The Paperie Blog

Countless lines of prose, poetry, and music have been written in hopes of capturing the magic of a summer night, but leave it to FIELD NOTES to take an inexplicably transcendent feeling and distill it down to basic science: it’s the stars. If you live in the city, you may often forget that there are more than a handful of ‘em up there. But if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere without light pollution, seeing the Milky Way stretched across the sky on a moonless summer night never gets old.

The nineteenth edition of FIELD NOTES COLORS celebrates the wonders that cross the summer sky each night, and as usual, The Paperie is stocking these. The “Night Sky” 3-Pack features French Construction “Blacktop” covers, mapping out three sets of constellations that have graced the northern hemisphere summer sky long before “summer” was given a name. Constellations and popular asterisms are highlighted in silver holographic foil. Inside is their usual beloved Finch Opaque text paper, with a new “Reticle Graph,” sort of a hybrid of their popular dot-grid and graph papers. It’s all bound together with shiny black staples.

THE STARS AND THEIR COURSES

Choosing the sections of sky to depict involved a lot of research. Illustrating thousands of stars was a lot of work. After a self-taught crash course in astrophotography, FIELD NOTES spent two amazing nights at Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada to come up with the superb images that grace the covers of these notebooks. Here’s a short video reel from one of the darkest spots in North America.

There’s only so much information you can cram into a 3.5- x 5.5-inch pocket notebook, but their love of 4-point Futura is well known, and the books are crammed with info. The three books are roughly aligned to midnight in the northern hemisphere in early, mid-, and late summer, and replacing the usual “Practical Applications” the inside back covers features corresponding facts and tips to help get your stargazing underway. After a clear night and maybe a cocktail or two, you’ll impress your friends by finding Arcturus, pointing out the Summer Triangle, and locating the “Andromeda Galaxy” M-31, all with your naked eye!

To see the full range of FIELD NOTES at The Paperie, and to buy this superb edition, do please click here.  Be quick though – we only have a limited allocation of the “Night Sky Edition”, and when they are gone, that’s it!

Don’t forget The Paperie stocks the full range of FIELD NOTES 3-pack notebooks, and the excellent Clik Pens and Pencil Packs.

Do you really know your family?

According to recent research by from you to me gift journal publisher, 62% of us wish we knew our family better. Our guest blogger, Kerri Littlefield at from you to me, explores the importance of stationery in helping us create a precious time capsule for future generations. Father’s Day on 16^th June is a great way to start finding out amazing things about your Dad.

Beautiful stationery provides the inspiration to communicate through the written word. Both children and adults alike are reminded how important it is to put pen to paper, how cathartic and therapeutic this can be, and how receiving a handwritten commun-ication can feel special and poignant. We are encouraged to get ‘back to basics’ and express ourselves on paper, with the skill of handwriting just as important for school children as it’s ever been, despite digital advances. However, we often forget about the clever use of stationery to record the memories of elderly – or more youthful – relatives through ‘interview’.

Genes Reunited have recently launched their Every Family has a Story campaign on their YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/genesreunited stressing the importance of capturing close relatives’ life stories before it’s too late. In a sense, by talking to our loved ones about their lives and getting their memories down on paper we are preserving their voice for the benefit of future generations.

from you to me recently commissioned a study ‘Do you really know your family?’ conducted by Opinion Matters. The results were fascinating. Three quarters of respondents admitted they spend little or no time talking to older relatives about their lives and the family stories of their parents.

It seems the intentions are there, though, with 90% of us agreeing it’s important to know about the stories from our relatives’ lives and to capture this information before it is lost forever, but we just don’t seem to be following this through. The results also show the older you get, the stronger these feelings get too.

Sadly, more than 70% of those surveyed by from you to me, have had a relative or close friend pass away who they wished they had asked more questions to about their life.

Rhoda Breakell, head of Genes Reunited, commented on the from you to me research results: “The amount of people who don’t spend time listening to their parents and grandparents about their family heritage is surprising. We feel it’s so important that people listen to the older generations within their families before their stories are lost forever.”

So how well do you know your family and its past? And what can you do to learn more before it’s too late?

Father’s Day could be a great time to start. Take the time to ask your Dad about his life: http://www.thepaperie.co.uk/from-you-to-me-dear-dad-memory-journal.html

‘from you to me’ gift journals are inspiring families to correct these research results, making it easy to ask the questions we never ask and to preserve priceless memories and stories for us and for future generations. Find out more about our latest research study ‘Do you really know your family?’ and listen to our recent radio interviews with Neil Coxon, founder of from you to me: http://www.fromyoutome.com/familyresearch.html

So the Stationery world has been buzzing with excitement for some weeks now – National Stationery Week (22^nd-24^th April) has linked with the National Literacy Trust – the only national charity dedicated to raising literacy levels in the UK – to promote the importance of writing by hand to teachers and children in particular as part of the ‘Get Britain Writing’ campaign. This is supported by the Government’s decision to reintroduce handwriting onto the Secondary School’s curriculum.

NSW organiser – Chris Leonard-Morgan says “Handwriting and stationery is for all ages, and children are the stationery users of tomorrow”

He is, of course absolutely right – how many of us – parents or grand-parents, aunts or uncles, have kept the first ever note written to us by a ‘new writer’?  I don’t know about you but I treasure each and every single card or note I receive from my grand-daughters. There is nothing nicer than taking delivery of a card or note that reads: Happy Birthday Grandma love from …..… written in strange spidery shapes with each letter shakily formed and followed with kisses.  I have to confess too – I still hoard the letters and cards written by their parents 30+ years ago. Which is why, here at The Paperie, we have begun to stock lots of new stationery for children including Rachel Ellen, Belle & Boo and Hello Kitty – we are passionate about keeping the written word alive!

Rachel Ellen Writing Set

Yes, e-mailing or texting is deemed to be quicker – and each has its place – but sitting down and putting pen to paper takes thought, time and concentration. Encouraging our children to write, whether it be thank-you notes, keeping a journal or diary, or a special notebook where they can express themselves through poetry or story writing, is probably one of the most valuable skills we can pass on to them.

Re-discover the joy of writing with pens, pencils and paper and pass on this priceless gift to your children……………..#GetBritainWriting #LoveStationery #StationeryAddict

Yes – on both counts – ESMIE is without doubt elegant and most definitely made in England.  In fact, Kim Brook – the founder of the Company – graduated from the very English Bath Spa University College with a First Class degree in Graphic Design.  Kim then spent a year travelling around the world absorbing the cultures and traditions that have inspired her own beautiful designs.  On her return to England, Kim spent time working as a stationery and product designer for Sangorski & Sutcliffe, the prestigious London bookbinding company. During this time Kim worked on commissioned pieces with clients such as Swarovski .

Kim’s desire to produce unique stationery using only the finest materials to emulate quality and elegance, honouring techniques and traditions of times gone by, resulted in the launch of her own design studio. In 2009 ESMIE was born!

ESMIE’s exquisite Notebooks are beautifully hand-bound in England and use stunning hand silk screen printed paper.  Various printing techniques are used but they specialize in die-stamping.  The Notebooks come in different sizes, the small and medium are filled with plain luxurious soft 120GSM paper – the hard cover is beautifully printed in one of several unique designs. You can choose from 6 gorgeous floral designs in soft pretty pastels or more intense but subtle colours.

Our latest website addition  to the Esmie range is a larger (approx A5) ruled notebook available in six different designs with a beautiful fabric binding to complement  the  silk screen print cover.

These fabulous notebooks are a delight to own and would make a stunning gift for someone special.  Kim has designed and produced notebooks to be proud of and, at the same time, has succeeded in her mission to resurrect time honored techniques and traditions that, like the written word, have almost become lost in our modern times.  These gorgeous notebooks are a perfect opportunity to record your thoughts and inspirations and come all wrapped up in a very elegant package!

To buy one of these beautiful notebooks from The Paperie, with free UK p&p, then please click here.

Goodness me! Real leather notebooks for the price of a regular Moleskine™?  You’re joking? No, it’s true – Monsieur Notebooks are genuine hand-bound notebooks with real leather covers for just £10.00 ea for an A6 notebook (£13.00 for A5).  Hand crafted in India, using an ethical vegetable tanning process for the beautiful covers, and with traditionally stitched inners to allow them to lie flat, these notebooks really are the business.

The covers are soft and supple, but not too flexible, and the 192 pages of off-white 90gsm paper are fountain pen friendly (if you have a really ‘wet’ fountain pen, there is a special fountain pen version with heavier paper still – we will have these in stock soon!) There is a ribbon marker of course, and an elastic strap to keep your notebook closed.

We love the A5 and A6 versions, and carry stock of both ruled and plain in the classic notebook colours of black, brown and tan.  Over the next few weeks we will be adding new colours and styles so if there is a version you particularly want, then please call us and we will get you it.

We think these are a great new addition to our range of leather notebooks – there is nothing to beat the unique smell, look and feel of real leather, and the grain and texture just keeps improving with age. Treat yourself to an authentic, affordable real leather notebook – you won’t want to go anywhere without it….

Just click here to see the full range and buy from The Paperie with free UK p&p.

Busy Mums need as much help as they can get when it comes to being organised.  Gone are the days when one simple wall calendar and a few sticky notes would be sufficient to put everyone in the right place at the right time!  No, no, no………organisation is key, control is essential to make sure everyone’s needs are met. With so many out-of-school activities, birthday parties and sleepovers to co-ordinate, systems have to be put in place.

Emma Fletcher of MUM’s Office knows all about this!  As a then mother-of-three, later increasing to four, Emma realised that she needed to call a halt to the scheduling chaos.  The MUM’s Office Diary was born – with enough space to include more than one user and with room for a ‘to-do’ list, pages for information and useful telephone numbers, calendars and planners for the current and following years and space to record the regular weekly routines – peace was restored.  Following this brilliant concept Emma gradually introduced new products to her range and now offers an organisational aid to cover every eventuality!

Now available, and in three fabulous colours, is this year’s MUM’s Office School Year Diary 2013/14. Large enough to contain all the essential information that busy mums need, yet small enough to fit into your handbag this little gem offers a grid format for the week-at-a-view spread with one page for Mum and 4 columns on the opposite page for everyone else. Dated for 13 months from 1^st August 2013 through to 31^st August 2014 – the whole family’s weekly schedule is available at a glance!

The MUM’s Office Family Address Book is so much more than an Address Book – it provides the space to store information about your friends’ whole families, a record for sending and receiving Christmas cards and sections with popular dates to remember, need-to-know numbers and need-to-know e-mail addresses.

You will never need to write on a sticky note ever again with the MUM’s To Do List – every page offers three levels of ‘must-do’s’ for the day – ‘What needs to be done’; ‘I must do today’ and ‘I should do today, if I get time’ – all your tasks on the same page and a neat little box to tick off each job when it is complete!

And Mums aren’t the only ones who need a helping hand – MUM’s Office have just launched their brand new MUM’s Office Dad’s To Do List with sections to cover ……’What Mum needs me to do’; ‘What the kids want me to do’ and, of course ‘What I would like to do’………..Obviously these are a must for the organised Dad and come appropriately enough in blue!

There is the ever popular MUM’s Office Shopping List with a section for Meal Plans for the week and alongside you will find enough space for your shopping list – you will never forget those essential items again!

But Emma from MUM’s Office is not sitting back on her laurels – this year MUM’s Office brings us the excellent new MUM’s Weekly Planner – an undated weekly planner that can accommodate up to 6 schedules. It includes ‘to do’ lists and a detachable shopping list that can be be updated by any family member.  Following hot on the heels of this new addition is the brilliant new MUM’s Notes – a gorgeous journal to record anything and everything in your life.  Your thoughts, memories, funny moments and inspirations and your favourite quotes of the day.  These beautiful Notebooks come in four fabulous colours and each one contains 128 thick white pages with gorgeous silver gilt to the edges!  A fabulous gift for yourself or a special friend………

Last – but not least – and completely new to Emma’s collection, is the fabulous MUM’s Party Book – the perfect answer to planning and recording all your entertaining with friends and family.  In a gorgeous mock croc silver finish you can store all the details of parties and dinners you have been to and plan to organise, you can record your guests and their gifts and the perforated tear-out pages are perfect for when you are in planning mode.  You will never repeat the same menu or buy the same gift for your hostess ever again!!

MUM’s Office products offer you a solution to most of your problems or needs – each item is designed with mums and families in mind and they do what they say on the wrapper!

Check out all these fabulous items at www.thepaperie.co.uk – simply choose, your product and colour and place your order – let your organised life begin……………

Three circles, one big and two small.

Black Toast has always been one of Emma Bridgewater’s best-selling offerings and this re-invention of the original retains all its whimsicality while bringing the look bang up to date. Matthew Rice has, as usual, designed each and every item, ensuring the collection has that magical Emma Bridgewater signature so popular with the brand’s many fans.

This beautiful collection would not be out of place in the kitchen, lounge or, indeed, the office.  The black and cream design incorporates Matthew’s idiosyncratic but basically Roman lettering and is an instantly recognizable domestic design classic.

Brand new to The Paperie website and in stock now, these Black Toast products will become firm favourites.  The range includes two gorgeous Pencil Cases, an exquisite Photo Album for safekeeping all your precious photos and memories, and a fabulous Recipe Journal to store all those hastily torn-out recipes and those special ones handed down through the generations.  The Expander File will prove invaluable for gathering together all those invoices and bits of paperwork that would otherwise get lost or misplaced.

As you have come to expect from any Emma Bridgewater collection there are the old favourites: an A5 hard-back Notebook, a set of three Journals (perfect for your handbag) a very handy Address Book, a beautifully boxed set of Notecards and the all-time favourite Memo Block.  Many of these items would make lovely gifts especially for that special Mother on Mother’s Day.

See the full range now on The Paperie website, and click here to buy now (we offer free UK delivery on orders over £10.00)

K Two’s new Autumn range is just the thing to get you organised for the run-up to Christmas, and this week’s 20% off promotion is perfect to get you started! In fact, we’ve taken the 20% off ALL K Two, but only for this week.

Let’s start with the fantastic 2013 Family Calendar – perfect for organising all the family’s activities, and available this year in two different designs – Tree or Fox. If you don’t need all 5 columns, then maybe the Couples Calendar will suit you better – 2 columns, suitable for Him and Her, or Work and Home, and an extra column for birthdays or shared activities. Handy stickers and monthly pockets to store tickets, invitations etc complete this must-have organiser. Our other favourite is the Busy Life Diary – again very much oriented to organising Home and Work activities. A handy Sticker Set is an optional extra.

K Two have always been known for their recipe files, and this year sees the introduction of a new design for the all-time best selling Flip Top Recipe File, while the new A4 Recipe File has a built in stand. Pair either of these with a matching Magnetic Pad or Pad and Pen Set and you have a lovely gift! There are two new designs for the handy To-Do Notes and a brand new Greeting Card Organiser to keep all those cards for the upcoming months. Sets of Kitchen themed Sticky Labels, and some lovely handbag-sized Mini-Notebooks complete this year’s new introductions and we have all of them in stock for speedy delivery.

We still have good stocks of all the current K Two ranges, including the ever popular Golden Heart Wedding Planner range – with 20% off, these are a real bargain!

To buy the new autumn K Two range with 20% off, and with free UK delivery on all orders over £10.00, then please click here – but be quick, this offer only lasts until this weekend!

Yes, only September, but the Cavallini 2013 Calendar range has arrived and they are selling fast!  Calendars are Cavallini’s signature product – every year since 1989 they have produced a range of wall and desk calendars that have become firm favourites and very collectable.  Forget mass-produced calendars on cheap paper – Cavallini only use the very best Italian laid paper stock and produce in modest quantities to ensure the highest quality.

The classic Wall Calendars have a different image for each month, are a generous 49 x 34cm in size, and make fantastic subjects for framing too.  Choose from 10 classic designs including Flora and Fauna, Vintage Travel, Paris, Birds and Vintage Maps.

The ever popular Desk Calendars are a compact 16.5  x 15 cm in size and have a folding base to ensure they stand properly.  With 14 different designs in the range, there is something to suit all tastes.  Which one will you choose? We love ‘Around The World‘.

The Vintage Calendar range is a refreshing take on a classic design – an iconic image on a rigid background, and a small tear-off calendar pad to show the dates of the current month. This calendar is furnished with a small brass ring and ribbon to provide a perfect fixing.  We think this year’s favourite will be ‘Keep Calm and Carry On‘!

To see the full range and buy online from The Paperie, then please click here – orders over £10.00 have free UK P&P.