French Braid Paper, a stationery company

Embroidery has magical sentimental powers. I have been hand sewing my King Popcorn stationery for years, in an effort to make memorable cards worth keeping. It has been very fulfilling to create custom greeting cards for people all around the world, but I have had the itch to create a full line of embroidered retail stationery for a good long time.

French Braid Paper will continue the spirit of King Popcorn's work, but I will be putting down my needle and having pieces for my cards made by machine. On that note, I am pleased to share FBP's first card with you! I will be opening a big cartel shop for the holidays, but my goal is to see French Braid Paper in a store by 2013. It is exhilarating to state goals!

The photos are my own.

Free Spirit

Screen grab off of Netflix Watch Instantly, Mating Season

When a book becomes a person

The recent death of my golden retriever, 17 year-old Popcorn, has lead me to seek comfort from dusty relics of my youth. This book cover by Milton Glaser is an old friend I can see with my eyes closed. The book, by Hermann Hesse, belonged to my Dad. I read it for the first time in high school, when I would walk Popcorn up the hill and dream of leaving my tiny Vermont town. Rereading the book now, it is satisfying to discover how much of its spirit has rubbed off on me, but that I have also outgrown some of Peter's qualities that I used to fear were mine forever.

The photo is my own.

The Original Trans-American Portal

A good long time ago, I put this edition of War and Peace Wealth of Nations (thank you for the correction, Peter) to good use by transforming it into a moving-away gift for two friends starting a new life in San Francisco.

Determined not to feel sad about yet another couple abandoning Brooklyn, I found myself unable to give a sensible present. Instead, I made my first (and only) Trans-American Portal, which I hope does not take up too much room on the bookshelf.

 

On a side note, it's one of my better self portraits.

The photos are my own.

Llama Wisdom

Upon asking Jim E. the llama what kept him from grazing with his brothers, he replied, "It is a good practice to step out of one's routine every now and again to watch time move along in the form of a setting sun."

The photo is my own.

Anthropologie Channeling Anna Emilia?

This is one of the back pages from Anthropologie's catalog, issue ten. At first sight, I was instantly taken to Finland, where Anna Emilia writes her lovely weather diary. Soft patchwork, barn board & cozy tents are unmistakable. What a lovely world to bring off the page...

The photo is my own.

Birthday Paper Maze

An hour well spent.