Jackie & Tobbie
@thefingersmithletterpress
There’s an infectious energy when you spend time with Jackie and Tobbie—it’s easy, full of laughs, and occasionally interrupted by the antics of their Frenchie, Chito. Their small home is cleverly built with Jackie’s quirky illustrations and artwork turning it into a gallery of their life. In a world that often asks queer couples to fight for space, they’ve claimed theirs with pride, playfulness, and the belief that home is more about spirit than size.
Jackie: “I used to run a letterpress printing studio, but I’m now an illustrator at 8EyedSpud. I draw fun things for a living.”
Tobbie: “I’m a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. When I’m not on the mat rolling with people, I’ll be at home rolling with Chito, our doggo. I guess you can say that I’m always on a roll.”
J: “The beauty of living in a tiny space is that we’re more conscious about the things we bring into our home.”
“My first thought when I saw the space was, ‘Oh, it’s so small—where’s the rest of it?’ (And yes, I shed a little tear, haha.) But after watching a few Never Too Small videos we felt inspired to be more intentional with our purchases and avoid hoarding.”
“I started sketching initial ideas for our home into my notebook. Given how little space we have, I found myself drawing custom furniture pieces that either expands or transforms itself into another piece—such as a sofa bed or storage bench that can be tucked away. Together with Jade, our ID from Knock Knock Studio, we materialised these ideas and called them our ‘side hustle furniture’. It was really fun making some of these pieces.”
T: “We made our only dining chair together on a date—that was the first woodworking I’d ever done. I didn’t come from a crafty family like Jackie’s, so I really appreciated the experience. I treasure these handmade pieces even more because they’re unique and carry so much meaning.”
“I’m a sucker for things that are handmade and a little peculiar. The first time I stepped into SOJAO, I bought these crushed cups by Rob Brandt—even though our home wouldn’t be ready for another two years. They stayed in the box the whole time, but I knew they belonged.”
J: “To design the gallery wall, I put up newspaper cutouts as placeholders and left them up for weeks to see if I liked the composition before committing to anything permanent.”
T: “My favourite piece on that wall is a Jiu-Jitsu belt display Jackie made for me. It’s a ring of belts I’ve worn in training and competitions over the years. She calls it the ‘Ring of Resilience’—I call it the ‘Ring of Sweat.’”
J: “Another fun piece is a tote bag I designed with a detachable fly pin. I cut it up and framed it with the intention of adding a new fly each year we live here—because time flies when you’re having fun (pun intended).”
J: “I mostly work from home, and once we settled in, I started envisioning the space with a dog. I slowly planted the idea with Tobbie, and we went to check out a pet store. Tobbie has this cute saying—‘See is free.’ We ended up buying Chito the next day.”
T: “I’m definitely the more logical and analytical one between us—but that also means I tend to procrastinate more, and we didn’t want to regret not getting Chito. Now, my favourite part of the day is coming home to a group hug from Jackie and Chito. He’s a very enthusiastic hug giver.”
J: “Yes, I’m always the one that says ‘Just do it. You’re your youngest today!’ That’s the balance we have. Before we got Chito, I could sit at the table for hours without moving. Now, I really appreciate the little reminders to stretch, go outside, and take breaks—whether it’s giving him a snack or heading out for a quick potty walk.”
“Home isn’t just a place but a sanctuary from the noise outside. It’s like a docking station where we can recharge before facing the next day’s hustle.”
