THE UPPERCASE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INSPIRATION
Beautiful Books to Inspire, Inform and Delight

At one time, encyclopedias were venerated as ultimate sources of knowledge. People saw the value in investing in these massive multi-volume sets, ordered through the post or from a door-to-door salesman, and they enjoyed the convenience and status of having a reference section in the comfort of their living room. Acquiring an encyclopedia was a commitment to education and learning.
These days, we have an overload of information at our fingertips. Certainly, with Pinterest and Instagram and blogs and podcasts, there is no shortage of visual inspiration for creatives. But as makers, we appreciate—we yearn—for the tangible. And we crave high-quality content that is lovingly curated instead of coming to us in random or algorithmic bits.
Coveting, owning and holding a beautiful and informative ink-on-paper inspiring tome… now that’s something that can’t be experienced virtually!
Since 2016, UPPERCASE has produced 11 gorgeous volumes, totalling 4,800 pages.
Newest in the series:
Volume R: Rag & Pulp
Now shipping!
The 11th volume in the UPPERCASE Encyclopedia of Inspiration is Rag & Pulp.
For artists, crafters, designers and writers, paper is integral to everything we make—it serves as the foundation of our ideas. It's the substrate upon which our thoughts and talents are made visible. But paper is also a means of expression in itself: unique papers are made by hand with innovative and natural materials, artistic techniques like marbling paint its surface, manipulation creates texture and sculptural forms, and through manual and mechanical processes, designers create decorative papers and wallpapers that bring pattern to our daily lives.
Through beautiful imagery and inspiring stories and interviews, Rag & Pulp explores the diversity of contemporary papermakers, manufacturers and artists, all of whom use and elevate paper from a blank white sheet into something uniquely marvellous and expressive.
448 pages, 45 to 50 profiles of people, companies and products amply illustrated through photographs of the artist or company's creative process, details of equipment and techniques, studios and workspaces, and photographs of finished products. June 2023.
Sign up for my newsletter for the latest news about Rag & Pulp and other projects.
Reprint: November 2023
Volume E: Ephemera
A beloved volume is returning!
For a limited time, the preorder reprint price includes shipping in North America or overseas (where available), please select the appropriate option in the menu below.
Another volume is in progress!
Volume N: Notions
Release date Spring 2024 TBA
The 12th volume in the UPPERCASE Encyclopedia of Inspiration is Notions.
Notions will celebrate the remarkable, practical and nostalgic tools and accessories of sewing. With sewing stories and miscellany from textile artists, fabric designers, quilt pattern makers, quilt shop owners, haberdashers, inventors and entrepreneurs, Volume N in the UPPERCASE Encyclopedia of Inspiration will be an entertaining and illuminating A to Z of sewing miscellany.
Sign up for my newsletter for the latest news about Notions and other projects.
By pre-ordering Notions, you are supporting the production of the book: editorial costs, paper stock and print production. The pre-order price also includes free shipping in North America and to destinations around the world. We can ship internationally to the UK, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia. *Release schedule subject to change.
CREATIVE AND CURIOUS
The ethos of the Encyclopedia of Inspiration series is that all volumes are of interest to creative and curious people—we are multi-passionate and find inspiration in all variety of topics, artistic mediums and creative expressions. It is precisely this diversity of topics, eclectic content and interesting juxtapositions that make the series so inspiring! You'll definitely want them all in your creative library!
Quality
Books in the Encyclopedia of Inspiration are beautifully printed in Canada on 100% post-consumer recycled paper stock (interior pages). They come with a bellyband and a dust jacket that can be folded to reveal one of four different designs—a feature that has become a signature of this book series.
Independent
UPPERCASE is an independent publisher. Our books are not available in big box stores or on Amazon. We do not have a book distributor in North America and the majority of our book sales are made directly via our online shop.
Stages
When you order a book, you're supporting the many months (years, sometimes!) of work required to make these books: curating, writing, editing, designing, prepress, printing—each of these stages is a vital part of the process. Pre-ordering forthcoming books helps fund these stages along the way and ensures that the book has an appreciative audience waiting for its release. Sign up for my newsletter for information about upcoming volumes.
Proven
UPPERCASE (Janine Vangool) is known for creating quality books and magazines. The magazine has been published consistently every quarter since 2009. UPPERCASE has a proven track record of getting things done, beautifully and as promised!
Get an Encyclopedia of Inspiration Library!

Explore previous volumes in the Encyclopedia:
Feed Sacks (2016, reissued through Martingale 2019), Botanica (2017, reprinted 2020), Stitchillo (2017, reprinted 2021), Print/Maker (2018, reprinted October 2022), Ephemera (2019), Vintage Life (2019), Quilted (2019), Ceramics (2020), Yarn-Thread-String (2021), Art Supplies (June 2022), Rag & Pulp (June 2023).
Thank you for your support!
I'm always working on ideas future volumes—please sign up to keep in touch!
Book binders have created unique bindings for some of these titles. You can view the projects at the links below.
Thank you to Todd Pattison for organizing this initiative.
Ephemera Bindings
Vintage Life Bindings
Quilted Bindings
Yarn-Thread-String Bindings
Art Supplies Bindings
Below: Yarn Thread String embroidered binding by Jessica Ebert, June 2021
