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askit26-1.jpg

Letters you can't understand.

May 20, 2009

I imagined I'd be gone for even longer, but well, today's a good day. I didn't plan to go away, life just got too busy and difficult. There were weeks (and actually months as well) without any kind of creative activity. I'm not sure if things have changed much, but at least I've been making things! I have time off from work until my head stops feeling like it's about to explode, so I'm just taking it easy at the moment.

Last year when I started my job at the library I made a matchbox a day (for 16 days) to keep my creativity in a functioning order. This spring I did something a bit similar. Not a matchbox a day, more like five a day when I felt like it. I wrote letters. In Finnish, to my creative English speaking friends. It was like telling secrets, because even if the dictionary works, my handwriting doesn't. Anyway, the letters became parts of my matchbox sketches, created with materials within arm's reach. I didn't go out and buy anything (didn't go out at all, because just sitting at my desk felt like an accomplishment, lol) or spend time going through my massive stash of stuff looking for just the right color for this or that. It's very relaxing to just throw stuff together instead of measuring and re-measuring before even looking in the direction of my glue pot. I'm sure more of that über-meticulous creative work will be done during the summer months though.

More matchboxes and photos on Flickr. Here.


My book Musta kivi valkoisen päällä returned from its competition tour and it's time to start thinking about this year's book. (I'm all squeee about my book's photo making it to the application form!!) I know the book I'm going to re-bind, but the overall design and technique is a complete mystery. Why is it so difficult to come up with ideas that may actually work?

Uh. Some announcements. My sinuses are fine at last. And I'm not pregnant like some of you thought (you silly things! there's a time for everything, but it's not anytime soon). And unfortunately your comments will be moderated from now on due to stupid spamspam. That means your comments won't show up right away, but they will be there as soon as I have read my email and approved your comment.

In matchbox art Tags box, buttons, competition book, creativity, friends
← Grow.Still here →

Welcome to Paperiaarre!

Kaija Rantakari / Paperiaarre in her Helsinki based studio

Hello, my name is Kaija. I'm a master bookbinder / mixed media artist / accumulator extraordinaire / poet from Finland. This website is where I share my creations to fellow paper enthusiasts.

Paperiaarre is Finnish for a paper treasure, and I hope you find many of those here!

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Paperiaarre shop takes a break in May
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The Paperiaarre shop is open again! I've now returned from the incredibly lush Edinburgh where I had the privilege to stay at a wonderful writing recidency. So many long walks, big hills, old kirkyards, and vinegary treats!

As mentioned, the shop is
Hello you, just a quick note that I'm spending May in Edinburgh at a writing recidency, so the Paperiaarre shop will be closed from April 30th. Any orders placed by Wednesday afternoon will be shipped as usual ❤️❤️❤️
Another great day for this bookbinder! Thank you all for your many orders - they really make my day every time ❤️
This golden floral kimono silk is one of my all time favourites. I love how beautifully light plays with the weave even on a cloudy day like today.

This notebook with semi-flexible covers is one of the five still left of yesterday's shop update. All
New books in the Paperiaarre shop! Four hardcover notebooks with heavier weight paper, and ten notebooks bound with the sewn boards binding style that results in semi-flexible covers. All made with repurposed vintage kimono silk.
On my to-do list is to add this stack of vintage kimono notebooks to my shop. Some time next week, I hope!

I made these using the sewn boards binding structure that creates lovely semi-flexible covers.
Wrapping a lovely order today 🤍🤍🤍

We've now made it through the darkest moments of winter, so maybe soon I will finally get to my stack of journals waiting to be photographed. Read: New books coming soon-ish!
New blog post and new books now available in the Paperiaarre shop at www.paperiaarre.com. There's postcard-sized watercolor journals perfect for travel journal use, too, and a small lot of the popular adorably tiny notebooks. All covered with repurpo
Watercolor journals and mini kimono journals for sale through my IG stories for the next 24h. Any remaining books will be available at paperiaarre.com in a few days 🤍🤍🤍
Every now and then I get requests for notebooks suitable for watercolors, and even though I don't do custom orders in the traditional sense, every now and then I hear your requests! This lot of six lovely A6 landscape format watercolor journals will

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