I love to breathe in Spencers, I love to shop in Spencers, and, yes, I love to fantasize that my office could look like Spencers, if only their sense of organization were kuhntagious. The requisite supplies are eminently evident. Witness the extensive array of decidedly decorative organizational aids: file folders printed with pretty patterns (Cavallini keeps coming up with strong new designs); fab families of boxes that look like books, from Punch Studio, mining the ephemeral treasures of The Kirshner Decorative Arts Collection (my #10 envelopes are now housed in great style in the largest size of these boxes — its interior measures 12.75 x 9.625 x 2.625 in., perfectly accommodating three stacks of envelopes and note cards); and a Spencers exclusive, binders and photo albums covered in silk remnants from Robert Talbott ties and other tasteful fabrics.
More: stationery sets galore, superior selection of greeting cards, including lovely ones by local artists. I bought a card of Big Sur’s Bixby Creek Bridge, from a painting by Ethel Wood. Wood thoughtfully includes contact info on the back of her cards, so I was able to call her and ask about her process. She paints in oils, then photographs her paintings and prints them out on her HP color copier. Her paper of choice: Strathmore Pastelle, with deckle on both the card and the A-7 envelope flap.
Back at Spencers, the back room is office-supply heaven. The staff not only knows exactly where everything is, but will actually go get it for you. There’s an element of general store about Spencers. During my last visit, a nicely dressed man in a cowboy hat came in. I overheard him say he needed a rental agreement form, and about 60 seconds later he and his rental agreement were already headed out the door.
(Speaking of gentlemen, Tom Ingalls, a great friend of Felt & Wire, took these photos of Spencers for us on a recent weekend. Ingalls sent me the very first photo from his iPhone, with this message: ”good stuff coming. what a shop!” I couldn’t have said it better myself!)
Spencers’ ambiance is as lovely as the merchandise, all of which is beautifully displayed by the store’s “masters of multiples,” who neatly and discreetly stack and restack, stock and restock. Notable: Classical music, effortless parking, no cell phones allowed. No website, either, but you’ll find hours and directions here.
