You could say “I am my mother’s daughter”  in my love of folk art  and ephemera… apparently!  My mother’s collection through the years has inspired me to not only start my own collection, but to keep up with hers.  Although not technically folk art, she had amassed a collection of vintage Japanese wrapping papers and…

Read More

Went to the Printing Arts Fair this past Father’s Day, at the Museum of Printing in N. Andover, MA.   I did see a few dads, but many more DINGBATS!  After all it was an event of all types! Several quite interesting types….like Ed from Swamp Press , Andy Volpe, the intaglio printer who also does…

Read More

Back in the fall of 2011 I met this young, talented designer, while at the Kokeshi Festival in Tokyo.  I couldn’t resist but bring her irresistible designs to you, here in “America” via PaperNado.com. These incredibly cute washi tapes, vintage patterned papers, letter sets and tiny messenger dolls; all just arrived! Contact: info@papernado.com. Can you…

Read More

Tenugui is a  “handy-wipe”, which Japanese carry with them for daily use. But, as you can see here, they are used in a variety of different ways; like as part of a costume for parade performers, as giftwrap for  presents, as wall art, as a sash or scarf. These pretty little textiles we’re neatly tied…

Read More

In mid-November, I attended the Kokeshi Festival in Koenji (southwestern Tokyo).  Many vintage doll collections were for sale, as well as modern items with kokeshi doll designs, such as, tenugui, letter sets, pochi bukuro (mini envelopes), t-shirts, etc.So many cute products are now produced with kokeshi designs; of course, paper goods, like stationery sets, but…

Read More

One can always bookmark more webpages concerning paper, but now there’s a new webshop where you can find classic and even vintage, Japanese papers, but even more importantly, there are fun, kitschy, gifty items right at your fingertips.  I for one can never get enough! Check out the newly launched webshop:  www.papernado.com. Here you’ll have…

Read More

It seems the classical way of wrapping with square cloths, called  furoshiki,  has been a noteworthy, recent trend, and rightfully so.  Wrapping with reusable and artfully printed fabrics is an environmentally-friendly custom, which has finally come to the west after centuries of use in Japan. The appreciation I have for all sorts of Japanese textiles…

Read More