The magazine is primarily long interview/profile pieces with luminaries in different subsections of the type world such as veteran designer Erik Spiekermann, superhot letterer Jessica Hische, webtype expert Jason Santa Maria, and quality freefont pioneer Jos Buivenga. Earls asks good questions, and they give interesting responses.

For as timeless (or even classical) an art form as type design is, there is a recurring discussion of the very interesting times we are in, in terms of webtype formats, technologies, pricing models and so on. One needn’t be a total typophile to appreciate it; it’s probably the clearest resource I have seen for where the present and future of webtype.

And the title of the magazine comes from a spread that ends each interview, where the designer answers the eternal question: if you could use just 8 typefaces for the rest of your life, which would you choose? I love hearing people’s answers to these sorts of questions (and if you do too may I suggest Types Best Remembered/Forgotten? And because we aren’t holding our breath for Earls to profile us, we’ve preemptively answered the question for ourselves.

• Kirsten: I use the same five almost all the time… Futura, Avenir, Helvetica, Century Gothic, Cursive Handwriting
• Jessica: Some obvious. Some cheesy. Some very similar to others. Some I really like, but haven’t yet had the pleasure of using. Futura (obviously), Avenir, Clarendon, Century Schoolbook, Cooper Black (that’s right, I said it), Mrs. Eaves, Rockwell, Neutra
• Owen: Sentinel (I was going to say Clarendon, but the folks in 8 Faces #1 convinced me that Sentinel supercedes it now), Neutraface, Knockout, Omnes Pro, Futura, Freight (love the versatility of the whole family but even if it was just Freight Micro it might make it onto the list anyway), Bodoni, AGaramond
• Samantha: Estilo Text, Vendetta, Neutraface, Clarendon/Sentinel, Futura, Garamond, Omnes Pro, GarageGothic (good thing we’re married)

There will be a second issue in a longer print run before Christmas, themed “You.”

Row 1: DarriellesClayArt; weegreenspot; TortoiseLovesDonkey
Row 2: SucculentsGalore; mudpuppy
Row 3: VivaFlora; PigeonToeCeramics; tohold

There are days when writing a blog is a little tough — days when it seems like there isn’t anything new or cool out there. And then there are days when you see something like this, and it is so cool that it more than makes up for the days that were less than inspiring. It is a collaboration between the fantastic Canadian band Arcade Fire and artist Chris Milk, and built with the help of some of the minds at Google. I don’t want to ruin it by talking about it too much, just take a look.

After you watch it, you can learn more about the project here.

Thanks Chrissy for sending the link!

Nathan Godding has a pretty nice collection of old stamps!
Check out more of his stamp collections here.

Row 1: KidsHaus; darlingclementine; JasonHillDesign
Row 2: moirama; minkeeprints; jlabieni
Row 3: eighthourday; strawberryluna
Row 4: petitcollage; beethings; wonting

We know it can be difficult to sort through the huge selection of handmade stuff on Etsy, so if like Lisa you’d like our help selecting, or if there is a Schmetsy you’d like to see, please let us know. you can comment below, or send us an email. Click here to see all of the past Schmetsy.

Check out Kat’s flickr site here.
Personal website here.

Check out Brandi’s flickr site here.
Personal site here.
Company site here.

What you may not know is that after seven years of running his studio, he took a full year off for inspiration and exploration, and intends to do this every seven years. He justifies this decision admirably well, and as he is prone to saying, Having guts always works out for me.

He showed slides of a few of the projects from his second one, from which he recently returned, from Bali. His first, where he stayed in New York, he considers mostly a failure. And yet, a page from a diary from that first year headed Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far has provided him the content for dozens of high-profile projects for a variety of clients over the last several years (plus a very-cleverly designed book and community-participatory website).

Some of the entries are thought-provoking like koans, like Jenny Holzer truisms. Others are shockingly banal, at least when you’re expecting Holzer-level thinking. But the typographic settings of them (often made with collaborators such as Marian Bantjes) are always interesting.

Oh in case you’re wondering: this Absolut ad isn’t Sagmeister but a complete (if well-executed) ripoff of his style.

You’ve most likely seen Coralie Bickford-Smith’s lovely Penguin clothbound classics. And while they are beautiful, I think Ms. Bickford-Smith has outdone herself with the new covers for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books. Spend some time at her site looking around at some more of her work; she has a real knack for creating covers that work really well in a series and are desirable art objects individually. Hers are the sort of book covers that make you want to own the book regardless of the content.

via Ace Jet 170

Row 1: Fluffy Kitten Print by animalsincolor; Silver Origami Kitty Earrings by AllegroArts; Cat Girl Gold Pendant Necklace by kerenasaf

Row 2: SnuggyLuggage Vintage Upcycled Repurposed Suitcase Pet Bed by ThePopStopsHere; Retro Modern Pet Bed by likekittysville; Kitten Awesome Pocket Journal by nowvember

Row 3 (Rings): I’m All Ears – The White Kitten Ring by TheGoldenPlague; Ine Ring – Feline by HouseofJanis; Kitty Gentleman Ring by soradesigns

Row 4: Nest of Kittens by edisonrex; Keyboard Cat Embroidery by RachelMckay; Cat Disguise Felt Pin by hanaletters

Row 5 (Cat Hats!): Pet Party Hat by xmoonbloom; Pharaoh the Cat by shan329; Meow-La-La Mini Wool Classic Beret by ToScarboroughFair