From Here To Japan: Frank Jazz Hands

Friends!

I'm so excited to share with you an update about Small Joys for Japan.

Frank has joined the Japan tour. Frank has been appointed the role of Cruise Director, and will be leading the other toys into some seriously great routines as they find their way to some small people of Japan (with Operation Angel).

Frank loves jazz. That's what his creator, Jess of Teddy Bear's Wednesday tells me. And when I saw him, he was madly doing his jazz hands. I couldn't help but watch him in astonishment.

Here he is, post cup of tea, chatting with my sister at Calico & Ivy. And again taking a rest on some fabrics. Frank does love to talk.

But peeps, it's NOT too late to send a softie to join the others who are forming a merry band to help brighten the day of little peeps in Japan. You have until the end of the week (Saturday 30th April).

Big, BIG thanks to everyone who has sent a soft toy already. We really appreciate it, and we just know that these little soft toys, made with BIG love, will make a difference. Thank you.

Small Joys for Japan

The collection has well and truly started! Thanks to those who have already donated beautiful softies to be sent to Japan. If you are planning on making or buying and donating a soft toy to be sent to Japan - please let me know!

One of my rad friends designed this button - so if you'd like to add it to your blog, and fly the Small Joys for Japan flag - please do!

Thanks for the support so far, and if you've even contemplated donating to help a small child in Japan - please take a step forward and do it!

Japan's Kids

I can't even imagine explaining to children what's happening in Japan right now. I keep the TV on minimally. I don't go into too much detail with the Doctor, and I don't want him to see too much on the news. He asked a lot about the flooding in Queensland, and afterwards he was scared. He vocalised this a number of times, and I had to try and allay those fears.

Everybody's Doing It

Ok peeps, so listen up - we now have three drop off points throughout Australia.

Here it is:

SYDNEY
Calico & Ivy
10 Birchgrove Road
Balmain, NSW 2041

PERTH
Calico & Ivy
10 Glyde Street
Mosman Park, WA 6012

BRISBANE
(lovely Danielle) @
Hello Owl
43 Miles Street
Bald Hills, Qld 4036

EDIT:: (New drop off location)
ADELAIDE
Nest Studio
147 Magill Road
Stepney, SA 5069
(Thursday to Saturday: 11am - 3pm)

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What can you do? Donate a handmade or new soft toy for donation to a child in Japan.
Why? A soft toy can say so much, plus they're a great comfort to children who have been traumatised and who have nothing. A cuddle with a soft toy can bring a sense of comfort to someone in need.
How? Stitch one with love, or choose one with your heart. All donated toys will be sent to Save the Children in Japan for distribution.
When? Now! Time is of the essence.
Who? Who's doing it? Amy @ Badskirt. Lisa @ The Red Thread. Cath @ Chunky Chooky. Cindy @ Bug & Pop. Anna @ Hey Bubbles. Kelly Louise @ A-tisket, A-tasket. Jess @ Teddy Bear's Wednesday. SpectacularFairyWren. June @ I Sew Cute.
What else? The girls at Calico & Ivy Balmain are available to help if you need some guidance with stitching your own softie.

Can you help bring a little joy to a little person?

Soft Toys For Little Girls & Boys: Japan

I've been giving the collection of soft toys some more thought - and I'm going to do it properly.

Before I spoke to Jac yesterday, I knew I really wanted to help those affected in Japan. After speaking with Jac, it gave me that direction of how we can make a tangible difference together. And it might seem like it's been natural disaster, after natural disaster, and you might be suffering from charity fatigue, but we can make a small contribution to help in this traumatic time.

And then I chatted to my sister today - and she's offered Calico & Ivy (Balmain AND Perth) as a drop off point for anyone interested in sending a soft toy to Japan.

And then Amy at Badskirt has very generously committed to donating some of her beautiful creations. 12 to be exact. 12 beautiful softies to wing their way to Japan.

So this is the plan. You can donate new and/or handmade soft toys. If you would like help making your own soft toy to donate - the girls at Calico & Ivy are available to help you. They are creative geniuses, Sarah, Amy and Donna, and by proxy, so will you be!

If you would like to donate and help give a small child in Japan some comfort, you can send your soft toys to:

Calico & Ivy
10 Birchgrove Road
Balmain, NSW 2041

Calico & Ivy

10 Glyde Street

Mosman Park, WA 6012

image via Amy at Badskirt

A Big Question

Back at high school, my classmates all guessed that I would become a Greenpeace PR consultant. I am a PR consultant, but alas, I haven't worked my way to Greenpeace. Yet.

Yesterday I was reading SMH. They had a story about radiation - in particular Japan's precarious nuclear reactors.

Now while I am now nuclear physicist (thank goodness for that), don't we want to explore something that's less volatile?!

While a whole country waits - and in fact - the whole world, waits breathlessly, hoping, praying that Japan isn't further inflicted with pain via their nuclear plants - respondents to SMH's poll were having their say.

I think the results are pretty flipping scary. It might be a 'green' option - but what about safety? What about the three-eyed fish in the Simpsons? Didn't we learn anything from Chernobyl?

I'm happy to be educated if you think I'm misinformed. Educate me.

But hear me. What about renewable energy? Why can't we harness that - it's safer, it's greener (isn't it?!), and we're not mining Australia to fund it.

Each one of us are teetering on the edge of our chairs, hoping these damn nuclear plants don't blow. People in Japan are terrified - evacuating Tokyo en masse. We're terrified - for what does this mean? What happens? No one knows enough.

What do you think?

Oh Japan

So I had a quick chat with Jac at Operation Angel yesterday. She is amazing, inspiring and awesome - I came off that phonecall feeling so in awe.

Given her background (you can read more about her here) she has some unique insights and gave me the heads up on what's needed in Japan right now.

If you are crafty and clever - maybe you could stitch up a softie to be sent to the children who have been affected by the catastrophe in Japan? Jac mentioned that for children - it's important that they can still be children, and that there are provisions in place to let this continue - a safe place for children to play - while their parents can work out some sort of plan. It might not sound like much, but a soft toy can provide comfort to a small child. I had some other thoughts such as a pencil case full of coloured pencils and notepads, stickers, perhaps these could be useful? I'm just throwing ideas into the air - maybe someone will catch an idea and make it grow? Or we can work together? A merry band of bloggers?

Other ways you can help:

Save The Children

CARE Japan

UNICEF