I didn’t even realize we were in this issue until a couple of people at Phoenix Flea approached my booth and mentioned “I saw you in Draft Magazine! I didn’t know you were local!”

Back in the summer, I was contacted about the possibility of being in the magazine, and provided a few books to the local Draft Magazine photo editor. I never thought it was going to be part of the Gift Guide!

This was back before I started doing the pocket notebooks. Probably why they’re not included in the blurb, but still…how cool is that?

Merry Christmas!

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Even though I have probably a half dozen apps on my phone that are designed to let me record quick thoughts or jot down a list or number, I always fund myself coming back to my trusty pocket notebook. Pen on paper, or even better, a pencil on paper. No waiting for a frozen phone, or a stupid app to update before I can use it, I always know I can count on a notebook to get it done.

The Pocket Notebook phenomenon

I personally have an entire shelf of Field Notes, Moleskines, even some detective-style/Blues Clues flip notebooks. Sure, an app can hold a task list, but can it also hold a doodle while you wait for your car? Or the scores from a pickup dart game? Or capture a quick idea sketch for a table?

My personal pocket notebook is just the right amount of beat up.

The first pocket notebook I made was out of a Crazy Mountain Brewing Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Bitter Ale box, and I carry it every day. Not only is the design of their packaging hilarious, but it’s always fun to answer the “Uh…what’s on your notebook?” question.

Beer boxes are designed to withstand a decent amount of abuse from transport and still protect the precious cargo, so in my opinion, they’re perfect for a pocket notebook. The small size fits in your pants pocket or purse perfectly, usually smaller than your phone.

See the collection of readily available pocket notebooks on my Etsy store, or request a custom two-pack!

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Many times, the design of these boxes is pretty boring, maybe done in only one or two ink colors, since its usually only the distributors and drivers who see them, but I now have a little collection of the case boxes that I find interesting, and have experimented with producing custom books from them.

From a distance this custom Jack Daniel’s cover looks amazing, but upon close inspection, you can see strange folds and bends where the spine meets the front cover.

Generally speaking, the thicker corrugated cardboard isn’t great for these. One would expect the thicker cardboard to be stronger, and therefore better, but it’s just not the case, in my opinion. The thicker covers protect the pages very well, the overall rigidity of the cover makes it feel like a hardback book, but the edges are two ply, and subject to dings and tears, even more so than the traditional thin boxes I’m using.

Custom cover made from a Costco pre-made margarita box.

Another issue I run into is that since the cardboard is thicker, with vertical lines running through them, the box will tend to fold where it wants to, not necessarily where I want it to, specifically where the front and back covers meet the spine. More often than not, they bend, as opposed to fold, which results in uneven lines and odd-sized covers.

Every once in a while I’ll test one out that actually works, like this Costco-brand margarita mix box, but that seems to be the exception to the rule.

So, what I’m saying is

Keep sending in custom requests through the etsy shop. I’ll absolutely keep experimenting with these types of boxes, because I know that if I can nail this down it will really open up some new options for custom work, but for right now, I’m not thrilled with the results.

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Budweiser broke the Internet – at least the craft beer portion of it

Remember last week, when Anheuser-Busch announced they were changing the name of Budweiser to “America”? After the initial belief it this was a joke wore off, and the internet exploded with “The [insert your number here] Beers More American Than Budweiser” lists, all I could think about was what if those other beer labels changed their names to “America” too? You can’t copyright “Freedom”, right?

Then, Bon Appétit came out with their list of 10 beers that *should* be renamed America this morning, so I felt like this had to be done:

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

The craft beer that started the movement.

Anchor Steam Beer

Yuengling Lager

Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale

Russian River Pliny the Elder

Hill Farmstead Everett

The Alchemist Heady Topper

Victory Prima Pils

Allagash White

Of course, if they renamed it to America, they couldn’t just keep calling it ‘White’, too. You have to use all three colors.

Deschutes The Abyss

Fortunately, I created a Budweiser sketchbook/journal before the “America” ridiculousness began, and you can grab it from my Etsy shop.

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