I love the look of this facade! Frances is a boutique in central Phoenix, Arizona—and they're also a stockist of UPPERCASE magazine. They are proud supporters of small, independent businesses and designers. They host workshops and events and support their local creative community with an annual Crafeteria holiday sale featuring 100% handmade items.
It is always nice to visit UPPERCASE stockists... because I'm sure to find a curated selection of other nice things. In the case of the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design, their gift store was full of lovely objects—many of which have some sort of connection to the magazine. We're placed right beside some Donna Wilson products, for example. (Here's the video I took of Donna a few years ago.)
I was able to preview the museum's latest exhibition. "Obsessive Reductive" features artists who work with the removal of material in order to create their work—such as paper cutting, etching, engraving, carving... or the stunning plasma-cut wheelbarrow and steel shovels by artist Cal Lane. Well worth a visit!
Thank you to Macrina Busato for this photo of UPPERCASE issue #19 spotted at the V&A in December. "A wonderful surprise..." she wrote in, "My favourite magazine in one of my favourite museums, the V&A in London!!"
Look for Macrina's illustrations on the Snippets pages of issue #20.
Fisheye view of the flagship Chapters store in Toronto.
It's crowded out there.
You'll have to know what you're looking for!
Oh, there it is!
View of the Toronto Chapters' magazine area.
Nice position in the Crafts & Hobbies rack at the Dalhousie Station Chapters in Calgary.
UPPERCASE recently joined Magazines Canada, Canada's national trade association for magazine publishers. We are happy to be part of this organization and to have their advocacy in publishing and distribution concerns as well as opportunities for professional development. Another benefit of Magazines Canada is we can get UPPERCASE magazine more widely available across Canada, through newsstand distribution and through Chapters/Indigo locations.
We are happy that UPPERCASE will be accessible to a lot more Canadians. (In fact there are 500 copies of issue #19 at Chapters/Indigo across Canada... go get 'em!) We have already heard from new readers who have discovered us in Chapters and contacted us about subscribing, which is an excellent result. We see this partnership through Magazines Canada and by extension, Chapters/Indigo, as a good way to grow our readership in this vast country. Our Canadian readers account for, on average, less than a quarter of total subscribers so there is definitely room to grow more locally.
As you can see from these photos of actual Chapters/Indigo stores, it is a tough place to get noticed when you're just one of so many.
We are very grateful to our smaller indie stockists. We love to support them through events, blog posts, social media... they are our partners and we appreciate all aspects of their support. Through kindred interests and excellent product curating, these smaller stores reach audiences who are already in tune with our ethos and our content. We value these relationships.
Thank you to all retailers—big and small—who are supporting UPPERCASE and other independent publishers this season.
the candid confectioner
Photo credit: Julie-Anne Cassidy
We're a proud supporter of Got Craft?, Vancouver's largest indie craft fair. Started in 2007, Got Craft? aims to bring together a community that fosters handmade and D.I.Y. culture. In addition to their offerings from makers in the area, Got Craft? has workshops so visitors can make something to take home. We've sent a selection of our products and back issues out to the event as well.
The event runs December 14th and 15th. Full details here.
Celine Debray founded the Swiss-based company Sérendipité in early 2013, with a vision for a traveling bookstore that offers foreign magazines at creative events, such as antique fairs and design events.
In less than a year, Sérendipité's clientele has grown beyond events to include boutiques as well as individual customers who subscribe to their imported offerings.
This past fall, Celine moved the business from her home office into a large coworking space called Carbu that is shared with architects, photographers and other creative companies. (The current issue of UPPERCASE has a lot of inspiring content about the emerging trend of coworking.)
For customers in Europe, Sérendipité's sophisticated online shop is a reliable source of UPPERCASE and many other creative magazines.
A thrilling moment, to see UPPERCASE so prominently featured in Kinokinuya's New York store.
Kinokinuya. For those of you who have been to one of their US locations, the name is enough to conjure visions of book heaven and washi-tape wishes. I go to their San Francisco store anytime I'm in that city and I've been to the Seattle location, too... but NYC is now top on my list... why? Because I got to see UPPERCASE magazine amongst all the amazing books that I admire and covet. A dream come true.
And here is The Suitcase Series: Camilla Engman translated into Japanese and published by Graphic-sha! It was nestled with all my favourite Japanese lifestyle books and looked right at home. The Suitcase Series was inspired by these sorts of Japanese books (that I can't read, mind you!) and so it has come full circle to see this book and Dottie Angel translated for a Japanese audience.
Mr. Sparrow's storefront in Perth.
On the west coast of Australia, Mr Sparrow, a shop belonging to Jelena Maticevic, is tucked away on a tree-lined side street off of one of Perth's main shopping strips. A mere forty-seven hours' drive east to the Sunshine Coast, you'll find the town of Cotton Tree, home to Tanya Northey and her shop, The Lovely Bird.
The Lovely Bird's entrance
These two shop owners met virtually when Jelena found The Lovely Bird's website and sent her an email.
"When I saw Tanya holding the keys to her shop on her website and her cheerful nature in her (website's) About section, I immediately wrote to her and introduced myself. I can't quite remember what I wrote but something along the lines of 'will you be my shop friend?'"
A bi-coastal friendship was born, nurtured via email and social media. Tanya and Jelena share ideas, collaborate on strategies and commiserate on the challenges of being an independent retailer.
"It's great having someone who is just there to listen, and isn't someone around you who is emotionally or financially invested in your shop. I find Tanya tells me stories I can relate to, rather than trying to give me tips on how to do it better! It's both reassuring, inspiring and motivating all at the same time. Incredible really, given we haven't even met... yet! :)"
UPPERCASE at The Lovely Bird
“(Our shop) is like a little bit of Etsy and Frankie Magazine all mashed together.”
We noticed the similarity between these two shops when they both applied to be UPPERCASE stockists within a few days of each other. If you follow their Instagram feeds closely, you'll see this isn't the first time that great minds have thought alike! Both shops carry delightful assortment of home goods, stationery and clothing.
UPPERCASE #19 is in stock now at The Lovely Bird and the newly renovated Mr. Sparrow.
Folks in Montreal can now wander down to Librairie Drawn & Quarterly to pick up the latest issue of UPPERCASE and Work/Life 3.
Issue 19 is journeying across Canada, over the continent of North American and around the world to stockists and subscribers far and wide. (Subscribers, snail mail does take some time, but it is worth it. Thanks!)
If you're the type of person whose day is improved by things like antler art, modern bird houses, or a even a mug that celebrates the love of squirrels, then make a point to visit Paramour Bungalow the next time you're in Evanston, Illinois.
Meaning 'lover of the home', Paramour Bungalow is the sister business to a successful boutique hair salon called RED 7 SALON. The store was born out of a desire to share the aesthetic that made the salon such a pleasant place to be. The result is a shop that is full of the unique, charming and quirky details that can inject personality into your home.
Here are a few things from Paramour Bungalow that show a kinship with UPPERCASE's aesthetics:
A charming fox-shaped book-end in the same orange as the UPPERCASE office decor.
This serving platter is reminiscent of the cover of UPPERCASE #13.
“My philosophy is buy what is unique, creative, not everywhere and has something that people would/should love in their homes. there has to be a great STORY behind a product that makes it stand out. ”
Winged letters
Type Book's Queen Street West location.
Another stop in Toronto last week was to Type Books. Wow, what a great independent neighbourhood bookstore. They were out of stock of the current issue (which I guess is a good thing! They'll just have to stock up next time, hint hint.) We featured Type on the blog previous—remember this amazing time-lapse animation of the shop being rearranged?
Swipe Books is always on my list of places to visit. They have a great selection on books on design and typography.
Swipe is located in this beautiful building, 401 Richmond. (They have a second location at the Design Exchange.)
In addition to our magazine, they also have our other books like Work/Life and Collection a Day.
For more details about Swipe, visit their website and blog. Take a look at our stockist list to find other stores near you that carry UPPERCASE magazine and books.
A nice stack.
Another nice stack. Eagle eyes will notice that the workroom has a copy of out-of-print issue #3 and #12 for sale!
It's always a pleasure to visit the workroom. And I notice that they have some out-of-print back issues like #3 and #12! Head on over to the workroom or contact them to scoop these up!
We had a terrific time at our Show and Tell in Kid Icarus, a wonderful card and gift store slash printmaking studio. It had been a while since I visited Bianca and Mike's Kid Icarus—their previous studio shop was a tiny one with barely enough room to silkscreen let alone do retail. Their new venue is spacious and full of wonderful things to look at (and buy!) They also host workshops in the basement.
Above is a small gallery of instagrams I took this evening. We hosted a Show and Tell where creative Torontonians could take a minute or two to introduce themselves and present an idea or example of their work. I look forward to sharing some of those highlights on the blog soon.
Sophia prepares the event signage.
Proprietor Mia Semingson unpacks some new inventory.
Two Hands Paperie on Pearl Street was the beautiful bookend to my Boulder experience. Proprietor Mia Semingson was my assistant throughout the bookmaking class; she even picked me up at the airport! It was great to start the trip at this gorgeous store. Upon the conclusion of the Makerie on Sunday morning, Mia hosted me at Two Hands to introduce our freshly printed spring issue. Thank you to everyone for such a fine reception—and a big thank you to Mia for her help in keeping our two-day bookmaking project on track.
{ Two Hands Paperie has an online shop with free shipping on orders over $100 to the lower 48 US States. Take it from me, it is easy to spend at least $100 on such a great selection of paper goodies. }
The best spots in any city are the ones that the locals know about. But, for an outsider, they can be hard to find. You know your city best and that's how you can help us!
Please share your suggestions (email them here) for stores we should know about.
If you have a boutique, bookstore or other retail location please complete our form and we'll be in touch!
Issue #16 looks right at home at stockist Spruce Collective. The shop, located in Abbotsford BC, is a bricks and mortar collaboration between five women brought together by their love of vintage treasures. The shop is where they share their love of home decor and teach others to do the same. For locals in the mood to get their hands dirty they offer classes and their beautiful space is also available for rent.
There is an upcoming gathering for the creative and curious in Iowa City. New stockist, Home Ec. Workshop is hosting a party on January 25 to celebrate the local connections of an article in issue #16. The piece explores the work of Sonya Darrow who draws upon her Czech heritage and local goodwill as a source for her folkloric creations. The profile was written by Linzee Kull McCray, photographed by Heather Atkinson with make-up services provided by Tonya Kehoe-Anderson.
We're not sure who this particular stockist is... if you know, please comment.
Mister Edwards sent us this image from the Finders Keepers market held in Sydney last weekend. (We're envious of your shorts and shirt sleeves weather, Australia!) Mister Edwards has some quirky items in his shop, too, if you're still looking for some gifts. Maybe a tea towel of found images and type, silkscreened by the Mr himself? Or perhaps the manliest tea towel of them all?
Felt ball garland
Kim Williamson silver cloud
Dahlhaus vases
Stripey straws
Room6 carries UPPERCASE magazine, too!
Room6 is an oh-so-lovely brick and mortar shop in Deep Cove (Vancouver) with an EXCELLENT online shop as well. Megan has been a wonderful supporter of UPPERCASE and we're very grateful for her keen eye. Above it a colour coordinated selection of some of my favourite things in Room6, but I'm sure you'll be able to find your own perfect gifts there as well.
Oh, Orla. If you have a design crush on Orla Kiely, Room6 is your source in Canada! Megan just unpacked Orla Kiely Spring 2013...
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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Glen Dresser
customer support
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UPPERCASE publishing inc
Suite 201 b
908 17th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2T 0A3
403-283-5318
The studio is not open to the public—please get in touch to make an appointment. If you'd like to purchase our magazine and books locally, please see the stockist page.
