Paris, oh Paris...

What an amazing place. I have returned to Paris after 8 years. Many things have changed meanwhile, but not my desire to stay and live there for the rest of my life. It's not about the zillion places to see, but about the things you can do. It's amazing! And that city... it just feels right to me. In the crowd of the streets by day or by night I didn't feel stranger for a bit.

Surely compared to Portugal life is considerably more expensive but still I managed to come back with a few goodies. Here they are... well, the book related ones!

Treasures from the Vanves flea market

Supplies from incredible fine art and bookbinding stores

In the Studio

I've been waiting for the best moment to make some changes to my studio. It was never properly organized as when we moved to this house a year ago we made everything in rush and that's how it's been ever since then. Now I'm hoping I can finally do this in March. It's a good time for me as I have some new plans for my book shop too, and a change always makes me feel so refreshed. Meanwhile I'm planning and searching for ideas in what inspires me the most: supplies, and textures and patterns... Last week I've made a little trip to London and visited one of my favorite stores. I got a few papers, new bone folders and some beautiful headbands. But my latest acquisition of which I'm really proud is an old book press that I bought right here in Porto from a bookbinding workshop that was closing. I'm actually the third owner of this press, which initially belonged to a graphic arts studio. I love that it's wide and tall and I can use it for more books at the same time, something I wasn't able to do with my very old, little nipping press. The less exciting part is that it's extremely heavy, it took two man to lift it on the table and I wish I've done this only after rearranging my workshop!