Found a hidden gem of a paper supplier in Portland

I was in Portland last weekend visiting family and stopped by this little shop called Oblation Papers. They had a handmade Japanese tissue paper that was way softer and more flexible than anything I've ordered online from the big guys. I grabbed a few sheets for a small art book I'm binding, and the grain direction was dead on perfect. Anyone else run into a local spot that beats the online stores for specialty paper?

3 comments

3 Comments

johnson.eva2d ago

Oh, that brings back memories! My late husband was a bookbinder, and he swore by this tiny place in Seattle called Paper Hammer. They had this one lot of Italian marbled paper he picked up in the 90s, and the colors were just incredible, rich and deep like nothing I've seen since. He used to drive all the way there just to feel the stock before buying, said you can't judge a paper's hand through a screen. I still have a few of his finished notebooks, and that paper has held up beautifully after thirty years.

laura_wilson2d agoMost Upvoted

@the_faith totally gets it, scouting local art supply stores with craft sections can find gems like that.

the_faith2d ago

Wait, has anyone else had that moment where you realize the internet lied to you about paper? I used to think any shop could be beaten by the big online retailers with their massive selection and fast shipping. But man, that trip to Oblation changed my mind completely. You're right about feeling the paper - those online photos and descriptions never tell you how it actually handles in your hands, especially for binding. That Japanese tissue I picked up had a weight and flexibility that a screen just can't convey. How do you even find these hidden spots without just stumbling into them like we both did?