hello, hello etsy

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This afternoon I went out exploring Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. (Pictures to come!) Then I headed over to Piet Hein Eek's amazing complex of studio, galleries, restaurant and design shop to see the Hello Etsy set up and make sure my presentation will work well. I look forward to hearing him speak tomorrow and sharing more images with you.

For now, here are some iphone shots of the speakers' dinner, held in the studio of Nacho Carbonell. As part of Dutch Design Week, Smalle Haven offers dinners catered in various artist's studio across the city. Although we were really cold and partially warmed by space heaters, it was a cool venue with great company. I'm kind of glad that my presentation is first (!!!) tomorrow morning so that I can get that done and enjoy everyone else's presentations stress-free. See you soon.

meeting Mirthe Blussé

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My first destination once arriving in Schipol airport was  to visit illustrator Mirthe Blussé, who had cordially invited me to visit her studio.​ Her studio is on the the 6th floor of the Volkskrantgebouw building, formerly the headquarters of the newspaper Volkskrant. Now housing dozens of tenants of creative industry plus a nightclub restaurant on the top level, the Volkskrantgebouw was kind of gritty in a cool art college-meets-industry sort of way.

Mirthe's studio, shared with illustrator Puk, ​was light-filled and punctuated with colourful bits of paper and collage. Mirthe's work has a wonderful unconstrained freeness about it, with playful yet elegant sprawling handwriting, simple graphic collages and more conceptual ones. Mirthe started out with a degree in copyright law, but her lifelong passion for creating art was too strong to ignore.

Please visit Mirthe's portfolio and blog to see more of her work (we can also look forward to a magazine feature on Mirthe in an issue of UPPERCASE next year.)

​Thank you, Mirthe, for such a nice way to start my adventure in the Netherlands! 

featured stockist: Gather

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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.​

creative calgary: Stash

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​Veronica Murphy, proprietor of Stash Needle Art Lounge in Calgary's Inglewood neighbourhood.

​Stash is a few blocks off of the main street in Inglewood at 1B, 1215 – 13th Street SE, nestled in corner of the Woodstone Studios building.

​The welcoming centre of Stash, where you can sit, knit and chat over a cup of tea.

​A store copy of Dottie Angel, at the ready to inspire you as you sit down and be crafty.

​The store's display fixtures are all repurpose vintage finds, showing everything to desirable effect.

​A record player sets a relaxing retro vibe.

​Old suitcases hide workshop supplies.

A wander over to Stash will be worth your while; as you can see, the place is full of beautiful vignettes, enticing yarns and a relaxed atmosphere. Stash offers various workshops from introductions to knitting and crochet to project-specific classes.​

Follow the Stash blog​, Pinterest and Twitter for the latest.

girl crush: Shauna Alterio

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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY LESLIE FANDRICH.​

The object of affection: Shauna Alterio (left) with some of the attendees.​

​Footwear crush!

Supplies for a creative afternoon.

​A glimpse into Shauna's idyllic work and living space.

This photo of Shauna courtesy Girl Crush.

Girl Crush is a series of small gatherings organized by the Jealous Curator (Danielle Krysa)​ where you can have a fun and friendly encounter with one of your favourite creative crushes. This past weekend, UPPERCASE contributor Leslie Fandrich took part in Girl Crush Philly and got to hang out with Shauna Alterio of Something's Hiding in Here, Forage and Seed House fame. To read about her experience, head over to Leslie's blog Lights and Letters.

Thank you Leslie for sharing her photos with us. And thank you to Shauna and her husband Stephen for inspiring us with their amazing work and for the contributions to UPPERCASE magazine. And big congratulations to Shauna and Stephen on this very special news!​

paper hats by Alyn Carlson

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October is the month when you can have fun with trying on new different characters and personalities, falling under the excuse of Hallowe'en. For inspiration, look to paper artist Alyn Carlson's extraordinary hats.​ Suitable for a garden party, whimsical wedding, a paper-lover's birthday party or just-because, Alyn's creations bring happiness to the wearer and the party.

Alyn's work space and home is an old church that she has lovingly restored and renovated for many years. Click the photo to read about Alyn's home on Design*Sponge.

Alyn was recently commissioned to make a wedding cake out of paper and she is also a graphic designer and fine artist.

moment factory

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Moment Factory is a Montreal-based multimedia company employing 85 people. Using light, motion and technology, Moment Factory specializes in creating large-scale audio-visual experiences that they categorize as ambient, immersive and interactive. Credits include multimedia content for Madonna's MDNA tour, Cirque du Soleil collaborations and orchestrating this moment at an Arcade Fire concert.

The company was​ invited to participate La Mercè, an annual arts and culture festival hosted in Barcelona. Their ambitious project will see Antoni Gaudí‘s Sagrada Familia swathed in light and colour during a 15-minute spectacle from September 21-23.

featured stockist: Rare Device

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

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

​
Giselle Gyalzen, owner of Rare Device

Giselle Gyalzen, owner of Rare Device

​A wonderful stockist and great place to meet UPPERCASE readers.
​Dynamo Donuts... mmmm. Maple bacon apple anyone?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everything was tempting.

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.

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.)​

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.​

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.

Zelma Rose necklaces.

So many beautiful things for the home.​

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.

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.​

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.

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place: herber city utah

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In Issue #13 Jonathan Shipley wrote about how weather influences the artistic community in Seattle. We thought it would be interesting to ask a subscriber how their environment effects art making. Eva Jorgensen of Sycamore Street Press agreed to share her community.

“Heber City is a small farming community in a mountain valley. It’s grown quite a bit in the past couple of decades, and quite a few “outsiders” have moved in (including us). But there still isn’t much of an art scene. For the most part, people seem to be into things like raising livestock, gardening, rodeoing and camping. They really take advantage of our beautiful surroundings, which is something I’ve been trying to do as well. ”
— Eva Jorgensen
“We live in a high mountain desert. Our winters are long with lots of snow, but we get beautiful sun all year round. And it’s dry...no need to worry about humidity and mold. I love the weather here. I only wish the spring and fall were a bit longer and the winter a bit shorter.”
— Eva
“The bright blue sunny skies motivate me to get outdoors and really appreciate nature, as cliché as that might sound. Every morning I go on a walk with my daughter, and we see all kinds of flora and fauna (juniper trees, wild flowers, mountains, foxes, horses, and more) as well as lots of open space and sweeping views. I can definitely see the influence in my work-bright colors, simple white backgrounds, frequent botanical and animal imagery.”
— Eva

Share your UPPERCASE place! Contact Erin to participate.

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Bird's eye view

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I borrowed the ladder to set up the decor and repair a few lights. It is nice to see the bookcase with its orange glow once again.While I was up there, I took a few aerial shots of the studio since everything is freshly spring-cleaned.It feels quite spacious from up here with a wide angle lens!Ah, my orange couch and the huge coffee table book about Alexander Girard. Two things that I never have time to sit and enjoy. Better climb down from here and do more party prep!

A divine place to live and work

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Ayumi Horie's home and studio are located in a small church in Cottekill, New York. Since our article was written, Ayumi has decided to sell the property so that she can move closer to family.

"I’ve had the church for ten years and have loved every minute of it, from the beginning renovations when I would find caches of walnuts in the walls and bats in the belfry to the spiffed up sanctuary it is now. I can’t say enough great things about the New York community either with so many forward-thinking creative people in the area. Ideally, someone community-minded will carry on the church’s art tradition (the owner before me as an artist as well), so I’m putting it out there in hopes that by making a website devoted to the church, the perfect steward to the church will find it and fall in love."

To see more photos of this incredible home, click here. 

Some of the images of the church that Ayumi shared with us for the article:

Thank you, Ayumi, for sharing your work and home with us. We hope that you find a buyer as sympathetic to this special place as you have been.

Fogo Island residencies

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Applications for 2012 are already closed, but you could definitely put this on a creative adventure wish list!

The Fogo Island Arts Corporation Residency Program aims to bring contemporary artists of international caliber to live and work on Fogo Island and Change Islands.  The program encourages the participation of artists working in a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to: visual arts, new media, design, music, dance, writing and film.  Four of six studios are already built.  We expect to have all facilities up and running by the end of 2012. 

Subscriber: Vanessa Boer

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A peek into Vanessa's studio

Vanessa Boer is a self-proclaimed "illustrator and maker of things." She has a diverse portfolio of creative offerings which include commissioned pet portraits (below), illustration, an etsy shop with prints and interesting chimes made from vintage pencils, as well as styling and custom prop-making for magazines such as Real Simple and Women's Day.


We featured six pages of pet portraits submitted by our readers in the current issue (#10) of UPPERCASE.


Pretty talented bunch of readers, don't you think? To subscribe, please visit the online store.