Going Into January

Hi Everyone!!

So I'm just going to give a brief update on what to be expecting from the pin clubs in the new year!

PRETTY WINKERS 2022

We’re kicking off January with Jupiter and Jun Jun, which shouldn’t be any mystery given we already did the 3 inners and other 3 Amazoness Quartet. I’ve already laid out the vectored linework for both Jupiter and Jun Jun, but Jun Jun’s linework isnt nearly as refined yet, so I figured I’d just show you the ink lines. Jupiter’s linework is nearly done and I only have to refine the Thunder dragon! By the way, who can recall when she uses this power? It’s only one time and I teased Taka he used this obscure power as an excuse to draw dragons which are one of his favorite things to draw. 😂

I’d already be done with Jupiter completely, but with all the snow we’ve gotten this week, Taka and I decided to spend the morning making snowmen. ☃️ Well, I made a snow bunny 🐰 and Taka’s looks more like a Potato face. 🥔 afterwards we took a long hot bath to warm ourselves up.

Don’t ask why he’s laying in the background, he just really wanted to lay in the snow.

I was gonna make Usagi’s buns, but I opted for snow bunny.

Ok, snow fun aside: Starting in January, anyone who has already reached 12 months of membership will be working towards the next set of loyalty gifts which you can find in the website’s Pin Club FAQ. Members who joined later in 2021 who haven’t quite made it to 12 months will be working towards the rewards we released this year, and when they reach their 12th month can begin earning the gifts from 2022. Those who join and don’t have a pre-existing loyalty streak in 2022 will be working only towards year 2 rewards.

MUGEN CLUB 2022

For our Japanese Traditional theme this upcoming year, it will be called Mugen Club! Why Mugen club? Mugen can describe the ephemeral beauty of something, and we all know flowers, beautiful as they are, come and go. However, mugen can also mean “infinite,” which as these florals are metal pins, you don’t have to worry about their beauty passing as the design will live on infinitely.

Japanese florals are deeply admired in the culture and have always been a huge part of art, clothing, decor, etc. Nearly all flowers have seasonal festivals or displays throughout Japan at gardens, shrines, etc and can be enjoyed actively or in passing. In my many travels to Japan, I always made a point to go to gardens, parks and shrines to admire the florals. So this year, the extras we will be including each month will still be stickers, but we will also be including a goshuin-inspired print. Goshuin are like hand-stamped prints that can be collected at shrines. Normally you don’t gift it because it is something you collect as a pilgrimage type item, or like a stamped passport of all the shrines you’ve visited. So many of the shrines will change their goshuin along with the florals of the season, so with that in mind, we hope to give you a monthly print in that vein. We want you to imagine traveling to Japan, experiencing the flowers, getting your stamp as you visit shrines, trying tasty wagashi from the tea houses at lovely gardens. This year, because there won’t be as much to discuss about cultural backstories of the flowers, the info sheets we include will have information of where you could see the flowers throughout Japan, recipes for wagashi so you can try your hand at learning something new and pretending you’re in Japan (don’t we all wish we could be there), and enjoying your overall “experience.”

January’s theme is Ume (or plum blossom). Members will get one pin, but can add on a second pin (if they want the set) for just $5 more. Getting the set will be perfect for wearing on your lapel!

OBLIGATORY MANU UPDATE

It’s that time again! No news on Helios, but hoping to get update on him soon. Manu said they’d look into it. In the meantime, here are latest photos I got:

There’s one more pic I couldn’t show because it’s gonna be a surprise for y’all, but I promise you’ll all want it! 👀

LAST WORDS OF 2021

As I wrap up this post, again, we want to thank you so very much for your constant support, kindness, and care. We know the world hasn’t been very kind to anyone for the last couple years, but we hope we are able to give you all something to look forward to as you also give us something to look forward to each month as well. We’ll be posting final artwork for Jupiter and Jun Jun later on this weekend after we celebrate New Year! Talk to y’all in 2022!

- Mandy + Taka