Washi What? Throughout 2011 we will bring you some fine examples of washi and those who explore its amazing beauty and capabilities in their art.

Washi What? Throughout 2011 we will bring you some fine examples of washi and those who explore its amazing beauty and capabilities in their art.

Bicchu Torinoko Gampi 16x22

 Washi is traditional handmade Japanese paper usually made from the gampi, kozo or mitsumata bush or a combination of these plant fibres. The branches are trimmed and the bark is removed, cleaned and then pounded to a liquid solution, without chlorine or other nasty chemicals. The sheets are usually hand pulled, using traditional methods and equipment.

Washi What? Throughout 2011 we will bring you some fine examples of washi and those who explore its amazing beauty and capabilities in their art.

Usa Senka Long 15x39

 Some of the special qualities of these gorgeous papers are its absorbency, flexibility, lightness, low acidity, translucency, and strength.

Washi What? Throughout 2011 we will bring you some fine examples of washi and those who explore its amazing beauty and capabilities in their art.

Taniai Kusakizome 10x13

 Who uses washi?

artists, bookbinders, craftspeople, interior designers printmakers, graphic designers painters and drawers, manufactures.

Washi What? Throughout 2011 we will bring you some fine examples of washi and those who explore its amazing beauty and capabilities in their art.

Tamura Koban 14x16

A time to make plans

It's that bittersweet time of year again: endings, beginnings, reflections, resolutions. The turning over of another year always feels like turning over a fresh page to me. It's clean, clear, and a little daunting.

The most we can prepare for such an unwritten thing is to start writing things down: in a fantastic new planner, no less.

From bookishly lovely to cartoon-cute to big, bold and graphic, the planners we've got in stock are far from your old drugstore or office supply store ilk.

The A4 Architects & Designers Agenda (in fire engine red, gunmetal grey and matte black) is filled with gorgeous glossy pages that recall your favourite art history class, and beg to be displayed on an equally fashionable desk.

A time to make plans

Little Otsu makes a return to Paper-Ya this year with a couple different designs, all of them colourful, creative, and fun.

A time to make plans

And (my personal fave) the hardcover, pocket novel sized daily journal is lovely on the outside and boasts free-style, fill-in-the-date pages so that you can customize it to start and end whenever you like.

A time to make plans

Happy planning, and Happy New Year!

We now know that writing about our personal experiences, thoughts and feelings is good for our health. It is much like a variation of the talking cure that Freud proposed!

We now know that writing about our personal experiences, thoughts and feelings is good for our health. It is much like a variation of the talking cure that Freud proposed!

We now know that writing about our personal experiences, thoughts and feelings is good for our health. It is much like a variation of the talking cure that Freud proposed!

We now know that writing about our personal experiences, thoughts and feelings is good for our health. It is much like a variation of the talking cure that Freud proposed!

We now know that writing about our personal experiences, thoughts and feelings is good for our health. It is much like a variation of the talking cure that Freud proposed!

We now know that writing about our personal experiences, thoughts and feelings is good for our health. It is much like a variation of the talking cure that Freud proposed!

As well, expressive writing helps us to cope with stress and improves our memory and sleep! Those who love writing really appreciate our journals. Leather bound from Italy, Germany, India, or locally made, we have an amazing selection.