The Paper Seahorse Celebrates 10 Years: Spreading Sunshine Since 2014

How do you know where you are going until you know where you have been?

Well, its been ten whole years since we started this journey into all things paper and pen. We started as a stationery shop that created beautiful letterpress and handmade invitations. We started a letter writing group and had creative classes. We even opened a second location. We soon realized we were doing too many things.

Went on a trip to Japan and became an official partner shop for TRAVELER'S Company. Soon we were focusing on stationery and and hosting notebook meet ups. Creating magazines and products. Then the pandemic changed everything. We decided to stay open and focus for the first time on the online web shop. Our hearts did miss the community aspect of the studio. Through all the twists and turns, we still remain true to our core: slowing down, stepping away from the screen and keeping in touch with ourselves and others.

Here are our top ten best memories from 2014 - 2024:

1. Tom Hanks Letter - we wrote him a letter and he sent one back! You can read this in the studio. 

2. Community Events sponsored or participated in: Etsy Craft Party - remember the bowtie Father's Day cards?, Plant Museum Picnic in the Park and Children's Day at the Museum - teaching paper crafts and showing tiny typers the joys of typing, Oxford Exchange Book Fair, Water Street and the Salvador Dali Museum.

3. Tampa Bay Origami Group - Formed a donation based event. This group meets the 3rd Saturday of the month.

4. Tampa Bay Letter Writers - Established a thriving group of letter writers that meets the last Saturday of the month. There are 32 members nationally and one internationally.

Calling anyone who loves writing and keeping in touch. This group is dedicated to those interested in letter writing, snail mail, and mail art. Our goal is to keep putting pen to paper, typing, and keeping the written word alive. This includes all forms of correspondence. We host regular letter writing socials and special events throughout Tampa Bay. We look forward to meeting everyone and bringing the joys of letter writing to as many folks as possible. Everybody brings something to share and we have a monthly theme. How cool is that?⁠

5. I Love Cursive Contest - encouraging the lost art of cursive to stay alive for a new generation.

6. TRAVELER'S Company Official Partner Shop - We were the second Partner Shop in the United States to proudly feature this iconic brand from Japan. We have hosted over twenty meet ups and events to date. People have flown in for some of the special events and driven several hours to experience our take on what it means to be an Official Partner Shop.

7. Creative Classes - hundreds of classes held and many talented teachers have had a space to share what they love. Local, national artists have shared their time and talents. We have gone into the community and created event experiences like none other.⁠
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Here are some of the most popular classes held: handmade flowers, card making, origami, watercolor, journaling, letter writing, shibori, macrame, sketching, calligraphy, lettering, book making, zine making. ⁠

8. Handmade Invitations + Custom Letterpress Invitations - from weddings to baby showers to birthdays,  we sewed, hand cut and designed immersive invitations that were literally out of the box. We celebrated handmade and explored the possibilities to push paper. ⁠
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We thank you for letting us help you make your events and memories extra special. Alas, we were not meant to keep making boxed invitations, stitched pieces of art, and custom chocolates for personalized touches. ⁠
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Enjoy the phases of life.⁠

9. Calligraphy Kit & Guest Teachers - Partnerships with The Postmans Knock resulted in our first product ever, a super successful calligraphy kit and we brought master penman, Michael Sull to Tampa twice to help keep penmanship live. 

We are grateful to have had so many people introduced to calligraphy and penmanship. Keeping this beautiful art form accessible. ⁠
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10. International Festival of the Arts - I taught at Epcot's inaugural event with fellow cowgirls! My mom would have been thrilled. She was Walt's biggest fan.

This incredible journey and adventures is truly because of the best part of all, it is the people along the way that made our first decade worthwhile. This includes all of you as well as our fabulous cowgirls and cowboys who made it all possible: Julie, Claire, Dani, Chiara, Risha, Amanda, Alex, Clara, Dory, Jessica, Logan, Andrea. 

And the new friends we encountered all who have a love of connecting in real life and sharing hand made passions together.

Thank you for always being true to you and the studio.

Looking forward, we realize how far we have come and evolved. We find that we do not need to sell people physical tools as much as we need to show them how to use the tools. To experience slowing down, being more mindful and creative. We are expanding our classes to workshops and longer events and retreats. We are venturing to have more online classes and connect with even more folks across the globe. 

Tell us what was your favorite part of The Paper Seahorse so far?