Studio Notes #105

Hello, My Friends. Here are this week’s Studio Notes™—quick bits delivered to you each Friday.

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Came across Valeria Duque’s series of embroidered photographs and it made me happy. Choosing to cross-stitch only portions of the photo with color-matched thread makes for such an interesting image.

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I've been a big fan of just about everything that comes out of Studio Neat, so it was a no-brainer to back their latest project, the Mark Four custom fountain pen. Like their previous pens (which are favorites of mine) the new fountain pen will also have that ceramic coated steel with a magnetic cap and a “buy once for life” attention to detail.

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I now understand that Digger is an impossible movie to market. The trailer unfortunately can’t reveal the true meaning of the film. But despite the mixed critical reviews, I think it’s the best movie I’ve seen this year. What an incredible creative piece of work from all involved. Ignore the chatter about it, and just go see it with an open mind. In the end, its message is a profound and important one. It’s also really bizarre and hilarious and moving. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. ★★★★★

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After polling Japanese students, Kokuyo designed a “book-hugging paperweight” that keeps hardcover books open. It’s a heavy, cast-iron or brass, mustache-shaped bar that follows the shape of an open book, allowing hands-free reading. I suspect this would rule for cookbooks or practicing calligraphy or lettering.

This Week’s Poll

Last week I asked which musical instrument you’d like to learn and unsurprisingly guitar and piano took the top spots. Start with the ukulele! It’s less overwhelming than guitar but a lot will transfer when you make the jump from four to six strings.

New Letterpress Prints

Danmade This Week

I made a little poster to help promote the Secret Club™ this week, realizing I need to be better about promoting the Secret Club™ :-) It’s a rather insane deal if you’re looking to pick up even a few of my fonts—plus more good stuff. Marketing a tiny business in 2026 is...challenging. But I need to get better at it. Or at least get less uncomfortable at the idea of “selling” what I’m making. It’s a balance! As some of you know, I’m sure.

In other news, Mel and I made a quick trip up to Vermont to see leaves. We found them, and they helped with a little recharge. They always do.

Have a great weekend, and see you back here next week!

Cheers,