Everything’s coming up… Cambridge

Dear Everyone ~

Special Starry Papers by Cambridge Imprint are the newest stellar addition to the Bari Zaki Studio repertoire of fine papers. A veritable constellation of creative paper potential: 2 sheets each of 12 starry patterns in a keepsake box. The sheets measure 12 x 16, large enough to cover a book, make an origami box, hand fold envelopes & wrap holiday gifts to your heart’s content! The paper’s finish is vellumy smooth and feels lovely in your hands while you are folding, wrapping, binding, or merely musing. You can even line a drawer, deck a hall, and entertain all manner of embellishments to your manor.

One of the first things I wanted to make with a starry pattern was a buttonhole-stitch book. It took me a few moments to settle on a pattern for the cover, and then I spent awhile humming & hawing about my favourite colour of waxed-linen thread with which to stitch. It was a toss up between Country Red & Victorian Rose—they both looked splendid! This is an aspect of the process of making a book that I find endlessly satisfying.

Then, I became enveloped in hand folding YKWs. The first size I folded was an A7 (which can hold an oversized postcard) with the pattern on the outside. Then I decided to fold an A6 (which can hold a standard size postcard) with the pattern on the inside, to nest inside the larger envelope. Envelope happiness ensued as I continued to fold three increasingly diminutive envelopes, all the while alternating the pattern from the outside to the inside. A full starry sheet can also make a grand presentation envelope of dazzling dimensions.

It’s heavenly that the box includes two of each pattern so you can mix & match & share! BWTMD (But wait, there’s more delight): The patterns pair perfectly with the Cambridge petite labels, on an envelope, a gift-tag, or a placecard. In the photo below I attached the petite label to a piece of Stonehenge drawing paper, cut a tiny hole, scalloped the corners, wove a piece of embroidery thread, and tied it onto the beribbonment. Charmolà!

In related good news, Cambridge Imprint’s box of Garland of Bobbles has arrived. These origami baubles, gems of ornamentation, fold like a charm. And replenished, in plenty o’ time for the holidays, are both Cloud of Butterflies and Garland of 36 Stars. Speaking of seasonal bounty, Alain Glee’s wondrous washi tape with 22 delicious motifs is too juicy to pass up. This long-standing shop favourite is newly in my online shop.