Happy fall! I’ve got some good news—with a small catch. I’m excited to share that I have ten brand new card designs! These came back from the printer sooner than expected. Below you’ll find designs for birthdays, the holidays, hard times, and everyday. And you can browse all 70+ current designs here, $5 each. There are also boxed sets of eight notecards for $20, including five holiday designs. These designs and more can also be found in the new 2026 calendar of art and haiku.
The catch is that I’m flying to Japan on Monday and I won’t be able to ship orders till my return on October 30. So the upshot is: place your order this coming Saturday at the latest, or prepare to wait till November. So sorry for the delay! But I look forward to sharing my adventures with you, including a self-guided walking tour in the footsteps of 17th century haiku poet Basho.
warmly, Annette Makino
may your dreams take wing
In this colorful card, a great blue heron spreads its wings, preparing to swoop off from a riverbank. Based on an original mixed media collage, this inspiring card is suitable for graduations, birthdays, moves, new ventures and other life changes.
celebrate!
you’re younger today
than you’ll ever be
This card, based on a mixed media collage of cherry blossoms on the branch, has a wise and humorous message: now matter how old you are, you can still make the most of the moment. This makes a great birthday greeting, but can be shared any time with a friend who will appreciate being encouraged to look on the bright side of aging and seize the day.
This simple, powerful image shows a figure raising their arms to the galaxy of stars above. The message is equally simple and powerful: PEACE.
The original mixed media piece was created with acrylic paint and paper on wood.
have an otterly amazing birthday
In this card based on an original collage, an otter floats on its back on a sunset-colored body of water, living its best life and encouraging the recipient to do the same.
you’re one in a zillion
A silhouetted figure raises their arms in celebration and wonder at the night sky in this card. Send this card for a friend’s birthday or any time you want to share your appreciation of their existence. How amazing that in all the multitude of stars in the galaxy and people on earth, there is only one of them!
take heart
A silhouetted dog gazes at an ocean sunset in this beautiful scene. Based on an original mixed media collage, this card with its simple and sincere message is meant for anyone going through a hard time, be it the loss of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, health challenges or any kind of rough patch.
joy to the world
A little white dog races down a path, ears streaming, tail high, smiling with his whole body. The image and message is bound to lift the spirits of everyone who receives these holiday notecards.
The original mixed media piece was created with acrylic paint, paper and glue on wood.
These eight cards are 4.25 x 5.5 inches, or A2 sized. They are blank inside for your message. The backs show the Makino Studios logo and contact information.
Each set comes with eight kraft envelopes and is packaged in a kraft paper box with a window. Cards are professionally printed using fade-resistant ink on card stock.
Notecard sets are shipped in a sturdy cardboard box.
warmest birthday wishes
A sun-drenched landscape with mottled stones, golden grasses and distant hills includes a subtle element: a sun-bathing lizard. This slightly punny birthday card invites the viewer into a warm and welcoming place for their birthday.
happy birthday to one of my favorite humans
This birthday greeting card features a sweet little dog with a gently humorous message for a special person. The original collage for this design includes hand-painted papers from Japan and Thailand as well as scraps of letters and notes.
have a blissful birthday
A striped, green-eyed cat lolls in a field of bright yellow wildflowers in this simple and sweet birthday card. The original collage was made with paper, paint, pen and glue.
Featuring peaceful landscapes and animals, this wall calendar expresses Zen wisdom as well as quiet wonder and delight in the world.
The Japanese-inspired collages in this calendar include haiku by award-winning poet and artist Annette Makino. She created each of these collages with hand-painted washi papers from Asia as well as found papers.
This mini-calendar measures 5-1/2” wide by 7” tall closed (or 5-1/2” x 14” open), so it will easily fit in a small space. Major US holidays are listed. All twelve designs are shown on the back. The calendar includes an artist’s bio and some background on haiku and haiga (haiku art).
These are professionally printed in the USA on substantial paper and saddle-stitched. Each calendar is packaged in a self-sealing cellophane sleeve.
Many users of past Makino Studios calendars save and hang up each month’s painting after it has passed or give the image to a friend. The new calendar makes a great gift that may continue to bring pleasure well past 2026.
Makino Studios News
Free shipping: For orders of $35 or more, use code FREESHIP35 for free shipping in the US.
Made in Humboldt Fair: This popular event at Pierson Garden Shop in Eureka, CA runs Nov. 12 through Dec. 24 and includes more than 250 vendors. I will have books, prints, calendars, and notecard sets there.
Arcata Holiday Craft Market: Featuring food, music, and local vendors, this fair takes place Dec. 13-14 at the Arcata Community Center in Arcata, CA. Look for the Makino Studios booth on the lefthand side of the main room. This will be my only in-person event this season.
Haiku North America: I had a wonderful time at this biennual conference in San Francisco last month! The best part was meeting so many haiku poets I admire but knew only by name. I’m already looking forward to HNA 2027, to be held in Philadelphia.
Thank you: I appreciate the kind responses to my last post, “How a haiku is hatched.”