While the Paperblanks library of cover designs draws from diverse sources of visual art, antique book bindings in particular have long provided us with an abundance of inspiration. Many such book covers were originally made of leather but in the case of our Silver Filigree Collection, the focus is instead on the splendour of bindings decorated with filigree metalwork.

This manner of adorning books was particularly favoured in the 17th and 18th centuries, with nearly all bindings of this type manufactured in Holland, Switzerland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. Over the years, craftsmen experimented with different methods of coaxing metal into ornaments of tender and elegant beauty.

One such design is the binding recreated on our Aubergine cover. Originally crafted for a book of religious hymns, a simple metal plate was used as a base for the ornament whose fancy curlicues were formed with metal wire and tiny beads. Dating to the early 1800s, the cover was made in Swabia, the southwestern part of Germany. At that time, Empire-style, as seen in this design, was the leading style in European decorative arts. The grandeur of the cover’s ornament reflects the period’s idealization of Imperial Rome and Ancient Egypt.

With its regal and ceremonial connotations, we found this vibrant purple hue to be a harmonious accompaniment to the rich style of the original ornament, and so we created this Aubergine design for our Silver Filigree Collection.

Whenever we introduce a new antique cover design, we touch upon the thread of bookbinding traditions that weaves its way through time and space. Our Turquoise Chronicles design was inspired by one such decorative book cover representing a key point in the evolution of the European branch of the craft.

The design reproduced on our Turquoise Chronicles cover originally hails from the Salel Binder in Paris. The book was published in the early 16th century, when Paris was a flourishing centre of the publishing trade. The city’s reputation was second only to that of Venice, which was spearheading the Renaissance movement and looked to by the rest of Europe for artistic ideas and influences. It was at this time that the gold tooling technique arrived in France from the Islamic realm, where it had originally developed. Combined with the French king’s generous patronage of the arts, this ushered in an age of superb French book binding.

Turquoise Chronicles features an especially fine example of early 16th-century French gold tooling. Formed in a graceful, flowing ornament of interlaced arabesques and delicate dots, it shows hints of its Eastern influences and of the decorative styles that would soon emerge in the ateliers of other French binders.

To bring out the details of the original pattern on our cover design, we contrasted the gold with a jewel-like turquoise background. The many hues of the cover surface have a mesmerizing look of a never-still ocean, an ancient witness of all things past that invites you to contemplation. Echoing this idea of a record keeper is the title given to the series, Turquoise Chronicles, named so after the original contents of the binding, a book entitled Chroniques.

No idea is too small withThe Secret World of Arrietty Journal, featuring rarely seen concept art from the Studio Ghibli classic about a boy, a Borrower, and their unlikely friendshipthat blossoms into an extraordinary adventure. 

Complete with full-color artwork on the front and back covers, five interior spreads of concept art, and spot illustrations throughout, this journal is the perfect keepsake for Studio Ghibli fans and animation enthusiasts of all ages. 

© 2010 Mary Norton/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTW
 

RARELY SEEN CONCEPT ART: The journal contains spot illustrations throughout and five full-color spreads of rare concept art from the film.
 
DISTINCTIVE SCHOOL OR OFFICE SUPPLY: Bring some flair to your school or office supplies with this gorgeous journal.
 
GREAT GIFT:Part of an officially licensed line with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, this journal celebrates the artistry behind The Secret World of Arrietty. It makes a great gift or self-purchase for animation fans, collectors, artists, and anyone who loves Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
 
BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan. The studio won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron and earned Academy Award® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle.

Perfect for:

• Studio Ghibli fans of all ages
• The Secret World of Arrietty fans
• Animation enthusiasts
• Fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture

Central Park. The Statue of Liberty. Times Square. New York City is home to a seemingly endless number of famed landmarks, bringing in tourists from all over the globe to witness the sights up close. Standing out among these urban monuments are the skyscrapers that punctuate the New York City skyline.

Described in an original brochure as the “mise en scene for the romantic drama of American business,” one such tower is the Chanin Building. This midtown Manhattan landmark was built by developer Irwin S. Chanin in the late 1920s. The building’s magnificent lobby, the result of a collaboration between designer René Chambellan and architect Jacques L. Delamarre, draws in architecture aficionados. Ornately adorned with bronze grilles representing some of the finest Art Deco in the city, the lobby was modernly styled around a “City of Opportunity” concept. One such ventilator grille, with loops, spirals and geometric lines used by the designers to symbolize human thought and emotion, is reproduced for our Chanin Rise design.

The Chanin Building’s exuberant craftsmanship led it to be designated as an official city landmark in 1978, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It remains emblematic of the uniquely New York City take on the Art Deco style and one of many reasons to pay attention to the architectural achievements lining the city’s streets.

Take a piece of NYC history home with New York Deco!

This handy journal showcases rarely seen concept art from My Neighbor Totoro, Studio Ghibli’s classic fantasy film about a family and their adventures with the strange and delightful creatures who live in the neighboring forest.

Complete with full-color artwork on the front and back covers, five interior spreads of concept art, and spot illustrations throughout, this journal is the perfect keepsake for Studio Ghibli fans and animation enthusiasts of all ages. 

Pair it with other themed merchandise, including My Neighbor TotoroNotebook, Sketchbook, Pop-UpNotecards, Pencils, and Erasers, or Studio Ghibli 100 Collectible Postcards Volumes 1 and 2, to create an extra-special present.

© 1988 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

WRITING JOURNAL WITH FULL-COLOR ART: Perfectly sized to carry on your own adventures, this journaling notebook features lined pages, a ribbon marker, spot illustrations throughout, and five spreads of rare concept art from the film.

DISTINCTIVE SCHOOL OR OFFICE ACCESSORY: Bring some flair to your school or office supplies with this gorgeous journal. Measures 5 x 7 in, 192 lined pages, and a ribbon marker.
 
GREAT GIFT: Part of an officially licensed line with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, this journal celebrates the artistry behind My Neighbor Totoro. It makes a great gift or self-purchase for animation fans, collectors, artists, and anyone who loves Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.

BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan. The studio won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron and earned Academy Award® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle.

Perfect for:

• My Neighbor Totoro, Studio Ghibli, and animation fans
• Collectors and journalers
• Anyone who loves Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture

Celebrate the captivating worlds of Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli with volume 2 of the bestselling 100-collectible-postcards series.

This extensive collection showcases final frames from Studio Ghibli’s feature-length films, from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind(1984) to The Boy and the Heron(2023). Housed in a luxe keepsake box, these full-color, gorgeously detailed images of beloved characters and iconic scenes are perfect for keeping or sending—and are sure to delight Studio Ghibli and animation fans of every age.

© 1984 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, H; © 1986 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli; © 1988 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli; © 1989 Eiko Kadono/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, N; © 1991 Hotaru Okamoto, Yuko Tone/Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NH; © 1992 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NN; © 1994 Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NH; © 1995 Aoi Hiiragi, Shueisha/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NH; © 1997 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, ND; © 1999 Hisaichi Ishii/Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NHD; © 2001 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDTM; © 2002 Aoi Hiiragi/Reiko Yoshida/Studio Ghibli, NDHMT; © 2004 Diana Wynne Jones/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDMT; © 2006 Ursula K. Le Guin/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT; © 2008 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT; © 2010 Mary Norton/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTW; © 2011 Chizuru Takahashi, Tetsuro Sayama/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT; © 2013 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK; © 2013 Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK; © 2014 Joan G. Robinson/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK; © 2020 NHK, NEP, Studio Ghibli; © 2023 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

LUXE & COLLECTIBLE PACKAGE: This postcard set includes 100 different full-color images printed on quality cardstock, housed in a sturdy keepsake box with a lifting ribbon. Cards feature a range of key scenes and characters from the Studio’s feature-length films through 2023.

GREAT GIFT: Part of an officially licensed line with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, these cards make a great gift or self-purchase for creatives, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli will love this unique collection of postcards, which are great to send to friends and are deluxe enough for any collector to keep and display.

MUST-HAVE COMPLEMENT TO VOLUME 1: This new edition includes a different selection of final frames from the films also included in Volume 1—plus all-new final frames from the latest two films from the Studio, Earwig and the Witch (2021) and The Boy and the Heron (2023).
 
BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan. The studio won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron and earned Academy Award® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle.

PERFECT FOR: Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages; animation enthusiasts and collectors; artists and designers; fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture; anyone looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery.

This novelty plush embroidered journal features No Face, the mysterious spirit from the award-winning masterpiece Spirited Away from legendary animation studio Studio Ghibli in Japan.

With lined interiors and full-color artwork on the front and back pages, this collectible, irresistible notebook is sure to cast a spell on Studio Ghibli fans and animation lovers of all ages!

• DISTINCTIVE FORMAT: A plush-wrapped hardcover with embroidered details, full-color artwork on the front and back pages, plus 1-color spot illustrations throughout the lined interior.
• GREAT GIFT: Fans of Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli will love this soft plush journal. A unique present for animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
• BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: Miyazaki is often called the "Walt Disney of Japan." The Ghibli Museum is a popular destination in Tokyo, seeing about 650,000 visitors a year. Six of Studio Ghibli's films received Academy Award® nominations in the United States.
• AWARD-WINNING FILM: Spirited Away has received universal critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature in 2003. Lauded as a masterpiece, the movie continues to appear on "best film" lists including in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Time Out, and more.

• LUXE POSTCARD FORMAT: 30 different full-color images printed on quality cardstock and bound in a portfolio cover. Cards are easy to remove to send or frame. Features a range of key scenes and characters from the film!
• GREAT GIFT: Fans of Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli will love this collection of postcards. A unique present for animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
• BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: Miyazaki is often called the "Walt Disney of Japan." The Ghibli Museum is a popular destination in Tokyo, seeing about 650,000 visitors a year. Six of Studio Ghibli's films received Academy Award® nominations in the United States.
• AWARD-WINNING FILM: Spirited Away has received universal critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature in 2003. Lauded as a masterpiece, the movie continues to appear on "best film" lists including in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Time Out, and more.

• DISTINCTIVE AND LUXE FORMAT: Durable cloth-bound hardcover with foil stamping, full-color endsheets, and unlined/blank sketchbook pages. Measures 7 x 9 inches, 128 pages, 140 GSM wood-free FSC-certified paper, great for most art mediums, including pencils, pens, inks, pastels, markers, and more.
• LAY-FLAT BINDING: This sketchbook lays flat for ease of writing, sketching, and drawing.
• GREAT GIFT: Fans of Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli will love this high-quality sketchbook. A unique present for creatives, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
• BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: Miyazaki is often called the "Walt Disney of Japan." The Ghibli Museum is a popular destination in Tokyo, seeing about 650,000 visitors a year. Six of Studio Ghibli's films received Academy Award® nominations in the United States.
• AWARD-WINNING FILM: Spirited Away has received universal critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature in 2003. Lauded as a masterpiece, the movie continues to appear on "best film" lists including in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Time Out, and more.

This paperback journal features beautiful, rarely seen concept art from Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli's award-winning film about a young girl's journey through a supernatural realm. With full-color artwork on the front and back covers, spot illustrations throughout, and four full spreads of concept art, it's perfect for capturing all your notes and bright ideas.

• GREAT FOR STUDIO GHIBLI FANS: This journal, part of a continuing official partnership with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, captures the nostalgia and magic of the classic Ghibli film Spirited Away. It's a great gift or self-purchase for animation fans, collectors, artists, and anyone who loves cute Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
• OWN A PIECE OF THIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILM: Spirited Away is the highest-grossing film in Japan's history. It won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, and has appeared on many critics' lists of the best films of all time.
• RARELY SEEN CONCEPT ART: The journal contains full-color spot illustrations throughout, as well as four full spreads of rare concept art from the film.
• DISTINCTIVE SCHOOL OR OFFICE SUPPLY: Bring some flair to your school or office supplies with this gorgeous journal.
• INCLUDES: Flexi-bound paperback journal, 5 x 7 inches, 192 lined pages, full-color illustrations throughout, ribbon page marker

A pioneer of the Art Nouveau movement, Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was one of the most significant artists of modern times. To pay tribute to his daring artistic vision, we’ve reproduced Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907), one of the most iconic paintings from his “golden phase.” During that period between 1901 to 1909, he painted groundbreaking pieces, destined to elicit instant recognition in both serious art lovers and those who simply have an appreciation for beautiful artifacts.

Klimt attended the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts where he trained as an architectural painter. As he painted interior murals and ceilings in public buildings, his technical ability endeared him to Vienna’s conservative haute society. But soon, his inner boundary-pushing style came through, causing too much of a stir for the culturally reactionary class who had initially welcomed him so openly. Three paintings he created for the University of Vienna were rejected – deemed “pornographic” – and so he took his talents elsewhere.

Klimt’s response to the scorn was to found the Vienna Secession, an avant-garde movement that treated art as a space for exploring possibilities rather than following the academic tradition. From then on, he was an artistic renegade contributing to the cultural fermentation of turn-of-the-century Vienna. He painted mostly portraits of the progressive society ladies who were his patrons. His works were often erotically charged, exotic, mystical representations, marking him as a Symbolist painter.

Klimt was firmly convinced that there should be no separation between so-called “low” and “high” forms of art. His canvasses were filled with organic forms reminiscent of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement as well as decorative patterns suggestive of Art Nouveau, both styles that were oriented towards this principle of universal art.

Although clearly unique to Klimt’s original style, his Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, reproduced here, still fits within the currents of Art Nouveau and Symbolism. The rich patterns are an example of the former style, while the suggestive symbols, such as triangles, eggs and eyes, remind us that Klimt was receptive to the newest ideas circulating in Vienna’s salons – the “Meetups” and “TED Talks” of the early 20th century. The liberal amounts of gold leaf that he used to fill the background and depict the armchair and woman’s gown were inspired by Klimt’s fascination with traditional Japanese art and the look of Byzantine religious mosaics that he saw during his travels to Venice and Ravenna.

For all the ostentatious quality of the painting, this portrait of one of Klimt’s patrons is a beguiling image projecting the strength and sovereignty of Vienna’s society women. As a symbol of its vibrant time, it is an essential addition to the Paperblanks archive of artistic and cultural heritage.

New York Times bestselling authors Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen team up for another electrifying thriller that pits a serial killer against Kendra Michaels’ heightened powers of deduction.

 After scoring a plea deal in a high-profile murder trial, serial killer James Michael Barrett leads a grim parade of law enforcement officers to the body of his last victim. At the alleged burial site, the officers swing their shovels down and are met with a strange metallic sound they weren’t expecting. In a blink, a terrific explosion rocks the woods, killing Barrett and most of the officers instantly.
 The detonation is only the beginning of a shocking case for FBI consultant Kendra Michaels—a string of heinous murders in the style of the very-dead Barrett mysteriously continue, and it becomes clear that he may not have been working alone. As the crimes accelerate, Kendra reluctantly accepts help from college student Tricia Walton, the only survivor of Barrett’s attacks. But the killer has a terrifying plan that Kendra and her team are only beginning to understand.

Celebrate the art of Studio Ghibli, the beloved Japanese animation film studio, with this extensive collection of 100 full-color postcards showcasing final frames from all their feature-length films—from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) to When Marnie Was There (2014).

Housed in a keepsake box with a lifting ribbon, these gorgeously detailed images will delight Studio Ghibli and animation fans of every age.

© 1984 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, H; © 1986 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli; © 1988 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli; © 1989 Eiko Kadono/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, N; © 1991 Hotaru Okamoto, Yuko Tone/Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NH; © 1992 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NN; © 1994 Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NH; © 1995 Aoi Hiiragi, Shueisha/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NH; © 1997 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, ND; © 1999 Hisaichi Ishii/Isao Takahata/Studio Ghibli, NHD; © 2001 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDTM; © 2002 Aoi Hiiragi/Reiko Yoshida/Studio Ghibli, NDHMT; © 2004 Diana Wynne Jones/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDMT; © 2006 Ursula K. Le Guin/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT; © 2008 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT; © 2010 Mary Norton/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTW; © 2011 Chizuru Takahashi, Tetsuro Sayama/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT; © 2013 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK; © 2013 Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK; © 2014 Joan G. Robinson/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMTK

LUXE & COLLECTIBLE PACKAGE: This postcard set includes 100 different full-color images printed on quality cardstock, housed in a sturdy keepsake box with a lifting ribbon. Cards feature a range of key scenes and characters from the Studio’s feature-length films through 2014.

PAIR WITH STUDIO GHIBLI 100 POSTCARDS, VOLUME 2: Each edition includes a different selection of final frames from the films that overlap both sets. Volume 2 also includes all-new final frames from the latest two films from the Studio, Earwig and the Witch (2021) and The Boy and the Heron (2023). Collect both to create a complete set.
 
BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: Miyazaki is often called the "Walt Disney of Japan." Six of Studio Ghibli's films received Academy Award nominations in the United States. The Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan.

GREAT GIFT: Part of an officially licensed line with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, these cards make a great gift or self-purchase for creatives, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli will love this unique collection of postcards, which are great to send to friends and are deluxe enough for any collector to keep and display.
 
PERFECT FOR: Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages; animation enthusiasts and collectors; artists and designers; fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture; anyone looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery.

This gorgeous deluxe notebook features beloved characters from Studio Ghibli’s award-winning film Spirited Away.

With a cloth-bound, foil-stamped case, lined pages, and lay-flat binding, this notebook invites you to bring Hayao Miyazaki’s spirit world with you wherever you go! Perfect for writers, notetakers, collectors, and animation fans alike.

© 2001 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDTM

DISTINCTIVE AND LUXE FORMAT: Durable cloth-bound hardcover with foil stamping, full-color endsheets, and lined pages. Measures 6 x 8 inches, 128 pages, 140 GSM woodfree FSC-certified paper—nicely sized for all types of work and for carrying along in a backpack or tote.

LAY-FLAT BINDING: This notebook lays flat for ease of writing.
 
GREAT GIFT: Part of an officially licensed line with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, this notebook makes a great gift or self-purchase for writers, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
 
BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan. The studio won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron and earned Academy Award® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle.

AWARD-WINNING FILM: Spirited Away has received universal critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature in 2003. Lauded as a masterpiece, the movie continues to appear on "best film" lists, including in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Time Out, and more.

Perfect for:

• A great gift or self-purchase for Studio Ghibli and animation fans
• Perfect for collectors and journalers
• For anyone who loves cute Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• Pair with other Spirited Away merchandise, including Spirited Away Journal, Sketchbook, Pencils, Eraser Set, or Studio Ghibli 100 Collectible Postcards Volumes 1 and 2, to create an outstanding gift

Let your creativity take flight with this sketchbook celebrating Kiki’s Delivery Service, Studio Ghibli’s beloved coming-of-age story about a resourceful young witch finding her way in the world.

Featuring a tactile cloth cover with iconic imagery from the film foil-stamped on the front, lay-flat binding, and extra-thick pages, this sketchbook is perfect for writers, artists, and animation fans alike.

© 1989 Eiko Kadono/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, N

DISTINCTIVE AND LUXE FORMAT: Durable cloth-bound hardcover with foil stamping, full-color endsheets, and unlined/blank sketchbook pages. Measures 7 x 9 inches, 128 pages, 140 GSM woodfree FSC-certified paper, great for most art mediums, including pencils, pens, inks, pastels, markers, and more.
 
LAY-FLAT BINDING: This sketchbook lays flat for ease of writing, sketching, and drawing.

GREAT GIFT: This sketchbook is part of an officially licensed line with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli. It makes a great gift or self-purchase for creatives, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.

BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan. The studio won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron and earned Academy Award® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle.

Perfect for:

• Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages
• Kiki's Delivery Service fans
• Animation enthusiasts and collectors
• Artists and designers
• Fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• Those looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery

Our Safavid Indigo design reproduces a leather filigree pattern incorporating handtooled motifs, retaining the elegance and style of the Islamic Golden Age even in our modern context. Originally released in a classic brown leather look, this new deep blue colour scheme pays tribute to the darkest tone of Persian Blue. This indigo hue was a popular colour used in the art and architecture of the artistic period.

Associated with this era of artistic excellence, Persian Safavid-style designs represented a high point in the art of the book. These bindings often feature centralized designs of medallions, quadrants, plant and animal motifs, pentagonal flap closures and elaborately decorated “doublures” (interior covers), along with exquisite creations in cut-out leather, coloured papers and gilding. Above all, symmetry is the hallmark of this style. The original binder of this particular design used reddish-brown goatskin, real gold, lacquer and paint to achieve balance in his creation.

Dating back to the 17th century, this artwork comes from the rich handicraft tradition that Shah Abbas the Great, the Fifth Shah of the Safavid Dynasty, inspired during what has become known as the Islamic Golden Age of Art (750 through the 16th century). He recognized the commercial benefits of promoting the arts and, thus, the crafts of tilework, pottery and textiles thrived. Illuminated manuscripts also became a flourishing industry and great attention was brought to the craft of bookbinding and design.

Though the rule of the Safavids came to an end in 1736, they left a great and lasting legacy by reviving and establishing Persia as both an economic and artistic stronghold. Amid the many jewels of this ancient period and culture, decorative bookbinding shines particularly bright and we are honoured to bring it back to everyday life in our Safavid series.

Our Safavid design portrays a leather filigree pattern incorporating handtooled motifs, retaining the elegance and style of the Islamic Golden Age even in our modern context.

Associated with this era of artistic excellence, Persian Safavid-style designs represented a high point in the art of the book. These bindings often feature centralized designs of medallions, quadrants, plant and animal motifs, pentagonal flap closures and elaborately decorated “doublures” (interior covers), along with exquisite creations in cut-out leather, coloured papers and gilding. Above all, symmetry is the hallmark of this style. The original binder of this particular design used reddish-brown goatskin, real gold, lacquer and paint to achieve balance in his creation.

Dating back to the 17th century, this artwork comes from the rich handicraft tradition that Shah Abbas the Great, the Fifth Shah of the Safavid Dynasty, inspired during what has become known as the Islamic Golden Age of Art (750 through the 16th century). He recognized the commercial benefits of promoting the arts and, thus, the crafts of tilework, pottery and textiles thrived. Illuminated manuscripts also became a flourishing industry and great attention was brought to the craft of bookbinding and design.

Though the rule of the Safavids came to an end in 1736, they left a great and lasting legacy by reviving and establishing Persia as both an economic and artistic stronghold. Amid the many jewels of this ancient period and culture, decorative bookbinding shines particularly bright and we are honoured to bring it back to everyday life in our Safavid series.

Let your creativity run wild with this luxe sketchbook featuring inspiring icons from Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, an epic film about a noble warrior, a young girl raised by wolves, and the pursuit of peace between humanity and nature.

Featuring a cloth, foil-stamped cover, lay-flat binding, and extra-thick pages, the Princess Mononoke Sketchbook provides a one-of-a-kind backdrop for your drawing and journaling adventures. This is the perfect canvas for writers, artists, collectors, and animation fans alike.

Princess Mononoke © 1997 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, ND

DISTINCTIVE AND LUXE FORMAT: Durable cloth-bound hardcover with foil stamping, full-color endsheets, and unlined/blank sketchbook pages. Measures 7 x 9 inches, 128 pages, 140 GSM woodfree FSC-certified paper, great for most art mediums, including pencils, pens, inks, pastels, markers, and more. 

LAY-FLAT BINDING: This sketchbook lays flat for ease of writing, sketching, and drawing.

GREAT GIFT: Fans of Princess Mononoke, Hayao Miyazaki, and Studio Ghibli will love this high-quality sketchbook. A unique present for creatives, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.

BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: Miyazaki is often called the “Walt Disney of Japan.” Six of Studio Ghibli’s films received Academy Award nominations in the United States. The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka is a popular destination in Tokyo, seeing about 650,000 visitors a year.

Perfect for:

• Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages
• Animation enthusiasts and collectors
• Artists and designers
• Fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• Those looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery

​From legendary animation house Studio Ghibli, this paperback journal celebrates the magnificent artistry behind Ponyo, a film about a friendship between a boy and a magical goldfish—and their adventures to stay together.

Complete with full-color artwork on the front and back covers, five interior spreads of concept art, and spot illustrations throughout, this journal is the perfect keepsake for Studio Ghibli fans and animation enthusiasts of all ages.  

GREAT FOR STUDIO GHIBLI FANS: Part of an ongoing official partnership with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, this journal captures the nostalgia and magic of the beloved Ghibli film Ponyo. It's a great gift or self-purchase for animation fans, collectors, artists, and anyone who loves Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.

RARELY-SEEN CONCEPT ART: The journal contains spot illustrations throughout, as well as five full-color spreads of rare concept art from the film.

DISTINCTIVE SCHOOL OR OFFICE SUPPLY: Bring some flair to your school or office supplies with this gorgeous journal.

ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION: Display your love for all things Studio Ghibli by collecting all the concept art journals!

INCLUDES: Flexi-bound paperback journal, 5 x 7 inches, 192 lined pages, full-color illustrations throughout, ribbon page marker.

© 2008 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT

Perfect for:

• Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki fans of all ages
• Animation enthusiasts and collectors 
• Artists and designers
• Fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture 
• Those looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery 
• Fans of Ponyo

Many of our cover designs are reproductions of book bindings that come from long-ago eras, when books were treasured as precious objects. One might have the expectation that with the arrival of the modern age and mass production, the art of book binding would have become obsolete. However our Poetry in Bloom design, a reproduction of a 1910 book binding, is a reminder of the kind of artistry that could be produced only with these modern machines and techniques.

This design reproduces the cover of The Sensitive Plant and Early Poems, a collection of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Written in the wake of his child’s death, Shelley’s title poem describes a flower garden going through seasonal changes. First the garden embodies the joy and bliss of spring and summer, and later it becomes consumed by the decay and lethargy of fall and winter. With this poem, Shelley invites the reader to contemplate how the only connection to reality that we have is through fleeting sensations.

Unlike most of our designs, which emulate the front part of a book cover, this Poetry in Bloom design is a recreation of the original’s front “doublure,” the inside face of the cover board. Protected from wear, this part provides bookbinders with additional room for unleashing their creative skills. Here, the binders of Riviere and Son, a London-based binding house, used leather and gilt to create a naturalistic representation of flowers, leaves and butterflies. The sensitive plant, named after its reflex to fold its leaves when touched or shaken, is the focal point of the design’s composition, just as it is in Shelley’s poem.

The book that inspired this Poetry in Bloom series came from the personal library of W.A. Spencer. A wealthy man with a passion for fine books, he bequeathed his massive collection to the New York Public Library after seeing its new, yet-unfinished magnificent central building. Following Spencer’s tragic death as one of the Titanic passengers, the Library received his book collection and a sizable donation for establishing the Spencer Collection. This institution is dedicated to preserving material history of illustrated word and book binding, an undertaking that we, of course, support wholeheartedly.

The beauty of Chinese embroidery is exquisitely represented on our Blue Willow cover. The design reproduced here is taken from a panelled skirt called a mamianqun, or “horse face” skirt, a garment worn by Han Chinese women in the traditional dress style known as Hanfu. An ancient form of Chinese clothing, Hanfu dates back more than three millennia to the Song and Liao dynasties, when it became popular due to both its functionality and its aesthetic style.

Originating in the Qing Dynasty (1850–1900), the variation of mamianqun on our cover is called a langaqun, a style characterized by its sharp pleats, often trimmed in black. Shown here is an example made from delicate pale blue silk damask, embroidered in golden silk thread and edged with silk satin.

Hanfu style has shaped the traditional clothing of many cultures including the Korean hanbok and the Japanese kimono. The mamianqun in particular has undergone various changes throughout history, surviving multiple dynasties and going on to influence style in the Western world by finding its way into the pages of Vogue and onto fashionable British royalty.

The mamianqun represents an important aesthetic and cultural concept in the life history of Chinese women. The choice of colour, pattern, and ornamentation on the mamianqun reflected situational and social contexts and could communicate relationship standing during weddings, as well as the hierarchy between women in a household.

The construction of the mamianqun reflects its roots in practicality as well as style. Traditionally made for horse-riding, the unique overlapping of the garment allows for greater ease of movement when both riding and walking. The latter was particularly necessary for Chinese women who had bound feet and walked with small, shuffling steps. This delicate movement and the fall of the mamianqun’s pleats compelled Chinese poets to liken the effect to a “waving of the willow.”

Today this Blue Willow design can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s East Asia collection. By reproducing this wonderfully intricate and vibrant embroidered traditional Chinese clothing, we hope to share a piece of the rich history of the Han Chinese and celebrate the depth of Hanfu’s aesthetic and cultural influence that endures to this day.

Andrew Lang (1844–1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic and anthropologist, though he is best remembered as a collector of folk and fairy tales. Lang was greatly passionate about folklore, mythology and religion, and especially fascinated by mystical tales from other cultures.

It was this passion that led him to compile a collection of books known as Lang’s Fairy Books, which featured illustrations by Henry Justice Ford (1860–1941). Ford, a prolific and successful English artist and illustrator, captured the imagination of children around the world through his collaborations with not only Lang, but J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan), too.

Lang and Ford’s Fairy Books became a sensation among British schoolchildren and were sold internationally. Lang selected and edited 25 collections in total, beginning with the Blue Fairy Book in 1889 and ending with The Strange Story Book in 1913. Of those 25 books, 12 became a special series known as Andrew Lang’s Fairy Books of Many Colours, with each book named for the colour of the featured fairy.

Our Violet Fairy journal reproduces the front cover of Lang’s Violet Fairy Book. Published in 1901, his Violet Fairy Book includes stories such as “The Story of the Wonderful Beggars,” “The Lute Player” and “The Princess Who Was Hidden Underground.” The stories were gathered from places like Romania, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal and Russia. Here, Ford’s Violet Fairy illustration has a classical and timeless quality, perfect for a book that continues to be loved by young and old alike.

May the Violet Fairy bring a hint of vintage whimsy to your writings.

My Neighbor Totoro Journal showcases gorgeous concept art from Hayao Miyazaki's animated film My Neighbor Totoro.

This captivating notebook features full-color artwork on the front and back covers.

Additional spot illustrations from the Studio's beloved film are sprinkled throughout the journal.

• Features 4 full spreads of concept art
• A must for fans of Totoro
• Flexi-bound with a ribbon marker

This paperback journal provides note-taking inspiration for Studio Ghibli and Totoro fans of all ages.

• Perfect for Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans, collectors, animation enthusiasts, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• A wonderful gift for art and design enthusiasts
• Great for those who loved My Neighbor Totoro: A Novel by Tsugiko Kubo and Hayao Miyazaki, The Art of My Neighbor Totoro: A Film by Hayao Miyazaki by Hayao Miyazaki, and My Neighbor Totoro Picture Book by Hayao Miyazaki

My Neighbor Totoro © 1988 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

Enter the enchanting world of legendary director Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro. Including 30 different hand-drawn final frames from the film, this collection of postcards (to keep or send) celebrates the beautiful art and story of Totoro. A true delight for Studio Ghibli and animation fans!

• Set of 30 postcards of illustration artwork from the Japanese movie My Neighbor Totoro
• From one of the most popular animated films from Japan ever made

Fans of The Art of My Neighbor Totoro and The Art of Spirited Away will love these postcards.

This postcard set is for:

• Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages
• Fans of Japanese art and anime
• Animation enthusiasts
• My Neighbor Totoro movie fans

My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro) © 1988 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

William Morris (1834–1896) is one of the most renowned figures in the decorative arts. As a textile designer, he developed an original style that charmed his contemporaries and has since become a point of reference for all those interested in design and decoration. His creative approach was characterized by his pronounced views on what constitutes beauty and a firm belief in the essential value of art and handicraft. The Arts and Crafts movement, inspired by the ideals of Morris and the social theorist John Ruskin, had as much of an anti-industrial ideological component as it did an aesthetic teaching.

Studying Classics at Oxford University, Morris developed an interest in the history, social values and art of the Middle Ages. His appreciation of the medieval theme found its way into his designs, with patterns often replicating the “millefleurs” style of the 15th and 16th centuries. Characterized by an abundance of small decorative flowers and plants used to fill the background space, this style is most closely associated with the tapestry-making traditions of France and Belgium.

Morris was also an influential writer and staunch social activist and was aghast at the effect that industrialization was having on human productivity. New methods of production eroded the value of individual skill and a sense of accomplishment that came with the process of handiwork. He perceived medieval crafts guilds to be an ideal arrangement, where everyone contributed according to their own skill, and art and creation were a lived experience for both craftsmen and consumers. When he founded an interior design business together with a few like-minded associates, it followed the guild model and relied on traditional labour-intensive methods of production.

Ultimately, Morris believed that traditional crafts ensured higher-quality products, and so he made his furnishings using traditional weaving and the old technique of hand woodblock printing. For motifs, he looked to nature as his primary source of inspiration, which for him had an added element of defiance to the corrosive Industrial Revolution.

This Morris Pink Honeysuckle design, a reproduction of one of his printed cotton patterns, reflects his abiding interest in naturalism. Morris’ fabrics, like his wallpapers, were available in different colour schemes to match his clients’ personal decorative preferences. In the past we have reproduced a honeyed brown version of this Honeysuckle design and were so pleased to discover this pink and pastel variation.

William Morris (1834–1896) is one of the most renowned figures in the decorative arts. As a textile designer, he developed an original style that charmed his contemporaries and has since become a point of reference for all those interested in design and decoration. His creative approach was characterized by his pronounced views on what constitutes beauty and a firm belief in the essential value of art and handicraft. The Arts and Crafts movement, inspired by the ideals of Morris and the social theorist John Ruskin, had as much of an anti-industrial ideological component as it did an aesthetic teaching.

Studying Classics at Oxford University, Morris developed an interest in the history, social values and art of the Middle Ages. His appreciation of the medieval theme found its way into his designs, with patterns often replicating the “millefleurs” style of the 15th and 16th centuries. Characterized by an abundance of small decorative flowers and plants used to fill the background space, this style is most closely associated with the tapestry-making traditions of France and Belgium.

Morris was also an influential writer and staunch social activist and was aghast at the effect that industrialization was having on human productivity. New methods of production eroded the value of individual skill and a sense of accomplishment that came with the process of handiwork. He perceived medieval crafts guilds to be an ideal arrangement, where everyone contributed according to their own skill, and art and creation were a lived experience for both craftsmen and consumers. When he founded an interior design business together with a few like-minded associates, it followed the guild model and relied on traditional labour-intensive methods of production.

Ultimately, Morris believed that traditional crafts ensured higher-quality products, and so he made his furnishings using traditional weaving and the old technique of hand woodblock printing. For motifs, he looked to nature as his primary source of inspiration, which for him had an added element of defiance to the corrosive Industrial Revolution.

This Morris Pink Honeysuckle design, a reproduction of one of his printed cotton patterns, reflects his abiding interest in naturalism. Morris’ fabrics, like his wallpapers, were available in different colour schemes to match his clients’ personal decorative preferences. In the past we have reproduced a honeyed brown version of this Honeysuckle design and were so pleased to discover this pink and pastel variation.

This beautiful collection of morning rituals makes it easy to begin each day with inspiration, energy, and intention.

Greet each day with uplifting and energizing rituals such as rejuvenating mindfulness meditations, empowering affirmations, and breathing exercises to encourage energy and focus. Bonus sidebars offer simple remedies and rituals to start the morning feeling refreshed and inspired¬, including tea recipes, aromatherapy, and more.

Brimming with joyful, nature-inspired artwork and more than 20 enriching morning practices, this gorgeous package is a cheerful bedside companion for yoga and mindfulness enthusiasts, self-care seekers, and anyone who wants to begin each day with inspiration, positivity, and intention.

EASY TO USE: Written with warmth and encouragement, the easy-to-follow practices are designed for a wide audience, from seasoned meditators to meditation newbies who want to start each day on the right note.

VALUABLE CONTENT: Mindfulness and meditation are scientifically proven to help people release stress and find peace. This book offers valuable practices in an accessible, low-investment format that features everything readers need to infuse their mornings with joy, intention, and calm to greet the day ahead.

BEAUTIFUL TO GIFT AND DISPLAY: Bright, nature-inspired package filled with uplifting artwork, Morning Meditations is a lovely gift for wellness enthusiasts, meditators, and anyone who wants to incorporate mindfulness techniques into everyday life.

Perfect for:

• Yoga practitioners
• Meditators
• People who use the Calm and Headspace meditation apps
• Fans of Two Minute Mornings, Calm The Chaos, and Mindfulness Cards

Since the 17th century, “Petrykivka” painting has been a common sight in the Cossack settlements of the Dnyepr River region of Ukraine. At that time, it was believed that beauty had the power to ward off malignant spirits. In Olena’s Garden, our series featuring Olena Skytsiuk’s paintings, you will encounter that same poetic loveliness that emerged from those Ukrainian hamlets.

Named after the village where it has survived to this day, the Petrykivka style of painting was originally used by peasants to decorate the white-washed walls and interiors of their simple dwellings as well as furniture, kitchenware and other household objects made of wood. The most common motifs were flowers and berries, as well as symbolic figures of birds, animals and people. One peculiar element of this tradition was the use of fine brushes made of cat hair, which created the characteristic profusion of ever-so-delicate brush strokes you can see here.

For a long time, Petrykivka painting remained a local folk craft, passed down from generation to generation without receiving much acknowledgment as an art form. The genre was on the verge of disappearing when, in 1936, a Petrykivka schoolteacher opened a school of decorative arts and invited one of the few remaining practitioners to train future artists. Gradually, qualified professionals became the guardians of this manner of painting.

Olena Skytsiuk’s background as a Petrykivka painter combines a formal training received from the Lviv National Academy of Arts with her own family tradition. Her mother came from Petrykivka and was a distinguished painter whose artworks would be presented as state gifts to foreign dignitaries. Now Olena is working in the same genre, creating ornamental pictures bursting with colour and swirls of lively detail. Compared to traditional paintings, dominated by red, yellow and green, Olena’s colour scheme can be described as more sophisticated due to the abundance of shades employed in her compositions. In this Moonlight cover design, her colour tones appear as if the night cast a shroud of shade over a lush floral ornament.

No artistic tradition can remain fully unchanged over time, but an artist can honour its essence even in a contemporary setting. Owing to the talents of masters such as Olena Skytsiuk, the Petrykivka style of painting continues to be a living, distinct form of folk art inspired by a guileless cherishing of the bountiful Ukrainian nature.

The moon, with its illuminating, perpetual cycle that ebbs and flows, is a powerful force that affects all of nature and daily life.

This beautiful journal uses the moon's movement to connect readers with nature and encourage reflection on dreams, goals, relationships, and so much more. Filled with light informative astrological explanations and helpful prompts for guiding reflection based on the moon's cycle, this journal invites readers to create change, set intentions, and manifest more in life.

While the Paperblanks library of cover designs draws from diverse sources of visual art, antique book bindings in particular have long provided us with an abundance of inspiration. Many such book covers were originally made of leather but in the case of our Silver Filigree Collection, the focus is instead on the splendour of bindings decorated with filigree metalwork.

This manner of adorning books was particularly favoured in the 17th and 18th centuries, with nearly all bindings of this type manufactured in Holland, Switzerland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. Over the years, craftsmen experimented with different methods of coaxing metal into ornaments of tender and elegant beauty.

This design represents one such book cover that was reproduced for our Silver Filigree Collection. It was originally created by die cutting a thin metal plate to form a latticed ornament with an added embellishment of fine etchings. This binding, which encased a collection of prayers titled Paradiesgärtlein, dates to 1697 and originates from Strasbourg, at the time a part of the Kingdom of France. For our Maya Blue design, we replaced the original’s neutral background with this vibrant blue.

More than 4 million copies sold in the series!
An Oprah's Favorite Things Pick

Write now. Keep in touch always: Letters for a Year of Gratitude will inspire you to send thoughtful, handwritten notes of appreciation to everyone in your life - from a good friend to a great aunt. Simply tear out your letter of choice, write your message inside, seal it with the included stickers, and add a postage stamp. Begin a gratitude practice today.

• Each letter is printed with a unique prompt like "What I appreciate about us…," "It was incredibly generous of you to…," "It's the little things, like when…," and "From you, I learned the importance of…"
• Makes a perfect gift for loved ones and close friends in your life
• Created by Lea Redmond, the author of the bestselling Letters to My… book series that has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide.

Fans of Letters to My Daughter, Letters to My Grandchild, and Letters for the Year will love this Oprah's Favorite Things Pick for 2018, Letters for a Year of Gratitude.

Send the gift of gratitude all year long.

Letters for a Year of Gratitude includes 52 tear out-and-send letters that will inspire a year's worth of notes of love, appreciation, and thanks. Keep track of the letters you've written in the correspondence log in the back. Secure each letter with the included 150+ stickers before sending a little gratitude to friends and family!

Featuring Jiji, the lovable black cat from Hayao Miyazaki's animated classic Kiki's Delivery Service, this soft plush and embroidered journal includes lined interiors and full-color artwork on the front and back pages, purr-fect for cat lovers and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages.

Kiki's Delivery Service © 1989 Eiko Kadono/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, N

• Has four spreads of concept art
• A must for fans of Kiki and cute witches everywhere
• Flexi-bound with a ribbon marker

• Perfect for Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages, collectors, animation enthusiasts, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• A wonderful gift for art and design enthusiasts, as well as those who like witches and cats
• Great for those who loved Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono and Hayao Miyazaki and The Art of Kiki's Delivery Service: A Film by Hayao Miyazaki by Hayao Miyazaki,

Harmonious flowers, balanced colours and highly precise details create the eye-catching, high-impact effect of this Japanese kimono design.

Originally designed as a costume for the theatrical style known as Noh, our Kara-ori pattern leaves little doubt why Noh is derived from the words for “skill” and “talent.” With silk and gold lacquered stripes, this is one of the best examples of Japanese textile design we have found. It comes from the Edo period (1615–1868) when Noh theatre, known for the sumptuousness of its costumes, was at its height.

Noh theatre is one of the world’s oldest performing arts and has been handed down through generations of Japanese composers and performers. The plots draw from legend, history and contemporary events and are structured around song and dance. Though the thematic tone is often poetic yet monotonous, the costumes are anything but. In fact, Noh is often referred to as “mask drama” due to the importance placed on masks and costumes within the form.

The term karaori, for which this design is named, refers specifically to the exquisitely embroidered traditional woman’s kimono like the one reproduced here. Karaori are regarded as some of the most beautiful theatrical costumes in the world, thanks in part to the Japanese aristocracy’s embrace of the theatre style – as both viewers and performers.

Though Noh is a Japanese art, karaori means “Chinese weave,” as the fabric has its roots in China. And like the costume reproduced in our Peking Opera Embroidery series, this too would have been crafted for a male performer playing a female role. Both the material itself and the pattern shown would have helped tell the story of the character. In this case, the stiff brocade technique created a thick, glossed fabric that would not drape easily – this was used to create an angular effect evoking the spirit of a noblewoman. The flowering grasses depicted served to emphasize the woman’s femininity.

By the Meiji period (1868–1912) Noh had reached such heights that it was introduced overseas, influencing artists far and wide. William Butler Yeats, for example, wrote an essay on Noh in 1916 that he titled “Certain Noble Plays of Japan.” And even more contemporarily, David Byrne of the Talking Heads discovered Noh while touring Japan and, according to American music critic Josh Kun, was inspired by the highly stylized, stiff costumes to “design the oversize business suit that became a visual staple of Talking Heads live shows.”

Today there are more than 70 Noh theatres throughout Japan and it has been deigned an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This beautiful example of karaori costuming can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the Otto C. Deering gift. It is our great pleasure to work with such a gorgeous and culturally important piece of history to craft this Paperblanks design.

Step into the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli’s beloved animated fantasy film Howl’s Moving Castle with this collection of postcards to keep or send.

Featuring 30 final frames from the film—all hand-drawn and gorgeously detailed—these postcards are a must-have for animation fans of all ages.

© 2004 Diana Wynne Jones/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDMT

LUXE POSTCARD FORMAT: This set includes 30 different full-color images printed on quality cardstock and bound in a portfolio cover. Cards are easy to remove to send or frame, and feature a range of key scenes and characters from the film. A must-have for Studio Ghibli fans and collectors.
 
GREAT GIFT: Fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, Hayao Miyazaki, and Studio Ghibli will love this stunning collection of postcards. It is part of a continuing official partnership with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli and makes a great gift or self-purchase for creatives, animation enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
 
BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park are popular destinations in Japan. The studio won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron and earned Academy Award® nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and The Red Turtle.

Perfect for:

• Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages
• Howl's Moving Castle fans
• Animation enthusiasts and collectors
• Artists and designers
• Fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• Those looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery

From legendary animation house Studio Ghibli, this paperback journal celebrates the enchanting world of Howl’s Moving Castle, a film about a pivotal friendship between a quiet girl and a mysterious wizard, and their life-changing adventures in a sorcerous world.

Complete with full-color artwork on the front and back covers, five interior spreads of concept art, and spot illustrations throughout, this journal is the perfect keepsake for Studio Ghibli fans and animation enthusiasts of all ages. 

Howl’s Moving Castle © Diana Wynne Jones/Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, NDDMT
 

RARELY SEEN CONCEPT ART: The journal contains spot illustrations throughout, as well as five full-color spreads of rare concept art from the film.

GREAT FOR STUDIO GHIBLI FANS: This journal, part of a continuing official partnership with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli, captures the nostalgia and magic of the classic Ghibli film Howl’s Moving Castle. It’s a great gift or self-purchase for animation fans, collectors, artists, and anyone who loves Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture.
 
DISTINCTIVE SCHOOL OR OFFICE SUPPLY: Bring some flair to your school or office supplies with this gorgeous journal.

BELOVED STUDIO WITH MASSIVE FAN BASE WORLDWIDE: Miyazaki is often called the “Walt Disney of Japan.” Six of Studio Ghibli’s films received Academy Award nominations in the United States. The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka is a popular destination in Tokyo, seeing about 650,000 visitors a year.

INCLUDES: Flexi-bound paperback journal, 5 x 7 inches, 192 lined pages, full-color illustrations throughout, ribbon page marker.

Perfect for:

• Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fans of all ages
• Animation enthusiasts and collectors
• Artists and designers
• Fans of Japanese art, stationery, and pop culture
• Those looking for collectible, one-of-a-kind stationery

A blank journal that captures the beauty of the great outdoors and the spirit of adventure!

The cover sports a gorgeous woodcut-style illustration of a vintage camper van making its way through a lush forest. Inside, the pages are lined for easy writing and feature full-color spot illustrations. This journal is sure to spark creativity and wanderlust in journalers and nature lovers around the world.

• Great for bullet journaling, note-taking, goal tracking, and list-making; or use as a daily planner, gratitude journal, or travel log!
• A great add-on gift or self-purchase for writers, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts
• 5 x 7 1/8-inch paperback journal with debossed cover and lay-flat binding
• 192 lined pages with full-color illustration throughout

Travis Pietsch is an illustrator and designer living in Orlando, FL. He has produced work for Facebook, J.R. Watkins, USA Today, and more.

From the cradle bars to pre-preteen goo goo mucks, Goth Parenting is an illustrated humor book with heart for families who do things a little differently.

Your local mall goths and graveyard lurkers experience the same milestones of parenthood as anyone else. Goths just do it with a little extra style and more Edgar Allan Poe references.

Goth Parenting takes you from a baby bat’s very earliest days through age seven, illustrating parents’ memorable moments, challenges, and rewards along the way. Like figuring out how to child-proof your tomb sweet tomb, what to feed a toddler to make sure they live deliciously, and how to cope if your little monster doesn’t wish every day was Halloween.
 
Whether your gashlycrumb tiny is a ball of darkness like you or a little ray of sunshine, there’s something here for every alternative parent. Because being a goth parent is about more than just Victorian accessories and black clothing—it’s about acceptance, love, and always being yourself. And also black clothing.

CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS GOTH: The funny, gentle advice is peppered with instantly recognizable references, from Dracula to Edward Gorey to The Sisters of Mercy.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED ALT PARENTING BOOK: Cute and colorful pictures illustrate diverse, loving goth families on every page.

GREAT GIFT: Super-relatable moments make this an ideal present for goths at any stage of their parenting adventures. Wrap in a sheet of skull floral paper for baby shower, birthday, or stocking stuffer gift-giving to moms, dads, or couples.

Perfect for:

• Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and caretakers with an offbeat sense of humor
• Kids of goth parents looking for a Mother's Day, Father's Day, or birthday present
• Gen X mall goths, alternative millennials, and older Gen Zers starting families
• Goths, punks, witches, graveyard lurkers, reformed Hot Topic teens, proud emo crybabies, and anyone who admires the goth aesthetic and lifestyle
• Fans of My Chemical Romance, The Addams Family, and Netflix’s Wednesday reboot

Get Your Sh*t Together is the first book that exclusively features recent artwork in color by beloved British artist David Shrigley. This volume celebrates Shrigley's absurd, deadpan sensibility through both his signature drawing style and accompanying text. Organized by chapters with titles such as Stupid, Nonsense, Dirt, Fear, Paranoia, Love, and Self Delusion, this collection is sure to delight die-hard Shrigley fans and new ones alike. This is the largest-format book to date on Shrigley's prolific work, and features design details such as a ribbon marker with one of his mordant sayings printed on it, as well as hand-written, humorous essays throughout.

It's time for a Star Wars bedtime story in a galaxy far, far away, and Darth Vader's parenting skills are tested anew in this delightful follow-up to the breakout New York Times bestsellers Darth Vader and Son and Vader's Little Princess.

DARTH VADER AND FAMILY: Bringing out the lighter side of the Dark Lord's personality, the Vader and Family books have charmed millions of readers who can't get enough of the Star Wars universe. Jeffrey Brown has created a timeless children's books series that appeals to fans of all ages.

STAR WARS KIDS BOOK: An out-of-this-universe gift for any parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle. Perfect for Father's Day, Mother's Day, parent or child's birthday, baby shower, or just because.

FAN FAVORITE: Proclaimed "fun for the whole family" by the Family Choice Awards and lauded by the Geeks of Doom as a “fun, appropriate gift for the child in your life, and an even more adorable gift for the adult Star Wars fans out there.”

Perfect for:

• Star Wars fans of all ages
• Readers who enjoy the Vader and Family series
• Parents who want a humorous alternative to traditional goodnight books
• Father’s Day gifts for dads who love Star Wars and sharing bedtime stories with their kids
• Pairing with other books in the series or Star Wars Dad Jokes to create a fun fan gift set

A gorgeously illustrated guided journal to discovering and embracing the Wild Feminine within.

When we reconnect with our Wild Feminine, we learn to hold firmly onto her power. This connection sets the tone for what we demand from ourselves, others, and all our life pursuits.

She knows who she is and is unapologetically herself.
She is connected with her Ancestors and psychic senses.
She is aware, alert, and courageous enough to transform.
She is in touch with her creativity.
She is at peace with her spiritual, intuitive, and emotional nature.
She is not afraid to use her voice.
She has the power to attract and manifest change into her life.
 
With thoughtful meditations, insightful prompts, and somatic exercises, this guide to discovering your own Wild Feminine will nourish your deepest, most powerful self, helping you to trust your intuition, reveal and reclaim your inner voice, and cultivate self-acceptance and a deeper connection with the sacredness of life.

FOR FANS OF GUIDED JOURNALS: Writing down our thoughts with guidance from prompts and inspiration from beautiful illustrations is a powerful way to reclaim our lives. This journal is the perfect addition to any collection of guided journals or a meaningful purchase for anyone looking to take a leap into guided journaling.

RECONNECTING WITH THE WILD FEMININE: From folklore to pop culture to personal empowerment, there's a heightened interest in exploring the spiritual framework of connecting with the feminine archetypes, goddesses, and beings from our histories and within ourselves. This journal is the ideal guide to beginning your journey to connecting with the wild feminine.

POPULAR AUTHOR: Araki Koman is an artist and illustrator whose work explores folklore, mysticism, and slow living. She regularly shares artworks with her loyal following on Instagram and has illustrated for the Atlantic, Refinery29, the New York Times, and many more.

Perfect for:

• Women looking for guidance on feminine empowerment
• Explorers of wellness and spirituality
• Fans of guided journals, tarot cards, and oracle decks that tap into inner wisdom and intuition, such as The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck and Mystic Mondays Tarot
• Birthday, Galentine’s Day, holiday, or self-care gift for women

Ignite your creativity with fiery Fiammetta. This sensuous Baroque-inspired cover comes from a 1725 binding of The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio, a masterpiece of Italian literature dealing in stories of love and lust.

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) was an Italian writer and poet who, alongside Petrarch, laid the foundations of Renaissance humanism. He wrote in the Tuscan vernacular, raising this common Italian language to the level of the Latin classics and making works like The Decameron accessible to the average reader.

Though he maintained relationships with important figures such as Petrarch, it was Boccaccio’s connection to the everyday people (the popolo minute) that would greatly influence much of his writing. In 1348 the city of Florence was ravaged by the Black Death, which killed nearly three-quarters of the city’s population, primarily the working class. Though it is uncertain if Boccaccio himself was in Florence at this time, it is known that his stepmother died during the epidemic and his father worked on the government’s efforts to assist its citizens.

Boccaccio began writing The Decameron, his defining work, around 1349. Romantic in tone and form, the work broke with medieval standards by focusing on human emotions and ambitions, especially the ability to overcome (and even exploit) fortune. His sense of humanism was starkly in contrast to the period’s prevailing stories of fate and fortune, and to the Middle Ages’ values of courage, faith and transcendence.

The book contains a collection of novellas structured as a frame story. It consists of 100 different tales told by the 10 main characters, who find themselves sheltering in a secluded villa just outside Florence to escape the ravaging illness. There are tales of wit and practical jokes, lustful romantic entanglements and tragic, real-life consequences. While it is generally acknowledged that the framework of many of these stories was borrowed from myth and folklore, it is Boccaccio’s sophisticated writing style that makes this a unique and defining work all his own. With its scope from humorous to tragic and prevailing sense of humanism in a vivid narrative structure, The Decameron remains an affirmation of humanity and moral values even when read today.

This 18th-century binding of The Decameron is now held at the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France (along with the binding that inspired our Evangeline design). With golden flowers and arabesques bursting forth from a rich, red background, Fiammetta, named for one of the book’s main characters, is sure to spark your imagination and let your passions flow.

The wise words of science fiction icon Octavia E. Butler live on in this beautiful and giftable little volume.

“There’s no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”

Originally published in Essence magazine in the year 2000, Octavia E. Butler’s essay “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future” offers an honest look into the inspiration behind her science fiction novels and the importance of studying history and taking responsibility for our actions if we are to move forward. 

Organized into four main rules, this short essay reminds readers to learn from the past, respect the law of consequences, be aware of their perspectives, and count on the surprises. Citing the warning signs of fascism, the illusive effects of fear and wishful thinking, and the unpredictable nature of what is yet to come, Butler shares realistic but hopeful suggestions to shape our future into something good. An inspiring and motivational gift for students and recent graduates, fans of Butler's work, and anyone seeking a brighter day tomorrow, this exquisite gift book includes stunning Afrofuturist artwork by Manzel Bowman alongside the full text of the original essay.

LITERARY ICON: Octavia E. Butler was a pioneering science fiction writer whose novels, written decades ago, remain eerily relevant, reflecting on themes of racial injustice, women’s rights, environmental collapse, and political corruption. In 1995, she became the first science fiction author to win a MacArthur Genius grant, and her books are taught in over 200 colleges and universities nationwide. This book shares Butler's timely but lesser-known essay and is a must-read for fans of her classic sci-fi works.
 
CELEBRATE BLACK CREATORS: This book spotlights one of the greatest authors of Afrofuturism, a genre and philosophy that explores and reimagines Black culture, creativity, and liberation through fiction, art, music, film, and other media. Octavia E. Butler’s forward-thinking essay is paired with contemporary illustrations by Manzel Bowman, whose evocative images are also inspired by Afrofuturist visions.
 
INSPIRING GIFT: A unique gift for students, recent graduates, and anyone celebrating life milestones or looking forward in life, this beautifully designed hardcover book is sure to inspire. Octavia E. Butler’s essay is also an important, evergreen reminder for writers, creatives, dreamers, and activists who want to envision and work toward a brighter future.

Perfect for:

• Fans of Octavia Butler and her novels, including Kindred and Parable of the Sower
• People interested in nonfiction and essays by Black women writers
• Afrofuturism lovers and social justice-minded sci-fi readers
• Literary bibliophiles looking for a stunning new addition to their bookshelf
• Gift-giving to graduating high school and college students
• Activists and community leaders
• Inspirational essay readers
• Fans of Manzel Bowman and Afrofuturist art

Turn everyday family outings into memorable adventures.

Screen-free explorations for the whole family: This charming and practical keepsake journal makes it easy to turn family outings into memorable adventures. Brimming with inspiring illustrations, family-friendly activities, and more than 50 fill-in prompts, this interactive journal is the ideal way for families to explore nature, connect with one another, and create lasting memories.

• Includes entries for designing an imaginary treehouse, making a bird's-eye-view map, building a natural sculpture, nature bingo, and so much more.
• Outdoor fun for families large and small, young, and the young-at-heart.
• With blank ruled pages to document future adventures, past explorations, funny stories, and more

The Family Adventure Journal is a unique way to have technology-free fun as a family, get outside, and discover nature together.

This interactive journal is the ideal way for families to explore and create lasting memories.

• Makes a great Mother's or Father's Day gift
• With activities, crafts, games, and more to keep families engaged and entertained
• Perfect for school summer break

This glorious binding comes from the revered artisans at Sangorski & Sutcliffe, a world-renowned British bindery best known for the bejewelled cover of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat (also known as the Great Omar), forever lost in the sinking of the Titanic.

Crafted in 1922 to house Rudyard Kipling’s “Recessional,” a poem written for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, this beautiful binding is now part of the Dallas Public Library’s collection. It is a literal jewel of a book, bound in a rich red leather inlaid with gemstones such as turquoise, aquamarine and ruby, and featuring medieval-style illumination.

Established in London in 1901, Sangorski & Sutcliffe quickly rose to become one of the 20th century’s most important bookbinding firms, famous for jewelled bindings like “Recessional” and Rubaiyat and for their use of real gold in the cover details.

In an interesting connection with our larger design library, Francis Sangorski (1875–1912) and George Sutcliffe (1878–1941), the firm’s founders, first met at a bookbinding class led by Douglas Cockerell, part of the family behind our Cockerell Marbled Paper series! We are honoured to work with this pinnacle of luxurious bookbinding and to share the legacy of Sangorski & Sutcliffe with 21st-century bibliophiles and stationery lovers.

François-Marie Arouet (1694–1778), known as Voltaire, was a writer, philosopher, poet, dramatist, historian and polemicist of the Enlightenment era. The diversity of his literary offerings is surpassed only by its abundance: nearly 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and some 15 million words.

Born in Paris, Voltaire was the son of a well-established lawyer who wanted his son to follow in his own footsteps. The young Arouet changed his name to Voltaire and swiftly began making a name for himself as a writer.

Not just a prolific writer and poet, Voltaire is renowned for his views and ideas on rational religion and liberty. He was a man of reason and had a hatred for superstition. He endeavoured to champion his philosophies through his writings, and he crossed borders and cultures to spread his message.

This beautiful binding originally housed Voltaire’s Zadig, or The Book of Fate, his most popular work after Candide. The book was published in 1747 and this binding was crafted in 1893 by Chamerot et Renouard in Paris. The Book of Fate tells the story of an ancient Babylonian philosopher named Zadig. It is an example of how Voltaire used a story to comment on the issues of his time.

It was thanks to this zealous and formidable contribution to the Enlightenment era that the age is also known as the Age of Voltaire.