade with a variety of semi-precious stones 

(turquoise, rose quartz, rutilated quartz, calcite, fluorite, agate, coral and lapis lazuli). 

The pendant is mother of pearl. 

length of necklace: 42cm/16.5"

height of pendant: 5cm/2"

left: mother of pearl and glass beads. dangles 2cm/0.75"

right: agate, coral, aventurine beads, metal chain. dangles 4.5cm/1.75"

If jewellery's not your thing, you may find something among the goodies on offer at other blogs that have joined Toni's appeal. Check out Toni's blog for the list of bloggers who are involved.

This auction is open to everyone. I will pay the cost of postage. Please bid only if you are sure you can make the donation directly to the Queensland Government Flood Relief Appeal. There is information at the site on how non-Australia residents can donate.

How this auction works:

1.  Bidding is in Australian $ and starts at A$20 (A$ is about equivalent to US$).

2.  Please leave a comment on this post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bid.  

3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.

4.  The auction starts now and ends on Monday January 24 GMT+1.

5.  I will email the winner. The winner will pay the winning bid directly to the Queensland Government Flood Relief Appeal and email me proof of payment (see below).  Once proof of payment has been received, I will mail you the items.

I will be out of town for 10 days from January 28, so please send me the payment proof as soon as you can or I will have to send you the package after my return.

Thank you for participating and happy bidding!


Proof of payment (adapted from Toni's suggestions)

If payment is made by Credit Card, a receipt will be emailed to the payer.  This email should then be forwarded to me so that I can verify the payment amount.

If payment is made by internet bank deposit transfer,  please save a pdf file at the time of making the transfer and send me a copy.  

In the worst case scenario (i.e. receipt email has been deleted or pdf of bank deposit has not been made), please take a snapshot of your bank statement on your computer screen and crop the appropriate area so that it displays only the donation information. 

Queensland flood appeal

Have you seen the devastation wrought by the floods in Queensland, Australia?

You can help!

Join the flood appeal auctions started by Toni of Make It Perfect if you have something handmade to auction or give away or sell. Or just bid and buy!

I will be auctioning 3 handmade pieces :

The auction kicks off Sunday January 16. Come and bid!





by liberal sprinkles