Just Terrific, 208 N. Goodman Street Suite 112, Rochester, NY (2025)

05/20/2025

Whohoo! What an incredible night I had celebrating with all of you; Thank you for helping me ring in my 13th year of Just Terrific!

Friends both old and new filled my studio, and we shared lovely chats and fun crafts, along with cute cupcakes and cold champagne. The sun filled evening made everyone’s smile light up and my heart swell. Truly truly, thank you thank you! Nights like this are a reminder of all the support that surrounds me.

After 13 years in business, I have learned the depths of my perseverance, strengthened my creative process, and developed my craftsmanship, all while building an amazing community. Now more than ever, I feel dedicated to my business and am ready to take on this next year of work with a very grateful heart.

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it - this would only be a hobby if it wasn’t for YOU! So, thank you for helping make this career possible, big thanks to everyone who attended the celebration, and extra kudos to Paul Beinetti and Gerry Szymanski for some top notch photos of the evening.

—with Rachael Gootnick

05/13/2025

Come fill my space with your creative energy and help me celebrate! 🤗

One of my favorite things about my studio at School 31, is hosting parties. Occasions of celebrations, craft nights, writing sessions, and long chats over tea. I don’t host many guests at my tiny apartment, but here, I love opening my door and sharing my space. It’s wild to me to think how Just Terrific has grown from a 12x15 bedroom, to this big, bright, beautiful workshop inside a historic school in the Neighborhood of the Arts! Golly me, I am grateful for this journey! I’d love to commemorate the past 13 years of running this small book arts business with you all, this Friday May 16th, from 6-8pm. We’ll have cake and some crafty activities to celebrate!

📍208 N. Goodman St.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2246287102440858

05/02/2025

Two weeks until the celebration - hope you’re ready to party! (…and ready to get artsy!) We’ll be making spring-themed upcycled paper crafts, like egg carton mushrooms and butterfly bookmarks.

Come get crafty and celebrate 1️⃣3️⃣ years with me!

🎉 May 16th from 6-8pm at 208 N. Goodman 🎉

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2246287102440858

04/21/2025

Last week I had an incredible opportunity to spend some time with legendary letterpress printer, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. I was able to learn firsthand Amos’ wild technique of printing activism posters at Flower City Arts Center using their Vandercook’s and wood type collection. No one prints like Amos prints!

We brainstormed quotes, set the type, and printed countless abstract background layers before doing a final pass with thick black ink. It was a great exercise in letting go and creating colorful chaos! It’s not too often I’m able to get my hands this messy, and the workshop was a good diversion from perfectionism and straight lines. His gems of wisdom keep echoing in my ears. It was a wildly inspiring couple of days making ‘good trouble’ with ‘bad printing’.

I also got his new book “Citizen Printer” signed at Archivist Books, and attended an evening lecture with the Print Club of Rochester. Thank you to the many local organizations that made his visit to our city possible. It was an experience I will always remember!

04/09/2025

Last week brought me to Washington DC. A trip that was originally planned for March 2020, I was finally able to cross a few things off my bucket list. And despite a travel mess at the airport, missing my plane and therefore the rally, I made the most of my three days there.

I can now say I’ve been to the largest library in the world! The Library of Congress was simply incredible. The architecture blew my mind, and the collection had me amazed at how well preserved and cared for the items are. Standing inside Thomas Jefferson’s 13 bookcases arranged in a circle, gave me goosebumps. And the Gutenberg Bible was stunning and made me feel like a tiny blip in the timeline of humanity. The Library of Congress is such an important institution of our country, and I’m really grateful to have had the experience of being inside this fortress of books.

And seeing the Japanese cherry blossoms at peak bloom was absolutely glorious, and everything I’d hoped they’d be and more: strikingly beautiful and culturally unifying. Nature, and history, can be great like that.

Other highlights included studying the Alexander Calder room at the National Gallery of Art, searching out an Albert Paley sculpture and finding a poem etched into the side, seeing the best ballet I’ve ever seen, walking miles in 80 degree weather, shooting a roll of 35mm film (peep the last pic) and a cup-filling amount of family time.

Being in the nation’s capital was a good reminder of the storms we’ve weathered before, the peace that has resulted, and the power of the diverse people that make up our country. I found the FDR memorial especially moving and relevant, and the energy outside the White House to be motivating and encouraging. I also came home with a stack of postcards I’ll be writing and sending to Virginia voters. Find hope where you can, and fight the good fight how you’re able.

03/27/2025

Hey there, I’m Rachael, Rochester’s Book Girl! 👋🏼 I’ve gotten a lot of new followers since the release of the 585 magazine Books Issue - thanks for being here! In anticipation of Just Terrific’s 13th year in business, and as a way to get to know me a bit, I figured I’d share 13 semi-random facts about me that weren’t included in the article. And mark your calendars for May 16th; I’ll be having an in-studio gathering to celebrate 1️⃣3️⃣ YEARS!

1. I’ve lived in the Rochester area for most of my life, minus a few years in Savannah GA for art school, where I studied film and video production.
2. I spent over a decade working in higher education, both as faculty and as staff. I taught graphic design, facilitated on-demand publishing projects, and managed a print journalism research lab.
3. I was a competitive gymnast for almost 10 years, and have performed in the Nutcracker ballet.
4. I grew up in an 1840’s house, the 3rd oldest house in the village of Fairport. I believe this gave me an early appreciation for old things.
5. I’ve had a leather bracelet tied on my wrist since I was 6 years old.
6. I love experiencing live music and going to concerts in new cities.
7. I once met Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey. She was a sweetheart, he was rude.
8. I’ve had the same best friend since first grade. You know who you are!
9. I enjoy creative writing prompts and write short stories and poetry as a hobby, but rarely share them with others.
10. I have a fear of bridges, and am not a big fan of airplanes either. I much prefer having my feet on the ground. Even better if they’re bare and in dirt.
11. I’ve been gardening with my dad my whole life, and now maintain two plots with him at the Fairport Community Garden.
12. I sing in a secular community choir called Hopefully. It’s a delightful bunch of warm-hearted people, and we’re always open to new members.
13. Cheese is my favorite food group.

📸: Mike Hanlon for 585 Magazine

03/06/2025

I’m still pinching myself after last night’s release. To see myself on the cover of 585 magazine is surreal and is an opportunity I never could have imagined. I’m so grateful to be featured in this book themed issue as Rochester’s “Book Girl”! Local journalism is important to the fabric of our community, and I’m really honored that I could share my story. Thank you to Mike and Sarah for the great photos and commentary, and to Christine and the team for highlighting me, alongside many others, who are continuing to keep books relevant in our city. Long live books! Long live print media!

Grab the issue when it hits the shelves later this week, or read the story here: https://585mag.com/magazines/rachael-gootnick-is-rochesters-book-girl/?site=585-magazine

—with Rachael Gootnick and 585 magazine

03/03/2025

🚨 Please don’t tape your books! 🚨 That’s what I’m here for!

This 150-year-old family Bible was lovingly cleaned and reassembled over countless hours, but is now ready for the next 150 years. The process is long, but the results sure are satisfying—for me, and for the family. I’m glad to be the one to give these books the time, attention, and tender loving care they need to remain lifelong treasures.

Just Terrific

05/20/2025

05/13/2025

05/02/2025

04/21/2025

04/09/2025

03/27/2025

03/06/2025

03/03/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share