See, I wasn’t joking when I called my updates sporadic. But I also made a vow to myself to never go down It’s Been A While Lane, so let’s not do that.

Last time we spoke I was feeling pretty terrible and even though I was lucky enough to recover quickly, your messages asking how I was doing felt really nice. So here’s a much overdue thank you to everyone getting in touch: thank you, I have been back to regular* for some time now.

Clubbin’

I joined two clubs! Well, a whatsapp group and a discord server; so far I didn’t sign anything in ink or blood, but you never know. One is for all types of creators in The Hague who also organize a weekly sketch club on Sundays (and many other things), and the other is a chill evening on Mondays for people into drawing but not necessarily working in a creative field, also here in the city.

I am more active on Sundays due to – erm – scheduling conflicts on Mondays, but I think both groups could in general use more type, graphic, or publication designers, so consider this a call.

The people and the atmosphere are very nice & cozy, and attending both is free of charge and expectations also ← which is exactly how I like ‘em – so reach out if this sounds like something you’d be into!

Sigh

A while ago I have announced leaving all things Meta, exclaiming expletives and denouncing their ways in what I hoped to be my definite we are never ever getting back together moment. I’d even archived all my posts and started writing this newsletter as an effort to share things without, you know, sharing them. That’ll show them, I thought. But as it happens with many dysfunctional relationships, I ended up crawling right back in over time.

Also, a certain court case ruling against Meta shoving their tweaked timelines down our throats gave me a bit of hope. Not saying this solves all problems, but opening the app and catching up with where I left off a couple of hours ago instead of a deliciously toxic stream of infinite content feels… nicer. Almost nostalgic.

Am I Or Are We?

The previous editions of this newsletter have all been written in first person singular, which is what I usually write in – but I’ve caught myself sneaking in the occasional majestic plural when communicating as M59. A habit that I of course quickly shoved under the rug, embarrassed at the gory image of my ego finally outgrowing the amount of people it can fit.

But maybe it’s not a bad idea to separate church and state more intentionally – and this linguistic distinction sure seems like a neat little gimmick that would let me wear my many different hats while also tricking the reader into thinking that we at M59 do in fact have multiple departments working around the clock ensuring comforts & concerns of customers and forms & functions of our foundry are all working like clockwork to deliver the best product and experience possible. I can already see the organogram.

You may think that this pseudo-corporate post-gilliamesque uber-bureucratic way of talking is a direct result of me devouring season two of Severance in one sitting a while back.

And you would be right.

God help us now after Pluribus. But now--

A message from M59’s Department of Forms & Functions

Due to the overwhelming need to appear more professional better distinguish retail, custom, consulting, and freelance activities, we are delighted to announce the much overdue separation of our foundry website from faebiou.com.

From now on you may find us on emfiftynine.com.

The website itself might currently be under construction, but we have preserved a snapshot of how our library looked like before the schism – which you may find here – and we are also religiously redrawing, respacing, and renaming some of our existing typefaces, with numerous thrilling updates already in the pipeline.

Outro

Feel free to subscribe if this was up your alley – or check previous editions in the archive if you’re feeling particularily noncommittal. Spreading the joy and spamming all your friends with the sub link is optional but encouraged.

Otherwise thank you for reading – take care!