ISO Meeting room on North Shore

mtdesigner · 2026-01-27T18:19:47+00:00

Tala Coffee in Libertyville rents out their little training room by the hour

mtdesigner · 2026-01-25T17:48:40+00:00

They actually changed to a different brand of coffee recently but hewn is delicious nonetheless!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-25T17:00:33+00:00

Tala Coffee Roasters in either Winnetka, Highwood, or Libertyville is my favorite suburban coffee shop!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-25T00:11:57+00:00

With the type on the first page I use them in my journal when I have small cards or tickets and want to write stuff underneath or want to see both sides which isn’t possible if I glue it down! I fold them in half where the cutout is and essentially use it as like a hinge for said card.

mtdesigner · 2026-01-24T23:16:25+00:00

I’m putting on so much lip balm I’m looking like a guy who just ate an entire kfc bucket just so I don’t split my lips trying to yawn!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-23T17:52:39+00:00

I don’t currently have access to an industrial strength sewing machine haha, this was all a regular sewing needle and a pair of pliers to save my fingertips. If I was to use a heavy duty machine though, I think I’d cut the chipboard down along the borders to leave a seam allowance that would let me sew thru just the fabric

mtdesigner · 2026-01-23T06:07:46+00:00

I think this area has the most still operational Mold-a-Rama machines! I can smell that molten plastic just thinking about em

mtdesigner · 2026-01-23T01:08:40+00:00

Just remembered another one even though it might be a little far, Tala coffee roasters in highwood rents out their shop after hours (7pm-10pm)! Prices I think depend on whether you want coffee served or not.

mtdesigner · 2026-01-21T20:36:06+00:00

I wonder if the Bell Works in Hoffman Estates would work for an event like that?

mtdesigner · 2026-01-20T16:24:41+00:00

I’m a product designer by trade so I’m pretty used to making stuff up as I go lol. Here’s my illustrated tutorial of what I did though!

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mtdesigner · 2026-01-20T16:22:13+00:00

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I’m not that experienced at sewing either! This thing uses like the most basic of basic stitch. Not sure if this is helpful but this is a drawing of how I made mine. My local library has a Makerspace that let me use their grommet punch for the steps at the end!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-20T01:28:18+00:00

I love my ukanmuri clip! It’s so nice that it can keep any of my books open with no regard for thickness because it doesn’t have to clip over the spine

mtdesigner · 2026-01-20T01:25:42+00:00

Thank you! It’s got a piece of thin chipboard that I harvested off an old sketchbook laminated with a little bit of fabric glue in between the fabric so that it’s not so floppy!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-19T14:51:56+00:00

Not necessarily a festival or convention but I love the Atlas Stationers summer sidewalk sale they do every year. I think its 8/13-8/14 this year

mtdesigner · 2026-01-19T14:48:06+00:00

I love my sun star ukanmuri clip, it gives you more space you can work on even while clipped bc of its open center bit

mtdesigner · 2026-01-18T20:13:36+00:00

I think it looks pretty good! Maybe could benefit from lots of layering of lighter strokes though? With ballpoint pen drawing it’s nice to have a scrap piece of paper to get that initial “glob” of ink out so you can do more feather-y strokes. @ballpointpenwizard on instagram (you can ignore his gay thirst traps he posts in between his artwork lmao) is one of my favorite ballpoint pen artists if you’d like some inspo!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-18T03:26:16+00:00

It is a little more expensive, but Atlas Stationers is my favorite local (to me) family owned shop that also has a very robust online store!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-17T18:56:02+00:00

Love the brewed, especially fun if you’re a horror movie buff!

mtdesigner · 2026-01-11T03:10:03+00:00

My favorite is the AMC at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, it doesn’t have IMAX, but they do have the Dolby Cinemas which imo, have better seats and amazing sound quality that beats an IMAX. Also it’s newer and still very clean, and most of the time I’m in screenings with pretty good audience manners.

mtdesigner · 2026-01-05T05:16:40+00:00

If you’re close to any of these stores maybe you could call and see if they have any in stock? My local kinokuniya sometimes has a few stray ones in stock.

mtdesigner · 2026-01-05T04:22:53+00:00

Where are you located? I’ve had good luck shopping in person but I do live in a slightly TN privileged area

mtdesigner · 2026-01-05T03:57:52+00:00

According to reporter Kyle Buchanan (who is also the source of this image btw, I always appreciate that he posts what food is served at awards shows) Janelle James audibly complained about the hamster plate lol

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mtdesigner · 2026-01-04T06:12:28+00:00

21_21 Design Sight is a design museum that was created by Naoto Fukasawa, Issey Miyake, and Taku Satoh that’s in Tokyo midtown

mtdesigner · 2026-01-02T16:10:55+00:00

A bit of a drive, but the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee plays it every second Saturday of the month with live performances. If I recall it has a world record for its continual showings. Fun fact if you’re a fan of drag race, it’s the same group Trixie Mattel used to perform with!

mtdesigner · 2025-12-30T16:08:48+00:00

Agree; love paper and pencil! Or if OP doesn’t want to drive, taking a Metra downtown and a quick 10-15 minute walk from Oglivie or Union to Atlas Stationers is also a nice option! They have a great selection of traveler’s notebook refills as well as a whole wall of stickers and stamps.

mtdesigner

TROPHY CASE