Asheville BookWorks MicroPulpery

I've been making paper on commission for a couple of years, but haven't really pursued selling handmade paper in stores until now. Fellow Asheville papermaker Frank Brannon (of Speakeasy Press) and I have decided to join forces and finally make this happen! We're calling ourselves the Asheville BookWorks MicroPulpery because the paper is handmade at the papermaking studio at BookWorks, and each batch is carefully handcrafted seasonally, in small quantities - just like at one of our many local microbreweries. Right now we offer 4 kinds of paper: cotton rag in white, cotton rag in cotton candy blue, cotton/abaca blend, and a double-thick flax. Because we're making them in small batches, there is no guarantee that we'll always have the same papers for sale - if you see something you like, it's better to go ahead and buy it now!

Papers can be purchased at Asheville BookWorks and at Asheville Art Supply, or you can order directly from us by contacting Frank (frank@speakeasypress.com). We also offer papermaking classes, commission, and artist collaborations.

Printed wedding invitations with custom calligraphy

I don't often print wedding invitations, but every now and then I'll take a job that intrigues me. This was a commission passed on to me through the Penland Gallery, from a couple who were interested in having everything handmade by people associated with Penland School of Craft.

I'm really pleased with how these wedding invitations turned out. They're meant to have a slightly rustic look, to match the surroundings of where the wedding will take place - a wooded valley in western North Carolina. I printed them in a warm gray on cream-colored handmade paper by Twinrocker. The custom calligraphy is by my friend Cheryl Jacobsen, who, as you can tell, is a master at her craft. What you see here are the invitations, reply cards, and reply card envelopes. Still to come are wedding program covers and matching thank-you cards. Click on the images for a closer look.