Eco Caritas - our Care of the Earth paper is natural, no printing... in sheets as well as writing sets, pads and envelopes. Lanterns are available in natural and plain dyed paper
Damber Kumari Paper - hand-made and hand-woodblock-printed in traditional Damber Kumari style, includes writing sets, pads, wrapping paper, lanterns
The Daphne Collection - fine dyed paper items, writing pads, sets, cards, notebooks, gift wrap, tags, albums
Sheet Paper - deckle edged paper sheet,
natural, textured, dyed or with inclusions such as flower petals,
rice husks, ferns, etc. Available in a variety of weights. The
most popular part of our paper collection.
Lanterns - Lanterns made of our paper,
4 panels and 6 panels, square accordion lanterns and tubes. Best
sellers!
 BL-14F Lantern 9" x 9" x 6 folds |
 BL-21F Lantern 10" x 10" x 7 folds |
 BL-22F Lantern 9" x 9" x 13 folds |
 BL-23 Lanterns small 13" dia, large 16" |
 BL-1XL Tube Lantern 40" long x 10" dia |
 BL-23L Natural 16" dia |
 TDL-2 Tie Dyed 4 panels ea 7" x 11" |
 TDL-1 4 panels ea 5 1/2" square |
 BBXL16 11" x 11" x 16 folds |
Paper making in Nepal dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest traditional household industries. Ancient scriptures and other religious inscriptions still extant are testimony to this claim. Paper making developed in the Orient in about the 6th century. Scholars surmise that the technology arrived in Nepal via tradesmen who travelled the trade routes from China to India.
The pulp for Nepalese paper making derives from an indigenous plant called Lokta, Kagatpate or Dayshing (Species: Daphne bholua, Daphne papyracea and Daphne cannabina of the Thymelaeaceae Family). It is an evergreen, bush-like shrub which grows up to 13 feet (4m) high at high altitudes in the Himalayas. It has long leathery leaves much like a bay leaf (to which family it belongs), with clusters of fragrant white to pink flowers and small dark rust coloured berries. This shrub is a sustainable resource. Once harvested, it regrows in 5 to 7 years depending on growth rate, and may be reharvested.
To make paper, the white under-bark is stripped and digested in an oak-ash solution over a fire. After the foreign matter is removed, the pulp is redigested and then allowed to cool. Once cooled, it is beaten with fist-sized smooth river stones to break down the fibres. It takes about 4-5 hours to achieve the right consistency. Clean water is then mixed with the pulp to form a thin paste. The next step is to take a frame that is made of thin white cotton stretched on a bamboo frame approximately 20" x 30". The frame is placed in a vat of still water and the paste mixture is poured in it carefully in order to spread it evenly. The frame with the paste is then slowly lifted from the water. The paper paste is set in the sun to dry on the frame. Once dry, the paper is peeled off the frame. It is then used as is with a rough texture, or may be polished with a conch shell or a smooth stone which makes a firmer surface for writing.
This labour intensive procedure is done by rural households during the dry season. These are the months of non-cultivation and are the best for sun drying the frames.
The paper is characterized
by a creamy off-white colour, extraordinary durability, elasticity,
traces of Lokta pulp, low cellulose content and acid free.
Envelope kits - Templates for making your own envelopes to match your handmade cards.
Seals and Sealing
Wax - Old fashioned
sealing wax, no wick, any colour as long as it is red!!
Seals carved from bone, set in wood. Also brass seals set in wood.
Celtic Rubber Stamps - Lots of people produce decorative rubber stamps, so we specialized in CELTIC and "Scottish ethnic" rubber stamps.
For information on our Gift Shows see Show Information
Tel: 1-800-561-5053, Fax: 519-396-6062, e-mail: rigby@rigby.ca
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General Giftware |
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