Molto Nota Bene: dressy papers from Italy

Dear Everyone ~

I’m delighted to debut a binder’s dozen of molto swoon-worthy decorative papers from Grafiche Tassotti in Italy. I’ve been aware of this venerable & visionary Italian company for some time, and mused about adding them to the shop.

This past summer, Emery Kennett, my nimble shop assistant & paper pal, popped in with show-and-tell from her trip to England— including a couple of sheets of Grafiche Tassotti: Lily of the Valley (for a friend) and Dahlias (destined to become her next sketchbook). In fact, after visiting, she stopped at Soutache (the ribbon & button shop two doors down from BZS), for a ribbon to embellish the sketchbook. Emery’s new link-stitched sketchbook is freshly beribboned, as seen above, and the paper behaved beautifully.

I too have enjoyed working with these papers. I’ve made one buttonhole-stitch book, hand-folded an assortment of envelopes, and wrapped a few presents. The Grafiche Tassotti papers are slightly lighter in weight than most of the decorative papers I use, but this doesn’t detract from the drappeggio or from the produtto finito. I am amorosa (despite not speaking Italian).

The 19¾" x 27½" sheets are calendered (meaning super-smooth), printed on a matte ivory shade, 85 gsm (55 lb) with environmentally friendly inks. The colours are vibrant and admirably fade-resistant.

My postal muse, Alyson Kuhn, was so charmed by the garden motifs that she suggested adding a sprinkling of thematic postage to the party. There are two Giardiniera palettes of four patterns each. There is one Geometrici palette of four graphic patterns (which we cannot resist naming Scallopini and Mosaici), plus a single sheet of chattering birds. Each palette comes with a binder’s dozen of mint (meaning you can still use them as postage because no one else has) stamps, ranging from 3¢ cranes to 13¢ butterflies, ensconced in a glassine envelope sealed with a bit of YKW. The stamps are also great for sealing or embellishing an envelope or gift.

It’s not a wrap just yet! A trio of wise washi tapes is now in stock for adding some subtle sparkle to your holiday parcels, placecards & gift-tags. Their names are Silver Salver, Gold Flakes, Gold Dust (from top to bottom). Sold separately but charming to mix-and-metallic match.

Seam binding ribbons seem just the beribbonment for these papers. We have assembled a trio of coordinating skeins for each palette, and we will select for you.