![\"furoku1\"](\"http:\/\/sanaeishida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/furoku1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBefore I go into my monthly income report, I’ve received several emails from people wanting to join the Furoku membership<\/a>, so as promised, I’m opening it up again! I find it mind-boggling and buoying and humbling that folks are willing to travel with me on this admittedly undefined and slapdash adventure of mine. To sum up what was part of last month’s furoku<\/em>, I receive the loveliest of comments from Kay:<\/p>\n Dear Sanae,<\/p>\n I received my first furoku and am totally delighted! Frankly, I did not expect much \u2014 I really joined to help you out in your big adventure but your furoku is worth every bit of my investment. Love reading your story, love the mini cards and yes, I did print them up on cream colored cardstock and they turned out beautifully! This was my first time doing something like that and it was easy with your clear instructions. Your artwork is gorgeous and I am oddly quite proud to be the owner of these original cards and can\u2019t wait to use them. Not sure I like cutting out the envelopes but they are charming and really, the cards do need made to order matching envelopes. I was also touched by your donation of part of the proceeds to a worthy cause. And thank you also for the discount for fabric! This furoku was a big hit with me and I can\u2019t wait until next month!<\/p>\n p.s. Cutting out the envelopes took very little time and they are so well shaped that folding is intuitive as well as professional looking. Also viewed the video and enjoyed it immensely!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n It is quite possibly the most validating and motivating comment ever — thank you, Kay!!\u00a0I know that I won’t nail it every month (and I’m sure that I probably didn’t even come close to nailing it for some of the furoku members…I promise to do my best\u00a0though), particularly while I’m still working on book #2, but I have to tell you: I have so many<\/em> ideas! My idea cup overfloweth. I want to be able to customize the monthly furoku<\/em> as much possible and my ultimate aim is to create a\u00a0very collaborative space.\u00a0And guess what? The collaboration has already started…Per Kay’s comment, I included downloadable mini cards, and you can get a peek of one of them up at the very top (that little French bulldog up there is actually modeled after one of the member’s pups).<\/p>\n Then unbeknownst to me, fabulous Greta utilized Spoonflower to create this one-of-a-kind fabric with my designs (I made them copyright free in the hopes people will do exactly something like this) and sewed a dress!!!!! She sent me these photos:<\/p>\n Blown. Away. The Spoonflower fabric is cotton poplin, the pattern is the Geranium<\/a> by Made by Rae<\/a>, the skirt fabric is Joel Dewberry<\/a>. I was so moved and was\u00a0crying\u00a0so much, K thought I’d broken a bone or something. Oh, I love the piping and the cute little buttons. Greta, I have no adequate words.<\/p>\n And other collaborations are in the works!! I have most of Furoku<\/em> #2 done (it’s very different from #1), and I think this one will be really fun. It all still sounds amorphous, I’m aware, but can you tell that creative energy is abrewing?<\/p>\n Okay, onto the monthly income report. Aside from the one week of spring break, I’ve been channeling the kind of focus reserved for surgeons and snipers on book #2 (thank you SO much for the productivity tips<\/a>, they’ve been super helpful!) and considering that I launched all this at the end of March, I kept my expectations very low. The total came out to a little less than $400 — $377.81 to be exact — but I’m flabbergasted that I have anything to report. I’ll reserve the details for members, but I had\u00a0a couple of income sources in March. It’s daunting, seeing the $20,000 column looming over the tiny sliver of March 2015…However,\u00a0Little Kunoichi<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n