I'm gonna let you in on a mom-of-more-than-one secret. Some days...we have favourites. Sure, sure—there's room in our hearts to love all our kids equally. But, sometimes one might just be liked a bit more than the others. Why not give your mom the gift that keeps on giving... An UPPERCASE subscription will ensure that (at least four times a year) you are the favourite child.
Get 10% off in our shop with the discount code 'mom' until May 14.
I live in a neighbourhood of contrasts. Walk one way and you'll meet new Canadians from many different countries. Head in the other direction and you'll stumble on multimillion dollar homes. Our street has a group home, an artist, many renters, a few young families, and some people who have lived here for over 40 years. We like this mix and it's why we chose this neighbourhood to raise our family in. But, it can be hard to get to know people when you don't have much in common.
That's where Shatner comes in.
One night the 20-something renter from next door came looking for a bottle opener. She loudly exclaimed, "Hey! Shatner show!" as she saw the Shatner Show print in our living room.
No matter what our differences, Shatner can bring us together.
Thank you to everyone who came out last night! What a busy First Thursday it was here in UPPERCASE. I've just finished posting the remaining letters from Mike Kerr's show of letters. You can view them all in detail in the online shop.
Here are some images of the paintings; the majority are original acrylic works painted on square boards. There are also a few framed prints.
Mike is a VERY prolific sketchbook artist and he let us leaf through his books, much to the delight of all!
There are lots of great gifts in the store—and it is ALL on sale! Why wait until boxing day? Let's have the sale now while people are out and about!
Pantone things are 50% off, Moleskine journals and sketchbooks 25% off, Russell & Hazel 50% off, all greeting cards & calendars 50% off, books are 25% (with the exception of books and magazines published by UPPERCASE which are 10% off*). There are fun stocking stuffers, just $1-$5.
Plus: Special treats for UPPERCASE magazine subscribers or those that mention the blog!
*in our Calgary store only.
I don't normally share such personal information on my blog, but this is such momentous news that it merits a special announcement. With this life-changing event in my near future, I have been thinking about the future of UPPERCASE. My passion lies in publishing and creating: the magazine, our books and making unique products is where I would like to dedicate my time. The next issues of the magazine are already in progress and I'm planning two books that will be published in the fall of 2010. It is truly exhilarating and fulfilling to conceptualize, design, write, and edit the magazine and our books and I look forward to spending more time focussed on these pursuits.
There will be some changes in the new year, specifically to the physical storefront in Art Central. I will be closing the store in Art Central, beginning in January for a hiatus/maternity leave. We will no longer be stocking the products and books from other companies, but customers will still be able to purchase our publications and products. I love my space in Art Central and UPPERCASE will be there for a long time; the space will just be evolving over the next while. I will continue to host exhibitions, special events and participate in First Thursdays, although perhaps on a more limited basis for the first while.
The blog and online shop will continue as usual and I have some new ideas that I look forward to implementing online early in the new year.
It has been an exciting year; the magazine is doing really well (nearly 900 subscribers!) and UPPERCASE published two books: Jen11 and the brand new Camilla Engman book.
For those in Calgary, I invite you to join us this Thursday for the launch of Camilla's book. The store is also fully-stocked with great (and affordable) Christmas gifts so I hope to see you soon.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. It is gratifying to know that UPPERCASE has such an appreciative audience.
-Janine
A new shipment of papergoods has arrived in the store! Lots of lovely new things, particularly from Chronicle Books. One of my favourite photographers, Jen Altman (Jen11, Old School) has curated a Polaroid Notes card set, based on her book "The Love of Light". The cards are just slightly larger than an actual polaroid picture, but with some visual texture and laminate coating the notes really do feel like the real thing. Drop by the store to see what else is new!
These two books arrived for the store yesterday and I can't wait to sit down with them. Taschen's new book series on type is lushly illustrated and comes with an access code to high resolution images. And Ethan Bodnar's book contains contributions by many people who have been involved in UPPERCASE shows and projects such as Frank Chimero, Marc Johns, Jeff Kulak, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Linzie Hunter and Will Bryant. We have an updated selection of books on design, typography, creativity and creative business: just in time for tonight's First Thursday celebrations.
And, the Typeface opens this evening. I'll be doing some finishing touches in the gallery and running some errands, so the store will open at noon today. We're open until 9pm. See you all soon!
If you're looking for a cool gift for guys, I highly recommend Mike Perry's fun and fabulous book of Iron Me On fabric transfers. I gave this set to my 8-year old nephew Eddie. He loved it and looks smashing in his newly crafted cobra t-shirt. The squishy band-aid pictured below also made the cut.
We carry two of Perry's popular books: Hand Job: A Catalogue of Type and Over and Over: A Collection of Hand Drawn Patterns in our on line shop.
Snoop on mail from the past! Send a vintage postcard to a friend. Create art from old; make and tell new stories.
Here are a few shots of the gallery before First Thursday began.
The selection of sweets included cupcakes by Lindsay Racher (you can read her story in issue one, entitled "Healing through Baking"). She even made ones with tiny magazine covers! Deidre and her sister created beautiful and delicious chocolate-covered strawberries as well as pigs-in-blankets. And Glen brought us a bowl of gumballs to match the magazine's front cover and recurring graphic theme.
The new show is called "Treehouse" and so we made some simple leafy branches that emerge from the gallery wall. In addition to the artwork, we have products by My Imaginary Boyfriend, Suddenly It's Real, Small Stump, Tracey Cameron and others. {Some of the art prints from the show are available in our online shop.}
The magazine launch was a great success; thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us and also to those who sent their congratulations. {more photos on Flickr}
My hands are shaking and my heart is fluttering.
The idea of publishing a magazine has been floating in my mind for many years, but I didn't make the decision to proceed with it until this past Christmas. Deidre and I began working on it in earnest in January. I still can't quite believe that we accomplished so much in just three months. UPPERCASE magazine is really the culmination of a dozen years of freelance graphic design experience and four years of this creative entrepreneurial adventure called UPPERCASE. All the skills I have acquired over the years have been put to use... and then some! It has been an amazing learning experience and so creatively satisfying.
Blanca Gomez provided the perfect cover image. Blanca, I am so grateful for your generosity. Thank you.
Deidre, thank you for your inexhaustable flow of ideas. And for truly putting your heart into it.
Thank you, Glen, for writing some terrific articles and for listening to me talk about the minutiae of the magazine's progression.
The shipment of magazines is on its way from Winnipeg and we expect them tomorrow. Everything's on schedule for the launch celebration this Thursday from 5pm - 9pm. In the meantime, I'm transforming the gallery space for the treehouse show, adding new subscribers (thank you!), filling our biggest Eclectonote order ever, and sending out Jen11 orders. I'm going to leave this post up for a while, to bask in the moment... and I've got a lot more work to do!
See you on Thursday!
A snapshot of the Jen book piles I was making to send to all the artists.
Artist Camilla Engman may live in Gothenburg, Sweden, but her appeal is international. A professional illustrator and exhibiting artist, her images are whimsical, poignant, humourous and insightful. With her keen eye for finding the extraordinary in the everyday, Camilla documents her inspirations and artwork on her popular blog. Nearly 2000 fans visit her site on a daily basis (with three quarters being from North America) to get a glimpse into Camilla’s creative life.
UPPERCASE is proud to have been the first gallery outside of Sweden to feature her work, in our 2005 exhibition “Best in Show”. We are excited to be collaborating on a book of Camilla’s art and life, the first volume in our “Suitcase Series”, to be released in the fall of 2009. I am looking forward to travelling to Sweden next month and meeting Camilla (and her cute dog, Morran) at long last.
The Suitcase Series presents in glorious detail the lives of select artists and designers. The books are image-based, full of artwork, sketchbook pages, beautiful photographs and artifacts from where the artists live and work. Interviews with the artist are included in both their native language and English. The books’ size will be small and intimate, like a diary/sketchbook and each book in the series would have a special treasure added: perhaps a small limited-edition art print, a vellum envelope filled with foreign paper scraps for collage, fabric swatches, etc. The book becomes a precious souvenir of a creative journey shared between the reader and the artist.
For our book and magazine subscribers, you will be receiving the Jen11 and Camilla books as part of your subscription. If you'd like to preorder Camilla's book by itself, click here. All pre-orders will include a unique keepsake of the project.
Petite Pattern books are on sale! Save $8 per title ($30 CDN, regularly $38)
I'm doing some virtual spring cleaning and rearranging things in the online store. Some popular items such as these Russell & Hazel mini binders are on sale. Some colours as low as $10 (regularly $16.)
This First Thursday marks the fourth anniversary of UPPERCASE. It's quite amazing to think back on all that we've done and how much UPPERCASE has grown since it opened in 2005. Thank you so much to our loyal customers and regular (and new!) blog visitors. We are so encouraged and energized by your amazing support, especially of the upcoming magazine.
You guys are great!
New mirror designs are in the shop.
Do you need a last-minute valentine? Visit UPPERCASE today for a selection of vintage pre-loved valentines, cards, heart-shaped gifts, and affordable framed love-themed art (just $35!) Scroll some pink paper into our 1934 typewriter and profess your love in a heartfelt note to your sweetie.
Not in a romantic mood? Down with love? Not a problem – maybe the "Love Stinks" print is the one for you. Or ignore all the sugary stuff and treat yourself to a great book or nice sketchbook!
(Please note that the Art Central building will be closed on Monday for Family Day.)
Cover by Christy Batta
The UPPERCASE Circle is free for subscribers of the print magazine. Find out more.
UPPERCASE is a quarterly print magazine inspired by craft, design and illustration. A playful exploration of creativity, an affinity for vintage ephemera, and a love of handmade are some elements common in each issue. The magazine boasts high-quality paper and printing, a unique design aesthetic and incredible attention to detail.
Janine Vangool
publisher / editor / designer
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customer support
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