from carissa potter, whose stationery and gift line, people i've loved, has been featured on design sponge, cool hunting, and apartment therapy.

times can get tough, and this book is here to support women through those moments. its uplifting and positive message helps women cope with depression, grief, anxiety and stress. it is a reminder that it’s normal to feel those emotions, and it provides support for navigating through them. like a hug from a friend, it will become a go-to positivity boost for women dealing with life's difficult times. through practical guidance, meaningful messages of empathy, honesty, art and humor, it’s okay to feel things deeply gives women the encouragement they need exactly when they need it. 

• vibrant illustrations throughout
• positive message promotes self-love
• helps women tackle difficult emotions like depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness, and grief

this essential phrasebook collects the most colorful, explicit, and outrageous ways to tell people off in every part of the world. featuring dozens of different languages, the sayings range from everyday swears to family curses to expressions for x-rated relations with animals. phonetic pronunciation is provided so that readers can curse like a native, and handy illustrations provide visual guides to these foreign exclamations. perfect for the international traveler who may need to wish an enemy a painful death, insult a person's grandmother, or accuse someone's mother of having intimate relations with bears in the forest.

why is art magical? how can it make us happy? how art can make you happy offers the keys to unlocking a rich and rewarding source of joy in life. this easy, breezy handbook is full of insight that will help regular people begin a more inspiring and less stressful relationship with art. with tips on how to visit museums, how to talk about art at cocktail parties, and how to let art wake you up to the world around you, this little guide makes it possible for anyone to fall in love with art, whether for the first time or all over again.

an imaginative and heartfelt book that reminds us that there is no loss without love.

when grief first arrives, it is like an elephant-so big that there is hardly room for anything else. but over time, grief can become smaller and smaller-first a deer, then a fox, a mouse, and finally a flickering firefly in the darkness leading us down a path of loving remembrance.

this lyrical work is an empathetic and comforting balm for anyone who is experiencing grief, be it grieving the loss of a loved one or losses in the world around us.

reassuring feelings book: children can often feel confused by their emotions. the gentle voice and soft illustrations in this book help to make these emotions feel less frightening, and the hopeful ending provides a reassuring message that grief will transform over time.

this unique gift book is a reminder that whatever someone may be going through, they always deserve flowers. when it's the most difficult to find the right words, we turn to flowers to express our compassion and care. this book is like a bouquet of flowers in book form. based on tucker nichols's celebrated multimedia art project entitled flowers for sick people, this book gathers vibrant floral paintings and pairs them with poetic dedications that pay tribute to a kaleidoscope of human experiences, from acts of unsung heroism to mundane moments of everyday beauty: “flowers for anyone currently eating a cinnamon bun in a hospital cafeteria,” “flowers for the last time you laughed so hard it hurt,” “flowers for spectacular failures,” and more.

The wise words of science fiction icon octavia e. butler live on in this beautiful and giftable little volume. “there’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. there’s no magic bullet. instead there are thousands of answers—at least. you can be one of them if you choose to be.”

originally published in essence magazine in the year 2000, octavia e. butler’s essay “a few rules for predicting the future” offers an honest look into the inspiration behind her science fiction novels and the importance of studying history and taking responsibility for our actions if we are to move forward.

organized into four main rules, this short essay reminds readers to learn from the past, respect the law of consequences, be aware of their perspectives, and count on the surprises.

from the wildly popular Instagram account, disappointing affirmations hilariously counters the culture of relentless toxic positivity with a realistic take on a disappointing world where failure is always an option, but that’s okay. pairing lovely vacation photos taken by the author himself with sayings that are amusingly self-critical, encouraging, disillusioned, or all three at once, tarnowski points to feelings commonly unacknowledged or hidden and spotlights them with humor, wit, and empathy. you can do it! but you probably won’t. but also: be kind to yourself, asshole. transforming and re-envisioning the material for print while adding tons of new work, this is the funny-because-it’s-true, sneaky self-help gift book for anyone who isn’t happy all the time and doesn’t feel seen in the whole “positive mental attitude” culture.

what does it mean to be vulnerable and defiant at the same time? in deeply grateful and entirely unsatisfied, author and artist amanda happé poses this question with disarming honesty and humor. her colorful marker drawings and quirky hand-lettered sentiments offer an idiosyncratic take on life's challenges, reminding the reader that "you are the sign you've been waiting for." brimming with compassion, empathy, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, deeply grateful and entirely unsatisfied is, in happé's own words, "so good it's odd."

camo, by photographer thandiwe muriu, is the first publication to chronicle the work of this international artist, celebrating the vibrant portraits she creates that combine cultural textiles and beauty ideologies. muriu takes us on a colorful, reflective journey through her world as a woman living in modern kenya as she reinterprets contemporary african portraiture. as the sole woman operating in the male-dominated advertising photography industry in kenya, thandiwe muriu has repeatedly confronted questions around the role of women in society, the place of tradition, and her own self-perception. these experiences inspired her personal project of cultural reflection: the Camo series.

100 years of modern iran: simple history series zine #6 is a concise and compelling overview of a century of political upheaval, revolution, and transformation in iran. covering the years 1891–1991, this zine explores the fall of the monarchy, foreign coups, and the rise of the world’s first islamic theocracy.

part of the simple history series by j. gerlach and published by microcosm, it offers sharp insight into how iran’s modern history connects with the judeo-christian west’s ongoing tensions with the islamic world.

a fast, thoughtful read for curious minds.

zine / pamphlet
published by microcosm

pocket queer wisdom is a vibrant, pocket-sized collection of quotes and illustrations celebrating queer heroes past and present. filled with words to live by from icons like frida kahlo, audre lorde, alan turing, sylvia rivera, and many more, this little book is designed to uplift, empower, and inspire.

featuring voices of those who championed civil equality, lived boldly, and left legacies of queer-minded brilliance, this is a tribute to the trailblazers who made it possible for future generations to dream bigger and rise higher.

carry it with you for a daily dose of courage, pride, and perspective.

this book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.

threadbare: clothes, sex, & trafficking is a powerful graphic novel that uncovers the hidden connections between the global garment industry, the sex trade, and human trafficking. through beautifully illustrated comics and sharp storytelling, author anne elizabeth moore unravels the threads of gender, labor, and exploitation in a globalized economy.

both eye-opening and deeply engaging, this book challenges readers to rethink who makes our clothes, under what conditions, and at what cost.

paperback / graphic novel
published by microcosm

one drop: shifting the lens on race asks a powerful question—what does it mean to be Black? rooted in the history of the “one-drop rule,” where any trace of Black ancestry defined a person as Black, this book examines how that legacy continues to influence racial identity today.

from legal policies to personal experiences, one drop explores how ideas about race have evolved—or haven’t—over the last hundred years, challenging readers to reconsider the meaning of Blackness in america.

paperback

feminasty is a sharp, hilarious, and deeply personal collection of essays by erin gibson—comedian, activist, and co-host of the throwing shade podcast. through wit and fire, she unpacks the everyday sexism women face, from the wage gap and political under-representation to reproductive rights and beyond.

equal parts rage and laughter, feminasty is a rallying cry for equality and a reminder that humor can be a powerful tool for change.

this book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.