Crafting a Meaningful Home

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As a book lover, designer and publisher, I am always on the lookout for books that inspire. With review copies, keeping up with the blogs, my magazine and books in progress, it seems that I look at so many things these days that it takes something extra special to grab my full attention. Crafting a Meaningful Home is such a book. Written by Meg Mateo Ilasco (I've blogged about her recent book collaboration with Joy Cho, Creative Inc) with gorgeous photography by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, the book goes beyond the typical craft how-to and really does live up to its title: each of the crafts in the book is made by a different artist or family. Sharing meaningful stories on how culture, family and personal histories inform their crafts and home environment, the book is a very interesting read.

The book arrived at just the right time; Glen and I have been redoing our house: putting down new floors, painting the walls, new furniture and bookshelves... With this clean slate, I am inspired to feature more personal items, crafts and collections. (In the photo above you can see a bit of a lovely crochet blanket that Tif made for Finley, and below the amazing colour combination so-awful-it's-great throw I bought at Value Village.) With all of the activity and work I have to do, I have not had time to sew or crochet... but I remind myself that am crafting a home in the larger sense: Glen and I are creating a wonderful place for all of us to grow as a family.

The book features many of my favourite creative people: Rae Dunn, Joy Cho, Lauren & Derek from The Curiosity Shoppe, Lorena Siminovich and many other fine crafters. Lisa Congdon is also a contributor and her decoupage plates are featured on the cover. Below is a sweet video of Lisa that Meg shares with us:

Crafting a Meaningful Home - Lisa Congdon from Meg Mateo Ilasco on Vimeo.

 

The book is available through Rare Device and The Curiosity Shoppe as well as other fine booksellers.

Oh, the excitement!

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Although I do love summer—gardens, blue skies and road trips—when the temperature dips and we cross the long weekend into September, my heart flutters with anticipation: back to school! I confess it has been many years since I was a student and I won't be teaching at the college this year, but I still love that feeling of starting a new "school year": a year marked by new things to learn, new projects and new friends.

And so it is with that sense of wonder and excitement that I happily announce the projects that are going to be on my syllabus for the next while:


The marvelous Lisa Congdon and I are turning A Collection a Day into a book! Wow! It is going to be a beauty. Lisa will continue to post her collections through the end of the year and we will be working on the book behind the scenes so that it can be released in March 2010. To find out more about our book project and pre-order information, visit the book's web page.

But wait, there's MORE amazing news to share...

The first volume of The Suitcase Series was all about Swedish artist Camilla Engman. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Camilla (and visit her in Sweden). Many of you have inquired (and volunteered!) to be the next featured artist. Through serendipitous connections, the next artist in the series is Tif Fussell (known for her blog, dottie angel). Although she lives in Seattle, which is a little closer to my home, she hails from ol' blighty and inhabits a mossy shed where objects such as cameras and sewing machines are named Carlos and Miss Ethel. And there are chickens! I look forward to meeting Tif and her family soon as we begin work on her book. (To be released June 2011.) So very peachy!

Early next year I am also publishing Work/Life 2: the UPPERCASE directory of international illustration. A group promotional effort, the book is a source of inspiration for creatives and a compendium of talent for hire. I'm getting the list of participants ready to publish online. In the meantime, there are a few spots left if you'd like to apply to be in the book. It'll be released next February.

And, as previously announced: The Elegant Cockroach by Deidre Anne Martin and illustrated by Stefanie Augustine is set for a book launch in October!


If you are as excited by these great books as I am, we are offering an UPPERCASE Book Bundle that includes these four titles: The Elegant Cockroach, Work/Life 2, A Collection a Day and The Suitcase Series: Dottie Angel. They will be mailed to you as they are published and you save on the cover price as well as shipping. The Book Bundle orders and pre-orders will include special touches, goodies and packaging.

I am sincerely grateful and honoured to work with such creative women such as Lisa, Tif, Deidre and Stefanie and in awe of the talent in Work/Life 2. I'm so excited that it is hard not to put an exclamation point after each sentence! (oops, there's another one.)

! ! ! !

Time to renew!

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My dear readers,

Now that we have surpassed our first year, one of the regular tasks of running the magazine is keeping up with subscription renewals. It is really vital that the magazine keeps its subscriber base strong; the hard costs of printing, distribution and mailing are supported by our amazing subscribers. We also pay our regular contributors, illustrators and photographers honorariums for their submissions. Not to mention rent, promotions and advertising costs! It all adds up to be quite an expensive production.

I'm confident that you will see the value in each quarterly issue; everyone involved really provides their very best work each and every time. The funny thing about creating such a high quality production is that sometimes people assume that it is funded and created by some lavish publishing empire. In fact, I am the only full time person involved: as publisher, editor, art director/designer, marketer, distributor and more, I am fully dedicated to making the magazine a sustainable publication.

Vital members of the team are editor-at-large Deidre Martin and subscription/shop manager Jenny Tzanakos. My husband Glen is also taking on more roles as the magazine grows. I am so grateful for all their hard work.

I have just sent off renewal invoices to those whose subscription ended with issue 6. In an attempt to find a more effective and streamlined method of renewal, I have sent these notices as Paypal invoices. In the past, I have sent off reminder emails, but the response rate hasn't always been great since folks forget to go to the online shop or lose the email in their full inboxes. With an invoice, you just have to click and respond to the one message. The other benefit is that we pay less in transaction fees which means that more of the subscription money goes to paying the print bill!

So I hope you don't mind the impersonality of the Paypal renewal method, but please know that I personally see all the renewals and plan on thanking each of you individually for your continued support.

If your subscription has lapsed, you can always renew and catch up with back issues, too!

If you've purchased a single copy or have been curious about the magazine, we invite you to join our family of subscribers.

We love our subscribers and readers and I hope you can see that in every magazine we make. Speaking of which, lucky issue 7 is in the design phase and will be going to print in September. I'll keep you posted of its progress; it's going to be a hearty fall issue! I'm really excited about our cover illustrator, but I'll keep you in suspense a while longer...

again, thank you.

-Janine

My little editor

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The print files for issue 6 have been sent to the printer!

There has been quite a lot of change these past months — when issue 5 was sent to print I was 40 weeks pregnant. Now I've got this little guy! It was indeed a challenge, being a new mom AND editing/designing a magazine, but thanks to my husband Glen and to my very good-natured baby, we all got it done. Between feedings, changes, naps, playing and strolls, the summer edition of UPPERCASE took shape. Over the next while I will share previews of the issue (which will be available in July) but for now, here's a picture of us editing the magazine.

Proof printouts make good hats!

Finley!

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One of the many great things about blogging are the virtual friends that you make along the way. Thank you for your kind emails and inquiries about how me and baby Finley are doing. Finley is a wonderful baby, full of smiles. And oh so very cute! How spoiled am I to get to spend my time with this cuteness?

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That's it for me this week, but I'll be back on the blog after the long weekend with previews of issue #6 of UPPERCASE magazine. (If you didn't see in twitter and don't get our emails, there's a discount code for the online shop valid until May 25: enter the code "summertime" to get 10% off orders or subscriptions over $72.) Have an excellent long weekend!

Introducing...

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Finley Elliot Dresser
March 15, 4:11pm
8lbs 4oz

A very long labour (40 hours) followed by a c-section ended with quite a surprise: it's a boy! Finley is a healthy, cuddly and very cute baby with whom we immediately fell in love. We came home on Friday afternoon and look forward to settling into our new lives as a family. Thank you for your well-wishes!

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Obviously, I am happily occupied with this little bundle and recovering, but rest assured that UPPERCASE magazine continues in full swing: in fact the next issue is printed and will be shipping soon. We're expecting that big delivery within the next week. Please address any questions about your subscriptions or wholesale inquiries to Jenny (jenny@uppercasemagazine.com). many thanks.

Everything at once

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This morning, a countertop is being installed in our new ikea-cabinetry kitchen! Soon, we'll have a working sink and we can enjoy a functional kitchen after many weeks of upheaval. (Yup, I'm 38 weeks pregnant, designing the next issue of the magazine and overseeing kitchen renos!)

Debbie Hill's found shopping lists, which she then illustrates, spoke to me when I saw her latest post to flickr. Lots of people collect and post found lists and papers, but it is fun to see her take them as inspiration for drawing and even animation.

Free cabinets

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I'm transforming my home office into a nursery, so a few things need to find new homes. These filing cabinets, for example! I spent a lot of time sanding them down and then collaging old newspaper clippings on the faces... back in the day when I had time for such crafty things! Anyway, the pair are free so if you're in Calgary and willing to pick them up from my home please email me at info@uppercasegallery.ca. More photos on flickr.

I've also a Billy bookcase (also free if you come get it) and matching cd/dvd/trinket tower.

Back to painting the walls!

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INQUIRIES! everything has been spoken for.

Expansion News!

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For those of you who drop by my store in Calgary, you may have already figured this out: Glen and I are expecting a baby in March! I am expanding, literally.

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

Back to Old School

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This morning I am returning to the Alberta College of Art & Design as an instructor. Every Monday until Christmas, I'll be teaching a course in which 4th year students research a favourite topic and complete a publication design on the subject from start to finish. It's basically what I do on a daily basis, so I'm looking forward to the class. (Since I can't quite be two places at once, the store will be closed on Mondays.)

It has been a year since we presented Old School, the book and exhibition in which the shop was transformed into a classroom. It certainly was a fun show and the book was a success. There are just a few dozen copies left, so get yours while you can! The star is actually one of those metallic teacher stickers that we place by hand on each book. The book comes with an official Old School pencil, too.

To see more of the development of the book and the show, visit my flickr set.

Petunia

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The illustrations in the previous post reminded me of one of my favourite children's books, Petunia by Roger Duvoisin (in retrospect, it is not surprising that, as a child, my favourite book was about a book!) Originally published by Knopf in 1950, its sweet illustrations are still fresh and endearing. (You can read the story in Laura Howard's flickr stream, although the pages appear to be out of proper order.)

My Dad's picks

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Here's a little poster tribute of movies my dad taught me to appreciate.

From Sam Wood's screen version of Hemingway's war-time novel, For Whom The Bell Tolls (1943) to the comedic geniuses Steve Martin (oh, The Jerk!)

and Bill Murray (remember Caddyshack?).

The scintillating Elizabeth Taylor performing Tennesse Williams's tale of southern pathos, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

and many more...  Lucky for me, I still have regular movie nights with my dad (and mom!)

Thank you JS. Happy Day.