Hello Reader,
I'm sending this instead of my usual All About YOU weekend newsletter.
How do you remain optimistic in the face of injustice and nonsense?
Someone stole a few flowerpots from the front yard of my studio. Like making a sandcastle—without the innocence and fun—they turned the pots to discard the heavy soil and walked off, leaving me with piles of dirt in the upside-down form of what once was.
Realizing that there's someone roaming the neighbourhood who steals flowerpots made me deeply sad. At first, I couldn't understand why it had such an emotional impact on me.
What could be the motive for taking them? They were new ones purchased last year, but not really that valuable. Perhaps I'm unaware of the market for stolen pots. Or, if someone took them for their own use, I struggle to understand someone who would attempt to sow seeds or nurture a plant in an ill-gotten container. It makes no sense to me.
But then, I saw parallels between this juvenile theft and Trump.
He has upended stability and is attempting to take away the container, dismantling the ethics, systems and institutions that hold country and society together.
That's why I'm sad.
When someone steals something from us, our instinct might be to gather what's "ours" and protect it. Hide it. Stockpile it. Lock it up. Take it—and ourselves—away from everyone.
Instead, do the opposite.
Make more. Give more. Share it. Make it free.
CREATIVE BOOST SUBSCRIPTION GIVEAWAY
I am giving away 25 Creative Boost subscriptions. If you're going through a tough time financially, medically, or for other reasons, you are welcome to enter to win one of 25 free subscriptions. Read the form carefully. Closes April 10 at 5 pm MDT.
If you'd like to sponsor a fellow reader to give someone else in the community a free subscription, you can sponsor a reader here. This will anonymously sponsor another UPPERCASE reader's subscription, drawn randomly from the list of current applicants.
doing good with little u
100% of Little U sales go to UNICEF Canada. $2,805.12 was raised in net sales from January - March, 2025. I have rounded it up to $3,000 for the donation for the first quarter of the year.
the back issue sale has been extended through the weekend
Save 25% off back issues when you purchase three or more. The sale has been extended through the end of day, April 6, 2025.
Low inventory on issue 50
Issue 50 (July-Aug-Sept 2021) is the "Art + Science" issue of UPPERCASE magazine. This one has low inventory—only 88 available. Here's part of what I wrote for the editor's letter for the 50the issue:
This magazine began as an experiment. A graphic designer by profession, I wanted to create my own publication—one that filled a void in design magazines. I envisioned a magazine with good design as its foundation, but also a publication that gathered its inspiration from a broader perspective—encompassing the eclectic worlds of art, illustration, design, typography and crafts of all sorts (with an appreciation of vintage, too). UPPERCASE has really grown into its motto of being “for the creative and curious.”
My hypothesis that there would be other creatives out there like me—people inspired by looking outside of their own particular creative specialty, open to optimism and serendipity—has proven to be true. Thank you so very much!
Within this milestone issue, I’m exploring the intersection of art and science, as well as rubber stamps and related printmaking concepts: relief (both in terms of texture and emotion), making good impressions and the satisfaction (and necessity) of repetition.
The newest issue is out now and includes the 6th edition of the UPPERCASE Surface Pattern Design Guide.
