Hasta La Ideas

Valentina’s planted issue # 12 insert.

Valentina, a subscriber from Argentina, sent in pictures of her planted insert from issue #12.

Valentina writes, “I’m so in love with the magazine! When it arrives home I jump all over the place (literally)!”

Eric is busy getting ready for the launch of his Spring/Summer Collection tomorrow.My neighbour Eric Goodwin is launching his Spring/Summer collection of bags, belts and watches at tomorrow’s First Thursday celebrations in Art Central. He let me snap a few details of the preparations. Eric was including issue #12 (which is nearly sold out, by the way!); I’ll share his article below.

EG Forge: Canvas Bags Made by Hand
by Eric Goodwin

Nestled into one of the studio spaces in downtown Calgary’s Art Central building (and a neighbour to UPPERCASE!) is EG Forge Cases and Baggage. Every day, proprietor Eric Goodwin is busy in his studio, designing and sewing.

“When I design a bag, I always like to think that it will be taken on adventures like glacier crossings, safaris and expeditions through the rainforest. Even though in all likelihood they will never be taken to places like these, I still design every bag so that it could. I design every bag to be as durable and functional as possible, and I don’t consider the form and style of a bag very much when I design it. I think that the style and form of a bag will come naturally if it’s designed well. This is what sets EG Forge bags apart. I don’t put fake buckles on a bag for style, I don’t use plastic in any of my bags and I add things like finger loops for snaps so you don’t crush whatever is inside the pocket.

Apart from the actual design of the bag, I use materials that are durable and strong, yet classic and stylish. I use waxed canvas, which is waterproof yet supple and develops an amazing patina over time; oil tanned leather, which is soft and flexible to the touch and waterproof as well; and I use antiqued brass hardware that will never rust, chip or lose its finish. I really design every bag to be as sturdy and durable as possible so it will never fail when you need it.”

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Come on out to Art Central tomorrow from 5-9pm for this and other fun and creative events. (UPPERCASE is having a party! Try your luck at games of change, indulge in Crave cupcakes and marvel at the sparkling new issue #13.)

Skye’s early mock up of Paper Bliss.

“Not surprising, perhaps, for someone so visually orientated, I started with a visual representation of my idea. I gathered images from the net and from things I’d made over the year and plonked them all in a desktop folder called ‘Paper Book’. I then did a rather bad mock-up I now realise (though I am a designer in many senses of the word, I am no book designer!), scattering a myriad of images that took my fancy around square pages in INDESIGN, which I use despite not really knowing an awful lot about it, technically speaking!

I had this 20-odd page document printed onto lovely heavy-weight paper, spiral bound it and wrote an introduction and a few sample projects, plus a contents page. I pretty much made that up, as I wasn’t sure yet which projects would make the cut or not. The ideas I had for things to make were really rather a ‘wish list’…I’d find out if I could do them afterwards (I’m a cart-before-the-horse kind of person!).”

Next up: Crafter-noons and a suitcase full of paper

While you are waiting for your favourite postal person to deliver issue #13, we thought we would share recent work from one of our previous contributors. Skye Rogers shared stories of her life with paper in issue #12.

Skye has been an illustrator for a good part of her adult life. But the long apprenticeship to her career was her childhood passion: she has been drawing on, cutting up, stamping on and pasting bits of paper together since she was very young.  

Her book, Paper Bliss was released on April 1st.

illustration by Camilla EngmanAngela Ritchie’s Ace Camp is heading back to visit Camilla Engman (Gothenburg, Sweden) for the third time!

“The group will be staying at Hotel Flora and will have time to explore Gothenburg together and on their own. Camilla will lead a 4 day workshop and take us to her inspirational places in Gothenburg. This Ace Camp will include an excursion to the west coast archipelago and the town of Marstand where you will collect your imagery in sketchbooks and transform them into a painting in the studio. Artists of all levels, from beginner to experienced are encouraged to participate. May 13-20, 2012” For full details and registration, click here.

(Please note that the 2-colour art print is sold out.)

If you can’t make the trip, the The Suitcase Series: Camilla Engman that Camilla and I made a few years ago will immerse you in her art, craft and culture. The book is available for purchase here.