Monthly Archives: March 2020

It’s all about self-love ❤️🌈

March 29, 2020My Thoughts, Shopself-care, self-loveYuko

Hi friend,

First off, I’m so happy to know that my 60 Brighter Days emails have been resonating with so many of you!

Thanks for reading/sharing/responding with your kind words. It’s most definitely the highlight of my day 🌞

Second, thank you so much for continuing to support my web shop!!

I feel so loved 🥰

It gives me joy to know my cheerful, uplifting art is making you and your loved one’s day a little brighter.

Today I wanted to share this short video where I share my message about self-love.

You know that’s my jam, right?

I also share a couple of recent reviews on my Self-Love Postcard set in the vid.

Here is one from Hannah:

SOB 😭 Thank YOU, Hannah.

(I read all of my reviews, and they instantly lift up my spirits. So keep them coming if you’ve purchased something from me!)

Yes, I’m trying to cope with the anxiety of our rapidly changing world every day, but I’m also fired up to share my message of self-care and self-love right now 🔥

Oh and one more thing – I’ve added a gift message section in my cart (it’s free!).

If you’re directly shipping self-love filled gifts to your loved ones, be sure to leave a message there.

I’ll then write it on one of these sweet block printed cards and include it in your package.

What a sweet way to add an extra thoughtful touch to your gift 🥰

Hope you’ll continue to take care of yourself and stay well.

Thinking of you,

ps. Don’t forget, 15% off on everything (including clearance!) in my online shop. Use code: SPRING15 when you check out. You can use the code as many times as you want 😽

Hanging in there?

March 22, 2020My Thoughts, ShopGreeting Cards, loveYuko

Hi friend,

Hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy 🙏🏼

Dave and I are staying home as much as we can, and thankfully we’re healthy so far.

For that, I’m most grateful.

You know what else I’m grateful for??

Your online orders are causing me major gratitude overload!! I’ve been enjoying packaging up each and every order for you.

Seriously, you’re the BEST.

Keep them coming because your 15% off code “SPRING15” is still good.

(and you can use it more than once!)

As I said last week, I’m trying to offer more video contents because it makes me feel closer to you.

I’ve been feeling isolated as I practice social distancing – not only are my shows being cancelled, my pottery class, gym, and get-togethers with friends are cancelled as well 😔

(Not to mention my solo vacay to Sedona. Yup I cancelled it. Sad, but necessary 😭)

Yes, it is a temporary measure. And perhaps the best thing we can do right now to give ourselves a fighting chance.

So I’ve been recording short messages as I pack up your orders in the morning and sharing them on Instagram.

In this short video, I talk about why I share my story on the back of each card👀

At shows and markets, I’m able to chat more easily with my customers and share my story, but I don’t always get to, or you wouldn’t necessarily share that with the person you’re writing to.

So I’m putting it right there on the card– whoever receives your lovely note will know that you’ve carefully selected a card that was created by a real person with real hopes and dreams✨

You wouldn’t get that from mass-produced greeting cards from a drug store… Just sayin.

And here is another one…

I share with you what fun cards my customers have been ordering, and which ones are my favorite!

It lifts me up to know that you’re actively reaching out to your loved ones in this time of uncertainty.

And being part of your love mail gives me so much joy ❤️

When I’m feeling anxious and off-centered, it helps to do something. Especially, helping others shifts focus off of my own problems and worries.

So… I’ve started “60 Brighter Days” email series!! Sign up for my newsletter if you haven’t already, and you’ll receive a happy, encouraging email from me every day for 60 days.

Ok, friend, stay strong. We’ll get through this together.

Sending you love,

This is my Plan B

March 15, 2020My Thoughts, Shopspring saleYuko

I wanted to give you a heads up about a couple of things today.

As you know, a special flu is going around in Seattle and lots of other places.

(I know technically it’s not a flu…but an article I read about how to reduce anxiety recommended you call it something else, like “the flu,” so that’s what I’m doing 😀)

To protect the public health and safety, lots of events are getting cancelled.

For me, that means my main source of income, shows and markets, is either getting cancelled or not many people are gonna turn up to shop in person for the foreseeable future.

For example, my next market, UPS Flea Market on 3/21, has been cancelled 😭 Sorry if you were planning on going. I’m very disappointed, too.

And I don’t have a show scheduled until May.

So… I’m engaging my Plan B✌🏼

I’m focusing my energy on growing my online sales for a while, and to make it more enjoyable for you, I’ve created a promo for you.

Yup, you know I don’t normally do random sales, but the time requires a bit of a flexibility – so you can enjoy 15% off on your entire order when you shop online!

Just enter “SPRING15” at checkout 😘

I haven’t decided how long the promo will go on, but at least till the end of the month. I’ll let you know when it’s about to end.

You can use this code as many times as you’d like, too. Feel free to share with friends and family.

(NOTE: I will not be able to apply the promo retroactively as Shopify, my online platform, charges fees based on the original sales amount 😔 so don’t forget to enter it when you shop.)

Another thing I’m doing – because I don’t get to see you in person for a while – is creating more video contents for you!

It’s mostly me sharing quick updates and doing mini “informacials” if you will 😂 but if you’d like to see me awkwardly talk to my phone camera, be sure to watch them 💕👇🏼

Thanks friend!!

Stay well,

ps. Take advantage of 15% off online order with a special code “SPRING15”

pps. If you’ve come to my shows/markets, you know I offer special deals just for the market customers. I’ll of course continue to offer them when/if I do markets this season and beyond. Just so you know 😉

10 things you may not know about me 👀

March 8, 2020Growth & Development, My ThoughtsMarchMeetTheMaker2020Yuko

I’ve been enjoying some of my friends’ #MarchMeetTheMaker challenge posts on social media.

I especially liked reading their stories – although I’m not participating in the daily challenge, I thought it would be fun to share with you some facts about me you may not know 😆

Here are 10 things you may not know about me:

1) I have an older brother who lives in Japan, and he runs a cute little cafe near my parents’ house.

He started it right after I quit my job to focus on my biz – it’s been cool to see his business thrive as well.

2) I was way into theater in my tween/teen years. I wrote, produced, and performed in several plays in middle and high school.

I loved getting into characters, hanging out with my theater friends (whom I see every time I go home), creating stories, and the thrill of acting in front of a live audience.

I don’t like being put on a spot, but give me a script, background story, and time to practice, I’m all about it 🙋🏻‍♀️

3) I’m a Highly Sensitive Person. In a nutshell, it means you’re wired to feel things deeply, and you may be easily overwhelmed by external (or internal) stimulations.

I consider my sensitivity to be a gift that helps me empathize with others and connect deeply with the beauty that surrounds me.

4) I’ve been meditating almost daily for the past 4 years. I usually meditate right after I wake up. I love starting my day with a quiet grounding practice.

It prepares me to face the world that’s so noisy and cluttered.

5) I have INFJ and Upholder personality traits. I consider myself an idealist who can get a lot done 🙌🏼

Having structure and routine is pretty important for me to thrive, and I’m not very flexible/spontaneous. So if you ask me to tea the day before (or really, less than 2 weeks notice is “short notice” for me 😬), chances are I’ll say no ☕️

6) I struggled with Orthorexia (= an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating) about 4 years ago. Thoughts on what to eat and not eat were taking over my life.

I was lucky to have found Intuitive Eating and Food Psych Podcast in my recovery.

I’m a much happier/relaxed eater now and rarely slip into my old thinking any more. And when I do, I’m much more compassionate with myself 💕

7) When I turn 50, I want to live in Paris for a month 🇫🇷 I want to take French lessons and make art every day 👩🏻‍🎨 I’ve been putting $20 into my Paris dream account every week since I turned 41 last year.

8) I’m mostly a self-taught artist. I’d worked in a non-profit domestic violence organization for 14+ years before I became a full-time artist.

I studied graphic design while I was soul-searching about what I wanted to do with my life but realized I loved illustration much more than design after three years in the program 🐒

I don’t regret going through the program – I use the skills I learned every day in my business!

9) I majored in Women Studies (now Gender & Sexuality Studies) in college. I happened to take Gender, Race, and Class course one quarter without knowing a lot about it and got immediately hooked. It opened my eyes to the reality of the world and validated my life experience big time.

Yes, I’m a feminist.

10) I joined the Board of Directors at The NW Network, an amazing DV org serving LGBTQ community, last June. It’s been quite a learning curve to get back in the non-profit leadership work 😅 but I’m honored to be part of it!

BONUS: My sweetie Dave and I met 14 years ago on Craigslist personnel (which no longer exits.)

We had a semi-long distance relationship (he: Orcas Island, me: Seattle. About 3 hour commute one way) for 5 years before he moved to Seattle to be with me ❤️

I can go on and on with tidbits about me but this is it for now. Maybe I’ll continue next year 👋🏼

Hope you enjoyed my stories 😊

What are things that most people don’t know about you?