UPPERCASE

Happy weekend, my friends. I'm looking forward to doing some block printing tomorrow, January 18, with Ali. Want to join us? Deadline extension... Coming up next week—entries for the Surface Pattern Design Guide close. Entrants will also be considered for many professional licensing and learning opportunities—including a Fabric Collection with Windham Fabrics. This opportunity only comes once every two years! I've extended the deadline to Wednesday, January 22, 23:59pm MST. → The entry fee is...

The Pattern Journal submission by Courtney Graben Hello Reader, I've been immersed in gathering and reviewing content for UPPERCASE issue #65—this issue will contain the 6th edition of the Surface Pattern Design Guide. The overall theme is "the many dimensions of surface pattern." It's going to be gorgeous and so full of inspiration and valuable information. If you'd like to be one of the 100 portfolios featured in the guide, I've extended the deadline by two days. (As a Canadian, when I...

Halfpenny Postage card by Cassandra Ott, selected from SPDG5 Hello Reader, Creativity—using your mind and hands to make something—is risky. The fear of failure, so-called "imposter syndrome," and oversensitivity to rejection can prevent us from achieving our full potential. What if what we create doesn't match our original vision? There's always the possibility that it might not work. What if our time and energy don't pay off? There's always the possibility that someone else won't like what...

Hello, my friends, As I was vacuuming the house today, I was consciously grateful for the privilege of owning a home and being able to clean it. Tidying the bookshelves, doing the laundry, cooking dinner... these are luxuries. I am sending this message to everyone on my list so that we may collectively share our concern and compassion for friends, family, subscribers and strangers affected by the devastating and ongoing fires in California. My brother lives just north of the Palisades fire,...

Instagram by Elizabeth Leyk, whose Created with Human Intelligence badge is featured within. Dear Reader, Welcome to a new year of creative potential! We're starting the year with a new issue befitting our present moment. Within issue #64 (Jan-Feb-March), you'll discover how creativity supports us through challenging times, guides us through transitions and helps us transform into who we're meant to be. I'm very proud of this issue, this magazine, and the community we've built...

Hello Reader, As one does when you're the sole person running a business—particularly one that is online and open 24-7, I'm checking in on this last day of the year—exporting my inventory reports, checking messages and some other year-end bookkeeping. But I'm also definitely still in "holiday mode" and have been sleeping in precisely 15 minutes later each day, which is sort of funny. I slept in until 9:30 this morning! Amazing! I will get crafty this afternoon by playing with my feed sacks...

Tara Lilly's collection with Windham Fabrics Hello Reader, Do you dream of having your own fabric collection? Of seeing your designs on gorgeous greeting cards? Do you want to promote your surface pattern design portfolio to an educated and appreciative audience? Are you looking at 2025 with determination and ready to be proactive about your career? Tara Lilly's collection with Windham Fabrics If you have a New Year resolution to get your patterns out and about, I invite you to enter the...

Hello Reader, Thank you for all your support this year—here's a little look back at our year in print! quilt by Rachaeldaisy Dodd Volume N: Notions The biggest thing on my to-do list this year was bringing the Notions book into the world. Researching, writing, curating and designing this volume was an immense project. If you haven't seen this book yet, take a look inside here. It celebrates the remarkable, practical and nostalgic tools and accessories of sewing, with sewing stories and...

Hello Reader, In this December edition of the Pattern Journal, I'm sharing reader submissions from the past couple of months that caught my eye. Jeanette Clawson If you have an end-of-year or New Year resolution to get your patterns out and about, I invite you to enter the UPPERCASE Surface Pattern Design Guide! The sixth edition of the UPPERCASE Surface Pattern Design Guide will be published in issue #65 (April-May-June 2025). The guide will feature 100 portfolios, and entrants will also be...

Hello Reader, I've been doing a lot of visioning for the year ahead. As a publisher, I'm used to planning about four months out for an issue of UPPERCASE magazine and nine to twelve months for a book project. Those are the practical in-production months once the project officially starts, but in fact, they have often been in the dreaming and ideation stage for years! I've got many more book ideas than time, which keeps me motivated and moving forward. I've been teasing the next *brand-new*...