A hanko is a traditional stamp used in Japan in lieu of a signature. When I visited Tokyo in 2024, my friend and fellow artist Christina took me to Sekaido, a 5-story art supply store where I drooled over the amazing selection of surprisingly affordable materials. She encouraged me to select a hanko design that spoke to me. I selected this one since it looks like carrots (I love vegetables), and it symbolizes a flower bud. As a human, I am a work in progress and continuously blossoming into whatever’s next for me.