It's a holiday miracle! Nikkei the cat, lost 3 months ago in Ithaca, NY, was joyfully reunited with her owner.  I'd like to think that my portrait of Nikkei and the 'Lost' poster I created helped locate her.  Franklin Crawford at tinytowntimes.com distributed the poster around town and on the website, making sure it reached the maximum number of eyes. It takes a village to find a Nikkei.

I also hear it was re-purposed for a local band's show poster, so if the drawing didn't help find the cat I hope it helped find a crowd for the band's show.

I was very honored to volunteer the invitation designs for the Vida Verde Nature Education Ten Year Benefit.  Vida Verde is a non-profit outdoor education program in San Gregorio, CA which promotes social justice by providing free multi-day outdoor education trips for the underprivileged youth of the Bay Area.  I have volunteered for the past 10 years and watched the program bloom.

Over the years, thousands of students have already enjoyed life-changing experiences at this incredible camp.  This recent benefit raised over $100,000 for the program, and sponsored 446 students for the coming year!  By relying on their strong network of volunteers and supporters, Vida Verde is able to cut administration costs and put more money towards the children.

If you are interested in this very worthy program, please visit their website: vveducation.org

I recently was honored to participate in leading a craft at SF MOCFA's super fun Craft Bar.  Craft Bar is a once-a-month event that brings the community together in the museum's beautiful space for a night of crafting, socializing, and (for those legal crafters) drinking some cold Trumer Pils.  I led a make-your-own-holiday-card craft, and was blown away by everyone's creativity and imagination.  Using just simple geometric shapes that I cut out of rubber and nothing-fancy stamp pads the Craft Bar-ians created some truly stunning cards.

Snowman pop-up card!

Proof the dinosaurs became extinct from a falling meteorite!

Gorgeous pattens

Busy bees

Honestly, I didn't have to do much but just stand there, hand out paper, and let everyone's creativity run wild.

Jackie Huang from Woolbuddy was also leading a cool craft needle-felting mini wool penguins.  If you haven't seen his adorable wool stuffed animals, please take a look!

Design Sponge recently featured my Bulldog and Mistletoe card in their 2011 Holiday Pet Gift Guide.  Thank you, Design Sponge!: