Holidays!

I know, I know.  You are saying to yourself, "It's only September Pulp Papery! Can't I get through one Halloween without mention of the holidays?"  I hear you...I really do...but these holiday cards from Prentiss Douthit are just so darn cute I had to share a few images with you.  Plus I come bearing gifts for you early birds out there...a discount if you work with both the wonderful Chantel of Eleakis & Elder Photography.  See...I am not so bad after all.

Moving Sale!

Change

WARNING: This will be a long post. Enter at your own risk.

It is time for change at Pulp Papery. As of August 1st, we will be closing our retail doors and opening Pulp Papery Studio, where we will focus on custom and personalized work such as wedding invitations, party invitations, custom stamps and embossers, personalized holiday cards and stationery. We will also continue to offer Waste Not Paper and Envelopments bulk card stock and envelopes by special order.

I know that I am not closing completely, but as I start the process of closing out our retail department I am feeling a bit sentimental and reminiscent [read: get out now while you can]. As I look back on the last six years, I can't believe all that has taken place in such a short amount of time. Most people don't know, but my chosen profession six years ago was a college professor of Political Science. My bookshelves are still lined with texts from my political theory, international relations and religion classes; all purchased to be used for my yet to be written dissertation on concepts of freedom and the relationship of freedom to religion in South East Asia, specifically the Indian subcontinent. Hello...are you still awake? I can hear you yawn from here.

In any case, I don't think I would have had all of the wonderful, weird and sometimes trying experiences I have had if I didn't accept change. I know that change is inevitable and I also know that you are better off listening to the voice inside you that says, "Okay...this chapter is done. Time to move on to the next. Yes I am talking to you. I know you are comfortable. I know it is scary. But you have to take the leap...come on...just...another...step..."

That little voice started to gnaw at me in 2003 when I moved back to Sacramento after SP and I got married. After a year of temporary assignments and a very lukewarm reception to my résumé, I started to wonder if I needed to rethink some things. At the same time, my sister and good friend were making plans to open a retail store in Sacramento...enter Pulp Papery.  It was nothing that I had ever done but what I had always done wasn't working either. So I listened to my little voice inside and decided to take the leap with them.

It has been a labor of love from the beginning. While it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, it has also been the best education I have ever had. I absolutely knew when I signed on for this challenge that I would wave goodbye to free time, financial security and the ability to have a bad day. To be honest, what I was not ready for was being criticized or reviewed for things I didn't have in the store, for things I did have in the store, for the "type" of customers we had in the store, for the prices in my store, because I didn't make enough conversation or I made too much conversation...and the list goes on and on. For those that had enough of a bad or mediocre experience at Pulp Papery to write about it, I apologize. Believe me when I say that I have read every single review and those are the ones that make me lay awake at night, shed a few tears and rack my brain to figure out how to be better. I know that there is only so much one person can do but there is something about having your short-comings pointed out by strangers that can make even the strongest person question their abilities.

On the flip side, and the side that I was not expecting and is making me tear up as I write this, are the wonderful customers I met over the years. I have seen some of you get married, have babies and buy your first teacher's gift for your child's Kindergarten class. I have held newborns for new moms so they could have a chance to get out, relax and talk to someone that can talk back. I have cried with some of you when you needed help with planning for a memorial. I have helped pick out which photo to use on holiday cards, what résumé paper to use for first job applications and what stationery to order for first anniversaries.

Also special to me are the couples I met who allowed me to help them design and print their wedding invitations. It is the part of Pulp Papery that I created and built by myself and it is the part I am most proud of and am looking forward to being able to focus on.  I owe a big thank you to all of those couples for the inspiration. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have known how much I love designing and this next phase of Pulp Papery wouldn't exist.

To those of you I have met at the store and become friends with over the years, had the most amazing conversations with, that allowed me to be a small spectator in your lives, that always supported our store even if we didn't have exactly what you were looking for, that wrote such nice things about us and stuck with us through thick and thin - thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the shop and me a part of your day. On those days when I didn't think I could do anything right, one of you always came in and always said how much you loved the shop. You gave me a tremendous boost exactly when I needed it without ever knowing it; and for that I will always be grateful.

There are a few other thank yous that I need to say. First to my employees, past and present, I couldn't have maintained the store and my other jobs without you. There are some that deserve a special "shout out." First, one of my "sales gals" was really just my best friend that helped me when I needed to catch up on work or needed a day off - Rachel thank you for pitching in on those Saturdays or when I called you panicked because someone called in sick or for bringing me lunch on those days I was here by myself. I also owe Rachel a special thank you for always lending an ear when I needed advice. Without you we wouldn't have known how to handle our cash register, how to manage employees or organize inventory. On a personal note, I appreciate you for always being there when I needed to vent and for always being on my side.

We were also lucky to have Joan, a style-maven that always urged customers to think outside their inner color wheel and contrast their colors rather than complement them.  Thank you Joan for sticking with us for as long as you did and for being so patient with me while I learned how to be a boss.

More recently, we were lucky to find Shannon, which I really can't take credit for. We had finished with interviews when her résumé showed up in our e-mail and all of girls here said, "we like her!" Upon meeting her, I also liked her - and not just because she is a loyal and frequent library patron and fellow lover of all things Anthroplogie. Shannon has definitely influenced us with her artistic sensibility, genuine interest in our customers and her sense of humor. I am very much looking forward to continuing working with Shannon in our new space.

Last, but certainly not least, is Heidi. She has been with us the longest and I can't tell you how many times Heidi has come in early, stayed late, helped with parties that I was planning, told me to go home when she knew I just needed a break, changed her hours whenever I needed to change mine or to accommodate someone else's schedule. She has been steadfast in her support of me and for that I will always feel indebted to her. Thank you Heidi for teaching all those classes, for always making sure the drawer had change and for being such a loyal friend.

To my sister Sureena and friend Amy, thank you for letting me start the store with you, letting me put my own mark on it and for supporting me changing our initial vision into something new. If it wasn't for you two, I would still be teaching classes all over the state of California at all hours of the night hoping to get a full time teaching position or waiting for yet another employer to actually turn my temporary job into a permanent one as was always promised whenever I started somewhere new. You always promoted me as the force behind Pulp Papery and are quick to correct people when they don't know that I have been involved from the start. Thank you for believing in the talent that I didn't know existed and for being proud of what Pulp Papery has become.

To my parents, my mother- and father-in-law, nephews and nieces, cousins and friends who haven't seen me in the last six years -  thanks for sticking with me. I have missed or had to cut short family get-togethers, birthday parties, games, school programs, bridal and baby showers, weddings, receptions, brunches and dinners. You planned around my shop hours and held events on Sundays and/or after five on Saturdays and put up with my last minute schedule delays because I was printing invitations or covering for someone at the shop. I appreciate it more than you know.

The person that deserves the most thanks is SP. The majority of our married life I have owned Pulp Papery and there hasn't been a time where he hasn't supported me 100%. At times, I worked 60-80 hour weeks, without pay and without a glimmer of hope that this experiment would amount to anything. He has gone to family functions without me, work functions without me, has been quick to defend me when others didn't understand why I couldn't make it and was equally quick to tell me not to worry about it if I just needed to stay home. His most often quoted line to me is, "No one knows or understands how hard you work. Don't worry about it if you need a break." He has brought me countless lunches, done the laundry, grocery shopped, made dinner, put gas in the car, kept our lawn alive and even run the cash register when I was in a real pinch all while working equally hard to get his own career off of the ground. SP, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for recognizing all of the work I put into the store, for constantly reminding me that I was doing the best that I could and for all of your support during this big change in my life. I hope that I have offered the same unconditional support to you.

I won't lie - not having the retail part of Pulp Papery will be hard. However, I am very excited to have the time and energy to devote to the part of Pulp Papery that drives me and to see where it goes. I hope to see you at the store during our sale. I also hope to see you at our new space for your invitation and stationery needs. We will be having an Open House Thursday, August 4th from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Stop by, say hello, have a cocktail and check out the new digs: Pulp Papery Studio @ The Urban Hive :: 1931 H Street :: Sacramento. Until the next post...XO, Manpreet

Real Wedding: Ronald & Carla

{Photo By: Chantel Elder of Eleakis & Elder Photography}



When this lovely couple entered the shop to order wedding invitations...the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  The design they had in mind included the use of yellow and gray ink, which just happens to be my current obsession when it comes to color pairings.  Our friend Chantel of Eleakis & Elder Photography shot their wedding and she included a shot of the invitation we designed.  Thanks Chantel for sharing your beautiful images with me...and congratulations Ron & Carla your wedding looked gorgeous!

Royal Wedding: You Are Invited!

Stop by Pulp Papery April 29th and help us celebrate the Royal Wedding!  We will have light refreshments and hope to stream video of the celebration.  So if you are excited enough to have a cup of tea but not excited enough to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the festivities live...stop by and celebrate with us.  Cheers!

We Need Your Help!

Personlized Gifts

I always find myself looking for cute little gifts this time of year.  There is always a birthday, shower or graduation during the Spring and with my schedule...if I don't buy something in advance and have it ready to go...the person we are celebrating may just end up with a pat on the back and whatever gum I have in my purse.  As luck would have it, while I was plotting out my events and their corresponding gifts the new Boatman Geller album came to the shop.  I don't know about you, but I always get a secret thrill whenever I have anything personalized...it just seems so fancy.  Even more, I think it is a great gift option because most people (yours truly excluded) don't order personalized things for themselves.  More often than not, when a customer orders a stamp or stationery for someone they always say how much the person they got it for loves it.

When I turned to the first page of the new album this new elephant design caught my eye and demanded that I place an order immediately for personalized notepads.  Then I remembered that I was trying to find gifts for other people...and that is the best part about Boatman Geller.  They have a wide variety of border options, color options, icon options and font options to suit any taste.  They also have a lot of gift options to offer so that I can get something for everyone on my list.  Some of the options are stationery {maybe for the new grad}, invitations/announcements {maybe our housewarming party}, notepads {hostess gift}, melamine plates/platters {for the bride & groom} and recipe cards {mother's day}.  Alright...off I go to imagine my name on those great melamine platters....and luggage tags....and.....place mats...and.....

Finding Your Style

Sorry for the lull in posts! SP and I are looking for homes in the hood and the search is occupying my every waking moment. Heck, it is occupying my every sleeping moment since my dreams (read: nightmares) have been filled with fears of redoing the plaster, getting building permits, replacing windows and the like. I keep hearing that it is a buyer's market...but as usual the market I am looking at is definitely not on sale. This doesn't really shock me since my singular talent is to find the one thing not discounted in a discount shop. For example, I will find the one thing that costs $1 in the 99¢ Store. You may be asking yourself, "what does her house hunting malaise and inability to bargain shop have to do with paper?" and you would be right to ask. While I rarely have a point to my stories, this one does have a point...maybe.

During the hunt, I've had the opportunity to walk through many houses. It is such a personal glimpse into people's lives and what I get the most inspiration from are the colors and accent pieces people use to express themselves in their home. From classic elegance to contemporary chic - I love how color in any manifestation can transform objects. Coincidentally, the majority of my meetings with couples getting married over the past few months have centered on questions regarding color themes and styles on wedding stationery. A lot of my couples have been flummoxed on what colors and styles to bring from their wedding onto their invites. I have every confidence that my clients do know what looks good to them. The only problem was that they were not able to translate their taste onto a 5 x 7 piece of paper.

When thinking about how to help people design an invite they will love, it hit me. I started asking my clients what kind of mood they like to set in their own home or what they both thought their future home would look like. When posed with this question they had endless descriptions. Warm tones, complementary colors, contrasting patterns. They wanted an English garden feel in their front yard or they wanted to use unexpected materials like stone and gravel for a more contemporary look. Shutters, no shutters. Stucco or brick. The more we talked, the more they honed in on the type of setting they liked. Once my clients and I got the conversation about color and mood going, I only had to say this: just like the architectural style, landscaping and paint on the walls set the mood and tone of that home, color and style on an invitation also convey a feeling and set the mood for your event. It is almost like, dare I say, curb appeal for your wedding. A traditional invitation of white or ivory cardstock and black engraving, lets the guest know what type of event to expect - formal. Switch out the black ink for aqua and add some gilded edges to an ivory invite and you still have formal, but with almost a French twist. Add an additional pop of color and you have contemporary spin on an old classic. That is just color - don't get me started on fonts or print processes or motifs.

In any case, during our conversations I think I showed my clients that they need not feel intimidated about coming up with styles for their invitations. Color really is simply the extension of your personal style and the mood that you want to create. Whether you are formal and traditional or whimsical and a little bohemian, start taking a look at the environment you love to be in. Do you like formal spaces and the use of neutral colors in your home? Is your blue wedding cake with gold accents one of your favorite parts of your reception design? Do you like using patterns and colors to create a more contemporary feel? If you pull in these elements onto your wedding stationery - you will have an invitation that reflects the mood you want to create for your big day and give your guests a little taste of what to expect at the main event.

{Top Left: House Beautiful | Top Right: Crane & Co.}

{Middle Left: Martha Stewart Weddings | Middle Right: William Arthur}

{Bottom Left: Style Me Pretty | Bottom Right: Envelopments}

Surprise! (Redux)

As I mentioned in a previous blog, while planning SP's surprise party, my mother asked me to plan another surprise party...this time for my sister. When my sister turned 40 (um, I mean 20...sorry, sis) she was expecting my second nephew and we were limited to ice cream and cake on her big day. Now, don't get me wrong. There isn't a scoop of ice cream or a slice of cake that she's met and hasn't liked. I didn't get my cake habit out of thin air. However, being the devoted younger sister that I am, I try to listen to my slightly older sister diligently (read: by force). When I listened to her talk to her friends about turning 40 and the nice small family dinner we had to celebrate it, I knew that she still wanted to have a slightly more raucous affair.

Now, to set the stage you may need a little background. To know my sister is to love her. You need someone to pack up some boxes because you're moving? She is your gal. Need a tow because your car has broken down? Look no further. Need to keep things on the down low because you are hoping for the element of surprise? Lose her number. Keeping a secret is not her forte.

Her: I know what you are getting for your birthday.
Me: I don't want to know. I want to be surprised.
Her: Well okay, if you don't want to know that you're getting a bike...I won't say anything.
Me: Ah, man! I wanted it to be a surprise!
Her: Well, I didn't tell you it was red. Oh, shoot. Sorry. Don't tell Mom.

Even more, all of the days prior to any holiday or birthday, my sister would quiz me on what her present that year was. Her favorite tactic was to offer two or three outlandish gifts and then hone in on the more realistic one.

Her: Am I getting a plane?
Me: No.
Her: Am I getting a house?
Me: No.
Her: Am I getting a planet?
Me. No. Don't try I am not going to tell you this time.
Her: Am I getting the new Barbie Dream House?
Me: How did you know? Who told you?
Her: You just told me.
Me: (Sigh). Please don't tell Mom that I told you. Again.

As I write this I realize that this line of questioning doesn't seem sophisticated enough to trick anyone. But in my defense, my sister has the interrogation skills of an INTERPOL officer when it comes to finding out about gifts, secrets, rumors. And at five years old, the promise of ice cream for full cooperation was worth the defection. Heck, let's face it...at thirty-six years old that same promise still works.

Given all of this information, I couldn't help but to accept my mom's proposal to plan a birthday party for my sister and to make it a surprise party. She wouldn't get me this time. Under the threat of certain peril, I informed the family what my plan was and we were set.

First, of course, were the invitations. While my sister can hold her own when working on our family's walnut and prune orchard, at heart she is a girl's girl. I wanted the invitation to be feminine with a pop of color. Ultimately, I chose Fabriano Medioevalis paper. The luxe feeling and the deckle-edge of this fine paper make it simply yummy. For the ink color, it had to be peacock blue - my sister's favorite. I designed the invite with my new favorite font from myfonts.com and a sassy chandelier motif from Envelopments.

Second on the list of things-to-do was to find a location. My parents wanted to have a sit down dinner and I wanted my sister to have the opportunity to kick up her heels and dance the night away. We settled on dinner at Mason's (now known as Cafeteria 15L) and dancing at Mix. I also called my friend Chantel Elder from Eleakis & Elder Photography to see if she was available to take pictures for the party. She fit in so well at SP's party, I knew that she would do an equally great job for this surprise party.

The next thing to do was to pull together the decor. Because we were hosting the party at Mason's, I wanted to mimic the sleek and modern decor on our tables. I also wanted to bring a in some feminine touches since this was a party for my sister.

The first thing I did was to source some beautiful dupioni silk in the same peacock blue color as the invitations for the tables. I cleaned/sewed up the edges to create beautiful tablecloths for each of our two tables. The second thing I did was to find mercury glass votives and vases for the tables and the bars. I filled the votives with white candles and the vases with white hydrangeas. The last step was to put a menu, place card and favor box at each place setting. For the favors I decided to do white boxes with the same peacock blue double-faced satin ribbon from Midori filled with peanut M&M's, my sisters favorite candy.

The last thing to do was wait for the big day to arrive. Luckily, no one spilled the beans. I knew we were in the clear when she called me that night and asked if SP and I wanted to join her and her husband for dinner that night. Not being the greatest liar, I think I feigned bad cell service and hung up on her. As the guests started to arrive and that familiar buzz filled the air I couldn't wait for my sister to arrive. When she walked into the room and heard the "Surprise!" she was floored. As she looked across the room and registered all of the faces that filled the room I knew it was going to be a great celebration. After dinner while dancing at Mix, I stepped out onto the balcony and looked at the dance floor. My sister was there with all of her friends...singing, dancing, laughing and celebrating life. Success...I won this round. I love that.

Surprise!

I love surprises. Love. Them. I think it is the sweetest thing in the world to know that someone you love is walking around all day long thinking, "it is just another day." Little do they know that people are at home, getting ready and heading out just to celebrate them. I had a chance to throw a surprise party for my Sweetie Pie (SP) this past October. He had the good sense to be born on Halloween and if that doesn't scream party...I don't know what does. It started out as a simple idea. I had recently bought a new book of ornaments/drawings from my local bookstore and there I saw it. A design of a fortune teller's palm with the description of the lines and that old time-y feel that only Dover illustrations can convey. Instantly I thought, "there has to be a way I can use this in an invitation." As I was mulling over possible designs and details for the party my friend called me to let me know that she recently acquired a letterpress. It was perfect. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Crane Lettra stock, black ink, letterpress. Handsome, tailored, with a nod toward the old-fashioned. Just like SP.

It is always fun to design invitations for my client's events. I love that I get to be involved in the beginning stages of someone's celebration. Whether it be a birth, a union or a celebration of memories, I think it is quite a privilege bear witness to people's lives. I have to say, however, that planning an event from start to finish is even more fun. Once I completed the sketch of SP's invite it was time to pick the location of the event. It is no secret that our friends are jukebox and band type folks and I wanted to find a venue that expressed that same vibe. Cool, uncomplicated with a touch of rock and roll. While scouting locations that fit my budget a friend told me that Old Soul at 18th and L rents out their space after hours. Could it be true? I have been in love (seriously, IN LOVE) with their almond croissants since the day they opened their doors. I sent one e-mail and there was a quick reply from the event manager and it was set. She totally got me. This is a short version of our meeting:

PP: Could I have a band?
OS: Absolutely.
PP: Could I bring in my own drinks?
OS: You bet.
PP: Could you do the food?
OS: We would love to.
PP: When should I have the rental company drop the tables and chairs off?
OS: Oh, don't worry. We can do that for you.
PP: You guys are prefect! Will you marry me?
OS: Ummm...aren't you throwing a party for your SP? Besides (uncomfortable cough)...I think my three o'clock just got here.

Now onto the entertainment. During the wee hours of the morning I got on my trusty laptop and did a quick search. I landed on a website called Gig Masters and there I found both of the artists I was looking for. I knew I wanted a band and the Dover illustration of palm screamed the need for a fortune teller. With a few clicks of the keys I booked the Lightning Hand band and Tarot by Jacqueline for the event.

Next up: decorations. I knew I wanted to create hand-glittered signs using our Papaya and Black stock from Waste Not Paper. Using the 5x5 and the 5.5 x 5.5 inch square cardstock, I printed each letter for "Happy Birthday" onto the Papaya stock. Then, I used the black glass glitter to highlight each letter. I used craft tape to mount the two pieces together and then used the Midori black rayon trimming to string each letter together. I made three more signs using the variety of shapes we carry in the store. Printing each sign in black ink, using my trusty Elmer's glue to hand glitter each letter and using the craft tape to create layers.

As the responses rolled in (almost everyone came!) and the decorations and entertainment came together, I thought it would be a shame not to document this event so I called Chantel Elder from Eleakis & Elder Photography. From our first conversation, I knew that she totally understood what I wanted for the party. Plus...she is from my hometown. It was a win-win!

Finally, all of the pieces came together. Austin Powers and Felicity Shagwell costume for SP and I. Check. Hand carved pumpkins by our in-store craft guru Heidi. Check. Food, booze and music at Old Soul. Check. As we walked in the Austin Power's theme song came on (Soul Bossa Nova), everyone yelled, "SURPRISE!" and SP had no idea what hit him. As all of our family and friends came up to us to wish him a happy birthday, I thought "Whew. First surprise party down...one more to go." Yes, I had one more surprise party to go in less than thirty days. Stay tuned!