Celebrating Stationery Week

April 22, 2013 · by · in Inspiration

Stationery addicts rejoice!

If you have a notebook pile as high as a mountain and so many pens and pencils you need a box, not a pencil case, today’s your day. It marks the start of National Stationery Week.

Writing by hand is so much more than just pen and paper. It’s about respecting what you have to say enough to take the time to write it down. Even if it’s just a to-do list. (If you can’t be bothered to write the list, who says you can be bothered to actually complete it?)

I have an extra special feature for you today, because not only is today the start of National Stationery Week, it’s also Earth Day. It’s easy to think paper and Earth Day don’t mix, but eco-friendly designers like Gabrielle Treanor help stationery addicts like me feel good about our notebook stash.

Coloured ‘Simple Things‘ A5 notebook, 25% off today!

It was love at first sight when I came across Gabrielle’s beautiful designs. Her notebooks and other stationery are simple but go to show that eco-friendly design doesn’t need to sacrifice style. I love the quirky, nostalgic feel of her illustrations.

I’m not alone in loving her designs, so don’t just take my word for it. Gabrielle’s press page is bursting at the seams, including big names like Country Homes and Mollie Makes.

The Green Gables’ eco-friendly motto doesn’t stop at using 100% recycled paper, either. Gabrielle has paid attention to every detail; even the web-hosting for her online shop and the electricity for her studio are from eco-friendly suppliers. In 2013, four eco-minded charities are supported by her work. Can you get more guilt-free than that?

With so many beautiful cards and notebooks to choose from, I’m a bit like a kid in a sweet shop!

Cue the clever Stationery Club. Buy a subscription, and each month a lovely stationery-filled package is delivered to the door. It’s a great gift, but honestly I want it for myself.

In a three month subscription you’ll get a lot of goodies:

Two rolls of decorative tape
One A6 notebook
Two A5 notebooks
6 greeting cards (with envelopes)
9 post cards (with envelopes)

… All of them Made in Britain, eco-friendly, and lovingly packaged.

With free P&P. (Seriously, go look.)

I asked Gabrielle, ‘What do you love most about stationery?’

How long is a piece of string?! I love how something as simple as writing on a piece of paper connects people in a more meaningful way than other forms of communication – receiving a hand written note in the post means so much more than a text message.

I love how looking back through old papers you can see not just what you wrote or doodled about in the past but also how your hand writing has changed, your choice of ink colour.

I love the feel of paper, the tingle I get before writing for the first time in a new notebook (always starting with the second page, never the first).

I love the enormous variety of stationery available – patterns, colours, materials – there’s something for everyone’s style and wallet and stationery that’s good for the environment can also look gorgeous!”

♦ ♦ ♦

Gabrielle is celebrating National Stationery Week, too, with daily offers. Today, her A5 notebooks are 25% off. Including her Simple Things notebook, go grab it!

Keep an eye out tomorrow for another stationery feature.

Happy doodles,