Dear Everyone ~
Thursday, June 26, is the tenth anniversary of Bari Zaki Studio on Lincoln Avenue. I am reminiscing and reflecting about the people who’ve helped BZS become what it is—and reveling in the richness of the community I’d fantasized about creating. I still marvel at the serendipity of finding a studio space where I can connect with kindred spirits, receiving visitors from far & wide & even abroad, and enjoying the fond friendship of my shopkeeping neighbors. As you might expect, I’m about to express my gratitude exactly ten times… before telling Everyone about the shop specials commemorating this occasion.
1.
To my beloved Zak, for being my No. 1 Fan from the very moment I wanted to learn to make books. That was 36 years ago, and his encouragement, enthusiasm, and support are still keeping pace with my insatiable appetite for paper.
2.
To Alyson, a.k.a. My Postal Muse, for being my longest-time collaborator and folder of exquisite envelopes. Her way with words has brought BZS to life in a way I could only dream about, but am now here (or maybe here now!).
3.
To Ruby, Emmy, and Tammy, for their immeasurable creative camaraderie, lively imaginations, general adorableness, and dear friendship. It may be my name on the door, but their hearts and nimble fingers (See Ruby’s below.) are with me in the shop.
4.
To Cat Bennett, for sixteen Bookful collaborations (and counting) and for being an endless source of teaching inspiration, a fount of positive energy and encouragement to so many students—including me!
5.
To Janet Bouldin (seen at right above, with Cat) for watercolouring her way into my heart and onto my card rack. I truly love that my dear friend’s whimsical illustrations have become a prominent feature in the shop.
6.
To Will, for being the most reliable, thoughtful, appreciative (and photogenic) mail carrier in the Zakiverse. I like to think that Will’s wonderful energy personally protects all of BZS’s mail & parcels, both coming and going.
7.
To Julie Wildman, master calligrapher & artist, for showing me how to teach via Zoom in the early days of the pandemic. Julie taught in-studio workshops at BZS in the early days; she also calligraphed the beloved banners in my windows.
8.
To my customers, occasional as well as frequent, for appreciating my sensibilities and the forms of creative self-expression and connection that I want to promote. It is All of You who keep my inspiration for what comes next, moving and grooving and flowing.
9.
To my students, including those I've yet to meet, for being eager to learn about glueing & stitching, for being curious and asking great questions. And for sharing the books, or boxes, they've made with the people they love.
10.
To my correspondents in any medium, for sharing, for reaching out, for taking the time, for believing in the power & the magic of sharing your heartwarming personal stories, art, enthusiasm, and appreciation.
We’ve created a commemorative gift with purchase (a.k.a. GWP). Actually, it’s a PPPPGWP, which is to say: a pad of paper and a petite pencil GWP. The ensemble is an homage to mix-&-matchiness and the intersection of ho-humble office supplies and decorative fine papers. The jaunty jotter is a ⅜ in. stack of 3 x 5 sheets of Cat’s favourite drawing paper, with stripes of Canson cardstock. Maybe it looks like a slice of vanilla layer cake with veins of different jams; maybe it looks like a luxurious beach towel.
The sheets are held together with a Madame Butterfly clip covered in Japanese decorative paper. The companion mini-pencil is likewise wrapped in Japanese decorative paper. The ensemble is presented in a chic (and surely re-useable) sleeve of Tassotti, sealed with a teeny butterfly clip. We will include the PPPPGWP with every order of $100 or more (excluding shipping and tax), both online and in-shop, beginning right …NOW, until close-of-business on July 5 (and midnight online).
AND: From my personal collection of long-time favourite books I’ve made, I am ‘liberating’ ten books to go to new homes. All are one-of-a-kind and once-upon-a-papery-time. (Yes, I’ve discounted them 10% from my usual price-points.)
One-of-a-kind BZ blank books
With lots of papery love, Bari
P.S.
The 10 Years Here paper garland, including the origami stars (seen at top), was made by Ruby using the Carta Pura Varese papers. As you can see, the garland is currently holding court on our paper cabinet.