Dear Everyone ~

For many moons, I have sung the praises of Hahnemühle Bugra. I introduce students to this gem of German papermaking when they’re binding their first case-bound book. It glues like a dream & stitches like a charm. No need to wheedle your needle! It is also one of my preferred papers when making books for the shop (and myself). It’s a beautiful weight (130 gsm) & texture to write and draw on. As my homage to Hahnemühle, I reissued the Heavenly Housemade Hahnemühle pad last year, featuring a total of 120 sheets, measuring 4 x 7¼ x 1, and combining at least two, sometimes three, and on some occasions four, different Bugra colours in stripes.

Even with the help of my two nimble studio assistants, Tammy Stams & Emery Kennett, making these pads is an all-day process. We count, divide, stack, sip some tea, and then collate 22 beautiful Bugra hues into assorted striped pads. Earlier this year, whilst we were mid-assembly of the previous batch of pads, I decided I had to see how thick a pad would become if we padded 10 sheets each of all 22 colours, and OMW (O, my wow)! It became a brick to behold, at 220 sheets & a full three inches tall! Paper happiness abounded and abided.

I’m delighted to debut it, in all its multi-colour glory: The Hahnemühle Ultimate Palette Housemade Pad! More than a deluxe desk accessory, a divine hostess gift, a nightstand companion, it is a source & surface of endless experimentation & exploration. Think of the combinations & permutations you can try with various mediums, both opaque & translucent! Clearly an opportunity!

But, wait, while I envelop you in Hahnemühle happiness: herewith a complete suite of Hahnemühle A6 square-flap envelopes, one each of 17 colours. The A6 size holds a postcard (or several postcards) perfectly. A Rivoli Rose sheet (or 2, or even 3) also fits nicely. And, hold onto your Cambritches: you can easily, and almost instantly, line your envelope with a 6 x 6 sheet of Cambridge Imprint craft paper. Simply score, fold & taper with a snip of your scissors (as seen below) and apply a swish of a glue-stick, et voilà! You have a luxurious envelope inside and out, like an epistolary sweater set.

Twin tips: (1) Measure 1½ inches down from one edge of your sheet, and then score with your bonefolder (2) Measure ¼ inch in from both upper corners of your sheet and make 2 tiny pencil marks (3) Use a sharp pair of scissors to shave off your tapers (4) Slide your Cambridge Imprint sheet into the envelope and align your folds (5) Swish a swash of glue-stick across the top edge of your CI paper, close your envelope flap & press! Presto!

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Mother’s Day is just around the calendar corner. I’ll be delighted to assemble custom gifts for shipment or curbside pick-up early next week. Might I suggest a bouquet of coloured pencils (lavishly beribboned), a binder’s dozen of Japanese paper covered mini-pencils, or assorted desk bonbons?

Hahnemühle Ultimate Palette Housemade Pad
Suite 17 of Hahnemühle A6 square-flap envelopes

Colourfully, Bari