IN THE WORKS 03/25
A monthly update from inside PREST WORKS.
Hello,
It’s been a while since my last email, months in fact. We’ve had a few new subscriber’s since then so if you’re a new here, welcome! And if you’re an old subscriber, thanks for sticking around. Things might have been quiet around here, but I’ve been working away behind the scenes.
TLDR: The newsletter format is changing. I reorganised the workshop. More prototyping and a custom order. Jam.When I first started writing a newsletter for PREST WORKS, I tried posting once a week about what I was working on. The idea was simple: share the process, the progress and the thinking behind building a brand in public. Unfortunately I’m still working full-time, and every week just came around too fast. I was scrambling to get something out, alongside everything else, and eventually burned out from it. It just wasn't sustainable, so I’m trying something new.
From now on, I’ll be sending two newsletters a month:
🛠️ In the Works is what you’re reading now. A monthly update from inside PREST WORKS. It’s about building the brand from scratch. I’ll share what I’ve been working on, what’s challenging me, and what’s taking shape. And probably some stuff that doesn’t really fit anywhere else too. You can expect this on the last weekend of the month.
✍️ Making It is for the makers. On the first weekend of each month (and possibly the third), I’ll share articles, people, brands, and projects that inspire me. It’s about celebrating creativity and the act of making. Making It is here to inspire and motivate you, whether that’s through stories, techniques, or just cool stuff I’ve found. No fluff, just things worth knowing.
Both newsletters are designed to add value to your own work, whether that’s through seeing a project come together in real time (In the Works) or discovering inspiration from elsewhere (Making It).
So, what’s been in the works this past month?
📩 Developing the newsletter
This is something I kept delaying, but I wanted it to be genuinely valuable rather than ramblings from me every week. Hopefully, the new format will prove to be entertaining and useful. Not just more emails clogging up your inbox but something you actually want to make time for. I’m excited about this one.
🔧 Rearranged the workshop
I’ve been receiving larger paper orders, and the space just wasn’t fit for purpose anymore. I moved things around to make the space more functional, with more room to work (and think). It already feels like a better setup for making stuff happen.
💡 Built a makeshift softbox
Good lighting makes all the difference, but proper equipment isn’t cheap. So in true DIY fashion, I rigged up a makeshift softbox made of foam board, tin foil, and tracing paper. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start, and it’s certainly not bad for less than £10. This will hopefully improve the lighting for my Instagram content.
📖 Refining our notebooks
I’ve finally selected a paper stock for the pages of our books, so I’ve been testing different page layouts and making loads of prototypes. It feels like such a long process, but with the high cost of professional printing and the fact that I’m bootstrapping this, I want to make sure it’s done right.
📚 Custom order
A bit of a special one this month. I designed and produced a couple of custom exercise books for
🫙 Making Jam
On a completely unrelated note, I’ve been making rhubarb jam this month. There’s something satisfying about eating with the seasons, and jam’s a perfect way to do it. Sometimes it’s important to just make for the sake of it. And of course, it makes a lovely gift. The recipe I used is from London Borough of Jams.
This is still an experiment, but I’m excited about the new newsletter format. I hope it gives you something useful, whether it’s a spark of inspiration or just a peek into the process. If you like the sound of it, feel free to share it with anyone who might be interested. Until next time…
Cheers
— Callum