Friday, February 17, 2012

End of the week

OK, now that's what I'm talking about. Serious, real paper. Found at The Peddler's Pack in Beaverton. They had a little room just filled with paper. This is what I have been looking for. I'm not sure why it has been so important to find this store. I don't need paper right now. I had enough in my stash for my valentines, but the knowledge that my source had disappeared was upsetting. I love this kind of paper and have been a big consumer for booklets and yearbooks and, of course, valentines. Paper I can put through my printer, or cut up. Paper in a variety of weights. I'm very happy to know where to find it when I need it, because when I need paper I need it now. Whew. Now I can move on. And did I mention that they also have rubber stamps? Good golly, I have never seen so many rubber stamps. I looked at every single one and I did not buy a single one, but I came home and ordered a rubber stamp of a pair of scissors from an Etsy seller. As I was looking at all those rubber stamps it suddenly occurred to me that what I really need is a pair of scissors stamp. In all their gagillions of rubber stamps they did not have scissors. All this retail exposure this week has made me a crazy person. I need some alone time. And to stop buying stuff.

Finished another project today. Remember my card-weaving project? I finished the weaving and today constructed new handles for my beautiful Mexican basket. It had stiff basket material handles that were worked into the sides of the basket and they broke almost immediately. I sewed my woven strap to some natural colored webbing to make it even more sturdy and made strap handles that really support the basket. I think these will be very strong and secure and I like the way it looks.


And before leaving the studio I tried out the polka dot stencil that I made yesterday using my new hole punch tool. I used a little sponge to daub white fabric paint over the stencil onto some fabric. Looks a little like snow, don't you think?


8 comments:

  1. Oh, my goodness. That looks like paper heaven, I'll have to mark it on my Portland (and surrounds) map. Maybe during the summer a visit will be imperative.
    Love the spinebacked fish.

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  2. Thanks for the shop news. I also, will mark it on my Portland map. I love your basket and the handles are so beautiful with it. Wishing you a gloriously quiet weekend in your studio.

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  3. Three beautiful pictures to start my weekend! Thanks!
    Have a nice day.

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  4. http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/locations/or_portland_bridgeport.html

    This is my favorite paper place and I see there is one in Portland- maybe it's where you went? I get inside and am lost for hours- they seem to be expanding which is good news in this economy!

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  5. Oh dear, forgot to comment on the basket handles- they look great, I'm sure better than the original because I love the pattern in them now- I'm an old weaver too and card weaving was so much fun- I'll have to revisit that too at some point!

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  6. I need that stencil - seriously!!

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  7. You're making me jealous. I want to go check out all those stores. we have very little to choose from here. I bow down to those racks of printer sized paper. Daughter and I could have totally used them last week. I'm with you on the hole punch -- that looks like an awesome tool. I'd go for a stapler variation too. I love your Shweshwe fish's dorsal fin. He/she's a cool fish in the whole and I hope he/she has a good time representing the shop. I was curious about the woven handles in your in-progress pic, but I can see by sewing them to the webbing that they'll be perfect and last a long time. Phew, that's a lot of stuff you've covered, but so worth it in the end.

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  8. Hi Terry:

    I have followed your blog for a couple years now and I am always in awe of the work you do. I thought I would finally stop lurking and say hello. Thanks for sharing your creativity!
    PS Love the handles for the basket!

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