I knew I had some old diaries and journals stashed in my cupboard, so it was convenient to retrieve them for reference in my Jot book while I'm visiting my parents.
I had forgotten the extent of paper stuff I'd saved: my recess notebook from early elementary school; the letters I'd ghostwrite from my pretend penpal; the journal I kept after a friend died when I was 16; notes from friends passed during recess in grade 12; correspondence from friends when we were all off in different places in our first year of college; an illustrated diary from my first year at the Alberta College of Art.
This is all golden material for the personal narrative that I'm weaving through the Jot book. Thanks, little Janine!
Also, I found this gem of a poem with an illustration (click the image to view larger):
While I'm taking a bit of time off this week, my printer is busy printing the next issue and getting it ready for you!
cover by Helen Cann
Mailing data for the next UPPERCASE (#71 Oct-Nov-Dec) will be compiled the first days of September. One week away!
Please subscribe, renew or give a gift subscription by August 31st— your support through subscriptions makes the magazine possible.
Thankfully, UPPERCASE magazine and books remain unaffected by the newest 50% tariff. I agree with the decision to walk away from "negotiations" because there is no "deal" to be made with Trump.
I was going to create a jotter notebook to accompany the Jot book, but I have set that idea aside. I'm fortunate that it was only an idea and not in production. There is no point in planning something that would be so heavily (and unfairly) taxed for the majority of my customers. I do not want UPPERCASE customers to serve as conduits for tariff revenue, nor would I cover tariff costs on the customer's behalf.
However, these tariffs and countermeasures will harm many creative small businesses; notably the 50% tariff on envelopes, and papergoods like blank journals, notebooks, diaries and "letter and memorandum pads and similar articles, of paper or paperboard."
Did you know that in its early days, UPPERCASE was "UPPERCASE gallery, books and papergoods"?
I designed greeting cards, stationery and handmade notebooks. They were sold in my own physical store in downtown Calgary, online via my website, and through a Canadian distributor.
I can understand and sympathize with the stress that Trump's 50% tariffs will cause for a small Canadian business when many customers often come from the USA.
A tariff is a tax on goods, collected by the government that applies it. It is added to the cost of the goods sold and is paid for by the customer (although it is typically collected and remitted by the seller in order to ship goods across the border). The inflated price makes purchasing the goods prohibitive, and therefore harms both the seller and the purchaser.
❤ Let's show some love to our Canadian papergoods and stationery small businesses who are faced with uncertainty and financial strain through the potential loss of customers. I've started a thread in the UPPERCASE Circle; show your support.
UPPERCASE books and magazines are fully made in Canada using Canadian materials—100% post-consumer recycled paper on the interior pages, Canadian-made paper for the cover, and the kraft mailers are 100% made in Canada with Canadian pulp. I don't think the tariff on kraft paperboard will apply to how goods are packaged, only perhaps on the import of those items.
Invariably, when I mention anything Trump-related in my newsletter, I receive a nasty note or two from a Trump supporter. Typically, they are rude, anonymous letters from people who have never purchased anything from my shop. Often, they aren't even on this newsletter list. I'm not sure how that happens (bots? AI?), but if you're a Trump supporter and are somehow still on my newsletter list, please allow me to show you the door: Unsubscribe from the newsletter
I am grateful to the many, many American readers who have been supportive and generous across our shared border and over many years.
We will stand up for goodness, generosity and democracy, together.
Free CARTONS to Canadian non-profits
I've closed this form for now. So far, I'm giving away 68 cartons (2,040 magazines) to various educational and community non-profits. My printer is busy packing and shipping. When they've finished, we'll catch our breath (and tally the shipping costs!), and I'll see what's next.
I'm starting to plan issue #72 (Jan-Feb-March 2027). A new batch of open calls will be unveiled next week! For now, you can start percolating on the following themes:
This message has been sent to a general list. If you've already pre-ordered Jot, thank you!!! If you're already an UPPERCASE print subscriber, thank you!!! (Please refer to your order receipts from shop@uppercasemagazine.com.)
100% of sales from Little U are donated to UNICEF for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Comments & replies to Janine
I am happy to hear from you and welcome your comments!