Stefan Bucher's hilarious new book , You Deserve a Medal: Honors of the Path to True Love, was published a few weeks ago. It got a tad lost in the news of Doyald Young's passing. Doyald and Stefan were good friends and shared a similar, wickedly funny sense of humor. Need a laugh? Go get this book.

Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life. That’s the seductive tagline for designer Noah Scalin’s latest book, 365: A Daily Creativity Journal — and it’s also his personal mantra. After making stuff like Sushi Skull every day for a year, Noah Scalin launched his own line of skull tshirts, posters, buttons and more. They’re available at Skull-a-Day. ...

What is the true power of paper? Well, to begin with paper covers the rock of plain, dull and vanilla. Design Army of Washington, DC sought to prove paper's power through color, texture and performance in print. Its newest promo celebrates the powerful punch CLASSIC® Papers can add to your promotional piece. Why be plaid when you can be plaid, paisley, herringbone, ...

Champagne from Moët & Chandon? Chocolate from Scharffen Berger? Valentines cards from Heather Parlato? How about the new book out from Rockport Publishers originated, designed and edited by the [EXPLETIVE DELETED] provocateur known as James Victore? Make your design sweetie swoon and get them this for Valentines Day.

Ho Ho Letterpress Fun from Tag Team Thompson of KS City Half a world apart, Mom and Daughter of Tag Team Thompson (Etsy.com World as Tag Team Tompkins(http://www.etsy.com/shop/tagteamtompkins)  created these four letterpress cards for your holiday delight. Why bring cookies to your next when you can bring handmade goodness like this? Yes, please! Says mom ...

DJ Stout of Pentagram Texas tells the story of The Amazing Tale of Mr. Herbert and His Fabulous Alpine Cowboys Baseball Club: Offering good salaries with educational scholarships and education, Mr. Herbert’s team became the class of the Southwest. Kokernot had a blast, flying in major league talent from around the country to see his boys play. In the late 50s, ...

To redesign or not to redesign... that is the question. Or is it? Sometimes, "improvements" cause more harm than good. Sometimes some logos are not redeemable. Mick Hodgson's new book, Recycling & Redesigning Logos, proves the point. Reviewer Michael Osborne of MOSF call 'em like he sees 'em in this review.

Afraid of change? Who isn't? But, do you embrace change? Winners do. Looking back on his experience at the recent Brand New Conference in NYC, Ryan Fitzgibbon tells us that FEAR is something everyone encounters, whether you're a Pentagram Partner or fresh out of school. It is how we respond to fear and change that distinguishes us and set us in positive motion... ...

Boo Who? Tag Team Tompkins, that's who! Diane (mom) and Madeline (daughter) are known in the Etsy.com World as Tag Team Tompkins (http://www.etsy.com/shop/tagteamtompkins) “make paper art that centers around word play.” And, boy-oh-boy, do they do it well. You like hand lettering, hand cut paper, fine paper and printing? These ladies share a few tricks ...

We asked Terry Marks to tell us what having a child has done to a forty-something designer’s worldview. Do you have a life note to share with Against the Grain? Email matt@porterwrite.com your wonderful thoughts.