Hasta La Ideas

Since it is International Typewriter Day, it seems fitting to share with you a project that I have in the works…

A richly illustrated book full of never-before published typewriter memorabilia, intriguing historical documents and entertaining anecdotes, The Typewriter: a Graphic History of the Beloved Machine is a beautiful ode to an all but obsolete creative companion.

It is an ambitious 224-page hardcover book which I hope to fund through Kickstarter next month. The concept for the book is one I have been refining for many years and I can’t wait to share more about it with you. In the next few weeks, I’ll be shooting and editing a video in preparation for the project launch on Kickstarter.

If you’re not already signed up for the UPPERCASE e-newsletter, please do that here and you’ll be informed when the Kickstarter project goes live. If you’d like to help spread the word about The Typewriter: a Graphic History of the Beloved Machine, please drop me a line! The success of a Kickstarter campaign relies not only on the strength of the project concept, but also the support it gets through social media so your help is very much appreciated.

Click the image to see even more!Too funny not to share! Thanks, Kari, for the link.

A project by Exit Creative.

card by Nancy & BettyNancy & Betty Studio is the name of the stationery company created by Hannah Bidmead. Named after her grandmother Betty and her twin sister, Hannah’s studio is based in Canterbury, England. “Inspiration also comes form the simple and often quirky things, involving subjects such as typewriters and Polaroid cameras—beautiful, functional objects. We like simple graphics and strong colours, with a nod to retro themes,” writes Hannah. With typewriters as graphic inspiration, deco tape and fun visual puns, Nancy & Betty is right up UPPERCASE’s alley!

Perfect tapeMixed tape

A few weeks ago, I was asked to contribute to a post on eBay’s online magazine, The Inside Source. As an avid eBayer (it lit fire to my typewriter addiction), I was happy to oblige. They wanted a handmade Christmas card idea, so I wanted to combine my typewriters, typography and something easy to make. 

an UPPERCASE typographic ornament

Here’s a simple project for a greeting card that transforms into a tree ornament. Cut out a circle or other shape of your choosing so that it is slightly smaller than your folded card stock. Decorate the paper ornament with cut-up Christmas cards from years past, old wrapping paper or other pretty paper. I’ve used a page from a discarded dictionary. 

I decided to play on the idea of a “typographic ornament” by cutting out an uppercase initial for each recipient.

(Quick tip for perfectionists in a hurry: print out letters at the desired size from your printer, lay the printed letter on top of your decorative paper and simply cut around the letter, through both layers at one time.)

To attach the finished ornament to the greeting card, position the ornament on the card and use a small hole punch to pierce through the top of the ornament and right through the card. Make a loop out of pretty twine or ribbon and thread it through the holes, from the inside of the card outward. As long as the knot on the back of the loop is larger than the hole, everything will be held in place securely. Decorate the card with a typewritten or handwritten greeting and there you go! (I love to use my vintage typewriters—it is fun to type out a line of text the old fashioned way.)