I forgot to report in my last post that we are back in Tokyo! Wow, so much has been going on, and the online class I've been taking from Sister Dianne Gilleland (of Craftypod fame) is the catalysts for a majority of it all.

In the class I've been working on ways to get some of the cardboard PDF pattern designs I'm developing out into the world for everyone to see. It's going to take a few months, but for the time being, I've opened My Etsy shop: The Cardboard Collective and I have two Japanese Craft Books for sale.  Remember this picture from my about page?

This is the table and chair set that started it all. The project that got me so incredibly excited about cardboard that I felt compelled to start this blog and spend all my free time cutting, gluing and collecting the stuff.

The plans for this table set are in one of the books that I have for sale in the shop, and the second book that's available by the same author, has more furniture and lots of great cardboard toys and games to make too.

I'm feeling great about the fact that I've been able to find an excellent used book source for these two titles and that they'll be able to live another life in the hands of fellow cardboard enthusiasts.

Some more great news is that I got to attend the Etsy World Craft Party in Tokyo! The event was held at FAB Cafe, a fantastic place with a laser cutter on site! You can try your hand at some amazing projects like laser-burned jeans, wooden stamps, decor, and basically anything you can dream up.

I'm excited to make an appointment and go back to use the laser printer to create some custom stamps and stencils for The Cardboard Collective. I also want to find out more about how it might work on cardboard, and of course, just hang out at Fab Cafe.

The best part of the night was meeting some other Japan Etsy Sellers, and learning more about their craft and their shops. I got to chat with Angela and her husband from Sake Puppets, a shop specializing in Sashiko embroidery kits, as well as Elena, the spunky woman who heads up Etsy Japan. All in all it was a great night, and I loved designing and creating the cardboard props for the photo booth.

Thanks again Etsy for a lovely evening, and I hope you all get a chance to check out my shop!