Anna Embree (above) wrote a page about her 20-year valentine tradition. Window-shoppers and other paper appreciators can read A Valentine for My Friends, which wasn’t actually typed on the vintage Corona.
Customer Anna Embree provided the inspiration for this year’s Valentine’s Day windows. For the last three years, Anna has turned to PaperWhite as the source for the paper she uses to craft her valentines. Sending handmade valentines to her friends is a 20-year tradition for Anna. The shop was fortunate enough to be added to her mailing list, which is approaching 300.
Anna’s aunt, a photographer, took this picture of Anna’s hands forming a heart on her leg. The collection of rings she always wore at the time gives the picture a personal touch.
With most of our customers, I like to find out what project they are working on. I am often inspired to either try the project myself or share it with others. I really enjoy “the story.” When Anna came in a few weeks ago, the timing was perfect. I was trying to find inspiration for the upcoming window change, transitioning from the holiday theme, and I asked Anna if she had collected a set of her valentines from years past. What a great window display that could be, I thought, to show and tell the story of Anna’s valentine project.
When I proposed this, Anna was flattered … but she didn’t have a full set! Luckily, a friend of hers did and was willing to lend them. Anna obliged with photos and her story, which our guest designer integrated with the creative use of a vintage typewriter.
Smeared paint does double duty as glue holding the mulberry paper (hand-torn when wet) overlay to the card base.
The heart created by the shadow of the chair arm caught Anna’s eye as she was walking through the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle. She spent the next half hour dragging chairs around into different angles while passersby eyed her warily.
Fallon Shea Anderson is one of PaperWhite’s best customers and biggest fans. She’s the first designer we’ve ever invited to collaborate on our windows, and her positive energy and enthusiasm are inspiring. When she offered to help, I took her up on it, gave her a heart-shaped paper punch and a stack of red, pink and white card stock to take home. The next day, she came back with hundreds of paper hearts and dozens of paper strips from which she had punched them, and jumped right in on the windows. We are truly inspired by her positive energy and her great use of negative space.
Fallon’s heart-punched paper strips make a great graphic backdrop. The heart shadows in the window shift as the day progresses.
My experience working for Disney taught me the importance and immediate benefits of synergy. Involving local talent helps the community while simultaneously helping us. In this year’s Valentine’s Day window display, the happiness is palpable, thanks to Anna and Fallon.
Lisa Kasch has been the store manager of PaperWhite (and its predecessor, Dauphine Press) since 2006. She continues to delight in styling the store and in selecting the best wrap and ribbon for each gift. Previously, she was a member of the management team at the Disney Store in San Francisco’s Union Square.
Anna Embree considers herself more a craftsperson than an artist and claims that thinking of her valentine idea each year is a challenge. She describes the enterprise as “basically just an excuse to play with paper, which I would probably do all day long if I was allowed to. What I love is working with paper, ribbon, paint and pens, crafting the physical product, even if it’s the same thing almost 300 times.”
Fallon Shea Anderson is an independent floral designer out of Petaluma. Fleurs de Fallon specializes in weddings, special events and unique designs for all causes for celebration. Her website, www.fleursdefallon.com, is coming soon; you can contact her at fallonsheaanderson@gmail.com or 707-364-9941.
It was so inpiring to read your post about window displays. I never considered having my creative customers be a part of that process. I co-own a boutique flower shop called Fly Me To The Moon Florist. My most favorite thing after arranging flowers is creating window and shop displays using all kinds of stuff. Perhaps Ill try using paper one day.
Lisa – you are so creative and your windows are beautiful. Happy Valentine’s Day, dear friend!
Lovely work, Lisa! What no reader knows is just how dimensionally tricky these windows are. Stationery and paper goods are almost always small in size and these windows are both gargantuan and oddly shaped. Lisa has a true knack for creating clever and inspired visual treats for passers by. So happy to see your merchandising talents shared with a wider audience. Might I suggest a follow up feature in October? Her Halloween windows are legendary…
Trish, thank you for this suggestion. If Lisa is willing, Felt & Wire will be ready to feature PaperWhite’s Hallowe’en windows during the Orange Month.