Miscelaney

By Heather Paper

For the record: Yes, my last name is Paper and, yes, I am a writer. But no, it isn’t—pardon the pun—a “pen” name. (It did, however, take me along time to find a guy with the perfect moniker I could glom onto.) It’s a little ironic, however, that I’ve always had an obsession with beautiful paper goods. Notecards, stationary, journals, you name it; I’ve spent years collecting stunning specimens. My husband calls it hoarding but, hey, tomato/tomatoe.

I’ve bookmarked so many sites that my computer is nearly out of memory (again). So, recently, I reviewed them all, thinking I could weed a few from my list. But being a hopeless romantic, I fell in love with each and every item all over again. A few that particularly piqued my interest this time around were:

Hooray for the Underdog; http://store.hoorayfortheunderdog.com/

Anyone who knows me at all is well aware that I’d rescue every dog on the planet if I could. So it’s no surprise that, as an official dog-o-holic, I’m completely enamored with Hooray for the Underdog. This series of spectacular, dog-centric images can be purchased as prints, greeting cards, notepads, folders and other gift items with 10% of the proceeds going to animal welfare groups to provide spay/neuter and adoption services, emergency relief and generally improving the quality of life for all Underdogs (and cats) across the country. How great is that?!?

Greer Chicago; http://www.greerchicago.com/

This is my go-to site for all things paper—no matter the occasion or my mood. And this card is a favorite because the image, for me, has a double meaning. It’s perfectly appropriate when I’m on fire; my creative juices are flowin’ and I can churn out well-written prose with ease. On the other hand, it’s also appropriate when I’d just as soon take a match to my typewriter/computer.

Caulfieldparcel; http://caulfieldparcel.com/shop_by_numbers.html

Although my mother is quite an accomplished artist, that particular creative gene didn’t get passed on to me. Maybe that’s why I’ve always had such an obsession for paint-by-number pieces. And why I love these notecards. This set includes a Vespa-like scooter. Soooooooooooo Seattle.

Catch & Release; http://catchandreleasedesign.com/

Catch & Release Design is run and operated by Nicole Stanton right here in Seattle. In addition to handmade cards and invitations, she creates custom posters and I’m mad for her record sketch books. She ingeniously silk-screens albums to use as front covers while pages from books (everything from best sellers to coloring books) serve up imaginative dividers.

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder. And I hope to be holdin’ all of these beauties soon. If I’m gonna be accused of being a horder I darn well want to earn the title.

Photos courtesy of Hooray for the Underdog, Greer Chicago and Catch & Release.

Heather Paper is a freelance writer/editor who specializes in all subjects design-related. A contributing writer for Miscelaney, she’s a dog-lovin’, wine-slurpin’ resident of Atlanta who considers Seattle her second home.

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