April shipping update

Members! You should have received a shipping notification yesterday for your April package! They went in the mail today. I realize we’re almost a full week into May already, I’m so sorry it’s so late this month (you’ll see why in a sec). We *should* be back on track for May though! Thank you for your patience!

Sad news

If you’re wondering why I am so late in shipping your April flair, it’s because both my doggies died in the past month ughghgghhhhhhhhhhhh

Ernie (the Boston Terrier) shuffled off his mortal coil suddenly and unexpectedly in the veterinary ER on 3/25/25 due to complications with pancreatitis, and we sent Phyllis Vance, Vance Refrigeration (the English Bulldog) to the Big Sleepy Night Night in the Sky on 4/28/25.

We’d only just adopted Ernie in August of last year and his passing was such a horrible surprise—his illness came on suddenly and hit fast and hard. Sunday he was his happy normal self, Monday night he was in the ER, and by Tuesday afternoon he was gone. We’re not 100% sure exactly how old he was but the rescue estimated 8 or 9 and it was definitely no more than 10.

Phyllis was 12, which is honestly astounding for an English Bulldog, and she’d been declining for months so we were waiting for it, but coming so soon after the loss of Ernie was just icing on the shit cake. We were able to say goodbye at home with the help of a fantastic mobile vet from Lap of Love, all cuddled up in our bed, her favorite place, and it was so nice.

So now we are dog-less for the first time in almost 15 years, but actually as I was typing this, I got a call from the foster mom of one of the rescue dogs we inquired about, so maybe we won’t be dog-less for too much longer!

May flair reveal

Between pet loss grief and client projects, I simply did not have the bandwidth to create fresh new art for May. So instead, I pulled one of my favorite designs from my portfolio and decided to give it the attention it deserves!

I drew this Jellyshroom art back in 2024 but never did anything with it and I’m so excited to have an opportunity to bring it to you in flair form.

If you’re not a Kickass Flair Club member yet, make sure you join before 5/31/25 because the stickers this month are ✨GLITTER✨

Choose the June Flair Theme (Poll)

Vote for as many themes as you like. 

I’ll turn the one with the most votes into a super fun greeting card and sticker/magnet for you in June!

Want to vote but don’t need any flair?
Join the Digital Rewards Membership and get all the benefits without the clutter!

Poll closes Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 11:59pm EST!

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One good thing

I have always been interested in the Titanic disaster but all of a sudden I am finding myself DEEPLY IMMERSED (if you’ll pardon the pun) in Titanic history and lore?? This seems like an odd topic to fall face first into immediately after experiencing so much loss myself but here we are. I’m finding it comforting to focus on long-dead old timey people’s trauma instead of my own. Grief is weird.

Anyway, I have been binge-listening to an excellent podcast by historian LA Beadles called Unsinkable: the Titanic Podcast, which you should totally listen to if you’re into the Titanic or shipwrecks in general or the Edwardian period. Beadles spends a lot of time unpacking (and debunking) the mythology surrounding the Titanic from a progressive and feminist angle that is very refreshing.

I’m linking the first intro episode below, and you can also find LA on Instagram at @unsinkablepod and on Patreon and wherever you like to get your podcasts.