Stumbled on a woman named Stephanie Hare's work last week and I'm reminded of how much I enjoy coming across people doing cool shit, like for example making your own paper by hand, which she calls "a fibrous alchemy." I mean, who doesn't enjoy discovery though? I'm not unique in that. However, I don't just think Wow, how nifty! I also feel like my life has been enriched by these tiny experiences where I learn about strangers, especially (but not only) the ones who make art. Think about the time and care it takes to do this. How long it might have taken her to perfect this skill. Trial and error. Getting the blend just right, the drying technique. The distribution of color just so. Other than people I care deeply about, what in my life do I have that level of patience for; of precision? Anything? I can't say for sure. I'm making a lot of assumptions about Ms. Hare now but my point is that I greatly admire careful craftsmanship and the time it takes to reach mastery, if mastery even exists (that's a topic for another blog post).
Stationery/paper in general is of particular interest to me as someone who likes sending and receiving letters and thank you notes. I care more about the words themselves, but also worth considering are the surfaces on which our words are placed.
Anyway, please take a look at some of her latest creations. I ordered a few items from her, despite them not being a "necessary" purchase. I wanted to add more to my shipping cart but, you know, not having a bunch of money to blow was a deterrent.
Will update this post with a picture of something I ordered once it arrives in the mail.
Update:
My phone camera doesn't do the color justice, but the envelopes are a beautiful bluish-grey. Her website represents the color far more accurately. This also happens to be my favorite color. Not just "blue" but this specific tone of blue. As a companion to the envelopes, I also ordered these. They are similar in appearance but the thickness and texture are quite different. They pair very well though.
And finally, I got these small, beautiful dark green sheets. The picture I took with my cell was so profoundly off in its representation of the actual color that I didn't even bother to post it. I intend to buy some gold ink to use on it once I get back into calligraphy, a hobby that I've neglected for years (and never really devoted enough time to in the first place). Not sure what I will write on them but I will save them for when there is occasion to use them. For now, they'll all be in my special box.
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