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.

Usa Senka Long 15x39

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

Taniai Kusakizome 10x13

 Who uses washi?

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

What do men want? Pens, sweetie, pens! It is that simple. We see it all the time. The men come in and just ogle the pen cases. We say, give them what they want and they want pens!

Here are a few of our cases with some of our most popular pens. As well you will discover other ideas to stimulate the imagination. We feel optimistic that you will find just the right gift for your friends, husbands, lovers, work buddies, or clients. 

We often ask our customers what they are going to do with the papers they are purchasing. It is always amazing to see the transformation. Here is an email we received recently. Thanks Kaarina!

Hi there,

I thought you might be interested to see what happens to some of your papers after they leave the shop. I’m attaching some photos of my ‘box’ purses, which are made almost exclusively from reclaimed materials. 

The basic structure is cut from corrugated cardboard boxes and lined with paper shopping bags; the strap is bicycle inner tube. The only new material I’m using is the exterior paper, almost all of which is from Paper-Ya. Although the basic materials are somewhat industrial, the fine papers give the purse a more elegant look. I normally sell my work at Circle Craft (just down the hall from you). I’ll be delivering these purses next week, and expect to be dropping in at Paper-Ya frequently.  photographer – Doug Williams 

Kaarina Talvila

That glorious Autumn Feeling is here as sensual colors and textures surround us. Here are a few of our newest papers that seem to reflect the richness of this time of year.

Nature has one last fling before settling down into winter's sleep. As days shorten and temperatures become crisp, the quiet green palette of summer foliage is transformed into the vivid autumn palette of reds, oranges, golds, and browns as the leaves fall off the trees. The colors can be truly breathtaking. We hope you enjoy it!

Fun for all ages (part 2): how to create Halloween ghost & spider web origami the easy way [videos]

Spider Web Origami:

You'll need:

1. Origami papers* (golden paper for the spider web; white paper for the ghost)
2. Scissor
3. Hole puncher
4. Pencil/pen

Ghost Origami:

For tutorials on pumpkin & bat origami from our previous posting, click here

Thanks, Makiko!

* Paper-Ya has one of the largest selections of specialty origami papers in Vancouver