Paper Musings

Help with Writing Memorial Cards

2011-04-23T08:07:00.000-05:00

When a loved one passes and it's time to write the memorial cards, it is important to select wording that honours the deceased and encourages those present.

Here are two new resources for helping you when planning and writing a memorial card:

Article: Memorial Cards - How To Write With Meaning

Article: Many long and short format Memorial Verses

What's happening at Botanical PaperWorks

2011-04-20T21:48:00.004-05:00

Hello!

Since my last post on this blog, life at Botanical PaperWorks has been interesting and exciting. Today, I'll update you on the many different ways to interact with Botanical PaperWorks!

Seed paper and envelopes - information about buying sheets of high-quality seed paper and seed paper envelopes.
Plantable Paper Printing Guidelines - everything you need to know about printing on seed paper (also known as plantable paper).
Green Gifts Guide - our fabulous, season-specific green gifts guide to give you tons of ideas for gift-giving.
Plantable Paper on Twitter - regular tweets from the creative team at Botanical PaperWorks.
Plantable Paper on Facebook - all the current news and special offers
Botanical PaperWorks Blog - craft DIY ideas, press, tips and articles

So please join us!

Blog Has a New Home

2005-09-28T00:20:00.000-05:00

My blog has a new home! Check out Stationery Scoop which replaces Heidi's Paper Musings. I switched to the TypePad service because of the extra features available - check out the photo album and the RSS feed. Let me know what you think.

Reply Card Album

2005-09-23T15:32:00.000-05:00

I was chatting with Gillie from Fairchild Bridal Group today (publishers of Bride's, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride), talking about reply cards and what to do with them after the wedding is over. We spoke about how many guests write personal notes to the bride and groom on the cards. These become special momentos of the special pre-wedding time, and of the friends and family who were invited to share in it. Gillie suggested that brides create a Reply Card Album. Using a simple scrapbook album or a guestbook such as this Handbound Guestbook from Botanical PaperWorks, affix the reply cards to the page. And voila - a beautiful keepsake album to treasure for years to come!

New Ribbons

2005-09-21T17:10:00.000-05:00

Have you seen our new ribbons? Shown here - Vibrant Pink, Vibrant Orange, Celery Green and Medium Blue. This fabulous new ribbons are available on all of our handmade wedding invitations and Plantable Seeded Favors. All are available from Botanical PaperWorks.

Fall Bridal Gown Fashions

2005-09-21T14:09:00.000-05:00

Modern Bride has photos fresh from the runway. Check out the wedding gown styles by visiting Fall Runway 2005. You can even vote for your favorite dress!

Martha Stewart Ad

2005-09-19T14:18:00.000-05:00

On shelves soon...the Fall 2005 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. Look for Botanical PaperWorks' ad in the Marketplace section at the back of the magazine. This issue's ad features the Butterfly in Flight plantable seed favors.

Butterfly Favors

2005-09-19T12:15:00.000-05:00

We're working on some new photography for our website, and I wanted to share this bevy of beautiful butterflies. Shown at left, the Plantable Butterfly Seed Favors are available in white, pink, blue, yellow, lavender and new green. Plant the butterfly and the paper will grow into a pot of beautiful flowers. Each butterfly is made with Garden Greetings handmade wildflower seed paper. This special paper is plantable, which means that the seeds germinate right from the paper. Click here for more plantable seed favors. More lovely photos to come...stick around!

Update on DIY Prep

2005-09-18T13:43:00.000-05:00

I'm off to Burbank in just 1 week, to tape the papermaking episode of Craft Lab, a new show from the DIY Network. On Friday, the head papermaking from Botanical PaperWorks and I spent the day getting materials and equipment ready for the show. There were many samples to be made, and bits and pieces to gather. We had to make extras of every sample, in case one gets lost or ruined during taping. I'll be traveling to Burbank with an odd assortment of equipment in my luggage - kitchen blender, dried pulp, handmade paper, whisks, plastic buckets. What will customs say?!

Introducing Toni

2005-09-16T13:16:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce you to Toni, Botanical PaperWorks' Customer Care Manager and Assistant General Manager. When you call to place an order, track a package or inquire about a product, most likely you will speak with Toni (or another member of her customer care team). Toni has been with Botanical PaperWorks since 2001, and her experience means that she can help you quickly and competently. I love this photo of us at the National Stationery Show in May 2005. We're dressed in identical t-shirts, as part of the booth uniform. Toni is here to help, so please call or email her with your questions and comments. She'd love to hear from you!

Free Wedding Planner Workbook

2005-09-15T14:52:00.000-05:00

I love this wedding planner from Martha Stewart. It's called the Wedding Workbook and it's free for you to download. Use it to track expenses, plan the photography and more. It also includes a super helpful timeline for ordering invitations, booking facilities, etc.

Forgotten Thank You Note - What to Do

2005-09-15T14:45:00.000-05:00

Here's a great Q&A from Modern Bride, addressing an awkward situation - what to do if you forget to send someone a thank you note. Yikes! It happens to the best of us. Click here for the answer.

Handmade Paper, An Overview

2005-09-14T09:21:00.000-05:00

One more article that I suggest: Handmade Paper - An Overview is a useful introduction to handmade paper, the process of making handmade paper and other interesting details. It was written by the papermakers of Botanical PaperWorks, experienced in making handmade paper.

Handmade Wedding Invitations

2005-09-14T09:19:00.000-05:00

Here's a helpful article called Tips for Ordering Handmade Wedding Invitations.

Good Manners During Wedding Preparations

2005-09-14T09:05:00.000-05:00

On the way into work this morning, I was reminded of the importance of having good manners during a season of wedding preparations. I have recently been trying to contact a friend who is getting married, and she just is never returning my emails or calls. Now, I understand that she is insanely busy. More than insanely - unbelievably, crazy, over-the-top busy, with a lot on her mind. But I really need to get in touch with her, and short of renting a hot air balloon, I've run out of ideas for getting her attention. With so many details and concerns on our minds, pre-wedding, it's so easy to be on overload. And when we're on overload, we just don't care, or simply can't manage, to juggle all the balls in the air. I understand. Really. I've been there. But here's my word of caution: pulling off a wedding takes a lot of people who care about you and are willing to pitch in by throwing bridal showers, decorating the reception facility, addressing your invitations and listening to you ruminate on bridesmaids dresses and flower choices. In short, you need these people now, and you'll need them as friends later, once all the wedding insanity is over. Be careful to care for these friends now. You'll be so glad later that you did. Heidi Botanical PaperWorks

Read Wedding Monthly Online

2005-09-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

If you didn't get a copy of Botanical PaperWorks' Wedding Monthly in your email in-box this month, you can now read it online. September Issue of Wedding Monthly Enjoy! P.S. Access more terrific articles by visiting our Articles and Resources page.

Wedding Verses and Quotes

2005-09-13T08:06:00.000-05:00

Looking for a special verse or quote for your wedding? At Botanical PaperWorks, our customers often ask us for help with finding a verse or quotation for their wedding invitations and favors. To help you find a special piece, we've compiled this list of our favorite quotes and verses. Wedding Verses and Quotations If you have a favorite wedding quotation or verse, please contact us with your suggestion. We'll add it to our list to help future brides and grooms.

Handmade Paper Workshops

2005-09-12T14:13:00.000-05:00

We receive many inquiries about whether Mary and I host classes in making handmade paper. The answer is yes we do! In the eight years since we founded Botanical PaperWorks, Mary and I have taught papermaking and bookbinding classes in many and varied settings. Some examples include: • seminars for teachers who want to teach papermaking in the classroom • papermaking classes from our studio at Botanical PaperWorks • sessions at community centers • kid's classes for church groups and other community groups • and more If you are interested in holding a papermaking class and would like to invite me and Mary, please contact us for a fee schedule. We look forward to hearing from you! P.S. Get all the basic supplies and materials for making handmade paper by visiting these links: • cotton linter pulp for making handmade paper • papermaking pigments • mould and deckle set for papermaking (shown at right) • sheets of handmade paper (in case you run out of time to do it yourself!)

Monday Morning Quote

2005-09-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

I found this quote from Seuss-isms For Success, a fun little book with inspiring quotes for business, taken from the great author himself, Dr. Seuss. It's a good one for a Monday mornings: Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. From "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Have a great week! Heidi from Botanical PaperWorks

Special Offer on Plantable Christmas Stationery

2005-09-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

Would you like to get totally on top of your Christmas/Holiday cards now, in the month of September? Would you like to feel the relief of knowing that you won't have to scramble in December? Here's your chance - go right now to Botanical PaperWorks' Stationery Department and order some cards from our new 2005 Christmas and Holiday Stationery Collection. Each and every product is plantable, which means it will grow spruce trees when the handmade paper is planted. And as a bonus, receive $5 off your freight on all Christmas and Holiday Stationery orders placed in September. So start preparing your list of addresses and order the cards today...you'll be all done by October. And you can brag to your friends! :)

Wedding Monthly Easy-Subscribe Button

2005-09-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Botanical PaperWorks has a new easy-subscribe button on the Wedding Department page. It looks like this: Click on it, and you'll be able to instantly subscribe to Wedding Monthly, the premier monthly publication for brides and their advisors. We hope that this improvement to the Botanical PaperWorks web site makes subscribing to Wedding Monthly faster and easier.

September Issue of Wedding Monthly

2005-09-08T13:29:00.000-05:00

The September issue of Wedding Monthly was sent out today. This month's special feature is $5 off freight for all orders of Christmas Holiday Stationery placed in the month of September 2005. Other special features include updated articles in the Wedding Resource section, including a new article called Wedding Verses and Quotations. This article has a selection of special verses and quotes perfect for a wedding or bridal shower. Don't miss the October issue! Join us by subscribing here. It's quick and easy to subscribe, and you'll start receiving Wedding Monthly in the first week of every month.

Christmas Holiday Product

2005-09-07T13:47:00.000-05:00

We've just uploaded our 2005 Christmas Holiday Stationery Collection and you're invited to check it out. Visit the Botanical PaperWorks Stationery Department for handmade papers, envelopes and our new Christmas Collection of stationery. All products are available wholesale to qualified wholesale customers. Click here for a wholesale catalog.

Recommendation: Yahoo Papermaking List

2005-09-06T14:05:00.000-05:00

Looking for an on-line forum for papermakers? Wanting useful advice and helpful direction? Look no further! The Yahoo Papermaking List is a list of 1000+ members who are united by their passion for papermaking. This convival group of crafters and artists discuss all matters relating to papermaking, including pigmenting, using different kinds of pulp, pulp processing, working with botanical inclusions and much more. Don't just take my word on it - go check it out yourself! Cheers! Heidi Botanical PaperWorks

DIY Network Show - Craft Lab

2005-09-02T20:19:00.000-05:00

In just a couple of weeks, I'm off to Burbank, California, to tape an episode of "Craft Lab". It's a new craft show produced by Screen Door Entertainment for the DIY Network. The spot is all about...what else...papermaking! I'm really excited about this opportunity because so many people will get to experience papermaking in a fun and accessible format on TV. Also, all of the show's projects and instruction will be available on the DIY website. So all you have to do is watch the show or follow the on-line how-to's and you'll be set to make paper. Tons of Botanical PaperWorks product will be featured, including all of our great papermaking supplies. Be sure to visit my blog in September for updates on this amazing experience!

Botanical PaperWorks Featured in Canadian Living

2005-08-30T13:07:00.000-05:00

Way back in 1999, when Botanical PaperWorks was a young babe of just three years old, Mary and I were featured in the Canadian magazine called Canadian Living. The article featured three different sets of entrepreneurs and told the stories of each, as they (we) navigated the waters of entrepreneurship. What was memorable, however, was the photo shoot. The photographer wanted a photo that really stood out, and we thought "Great idea - take a unique photo, get ourselves noticed". Well, we certainly where noticed! The photographer covered us in pink paper, and then took shot after shot of us grinning and posing in our handmade pink paper outfits. Check out this photo....and enjoy! P.S. This photo was just found last week, when a certain someone was cleaning out their desk drawers and found a roll of undeveloped film!

Christmas & Holiday Product Added - Wholesale Clients

2005-08-26T15:38:00.000-05:00

Attention Wholesale Customers! We've just released an updated Botanical PaperWorks Wholesale Catalog, with five new Holiday/Christmas products. Each product grows spruce trees when planted. Check out the gift tags, holiday cards and more, Visit the Botanical PaperWorks Wholesale Page to request a wholesale catalog. Order today for September delivery.

Wedding Thank You Cards

2005-08-22T10:02:00.000-05:00

I'd like to praise the traditional practice of sending thank you cards for gifts received at a wedding. Why bother? Here are two great reasons: 1) To confirm that the gifts was received - How many times have you put your gift in a pile of presents at the guestbook table and crossed your fingers that the younger brother of the groom who's in charge of loading the gifts into a van and taking them to the newlyweds' aparatment actually does his job and gets the gifts safely there? Or, what if you've sent your gift by post...and you're not sure that it was delivered to the right address (I'm still wondering about that baby gift that I sent to a friend last year). Receiving a thank you card takes that little worry out of the giver's mind and puts them at ease. 2) To express your gratitude - It's nice to receive an expression of gratitude and thanks, especially for a gift that was carefully and specially chosen. The guesture of sending a thank you card is a final statement related to your wedding, made as a new couple. Why not express your gratitude, delight the recipient, and show the world that you're organized and on top of things!! For supplies to create your own thank you cards, visit these links: Handmade Paper Vellum Envelopes Sheets of Vellum Wax Seals Flower Stickers

Fall Business Tune-Up

2005-08-17T15:09:00.000-05:00

If you own and operate a wedding business, it’s time to do your Fall Tune-Up. What am I talking about? Fall Tune-Up is a time to take stock of your business, set some plans in motion for the last quarter of the year, and dream and plan for the coming year. To get you started, follow this work sheet. Make a cup of tea, then reflect and answer each question. When you’re done, give your answers to a trusted colleague, friend or mentor to review. Ask him/her for feedback and additional ideas. Take the feedback and incorporate it into your document. Then make the ideas a reality and watch your business grow! 1. If you wrote a Strategic Plan for this year, review it. Check off the things that you’ve accomplished. Highlight in pink or yellow the undone items. Are any of the items outdated or unnecessary? Cross them off, and then plan to complete the remaining items. 2. Make a list of the marketing activities that you’ve undertaken this year. Which ones make enough money to cover the expense, which ones made more and which ones lost money? 3. Are there marketing activities that you’d like to undertake in the next 18 months? List them, along with the estimated cost. 4. Operationally, what is dissatisfying you, what is working really well? Make some notes on how you can fix the problem areas. 5. Do you have any problem areas with staffing? Make a list of current staff, noting any difficulties. Forecast your staffing needs for the New Year. Will you have to hire or lay-off any staff? 6. Now look at your answers to 2-5 and reflect on your level of satisfaction with your business. Are you happy? Are you stressed? Are you lonely? Are you enthused and excited? Pay attention to these feelings. If you are feeling anything negative, reflect on where those feelings are coming from. Are they related to your business? If yes, strategize on what you can do to improve your outlook. Make the changes and pat yourself on the back – you’re a successful entrepreneur! Best wishes! Heidi Reimer-Epp Botanical PaperWorks

Do-It-Yourself Invitation Supplies

2005-08-15T13:32:00.000-05:00

Do you want to make your own invitations? Looking for the supplies to create something memorable? Click for these DIY invitation supplies: • handmade paper, including seeded, plantable papers • matching handmade envelopes • laser-compatible vellum sheets • real petal stickers and confetti • wax seals - just adhere with some PVA adhesive for a strong hold • handbound guestbooks and scrapbooks Call us if you can't find what you're looking for!

August Wedding Monthly Just Sent

2005-08-08T13:25:00.000-05:00

We sent out the August issue of Wedding Monthly yesterday. It's a great issue, with helpful advice on writing welcome notes for out-of-town guests and a "Heidi's Special" of 20% off Simplicity Folded Handmade Wedding Invitations. Hurry - offer is valid only until August 31, 2005! Don't miss the September issue!! Join us by subscribing here. It's quick and easy to subscribe, and you'll start receiving Wedding Monthly in the first week of every month.

Welcome Notes for Out-of-Town Guests

2005-08-05T21:08:00.000-05:00

Out-of-town guests have gone to great effort to be at your wedding and they deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated. Write little "Welcome" notes and leave them at the guests' hotel or bed and breakfast. Include helpful items such as refreshments for after their journey, maps and information about the area and a schedule of events. Here are some ideas for creating welcome notes: Â Use handmade paper to roll scrolls fashioned with a pretty ribbon Â Elegant note cards come ready-made and include envelopes. Â ÂPlantableÂ handmade paper in a translucent vellum envelope makes a compelling presentation. These little gestures will make the visit extra special for your guests and show that you care. Article featured in August 2005 issue of Wedding Monthly.

Papermaker's Journal - Recording your handmade paper experiments

2005-08-02T14:29:00.000-05:00

When we are writing a book or teaching a class on papermaking, Mary and I often encourage students to start a Papermaker's Journal. Put aside some of your first sheets to make this special and unique book. A papermaker's journal is a fun record of the many experiments that you undertake as a papermaker. By writing notes as you go, you essentially are creating recipes for the sheets that you love and want to make over and over again. How to Make a Papermaker's Journal - Select a cover sheet of paper, something thicker and strong. Then choose 5 sheets for the inside pages. - Placing the cover sheet on top of the stack of inside sheets, fold the pile in half with the cover sheet on the outside. - Punch two holes along the fold and thread a piece of raffia or decorative thread through. - Tie the raffia/thread in a secure knot, either inside the journal or as a decorative touch on the outside of the book. Trim ends. Now that you've made your Papermaker's Journal, here are some ideas for what to write: - ingredients used in the paper, including pulp type, inclusions and additives - details on how you processed the pulp - was it cooked or soaked? did you cut it, mash it or beat it? - your thoughts as you made the paper, ideas for future uses Not only with the papermaker's journal help you when you want to make a second or third batch of pulp, it is also a fantastic keepsake as you journey from novice to expert papermaker!

Addressing Invitation Envelopes - 10 Do's & Don'ts

2005-07-28T13:40:00.000-05:00

So you've received your invitations and have a group of friends and family booked to come over for an Envelope Addressing Party. It'll be fun, right? Yes, if you've done some preparation and have some clear guidelines in place. Since the invitation envelope is the first impression that guests will have of your wedding stationery, it's really, really important to do it properly. The last thing that you want are typos, messy writing and incorrect postage. And if others are helping you with the task, you need to give them close guidance. Here are 10 tips for addressing invitation envelopes: Five Do's 1. Do use a perminant pen to address the envelope. If a drop of water falls on the envelope, this will guard against pen bleeding and smudging. 2. Do hand-address the envelopes. Pre-printed labels are easy but too impersonal for a wedding. You want the package to appear special, not like another piece of ad mail. 3. Do write out names completely rather than using nicknames. Ex: Mr. & Mrs. Robert Strelkov rather than Mr. & Mrs. Bob Strelkov. 4. Do use the level of name formality that fits with your wedding event. Some couples adhere to strict and formal Mr. & Mrs. terminology, while others opt for a casual wording, such as Robert and Melodie Strelkov. Use the wording that fits best. 5. Do feel free to embellish the envelope with a classy wax seal or pressed flower sticker. It's a nice touch. Five Don'ts 1. Don't forget to place stamps on the reply cards. I received an invitation once without postage on the respond envelope. It turned out that the mother-of-the-groom had forgotten to put the stamps on before sealing the invitation envelopes! 2. Don't scratch out a spelling mistake or stick a label overtop. This looks sloppy and messy. Instead, use a fresh envelope. If are no extra envelopes, call your invitation provider to ask for a couple of extras. 3. Don't forget to check off the names on your invitation list, either as you address the envelopes or right before putting them in the mail. If you get interupted in the middle of addressing, you'll want to make sure that you didn't miss anyone on the list. 4. Don't allow anyone with messy handwriting to address the envelopes. Only those with neat, attractive penmanship should be allowed access to the envelopes! 5. Don't hesitate to employ a professional calligrapher to address the envelopes. You'll be thrilled with the results!

July Update

2005-07-25T14:32:00.000-05:00

So with summer here, and many people enjoying a much needed break, what are we at Botanical PaperWorks up to these days? Well, since it's nearing the end of July, we're getting ready for our August issue of Wedding Monthly. Check out our website, botanicalpaperworks.com to subscribe. We'll post information on this blog when the issue comes out in two weeks. We're filling orders for invitations and favors, many for last-minute events and others for Fall and Winter celebrations. We're always happy to work with tight timelines, so please call us to find out how quickly we can ship. Another important item on our to-do list is undertaking some product development. We're continually designing new product, but in the summer, we take some extra time to design products for upcoming tradeshows and other marketing events. Stay tuned for more information about our new creations! I'm also busy getting ready to go to California to tape a couple of episodes of a TV show for a US specialty TV channel. More information on this thrilling project to come, once everything is finalized. So as you can see, we're keeping busy at Botanical PaperWorks! Hope you're having an exciting summer too!

New Colors of Handmade Plantable Seed Paper

2005-07-13T13:13:00.000-05:00

We're getting a terrific response since launching the four new colors of handmade seed paper last month. Lavender, Blue, Pink and Yellow papers are each embedded with a blend of annual and perenniel wildflower seeds. Check out the papers in handmade invitations and loose sheets of handmade paper.

Cottage Weekend

2005-07-05T20:22:00.000-05:00

Ahhh....Summertime at the family cottage. I spent last weekend with my husband's family at the cottage in the Whiteshell in Manitoba. Eight adults and six children between the ages of one and four. You get the picture. Aside from the normal pandemonium of having so many people in such a small space, the weekend did cause me to reflect on a couple of important priorities in my life: 1) independence & Togetherness: How clear it was to me that being able to create one's own life independent of parents and family is critical, yet at the same time, having the ability to merge that life with family for a short period of time is also vital. There we were, five families that needed to coexist comfortably with our uniqueness while all the time bending and blending to create a cohesive whole, at least for that one weekend! 2) Contentment with Career: Everyone at the family gathering has a different vocation, from stay-at-home-mom to professor. I came away happy with my situation - business owner, stationery designer and author, mom, wife and violinist (yes, I play the violin!). 3) Nature's Beauty: The cottage is surrounded by the beauty and splendor of the Canadian Shield and I was overwhelmed with the importance of stopping and noticing everything around me. It's easy to be exclusively focused on the tasks of the weekends, without taking time to enjoy the majestic beauty. My father-in-law took this picture of a bee in daisies, which now graces my computer desktop. It's a good reminder of the sights and sounds of that special place, which I hope will inspire me into the winter season, after the daisies have faded and the bees retreated into hibernation.

July Wedding Monthly Sent Today

2005-06-30T16:21:00.000-05:00

The July issue of Wedding Monthly was sent out today. This issue features articles on sending Thank You cards. We also have a Heidi's Special for the month of July - receive 25% off our classic Thank You cards. Check out this month's Q&A which answers a common question about sending thank you cards. To receive the August issue, please join us by subscribing.

Bridal Luncheon Invitation

2005-06-27T18:36:00.000-05:00

Last week, a lovely invitation arrived in the mail. It was an invitation to a bridal luncheon and the invitation was created with paper from Botanical PaperWorks, my company! How fun to receive an invitation made with our paper! The invitation was ink-jet printed on Lavender Handmade Paper in a white A7 envelope and finished with a Pink Daisy Sticker on the outer flap. The sticker was a beautiful accent - when I retrieved the invitation from the mailbox, it was the first thing that I noticed. I thought "What's this?" and eagerly opened to read the conents. How fun!

Making Custom Covers for CD Favors

2005-06-23T10:59:00.000-05:00

If you're giving out CDs to your wedding guests this summer, here's a free template that you can use to cut out the covers. Just go to CD Wedding Favors on the Botanical PaperWorks website and download the PDF template. Click for a complete list of projects.

My Source of Inspiration

2005-06-19T21:10:00.000-05:00

I just got back from a couple of days at my family's cottage on Lake Winnipeg. What a gorgeous weekend! Warm breezes on Saturday and hot sunshine on Sunday. Just the kind of weekend that we Winnipeggers wait for all winter. It started me thinking about how this cottage was the place where Botanical PaperWorks was started. Mary and I did our first handmade paper recipes on the old deck of the cottage. We gathered mosses, leaves and chokecherries from the grasslands surrounding the cottage. We drew inspiration from the beaches and magnificent fresh-water lake, as we designed the first stationery and invitation lines. And we dreamed and planned the first catalog and website into existence right in the living room, looking out on the lake. What's more, each of our three books were penned at the cottage - what better place to work hard, with the beauty of nature surrounding us and motivating us! I hope that you get the opportunity for some dreaming and creating this summer. Think about what inspires you, and surround yourself with it! Best wishes, Heidi

Plant Material For Making Handmade Paper

2005-06-17T15:07:00.000-05:00

In my backyard, some of the beautiful late spring/early summer plants are starting to fade and wither. But not to worry, they can be used for making handmade paper! Here are a couple of suggestions for harvesting and storing plant material for use during the winter months: 1) Harvest colorful flowers by trimming the flower from the plant and picking off the petals. Dry the petals in a shallow paper box or in a flower press (for flat petals), then store on between paper towels in a plastic bag. Make sure the petals are completely dry before bagging, or you're return to a mouldy mess! Fresh flower petals are beautiful in handmade paper, so if you are inspired to pull a few sheets now, just add the petals to your vat and whisk well. 2) Leaves can either be dried flat or curled. Dry leaves between books or in a flower press and save in bags, as done above with petals. Curled leaves are handy for crunching and adding to pulp at a later date. This crunching gives the paper lovely bits of leaves throughout the pulp. 3) As irises and daylilies fade, leave them on the plant to fully wither and dry. Harvest them either in the fall, or better yet, in the early spring after they have retted somewhat on the ground. Take the time to gather and dry some of the summer's bounty. When winter comes, you'll be glad you did!

Summer Project - Learn to Make Handmade Paper

2005-06-13T16:11:00.000-05:00

It's the middle of June, and all around me, kids are excitedly anticipating the end of school. Two whole months of rest and relaxation for the kids...but what about the parents? You need an activity for the kids, that gives them something fun to do and that doesn't cost much. Check out this papermaking kit available through Botanical PaperWorks. This super kit includes a papermaking mold and a step-by-step video. Papermaking is a fun activity for kids 5 years old and up. It's an inexpensive summer activity that uses up paper from the recycling bin and the flowers and leaves from the back yard. Contact us to order a kit for immediate delivery. Contents: Medium size dip handmold, papermaking screen, cover screen, screen support grid, scrubbed corn husk & cotton specialty pulp, mixed botanicals, 2 press 'n' dry cloths. 30 minute instructional video (VHS)

To Respond Card or Not To

2005-06-09T15:28:00.000-05:00

In the last couple of weeks, I've received invitations to four weddings. The first three invitations had an email or telephone RSVP while the fourth had a traditional mail-in reply card. This experience reflects a growing trend for couples to skip the reply card and use an alternate method for hearing from their guests. But I have to confess - I love the traditional reply card! Why? For four reasons: (1) As a stationery designer, I love a chance to use stationery. I love the act of writing out my name on the "M____" line, feeling the crunch of my pen on the fine paper. I appreciate the fact that the couple has carefully chosen their wedding stationery to reflect them and to set the tone for the upcoming event. (2) As someone who uses email and electronic communication on a daily basis, I love the tradition behind the printed reply card. It's a break from the every day, causing me to slow down and take a moment to think of the bride and groom. (3) As a busy mom and businessperson, the reply card is really, really convenient. I can write out my RSVP, pop it into the mailbox and I'm done. I don't have to remember to boot up my computer (yes, I admit, I forgot to RSVP for one of the weddings, because I filed away the invitation away and forgot to send that email). (4) As a wife and former bride, I treasure the box of reply cards that I saved from my wedding. Each one is written with the names of our special guests, some of whom are now deceased. The little notes on many of the reply cards are humorous, joyful and poignant, and take me right back to those precious pre-nuptual days that seem so long ago. What an incredible keepsake for my husband and me, and for our two daughters when their turn comes. Don't get me wrong - I understand the reasoning behind using email and phone for RSVP. It's convenient, it saves money and it can fit well with a casual wedding. Many of our customers choose this method of RSVP'ing, and we have many eloquent ways of wording such an RSVP. But I hope that my perspective as a guest helps illuminate the "pro" side for using a reply card. The reply card can actually be a lovely component of your invitation ensemble, not the out-dated piece that you might think it to be. Even a contemporary wedding is enhanced by the selective incorporation of traditional touches which have stood the test of time. Best wishes! - Heidi

Personalized Plantable Favor Boxes

2005-06-06T12:12:00.000-05:00

With summer wedding season now upon us, many brides are finalizing the details of their wedding favors. Here's a helpful article from Botanical PaperWorks with ideas for personalizing a plantable, seeded favor box. For the complete article, visit Personalizing Your Pyramid Boxes. To purchase these plantable boxes, go to Plantable Pyramid Boxes. Also check out the Plantable Heart Boxes available in all plantable, seed papers.

Bridesmaid Dresses - Beautiful Blues

2005-06-03T09:52:00.000-05:00

I love the beautiful blue hues that we're seeing this season in bridesmaid dresses. I attended a trends seminar at the National Stationery Show in May, and a presenter from the Fairchild Publishing (Modern Bride and Bride's magazines) characterized the current shades of blue "as if glimpsed through water". This descibes it perfectly! Check out this bridesmaid dress slide show from Modernbride.com. It has a range of blues and greens that is simply gorgeous. Speaking of blue, the Metropolitan Invitation is available in this season's shade of blue. With grosgrain and satin ribbons, the invitation is elegant and memorable.

June Issue of Wedding Monthly Sent Today

2005-06-01T16:01:00.000-05:00

Subscribers of Botanical PaperWorks' monthly e-newsletter, Wedding Monthly, received their June issue today. If you are a subscriber and you didn't receive a copy, please make sure that our email address is in your address book. Otherwise, your spam filter may be filtering us out. Featured in this issue: planning a winter wedding, ordering favors last-minute and more.

Planting Botanical PaperWorks' Seeded Paper

2005-05-29T15:32:00.000-05:00

Have you received or purchased some plantable, seeded handmade paper from Botanical PaperWorks? Maybe you received a Plantable Favor at a recent wedding, or perhaps you ordered handmade wedding invitations from us and have a few left over. Well now's a great time to plant that paper and enjoy the wildflowers that will grow! This time of year, you have the option of planting the paper either indoors, in a pot as shown at right. Or, you can plant the paper out of doors and enjoy the flowers in an garden or outdoors pot. Remember to keep the handmade paper nice and moist during germination. It will take about 5-7 days for the paper to germinate. You'll start to see little green shoots, which will mature into larger, stronger plants bearing flowers. So don't just think about it....go plant it! You'll be glad that you did!

Handmade Paper as a Business

2005-05-29T15:17:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share an great experience that I had last fall. It was shortly after the summer that I was contacted by the Women's Enterprise Centre here in Winnipeg. They asked to do a profile of me and my company, Botanical PaperWorks for their new web site. I said "Let's do it!". I met with the creative director of the campaign, and we did a short interview. Then, I went to the photo shoot. Here's a photo of me at the shoot. They told me to be relaxed, to move naturally and have fun. It was fun! I'm so glad that the Women's Enterprise Centre asked me to participate. And I'm honored to be sharing this bit of the web with other talented businesswomen, all who have made their dream of owning a business come true. Cheers to everyone pursing an entrepreneurial vision! -->Read the profile

Don't save your handmade paper - just use it!

2005-05-27T14:59:00.000-05:00

I needed a piece of paper today because I wanted to write a note to a friend. Yes, I was actually going to put pen to paper and write a note. Not email...a real note that required an envelope and stamp. As I rummaged through a desk drawer, I came upon a stash of handmade paper. These were sheets that I had collected, saving them for a special project. The papers were really gorgeous - larkspur and abaca handmade paper, colourful threads in white cotton handmade paper and glittery, sparkly luster pigment in bright-colored handmade paper. At first, I passed over the sheets, thinking that they were too special to use for this note. And then it occured to me that my stash of paper wasn't giving anyone any enjoyment sitting at the back of the drawer. The joy of using handmade paper would come from the tactile pleasure of feeling my fountain pen against the paper fibers and of my friend opening up her note to find a one-of-a-kind sheet of handmade paper. So I selected one beautiful sheet and wrote my note. How many of us have drawers of hoarded paper? Start using it today! It will give you and the recipient enjoyment, plus clear out your drawers for new paper. What are you doing right now? Go write a note! :)

Planning Winter Weddings

2005-05-25T13:46:00.000-05:00

In the June issue of Wedding Monthly, the newsletter for the betrothes, we're going to be talking about planning for a winter wedding. Whether the wedding takes place in the crisp cool air of a snowy chalet or in the balmy warm breezes of a tropical destination, planning for a winter wedding has different challenges. A delightful favor for a winter wedding is Botanical PaperWork's Plantable Tree Wedding Favor. This favor grows white spruce trees when planted. Guests plant the paper indoors during the winter months, and in the spring, transfer the small plants to the garden. There, they will grow into magestic spruce trees. For a tropical wedding, the Daisy Bag with 50 Plantable Flat Cards contains 50 flat cards with plantable paper. When the paper is planted, it grows wildflowers. This fun paper can be planted either indoors during winter months or out of doors during summer months. If you'd like to subscribe to Wedding Monthly, you can join us by clicking on this link and adding your email address. Each month, you'll receive an email with article, projects, tips and special offers, exclusively for subscribers.

After the Show

2005-05-21T08:28:00.000-05:00

I'd like to thank everyone who visited us at the National Stationery Show this past week. It was a terrific week! Toni and I returned home with the orders and samples, and now have the pleasure of filling those orders. We'll be following up with our new contacts with brochures and samples as promised. We hope you too had a safe and pleasant trip home, and we look forward to speaking with you in the days and weeks to come.

National Stationery Show - First Day

2005-05-15T19:17:00.000-05:00

It's been a good day at the National Stationery Show. Here is a photo of our booth, just prior to show opening. We had a fun day meeting with our existing customers and meeting many new ones. The invitation and favor portfolios are a big hit. We're so pleased!

National Stationery Show: Set-Up Day

2005-05-14T20:57:00.000-05:00

It's Saturday evening and we spent the day today setting up for the National Stationery Show at New York City's Javits Center. It was a very full day, unpacking the panels and product that we brought with us from Winnipeg, arranging the product on the displays and setting up the tables and card racks. Here's Toni getting the product ready for the panels. We chose a really gorgeous green from the Debbie Travis paint collection. The photo makes it look more lime than it is, but suffice it to say that we're all inspired to paint a room or two in this fabulous color! Here's me gluing product to a panel. This panel is called "Plantable Stationery" and features our popular Butterfly in Flight cards which have been packaged for retail sales as cute little gift enclosure cards. It also includes printed Plantable Thank You Cards with retro designs printed directly on the plantable, seeded handmade paper. This is a wholesale-only product at the moment. The rest of the booth shows off our new Glitter Card collection of single greeting cards, boxed thank you notes, correspondence cards and fill-in invitations. We also are showing our plantable stationery, shapes and......we're so excited.....our new Plantable Favors and Invitations portfolios. Again, for wholesale only. We're looking forward to a great show! See you there!

Article: Basic Papermaking

2005-05-14T07:19:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, check out this article called Handmade Paper - Basic Instruction. It's in the Crafting Department of Botanicalpaperworks.com, and has information for getting started with papermaking. Who can make paper? Anyone! We've taught groups ranging in age from 5 to 75 and everyone had a good time, So grab your household blender and some paper from the recycling bin and get started!

Leaving for New York in 2 days!

2005-05-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday afternoon and we're busy with the final details for the National Stationery Show in New York's Javits Center. We leave on Friday and are looking forward to launching over a dozen new lines, many featuring the plantable, seeded paper that we're famous for. Others using our specially-made handmade papers. I'm really excited about the new products, and invite all of our wholesale customers to visit us at booth 3331. Be sure to drop by and ask for your special gift. We're giving away samples of our new products!

Handmade Paper's Deckled Edge - Why?

2005-05-09T11:13:00.000-05:00

The Botanical PaperWorks website has a great FAQ page that relates to ordering from botanicalpaperworks.com. But today, I’d like to answer some specific questions about handmade paper and the deckled edge. This is must-have information for anyone interested in papers and making handmade paper. What is a deckled edge? The deckled, or feathered, edge of a sheet of handmade paper results from the papermaking process. To make a sheet of handmade paper, we use a mould and deckle set. The mould is a wood frame covered with special papermaking screen. The deckle is an open frame that is placed on top of the mould. The papermaker places the two pieces together and drags them through a vat of pulp, catching the fibers evenly on the screen. The deckle is removed and the sheet of paper is transferred from the mould for pressing. The edges of these sheets all have a deckled, feathered edge. Is the deckled edge something worth preserving? I think so! The deckled edge is a special part of handmade paper and why I recommend it for wedding invitations and baby announcements. In this day-and-age of computer email and internet, the deckled edge communicates the fact that handmade paper is specially and intentionally made. Perserving the deckled edge is also why Botanical PaperWorks offers over a dozen different sizes of handmade paper and matching handmade envelopes, so that you can select a size of handmade paper made with the deckled edge, not cut down from a larger sheet. We could just produce large sheets of handmade paper and trim them to a suitable size, but that would be losing the unique deckled edge. For more information on making handmade paper, please refer to 300 Papermaking Recipes and The Encyclopedia of Papermaking and Bookbinding.

New Wedding Resources

2005-05-04T20:34:00.000-05:00

Here's something to get excited about! We've added a special Articles section to the Wedding Department of Botanical PaperWorks. It's a reference area with 15 of our best paper projects, including Handmade Stemwear Tags and Photo Frame Magnets. All projects include color photos, project supply list and complete instructions. Some of them also include free, downloadable project sheets. Here's a list of projects: • Accordion Engagement Announcements • Make Your Own Envelope Book • CD Wedding Favors • Easy Fold Books • Christmas Cracker Favors • Creating Unique Wedding Favors, Guestbooks and Wedding Programs • Photo Frame Magnet Wedding Favor • Personalizing Your Pyramid Boxes • Handmade Paper Bags • Handmade Stemware Tags • Creating Thank You Cards • Make Your Own Pillow Box Favors If you have ideas for future projects, please let me know! We'll address it in a future blog or issue of Botanical PaperWorks' monthly e-newsletter Wedding Monthly.

Tips for Papermaking in the Classroom

2005-05-02T21:36:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Botanical PaperWorks got its start back in the 1990's, when co-founder (and my Mom) Mary Reimer was an elementary school teacher? She used hand papermaking as part of her language arts curriculum. Students were encouraged to write poems and stories. These written works were edited and refined, providing opportunities to teach grammar, spelling and creative writing. In art class, students then made their own sheets of handmade paper. In subsequent classes, the students wrote out their works on the handmade paper and bound the sheets into a special book, practicing their penmanship. These classes were fertile ground for creative expression, and the students loved it! Mary told of students eagerly awaiting the papermaking unit, because their older siblings had raved about the classes. If you are inspired to hold your own papermaking class, here are some tips: - Use good a mould and deckle set, designed expressly for hand papermaking. In the past, we tried using make-shift moulds made from nylons and coat hangers, and they just frustrated the students. - Remember that the quality of the finished paper depends on the quality of the pulp. Newspaper and dryer lint pulp are full of chemicals and other impurities that produce a sludge pulp and weak paper. If you want to use recycled paper, mix it with cotton or abaca fiber to add strength. Hemp is also a great fiber to use because it can link to teachings about hemp and the usefulness of this alternate fiber. - Basic papermaking instructions are available from Botanical PaperWorks. Please feel free to reprint the instructions and distribute at your class. We just ask that you leave the Botanical PaperWorks copyright and web site address on the print-out. Visit the Crafting Department and scroll down for the complete article. And most of all, have fun! Exciting things happen when students get creative!

Butterfly in Flight - a new favorite

2005-04-29T13:46:00.000-05:00

Just a couple of months ago, Botanical PaperWorks launched a new plantable wedding favor called Butterfly in Flight. The favor was designed by one of our papermakers, Dianne Thompson, and features a seeded, plantable butterfly affixed to a card and folded to be "taking off" from the card.
We instantly fell in love with the cards, and much to our delight, so did our customers! We've had the pleasure of creating Butterfly in Flight favors for weddings, baby showers, corporate promotions, non-profit fundraisers and more. It's so lovely when inspiration strikes and a new product "takes off".

The Joy of Germination Tests

2005-04-27T10:07:00.000-05:00

Much to my surprise, I woke up this morning to snow on the ground. Not exactly what I expected on April 27 but I'm encouraged by the knowledge that it will be gone in a matter of hours and summer is right around the corner (right, I hope....?!). This past week, we have been doing our regular germination and growth tests of the Garden Greetings™ Plantable Seeded Paper that we make at Botanical PaperWorks. Each sheet of handmade paper is embedded with wildflower seeds, a blend of annual and perennial seeds that grow into a beautiful pot of multicolored flowers. It's really fun doing these tests, because I love watching the seeds germinate and grow. The pots are lined up in a warm and sunny spot and I water them daily to keep them moist. I wait and watch, and soon, tiny green shoots appear, tentative at first, pushing through the black soil. Several days later, the shoots are growing stronger and taller. The plants are still delicate, but more assertive as they gain in height and show the beginning of small leaves. Soon, the plants will be strong and bearing flowers for our enjoyment. It's good to get joy from the little things in life and for me, doing these germination tests are a source of joy!

Preparations underway for National Stationery Show

2005-04-25T18:30:00.000-05:00

We spent the day today putting the finishing touches on several news lines of stationery. It will all be launched in a couple of weeks at the National Stationery Show in New York. This will be our sixth year exhibiting at the NSS, and we're looking forward to meeting up with our customers at booth 3331. If you are a stationery store, make sure you email me with your contact information. That way, we can send you the brochure when it's available in May. You won't want to miss the new invitations, favors and stationery! Here's a photo of us at the NSS in 2003. Left to right we are Mary, Toni and Heidi. You can see the ladders of handmade paper in the background and our Botanical PaperWorks sign above our heads. That was a great year, and we're looking forward to another great one this year!

Anyone can make art!

2005-04-23T11:15:00.000-05:00

I was reflecting today on how anyone, anywhere can make art. Years ago, Mary and I taught a class in papermaking. It was at a lake-site retreat, with the beauty of nature all around us. We covered the basics of papermaking - making pulp, setting up a papermaking station, pulling sheets, couching on the pad, pressing and drying. And then it was time to get creative. We put out the suggestion that the students could now take inspiration from their surroundings and incorporate leaves, grasses and flowers of their liking. My husband John had been lurking on the fringes of the group, but at that point, I invited him to come join us. He agreed and set to work on his own project. I got busy helping other students with their work. Some were embedding flower petals, plucked fresh off their stems. Others were laminating green leaves between two newly-pulled sheets. Still others were layering colored sheets of paper, one on top of another. After some time, I wandered over to John's station to see what he was up to. To my surprise and delight, he was creating something really special. One three sheets of cotton paper, he had placed whole roses, covered them with a second sheet of cotton paper, and then carefully and selectively pulled away some of the paper to reveal the treasure underneath. It was the coolest sculptural piece! That moment stands out in my mind, because it demonstrated so clearly what can happen when you park your artistic inhibitions, rules and "musts" at the door and just get into a project. John didn't have an artistic background, but he had a moment of inspiration and went for it. When the pieces dried, he had a fantastic piece of art, which to this day, hangs framed in his office, a testiment to how anyone can create art. What are you doing today? Go make some art!