Friends! Writers! Countrymen!

Dear Everyone ~

I love to send mail, and I love to receive mail.
What makes both of these passionate pastimes
possible is … the United States Postal Service.
The USPS does a brilliant job of moving the mail.
And now it is being held hostage in budget warfare in
Washington. I’ll skip the statistics & the politics
and say that several campaigns are afoot to support,
meaning to fully fund, the USPS. One involves sending letters
to your US Senators. I’ve just done it, and I’ll show you
my envelopes below. But, first, let me tell you
how I found out about this campaign.

The envelopes above are the handiwork of Linda Smith
in San Francisco. She shared the link to the campaign
with her friend Alyson Kuhn, who shared it with me.
Linda is a customer of long-standing, but we haven’t really
corresponded. When I asked about her letter-writing activities,
she e’d me in excellent detail:

“ As an inveterate letter writer since my girlhood days,
when my grandmother sent missives from her California
trips back to me in the Midwest, I have been a huge fan of mail,
postage stamps, and the United States Postal Service. Recently
I began receiving emails about the possible demise of the USPS
and promptly signed various petitions. So when the request came
to write handwritten letters to my Senators in D.C., I was more
than happy to pick up my LePens from you, write my letters,
and then stamp the letters with appropriate vintage postage,
also purchased from you. Two of the stamps on each envelope
celebrate 200 years of postal service!
And then I forwarded that email request for handwritten
letters to another mail maven, my friend Alyson Kuhn.
I’m so glad I did, because it turned out she hadn’t acted on it! ”

Alyson Kuhn, who also lives in California,
promptly sent letters to her Senators, and posted the photo
above on Instagram and Facebook. Michael Ball, a stamp dealer
pal of hers, commented that the P.S. Write Soon stamp
(from 1980) would also have been appropriate. Alyson
commented back that the From Me to You stamp
(designed by Michael Osborne, issued in 2015)
might have been the perfect single stamp for these missives.

Alyson is so fond of these that she keeps an entire
press sheet of them, six panes that haven’t been die-cut apart,
on her office door. She loves to peel a stamp off whenever
she is in the mood to part with one. She says it’s like a stamp bar!
And she adds that the stickers on the sheet (an enchanting
USPS innovation!) would have been ideal to illustrate
or punctuate the points in her letters.

To get my “postal passion” flowing,
I contemplated the stamps for my pair of envelopes.
I was delighted to have so many thematic options.

And I decided to write on Bari Zaki Studio letterhead,
as a purveyor of epistolary supplies. I hope the mail carriers
who deliver to the Hart Senate Office Building will have
sacks and stacks of USPS-fanmail for the Senators.
If you would like to add your two envelopes’
worth to the campaign, here’s the link … and the sooner the better!

Save The Post Office!

Lobbying from the studio, Bari

Jump for joy while you’re stationary

Dear Everyone ~

My Bundles of Stationery Joy have recently provoked more joy
than I could have imagined amongst the socially stationary.
Susan, a neighbor in Chicago, decanted her bundle a month ago
and promptly emailed me to say:

“ I’m going to challenge myself to send as many of the cards
and postcards as I can. It seems like there are a lot of people
who could use cheering up these days, so I’ll get to it! ”

Well, Susan has met her goal, and shared her good news
with me last week via mail, on the perfect postcard from
The Museum of Jurassic Technology! She wrote:

“ I finished my bundle of stationery joy challenge!
As of today I’ve officially sent out every single postcard
and piece of stationery in your lovely parcel.
Now I’m on a roll, so I don’t think I’ll stop. ”

Many other bundles have also gone to good homes,
such that two of the six wrapper options are now sold out
(Lacy Daisies and Tricolour), and two more are
close to exhausted—but my imagination is not!
Today is the debut of Deluxe Bundles of Stationery Joy.
They are vintage and a bit voluptuous.

The new series of wrappers has a script theme,
offering not so subliminal encouragement for correspondents.
I’ve selected these papers from my archives from the Last Century,
which I could refer to as the First Zaki Dynasty.
They are very limited-edition, each obi’d with Japanese flat cord.
The top edge is an excellent spot to tuck a little note, or a pressed leaf.

Contents have been calibrated to envelop you (and your correspondents)
in epistolary ecstasy: some smart Smythson’s, a tissue-lined envelope
or two, heavy hand-bordered notecards, assorted cards with letterpress
or engraved motifs, inevitably postcards …
and a small swoon of glassine enclosure envelopes.
(You’ll find glorious glassine details &
dimensions in the shop listing.)

Bob is making a delightful dent in his Bundle of Stationery Joy,
connecting via real mail with old friends from college.
He’s about halfway through his first bundle,
with one still in reserve. He reports:

“ I have, since mentioning my recruiting, sent twelve cards
and letters. Not all have volunteered to correspond back,
but that wasn't the point anyway. ”

Bob is also finding new joy at his mailbox.
He reflects:

“ Working from home full time during the COVID crisis
has turned me into a kid again in ways I hadn’t expected.
The trip to the mailbox is a treat every day to see what’s
been delivered. Informed Delivery builds some anticipation,
especially if there is a piece of personal correspondence out there.
I’m discovering that this is even more exciting than a package.
With a card or letter, the surprise awaits. ”

Deluxe Bundles of Stationery Joy

Bundlementally, Bari

A tribute book triumphs on a très special day

Dear Everyone ~

I’ve made more than a few tribute books over the years,
and I always enjoy being the assembler of the diverse
expressions of admiration and affection from friends, family,
or colleagues. While I’m putting a book together, I get to see
all the pages, and sometimes splendid ephemera. As I’m doing
my gluing and covering and binding, I like to think about the
recipient and how he or she will feel when seeing their book for
the first time … and realizing what it represents …
and then starting to look page-by-page.

I recently made a book of pages gathered by Kelly,
to celebrate her mother’s 70th birthday. I am in deepest bow
to Kelly for allowing me to share her inspiration with everyone.

Here’s how Kelly first described her idea to me:

“ I want to give my Mom something special for a
milestone birthday, in which her family and closest friends
from across the country can express to her how much she means
to them and how special she is. I’ve asked everyone ahead
of time whether they would like to participate.”

I prepared blank drilled pages for Kelly to mail participants,
and explained what she might want to let them know about how
the pages would be bound into the book. She did a perfect job of
sending out pages in a big envelope, protected with backing
cardboard, plus an envelope in which to return the finished pages to her.
When Kelly had started asking friends and family to create
a page for Wendy’s birthday book, the virus crisis was not yet
in full force. As it happened, Kelly’s invitation to participate
became even more meaningful:

“ I expressed to the participants how much I knew
she would love hearing from them and treasure
their expressions of love and art. ”

As you can see, Wendy’s friends and family responded
with love and creativity.

“ Participants wrote letters, painted, wrote calligraphy, sketched art,
and included pictures. My stepsister made an incredible illustration
featuring Hebrew words that resonated with her when thinking
of her relationship with my Mom. My Mom's best friend made a pocket,
decorated with gorgeous calligraphy, and tucked her private note inside.
Everyone's creativity and love blew me away. ”

Kelly selected bookcloth to cover a screw-post binder.
I added a spacer near the spine edge between certain pages,
so that the book wouldn’t start to “pooch.”

I had to know how Kelly was going to get the book to her mother,
given the shelter-in-place protocols. So I asked,
and here are the lovely details she shared with me:

“ For the drop off, I drove the gift over to her home,
left it on her doorstep (along with a special dinner and cake),
and wished her happy birthday from 10 feet away. ”

And then, of course, I had to know what happened next,
so I asked again. Kelly reported:

“ Hi there! My mom opened it that night, and was overjoyed.
She just LOVES it. It was so, so special to be able to give this to her.
Thank you so much for making it so beautiful! ”

And when I shared Kelly’s report with Tammy,
my nimble shop assistant, she said, “Oh, perfect!
The book was the party!” How much do I love that idea?!

Yours in bookbinding, Bari

‘squisite squares & s’more

Dear Everyone ~

The ’squisite squares are in two marvelous mediums:
vintage fabric from Japan and contemporary cards from the U.K.
And the s’more is subtly-scented sticks of glue,
likewise from Japan. Let’s take a bit of an armchair tour.

These lavender-filled pillows are petite but potent.
They are made for Bari Zaki Studio by my neighbor,
Maili Powell, the proprietress & creative seamstress-in-chief
of Soutache. Each pillow is reversible, to match your ensemble,
your desk decor, or your humour. You might put one under
or atop your pillow on your bed. You can tuck one in your pocket.
You can keep one in your car.

The cotton fabrics are from my Aiko’s archives.
Maili selects a button from her awesome reserves
to complement each fabric. Gently patting or squeezing
the pillow degages a refreshing and calming
whiff of lavender … for a very long time.

These British pencil shaving cards have delighted me,
and my in-shop customers, for years. I’m finally making
a point of putting them online. Could there ever be a more
captivating use of pencil shavings? A tiny (and tactile!)
flared triangle becomes a heart, a pennant, a bloom …
providing a perfect scallop of colour to a pen-and-ink
illustration. And, in a bit of self-referential wit:
a pencil shaving becomes ... a pen nib!

I am both thrilled & delighted to debut the
Gluesome Twosome, a pair of glue sticks from Japan
with a lovely clean scent. The glue maintains its smoothness
during application. Because of this consistency, the stick seems
to last longer than several others we’ve experienced.
The tube says some things we can’t read,
but the design is great. And it feels good in your hand.

Potent Lavender Pillows
Pencil Shaving Greeting Cards
Glueome Twosome

Fairly & squarely, Bari

Sending gifts to friends is the cat’s pyjamas

Dear Everyone ~

I continue to receive lovely appreciative emails from customers …
some of whom have ordered gift parcels for friends …
who in turn send wonderful emails of thanks to the gift-givers,
who then share them with me. And, now, I am sharing them with you.

I have to start with Jill,
who did not order a gift for her cat,
but the cat didn’t know that. Jill wrote:
“ My curious 10-month-old kitten got ahold of
your lovely package before I did…luckily the only
damage was to the tissue paper! Thank you again and I
welcome the distraction these beautiful pencils will surely bring.”

I’d been out of one of the Luminous Lyra Colours
Jill had ordered, so when I had restocked,
I let her know her pencil would be en route …
and she decided to add several items to her order.
When she received her parcel, she said:

“ Getting a package from you is like Christmas in April.
Thanks so much! ”

Last Friday, Alyson, a long-time customer, asked me to
send a Bundle of Stationery Joy as a surprise to her friend Bob.
She hoped I could include a card that said With the compliments
of the Maven of Mail. Absolutely! Alyson was able to track
the progress of Bob’s parcel on the USPS website … and minutes after the
mailman had deposited it by the front door midday-ish on
Monday, Bob emailed Alyson. He has graciously allowed me
to share this bit of his e-thanks to her:

“ My Bundle of Stationery Joy has provided the final nudge
I needed to recruit more people into my correspondence circle.
I have been contemplating reaching out to my collection of friends
from college and asking them to forgo digital in favor of
pen and ink. I have a degree in Creative Writing, and my old friends
were all artists and writers. This is the motivation I needed to spur
me on to recruit more folk into the lost art of correspondence. ”

Susan K. lives in Chicago and is a frequent visitor to the shop.
She has recently taken to sending gifts to numerous
friends who live in and near New York City.
In each, I enclose a postcard on which I write,
It’s a delight to assemble this parcel for you,
with love from Susan.
A few days ago, Susan shared with me
her friend Lydia’s thank-you for her parcel:
 
“ Thank you so much for the beautiful package.
It’s all so wonderful. I've been looking at every piece several times.
It was wrapped so beautifully, and  every detail was so
interesting: the stamp [1¢ apples on the postcard],
Bari’s business card, the string, besides the stationery.
I just love it, and it took my mind off what's happening in the world.
The pencils are fantastic and it's inspiring me to do some artwork.
I'm going to try to sketch now with the pencils.
What a wonderful store to have nearby. ”

Last week, Susan asked me to assemble an assortment
for 10-year-old Yael, who lives in New York City.
I had a fabulous time implementing Susan’s creative vision
for her young friend. Here’s what I sent. I am tickled to have
received from Susan a video of Yael decanting her parcel.

Tree, who lives in California, made my heart sing
with her most recent acknowledgment:

“ I received your package yesterday, and it was such a healing balm.
I love that each piece is wrapped in such beautiful ways.
I have a Bari box on my worktable in which I save the wrapping
elements to use. May you find many happy moments in this fine day. ”

Kristina ordered a gift certificate for her friend Elise. She wrote:

 “ Elise’s birthday was yesterday, and I can’t think of
anything better for her to look forward to than
visiting your studio in person eventually or online now.
Our minds should be able to wonder and wander while
we’re at home and saving lives. Hope you’re staying healthy. ”

It’s uplifting for me, in the midst of packing parcels,
to receive details from customers and their friends.
I am always honoured to be asked to include
a personal note on behalf of a gift-giver.

Your delighted scribe,

Bari

Brilliant British cards are coming!

Dear Everyone ~

Actually, they’ve arrived, and we're chuffed!

Illustrator Eleanor Percival grew up with avid gardener parents.
Her whimsical botanical cards make a bright splash,
from single blooms in glorious detail to lovely little nosegays.
We are smitten with the decorative border on her teacup’s saucer,
and with the chevroned ribbon on her For You package.
The artist’s handwriting is definitely part of her cards’ charm.

The cards are printed on heavy, textured paper that is
receptive to all manner of writing implements, including Sharpies.

Prepare to pitter-pattern!
We’ve received our new order of cards from The Pattern Book:
a veritable colour wheel of chromatic nuance and delirium,
plus a pair of Fly Agaric Mushrooms we couldn’t resist.
In fact, we welcome this fungus among us.

The new selection of cards still includes a detailed
attribution on the back (plus a tasteful snippet or miniature 
of the design on the front). One of our favourites is:

Spectra of Daylight Through Coloured Glass & Vapours
adapted from diagrams by William Allen Miller (1845).
Miller also studied the spectrum of starlight and was one of the
first scientists to determine what stars are made of.

Elegant Eleanor Percival Cards
Char'matic Chromatic Greeting Cards

Keep comma,

Bari

Indulge your penchant for a zen desk

Dear Everyone ~

I’ve just added several “staples” to my online shop.
These are all supplies I’ve carried in the shop-shop
for a very long time, but had never put them online.
Given that it’s not possible to visit the shop-shop at present,
I decided I should put them online pronto-ly.

Let me start with the Hexagonal Collapsible Pencil Cups,
which are diabolical to photograph. The cups are paragons of
Japanese paper craft and attention to detail.
They are fully lined in Moriki, in a shade somewhere
between salmon and coral. Traditional red Japanese cording
provides the “structural integrity” to support the
hexagonal base, likewise completely covered in Moriki.

If you’d like some fresh writing accessories
to inhabit your pencil cup(s), what could be more fun
than having a pencil to match your every pad or mood?
The answer may well be: having three dozen assorted
pencils at hand, from graphite to colours, from Japanese
paper wraps to exotic miscellany, including the occasional
Italian item or vintage gem. Each Pouch o’ Assorted Pencils
is a triumph of global pencildom, with very few duplicates.

If you’d like a rainbow of writing—or drawing or
doodling—tools, felt-tip markers by LePen
will brighten your day and your desk.
We stock them in 22 colours, all  acid-free,
smudge-resistant, and non-toxic.

Pouch o' Assorted Pencils
Hexagonal Collapsible Pencil Cups
Felt-tip Pens by LePen

From the Desk of,

Bari

E is for Electronic Engagement

Dear Everyone ~

I’ve received many wonderful emails from customers
in the last few weeks. They are gratifying and heartening
and encouraging. And they “punctuate” my seemingly endless
preparing of parcels, now that all purchases have to be shipped.
I’d like to share bits from several of these e-notes.

Ashley has come to my shop on several occasions.
She recently sent me a lovely message through the
contact page on my website.
Before I even read her delightful note,
I was charmed by her opening salutation:

Subject: <3
Message: Good Morning!  

Here is my favourite snippet from Ashley's note.

“ I wanted to reach out to thank you for providing
such a beautiful and magical space for our community.
I will miss stopping by your shop, and wanted to wish
you the best during these unprecedented times. ”

Several months ago, I featured Bradford’s wonderful
storybook for his grandson Charlie. I received an email
from Bradford toward the middle of March.
His note’s middle reads:

“ I’ve been using this time at home to finish up a
new book for Charlie. I was wondering if you would
be able to work on it while the store is shuttered.
I love shops like yours and am looking for ways
to help just a little bit in these weird times.
If you’re interested let me know and we can
arrange a contactless drop of the materials. ”

The contactless drop has been accomplished,
and I’ll be starting soon on Charlie’s new storybook.
You can read about the making of the first
storybook at the top of the Project Gallery.

Janice, who lives in Chicago, was planning to come
into the studio to finish her mighty fine nine-signature spine,
when I decided to become socially solitary (but still ship stationery!).
I recently checked in with Janice, and she replied:

“ I have been thinking of you often and yes,
finishing the Nine Signature and the long stitch
with you privately will be awesome. Also, I can hardly wait
to see your loopy link-stitch—I love the colours—so cheery. ”

Barbara, about whom I know truly naught,
sent a lovely email in response to last week’s
Extremely Mellow Yellow Parcel post:

“ Hi. I’ve never been to your store but sure hope
to after all this uncertainty is over. But I want to say thank you
for all the beautiful things and colours you send in your emails.
Brings some sunshine into my home and life. ”

Susan has taken several bookbinding workshops
at the studio. She lives in Chicago, but is sheltering
out of state for the duration. She recently wrote:

“ I just love what you are doing! 
You could be a good example for the rest of the nation!
You are a great model for us all—how I love your
enthusiasm!! It was a wonderful day for me when
I happened to walk into your store!
Also, ‘Hi’ and thank you to Will [my marvelous mailman]. ”

Heather is taking the year-long online Words & Pictures
class developed by Sonheim Creative.
I’ve never met Heather, but look forward to!

“ Thank you so much for the class you offered last week
on Carla's website. Your quiet and beautiful space and,
even more so, your calming spirit were a balm to me in this crazy time.
Next time I am passing through Chicago, I will find your shop.
I think just walking through the threshold will be healing. ”

Terry, a new online customer, sent this “review of receipt”:

“ Hello! I received my package yesterday. So fast! Amazing!
Everything was wrapped so beautifully that I just sat
and looked at the packages for a while before
I carefully peeled off the tags on the waxed paper bags. 
Everything is perfect! Thank you! ”

I am touched by each and every one of these appreciations.
Many of them include closing salutations that make
my heart full, from Take Good Care to Be safe,
and from xxooo to Fondly, and, last but not least: Peace.

Be well,

Bari

Extremely Mellow Yellow Parcel

Dear Everyone ~

It’s the start of another week of sheltering in place.
I continue to be heartened by people who are turning to
creativity for comfort and connection in this challenging time.

Kristen is an occasional customer who loves,
as do many of us, colour. Kristen, however, takes it to a
higher intensity, and sometimes shops by colour.
Usually, she does this in person, but the other day,
she emailed to say that she had been inspired by
the newest Lyra colour, Lemonade … and asked
if I could put together a yellow (leaning toward
chartreuse) accessory assortment for her.

I was delighted to wander around the shop,
selecting everything in her palette. I realized
I was compiling somewhat more than she was anticipating,
so I took photos for her to peruse. I also asked Kristen if she
happened to remember what palettes she’s shopped for previously.

“I’ve done it twice near a holiday, so that all my
outgoing mail can match the theme of the occasion.
Pinks and reds for Valentines, and all of the orange supplies
for Halloween. The Lemonade Lyra pencil caught my eye
and sparked this request.”

I asked out of blatant curiosity whether she’s
done this “shop by colour” exercise elsewhere,
and she said No, but added…

“At first, I was so overwhelmed by all of the beautiful things
in your shop that I wanted to limit myself
somehow—or spend $1000—so I picked a colour.
Now I repeat that every time.”

I loved coordinating the wrapping of each item to
create an ensemble. I made the bag for the writing accessories
from British wrapping paper I’ve had almost forever.
I thought the lemon-and-cream colour combo was pretty perfect.

Vive shopping by colour,

Bari

Cause for delyr’ium!

Dear Everyone ~

I’ve just received my order of 29 dozen
Lyra Colour Giants. This is my largest pencil order ever,
and I’ve photographed a few points in my decanting process.
Here you see the two boxes that were inside my 14-pound UPS parcel.

To replenish my depleted stock (see forlorn photo below),
I ordered a dozen each of a dozen colours and two dozen
each of eight colours. And, I ordered a dozen of one new-to-me
colour, Lemonade, which is lighter than Golden Yellow.

Incredibly, I can make room on the shelf for
just one more pencil jar, for Lemonade. So,
whereas Baskin Robbins has 32 flavours,
I at this moment have 33!

* * * * *

The other day, a customer who is also a new mom,
let me select five Lyras for her. She’d also
ordered a Bundle of Stationery Joy (as distinct from
six-week-old Zev, her Bundle of Stationary Joy).
Here’s the lovely email she sent me
once she’d received her supplies:

“Thank you for the delightful selection of pencils, Bari!
I don’t have a particular plan for their use,
but it seemed like a good idea to have something
pleasant to doodle with during a stressful time.”

“I very much enjoyed unwrapping my stationery.
I took my time and carefully undid each knot and bow,
and I’m saving each piece of string and tissue for later use.
I’m going to challenge myself to send as many of the cards
and postcards as I can. It seems like there are a lot of people
who could use cheering up these days, so I’ll get to it!”

I love her self-challenge!
I’m mailing even more correspondence than usual
(in addition to Bundles and Kits!). And I invite everyone
to join us in spiritually communing while socially distancing.

Bundle of Stationery Joy
Lyra Colour Giants

 Gigantically grateful,

Bari