window shopping in Montreal

The window of Montreal bookstore Le port de tête.

UPPERCASE copyeditor Correy Baldwin sent in this snapshot of Montreal bookstore Le port de tête. What a tantalizing display… {read more about this unique store on CBC.}

Correy also emailed me these pictures of UPPERCASE in Oxford Boutique, located in Mile-End, Montreal. A boutique with a unique focus, they sell "curated shoes and magazines for men and women"! {Here's a peek inside.} We're happy that UPPERCASE is included in their fine selection.

featured stockist: options

Options Contemporary Department Store is located on Damrak in central Amsterdam. Full of trendy things, they also have a selection of books and magazines furnished by Athenaeum.

"OPTIONS! is a contemporary department store located in central Amsterdam for lovers of beautiful things, fun, handmade, good design and interesting stories. Each item is lovingly selected and curated in collaboration with creatives, students and friends in Tokyo, London, Helsinki, Berlin and beyond. The store stocks an extensive range, from design gifts, stationery, ceramics, furniture, clothing and magazines to bespoke products from upcoming and established international interior and fashion designers. OPTIONS! offers accommodation at Hotel The Exchange where rooms are designed in collaboration with the Amsterdam Fashion Institute."  

meet and greet at Athenaeum

It was a slightly soggy Monday evening when fans of UPPERCASE gathered at Athenaeum for a meet and greet, but that was ok—I had time to have very nice conversations with new friends. Thank you to Anneke and Reny for organizing and promoting the event—and for the excellent front window display shown below. Thank you to Maarten Asscher, the director of Athenaeum, for cultivating such an inspiring bookstore which supports quality publishing both big and small.

UPPERCASE next to fellow Canadian magazine, Inventory. And we're always happy to be in proximity to the sophisticated Kinfolk.

(I don't think we've ever been stacked next to Vanity Fair or James Bond before!)

A wonderfully colourful selection of nibbles included blueberries and pink marshmallows.

Nice presentation of sprouts by Reny. (If you have time, you could roll up an old newspaper or phone book like this, soak it and plant seeds along the top, letting the sprouts anchor into the paper roll.)

I brought some paper garlands, as well as the little mini pencil crayon sets I posted about earlier.

Athenaeum also stocks UPPERCASE's books such as The Suitcase Series Volume 1: Camilla Engman, The Elegant Cockroach by Deidre Martin / Stefanie Augustine and Lisa Congdon's Collection a Day.

And such an incredible selection of magazines in a very small space. If I lived in Amsterdam, I would be a frequent visitor. In fact, I remember visiting Athenaeum back in 1996, the last time I was in Amsterdam. I was just out of college on a two-month trip to Europe. Despite being on a tight budget and backpacking, I remember splurging on some magazines in Athenaeum.

This time, I purchased the launch issue of The Alpine Review, a hefty 280+ page tome published in Montreal and printed in Barcelona.

In particular I'd like to thank the gals from Flow magazine for coming to the meet and greet (post about Flow coming up), to Hagar for gifting me with a wonderful artwork (this one!), to Giovannella (below, left) who was also at Hello Etsy and made me a lovely embroidered sign (I still have to photograph it) and to Ping (below right) for her creative enthusiasm. Also to Canan, it was nice to meet you (and thank you for all your tweets!) I also look forward to seeing what Naomi of Pretty Unexpected does next and reading through her blog.

It was nice to chat with Marieke, an editor at Jamie Oliver's magazine, Netherlands edition. She shared this Instagram. Great evening! Thanks everyone.

the big adventure

Proprietor Anna looks out towards the hustle and bustle of Haalemmerstraat.

The shop, Het Grote Avontuur is named after Alain Fournier's novel.

Located on what is being called as the "best shopping street in Amsterdam", Het Grote Avontuur is a shop that sells papergoods, vintage home accessories and assorted treasures. (They are an occasional stockist of the magazine and our books, but inquire if what you would like is currently in stock.)

Proprietor Anna Massee showed me around her beautifully appointed shop.

Het Grote Avontuur sells IJM paint, some beautifully curated colours of interior paint. There are even special colours selected by Anna.

You can sample your colours in these very appealing small canisters.

A special colour by Het Grote Avontuur.

Lots of beautiful Rie Elise Larsen paper boxes that I would have loved to take home with me.

Papers by UPPERCASE favourites Leah Duncan and Eloise Renouf.

The kitchen area within the shop.

So many papers, some even pasted to the walls.

featured stockist: Gather

Next we head to a shop in Napier, New Zealand. Gather is textile and knitwear designer Nikki Gabriel's newly opened shop and she sent us an email to let us know:

"I'm thrilled to be a new stockist of your fabulous magazine. It encapsulates everything that I attempt to project in my store called 'Gather'. Gather is a knitting store with a difference; as I've set up the shop to inspire and delight every customer that walks in."​

FROM THE GATHER WEBSITE: Nikki moved to New Zealand 2 years ago from Melbourne, and has set up a textile design studio in the seaside town of Napier, on the North Island. In the heart of Napier, here, she has created ‘Gather’ a retail store attached to her studio.

Born in rural South Africa, Nikki draws and on her childhood experiences of gathering materials from all around her to make things, which inspired the creation of the store ‘Gather’, as a celebration of her innate yearning to collect, create and share. Nikki has curated a unique collection of work from designers and makers, who produce amazing contemporary and traditional items from thread, plastic, wood, ceramics, plants, and paper. In and amongst shelves of beautiful and rare fibres, knitting yarns and plant dyes, Nikki also has on display many tactile and wonderful objects, books and magazines that breathe a Gatherer’s instinct.

We're thrilled that UPPERCASE has found such a lovely home so far away! Thank you, Nikki.​

featured stockist: kid icarus

Kid Icarus, a long-term stockist of UPPERCASE magazine, has been located in a very small shop in Toronto's Kensington Market. When we visited them last fall I was amazed at how much they could get done in such small quarters. They've finally outgrown their space and are moving to a new location in the neighbourhood.

Michael writes: "We’ve taken our biggest step yet and are moving down the street from our cherished Nassau street location into a larger space that will help us pursue our dream of fostering a vibrant arts and crafts community in our city. Our new space will be part retail shop, part community hub, where we can provide space for other professional screen printers to create and host workshops and talks for the community at large. It’s really exciting!"​

To help with the costs, they have a campaign on Indiegogo. Support their fundraising campaign here.​

olivebox

A stylish teaser preview of My Olive Box, with UPPERCASE issue #13 used as a pretty prop!​

I wanted to share a new project started by Grace Kang, owner of the Pink Olive shops in New York City. Grace has stocked UPPERCASE for a number of years now, and as a retail consultant, is always leading the edge of what's up-and-coming.

OliveBox​ is a monthly subscription service for paper lovers. Every month, our members will receive a delightful box of paper and lifestyle products delivered to their front door. Currently, there is so much clutter in the marketplace and less time to find creative items that inspire giving and beautiful living. We hope to change that with OliveBox and become the go-to retail platform that helps women celebrate and enjoy the journey of life. When customers sign up for OliveBox, they will not only be giving this gift to themselves, but they will be receiving something they can gift forward. The idea behind OliveBox was born out of love for creative finds by Grace Kang, former buyer of Bloomingdale's and Barneys and found of popular Pink Olive gift boutiques in NYC.

Sign up for your OliveBox right here >>>.​

featured stockist: Rare Device

Rare Device is located at 600 Divisadero Street (at Hayes Street) in San Francisco.

Giselle Gyalzen, owner of Rare Device

​Dynamo Donuts... mmmm. Maple bacon apple anyone?

​Glen hauled 4 dozen donuts on two buses (worth it!)

​Our current issue features Jon Klassen's illustration on the cover.

Nicely curated children's tees, toys and books.​

Everything was tempting.

Lots of things for paper-lovers.​ Eye spy some Rifle Paper Co. notebooks: look for an interview with Anna Bond in the fall issue of UPPERCASE, out in October.

It was lovely to meet Heidi Swanson! (We featured her in issue 9 which had a theme on how a love of food inspires creativity. I still remember how excited I was when she first subscribed to the magazine.)​

Lisa Shaffer of Zelma Rose Handmade Goods was there—her cross-stitched jewellery are featured in issue 14's zigzag trend page and also stocked in Rare Device.​

Zelma Rose necklaces.

So many beautiful things for the home.​

Here's Caitlin Kirkpatrick, my new editor at Chronicle Books. Look for the official announcement of our project later this fall.

There was lovely natural light in the shop, especially late in the afternoon.​

It was great to meet so many supporters of the magazine and to hear stories about why you appreciate it so much. It makes all our hard work worthwhile to know that UPPERCASE magazine has such a positive effect on your lives.

Thank you to Giselle for graciously allowing us to host our event in Rare Device, and for supporting indie publishing and artists in such a great store. We can't wait to visit again.

purl(10)

UPPERCASE stockist Purl Soho is celebrating their 10th birthday with a sale. Their site and blog are a constant source of inspiration delight. Happy Birthday Purl Soho!

featured stockist: hello hello books

When Lacy of hello hello in Maine sent these images to me I was transported back to  childhood summer holidays. Dad and I would always pack more books than we thought we'd need but after hours reading around the campsite we would inevitably run out and have to scour the streets of the closest town for an independent book store. I always made the greatest discoveries (like Michener, Jakes and Rowling)—and just how much Dad and I actually had in common.

hello hello looks like just the place to get lost amongst the pages and find your next favourite author.

stockist: Rare Device

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​UPPERCASE stockist Rare Device (San Francisco) has an event this evening that you won't want to miss. Mati Rose McDonough is celebrating the release of her new book: Daring Adventures in Paint with a little party. (The current issue of UPPERCASE is also available.)

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“Daring Adventures in Paint is a colorful, playful adventure of a book that explores inspirational paint and mixed-media techniques. My book’s approach to making art is a bit like uncovering a hidden treasure, a treasure that resides within each aspiring artist. Through a myriad of both practical applications and creative exercises, this book shows artists how to “find their magic”—the place of confidence from which they can access the vision of what they want to share with the world.”

— MATI ROSE MCDONOUGH

featured stockist: Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum

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In Amsterdam? Join these gentleman for some fine browsing and reading at Athenaeum, Spui 14-16. For additional locations and info: >>>

Featured Stockist: ideal-Carefully Curated Goods

UPPERCASE stockist ideal-Carefully Curated Goods has once again partnered with Western Washington University's Industrial Design on ReMade 2012. This annual design challenge sees students producing innovative products from consumer or manufacturing waste with an eye to recyclability, life cycle analysis and design for production.


Larisa Schulze created the Ouch Cold Compress from scraps of waterproof marine upholstery, a dipped collar and a cork stopper.
Happily, for those of us who don't live in Bellingham, ideal has an online shop.

Featured Stockist: Paper Umbrella

photos by Danielle Tocker

Teresa and Brad were excited when we asked them to send along some information for a profile. Really excited. Really REALLY excited. Like dancing around the kitchen excited.

They explained how they came to be stockists.

"A fortuitous event occurred for us in 2006 when our flight home was diverted to Calgary. That grey winter day offered us the unforgettable opportunity to step into UPPERCASE gallery and meet Janine Vangool. She sold us some of her personally designed Valentine's day cards which we brought home to our then four-month-old store."

Paper Umbrella can be found amidst the creative ambiance of the vibrant Cathedral Village in Regina Saskatchewan. They offer a selection of sophisticated cards, fine writing utensils, beautiful papers, and unique gifts. 

"We have long benefited from the ongoing relationship with UPPERCASE and have engaged in countless conversations about this inventive, clever and beautiful publication. What our customers have also valued beyond the content of this magazine has been their chance to contribute to it. As an independent retailer in an art district, creatives abound. We are often heard telling customers looking for inspiration and encouragement that there's nothing better than a hit of UPPERCASE."

UPPERCASE + Anthropologie Calgary: special event!

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UPPERCASE magazine is very pleased to be part of Anthropologie's roster of quarterly magazines. (They've even done a nice feature about UPPERCASE and other fine publications on their website.) As a small publisher, their support is very much appreciated.
 
We've organized a creative event in Calgary's Anthropologie store on Thursday, May 24: a few hours of crafting with UPPERCASE and the visual display team from the store! Space is limited, so please RSVP to secure your spot or get on the wait list (please note that the attendee list is managed by Anthropologie).
 
It's going to be pretty and fun! I hope to see you there.

type tuesday: sign-painting exhibition at Land

Portland-based UPPERCASE stockist Land also has a show by sign painter Ira Coyne.

type tuesday: sign-painting exhibition at The Curiosity Shoppe

There are still a few weeks left for the current exhibition at San Francisco's The Curiosity Shoppe, featuring the sign-painting and food-inspired art of Heather Diane Hardison. (You can pick up a copy of UPPERCASE magazine there as well!)

Featured stockist: Pink Olive

UPPERCASE stockist Pink Olive is turning five on May 5th and having what looks like a lovely party to celebrate. If you aren't lucky enough to be able to attend in person (they are having s'mores) check out their online shop. With two stores in East Village, Manhattan and Park Slope, Brooklyn they have built a successful business over the last five years. Congratulations on your fifth birthday Pink Olive!

Dispatch from London: Anthropologie

I had a meeting here, but this door and stairwell is as much as I can show you!The Anthropologie store on King's Road, London, is the most beautiful Anthropologie I have ever seen! My photos can't do it justice; here are some teasers. You just have to go soak it up in person—the light and atmosphere cannot be photographed. There was even a water feature.

Thank you to Anthropologie North America for their support of UPPERCASE and other quarterly magazines! Hopefully you'll see UPPERCASE in European stores sometime soon.

Ceramics by Ruann Hoffmann.

This book by India Flint looks intriguing.Headbands look amazing when styled by Anthropologie.

Featured stockist: Sabrina Butterfly Designs

I have been in love with Sabrina Butterfly for many, many years. I would stalk her at local community fairs and amassed quite a collection of her clothing. Sadly, I've never been to the store in Edmonton, Alberta where she stocks UPPERCASE. Her clothes make up the backbone of my wardrobe and are still sassy and funky after all these years.