The array of patterned papers printed in celebration of the Surface Pattern Design Guide
Hello Reader,
The new issue is bursting with colour and pattern!
Loyal subscribers (who had an active subscription as of March 10) also have a lovely 11 x 17" patterned paper sheet with four different designs to play with.
Finley and I got crafty with the papers, inspired by this gusseted paper bag tutorial from Cambridge Imprint. (Cambridge Imprint is profiled in Rag & Pulp, Volume R in the UPPERCASE Encyclopedia of Inspiration.)
Imagine these little parcels filled with Easter chocolates and eggs...
Or, perhaps some dog treats?
If you'd like to make your own patterned paper bags, you can download some free patterns and discover more paper craft ideas here. I always love to see how subscribers combine their kraft envelopes with the patterned papers, too. Share your creations in the UPPERCASE Circle, our online community for UPPERCASE subscribers.
Submit jewellery and other creative adornments (made for you, others or the environment). Jewellery can include necklaces, bangles, rings, earrings, etc, but I am looking for other kinds of adornments as well! An adornment could be a hat, scarf, belt buckle, or other kinds of accessory, or even a tattoo or other sort of cultural or aesthetic decoration of oneself (keep in mind UPPERCASE aesthetics and our family-friendly content). What adornments do you have in your environment, in your home, yard or neighbourhood? (ie decorations adorning your garden, or yarn-bombing adorning an urban space.) As with all UPPERCASE open calls, I'm looking for creative and curious interpretations of the theme.
Submit artwork and creative projects that demonstrate your attention to detail. Is the detail in the intricacy of your designs and work? Is the detail in the amount of attention and focus that your art requires?
Anne Butera writes, "Tiny details thrill me – subtle variations, one color shifting to another, fine veining and intricate patterns – I long to capture them on paper with watercolor. Before I sit down to observe a botanical subject, I see only the big picture: colors, shapes, textures. Something in my garden or on my windowsill catches my eye and awakens my curiosity, inviting me to look closer. I still myself and focus my attention, noticing the exquisite particulars of the plant. The longer I look, the more I notice. I mix colors. I sketch, working out a composition to honor the magic of the plant and my moment of connection with it. Then I paint, beginning with the big picture. Shapes. Colors. The pigments and paper lend their textures as my brush blends subtleties. Some subjects require multiple layers of paint, while for others, the transparent nature of watercolor mimics the plant’s delicacy. Fine details finish the piece and allow me to capture my connection with my subject and with nature itself."
Design your own dingbat!
All mediums and styles are welcome to create typographic ornaments. Dingbats, fleurons, initial letters, borders and glyphs provide decorative options to typographers and designers.
You don't have to be a designer or typographer to participate. Carved stamps, engraved, hand drawn, painted, stitched or produced via digital tools like Adobe Illustrator or Procreate... anything could be used to create a black and white dingbat or typographic symbol.
Thanks to the generosity of fellow UPPERCASE readers, an additional 12 free Creative Boost subscriptions, on top of the 25 that I pledged, have been given to those who can't afford to subscribe due to financial or medical reasons. There are another 26 people who entered the draw—if you'd like to sponsor a reader and spread some kindness to a stranger, you can purchase a discounted subscription on their behalf. I will draw a recipient from the remaining list. If you need a Creative Boost, the next draw will be held in June, before the next issue is released. Take care.
OTHER THINGS OF NOTE
Martina Flor's The Lettering Seminar
Enrollment closes Tuesday, April 15, at the end of the day. (Refer to the countdown bar on her website.)
Author Linzee Kull McCray explores the history of the humble feed sack, from a plain burlap or cotton sack to exuberantly patterned and colourful bags that thrifty housewives repurposed into frocks, aprons and quilts in the first half of the 20th century. Extensive imagery and reproductions of these fabrics create an inspiring sourcebook of pattern and colour—and offer a welcome visit to a slower-paced way of life.
