Here is a quick-ish update on products we hope to have in stock before the holidays – including three I haven’t announced before.
“Cricket Tables” by Derek Jones
This book should arrive at the warehouse any day now. Is the cover cloth going to be that bright green? I hope not. But if it is, we’ll include a warning label. Retail $33.
“By Hammer in Hand” letterpress poster by Brian Stuparyk
We should receive our press proofs today. Unless something is dog-a-whumpus, these will sell starting in mid-November. We ordered 500 (probably too many). Retail $25.
“Workbook 2024”
This is something I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time. I record all the things I build in an antique “Daybook” – an old accounting ledger. I also write down design changes for my chairs, how much they sold for, the exact finish I used and where the customer lives. It is an invaluable record of my work.
You can’t buy a decent ledger shaped like this anymore, so we decided to make one. The “Workbook 2024” is a 64-page ledger printed on lovely #60 smooth and undyed paper. The pages are sewn and casebound in thick, cloth-covered boards. (We are using the same printing and bindery plant that does all our color books.) The book measures 4-1/2″ wide x 11-1/4″ tall.
The interior pages are printed with blue and red lines that help you organize your information. And, because we can’t leave well enough alone, we added a short quotation to the bottom of each entry page. Megan selected all the quotations on the left-facing pages (verso). I picked all the ones on the right-hand pages (recto).
We are only printing 1,000 of these. Then we will see if we should do this again for 2025. Retail $27. (Note: Our margin is terrible on these and we don’t think we will be able to sell them wholesale.) These will be in stock by the end of November.
The Anarchist’s A-square: A Kit
This is a fun project I have been working hard on. We are trying to create a three-piece kit of parts that you can assemble to create your own A-square (the tool shown on the cover of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest”).
The parts will be made of Baltic birch and have all the joinery and embellishments cut. You will just need to do a little fine fitting and then glue the parts together. I have made dozens of these squares for customers and friends and love them. And they are useful tool as well.
We are waiting on a prototype this week and hope to start production as soon as possible. Retail: under $50. But I don’t know enough to state a firm price.
Wooden Bookmarks
My daughter Madeline is itching to get back into the sticker business. So I created these lovely wooden bookmarks that are printed in the US on a two-ply veneer. The bookmarks are 2” x 6” and come in a variety of species. The woodcut at the top of the bookmark is from Rudy Everts. The quotation is from John Brown.
We have long been asked to make a nice bookmark. These are nice. Retail $5. Maddy will set up an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) system this week and should start selling them next week.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. The Anarchist’s Gift Guide starts Nov. 10. If you want a preview of one of the items, check out today’s substack entry.
Will there be a 2nd issue of Stick Chair Journal?
Yes; Chris is working on it – but we’re swamped with more immediate things right now!
Clipboards, bookmarks, and notebooks. Fun, and useful, obsessions I’ve had since college (I’m a retired old fart now).
Thank you for your posts.
I will be ordering one (maybe more?) of the Workbook. I’ve used a couple different kinds over the years and most just don’t hold up. The bookmarks are something else I’ll likely be purchasing. I have to watch my pennies but sometimes you just have to get what you want.
My water bottle was recently involuntarily rehomed and my replacement lacks any distinguishing marks. After bookmarks, if there are stickers to be had I will be an early adopter.
So exciting to see all these additions. I’m particularly thrilled about the workbook – I was literally just at a store searching for something like this with no luck. Can’t wait to get my hands on one.
I am very interested in the workbook . I swiped a similar book the railroads used from my railroading friend and used it to keep up what I make out of copper. It is now filled up… they do not make them anymore and can not swipe another from him as he passed away. I spent over two hours on the net looking for the same thing but could not find one that size. The reason I did is that I am afraid y’all will sell out before I can get the two I would like this year . I will have to trust Lady Luck to score them ….but unfortunately Lady Luck does not smile on me most of the time ! Maybe this time will be different ….
Likely not the intended purpose, but the workbook looks like it would be perfect to keep track of things in the Dungeons and Dragons game I run…
I am eagerly awaiting the Dutch Tool Chest book hinted in some earlier blog posts! Any word when it might be available?
Soon. I hope.
I’m excited for all these items, especially the posters, bookmarks, and the workbook. I’ve been searching for some kind of ledger to document my projects, and nothing seemed right. Your workbook fits the bill perfectly!
I might be weird, but I hope the Cricket Book is bright green.
Will the posters all be the same color, or will there be different variants?
The poster will be available in only one configuration: black + tan inks. Offering multiple inks would be an even bigger risk (we tried this with the Chair Family Tree poster and it didn’t work. No one wanted green.)
Gotta admit, I kinda like the green…
Wait until you see it. It makes Kermit look like a mudpie.
How Green Is My Book? I’m looking forward to finding out, having just ordered a copy!
I love the logo on the workbook cover. It would be a great thing to put on a bookmark or sticker