An Update of Affairs

Howdy folks! I am, in fact, not dead, just apparently not super into blogging for the sake of blogging, especially not in the rather rigid, scheduled format I started posting with. It turns out, trying to come up with unique writing tips and curated lists on a weekly basis is hard to do while pursuing an engineering degree and running a side business in the middle of a pandemic.

I twice started long posts only to abandon both posts as drafts. One of them was about the books I read in 2020, if that tells you anything. Blogging, it seems, is not my strong suit. I would caution you, reader, to not get your hopes up that this update post means more content will be coming… but who, really, can say.

An update on Possum Paper Works

I’m pleased to say that Possum Paper Works the business is stronger than ever. In the last few months, though I’ve mostly ignored this site, I was accepted in to two different markets held by local community print shop Studio Two Three. Over these two markets, particularly the second, month-long Winter Market, PPW did amazingly well.

a bunch of notebooks of many sizes and styles sit on a rug with a box of books filled in frame

Before the market, I cranked out about 55 notebooks over the course of 15 days. The photo above shows all of the stock I initially supplied the market with. I thought for sure it would be enough. It sure looks like enough!

It was not. The Richmond community turned out in force! And rightly so–the market was filled with amazing works from local artists. After just the first weekend, I was emailed with a request for more stock. I ended resupplying twice, making 26 additional books total and adding multiple pre-made books. Somehow, I sent exactly 100 books to the market. Only 12 returned.

I’m currently in progress of listing the remains of my stock to Etsy. I also got a new printer for Christmas, so keep an eye out for potential lined(!) notebooks and guided gratitude journals in the future.

An update on me

Public universities are a disaster. But I’m graduating in Spring, hallelujah.

I learned the hard way in July why they say to keep the plastic guards on paper cutters. Luckily it was not bad enough to warrant a trip to the ER. It was, however, a useful lesson.

I’ve started intently following stationery blogs. The Well-Appointed Desk, The Gentleman Stationer, The Pen Addict, Pencil Revolution, and Comfortable Shoes Studio have all led to me buying more pens and pencils than fully necessary. If PPW notebooks aren’t your speed, Johnny at Pencil Revolution has started making leather-bound notebooks which are worthy of your eyes. If you need ideas for what to write in the books, I recommend checking out my previous post!

Until next time, whenever that might be, write on, folks!

possum paper works product roundup

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links. For more information about what an affiliate link is and what they mean for you, see my privacy page.


Sheet Ghost Product Roundup

It’s October. You know what that means?

It’s spooky season, y’all.

And by spooky I mean “weird adorable puppet ghosts singing Beatles songs”, of course. I had a video here, but the Mouse Machine seems to have done as it does and removed it.

Look, man. It’s not Halloween for me without the Vincent Price episode of the original Muppet Show. The Alice Cooper episode is also superb, but the Vincent Price episode is where it’s at. Uncle Deadly is the best.

But, like, those dancing ghosts? Best part. I have a little ghost decoration that looks a bit like those puppets. It’s a year-round feature these days.

Similarly, Peanuts comics and the It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown were constants in my childhood, and with those characters came the eternal bedsheet ghost. You know the one, the amorphous blob of a costume spawned from the cheap white sheet with holes cut for eyes and nothing else. It’s a classic.

All that to say, I like those traditional-style sheet ghosts quite a lot. I’ve never been a big fan of horror, but creepy-cute works just fine. More than fine, actually. With that in mind, let’s get started on the spooky sheet ghost product roundup!

sheet ghost product photos

1) StolzKraft, Little Ghost in Glass Bottle

A little handmade friend in a bottle! What’s not to love? No really, I’m in love. I don’t know what I’d do with this little guy, but I want one (Update: I have one now, LOVE IT). This Etsy store has lots of other little ghosts in a variety of dioramas to choose from, so check them out!

2) Quirk By Ally, Ghost Spooky Sheet Costume Enamel Pin

I can hear the implied “boo” in this pin? The little shoes and jeans make it even better. Seriously, this would look so cute on a bag strap or a hat, maybe next to a pin of your local cryptid. If you have one. Apparently my area is a little lacking in proper cryptids (Update: also have this super quality pin now! My aunt found a theme for Etsy gifts…).

3) Art of Tranifer, Love Ghosts Art Print

Just the right mix of spooky and sweet. The detail on the lavender especially gets me. This artist has tons of other ghost and mild horror-inspired artworks, so if this exact design isn’t to your fancy, you can find many other beautiful works at their shop (Also have this print! Just as lovely in person!)!

4) Dark Art Imagery, Halloween Greeting Card

This ethereal greeting card has a Poe-etic message inside for all your Halloween card needs. Invite your friends to share a pumpkin carol with you! Leave thank-yous for the spirits in the graveyards when you take a little graveyard dirt for a spell! If this card sells out, be sure to check the seller out for more Halloween inspired photos and cards.

5 & 6) Katherine Blower, Strawberry Fields & Walter

“Strawberry Fields”….hm….Beatles….ghost…someone’s on the same page as me. Katherine Blower’s art collection features tons of lonely ghosts, and I really want to make friends with all of them. Walter, this poor ghost. Walter needs a friend. The Strawberry Fields ghost has the butterflies, at least. But I want to give Walter some love.

Anyway. Go find Katherine Blower’s art, and enjoy the adorable spirits.

7) Beyond Infinite, Ghosts 1 / Black Art Print

This print is pretty popular on Society6, and with the bold black and white design, I can see why–it would look awesome on a spooky gallery wall. The high tops are probably my favorite part, the nostalgia levels at peak points.

8) Pretend Planet, Sheet Ghost Party Art Print

This has a weirdly Tim Burton-esque style that I love. Or maybe more Edward Gorey. Regardless. Like an office party from half a dimension over, this print is ready to add a bit of odd charm to your walls.


TOO MANY GHOSTIES

If this hasn’t been an exhaustive enough list of wee ghosties for you, here’s some more art I love:

LittlestSpookShop, LittlestSpook Pin

MikaMilkyWayy, Little Ghost Sticker Pack

Burchfiel Studios, Musical Sheet Ghost

The Crankiest Crafter, Vintage Ghost Sticker

Tyler Walls Illustration, Spooky Brudda Art Print

Little Spooky Studios, Spooky Forever Art Print

Soundnew, Ghosties Art Print

And happy Halloween! And by Halloween I mean October. Which is all Halloween. Fight me.


possum paper works logo

Check out more product roundups here!

If you’re still hungry for more arts to shop, may I recommend my own lines of notebooks on Etsy and my art on Society6 and Redbubble? Your support is much appreciated and helps keep this blog running!

possum paper works product roundup

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links. For more information about what an affiliate link is and what they mean for you, see my privacy page.


Maple Leaf Product Roundup

Happy Fall! It’s hitting the low 40s (Fahrenheit, of course) around here all of a sudden. I could not be happier. I’m about to belt out the Snow Miser song, I’m so happy.

Okay, that doesn’t say much, really. I’ll belt that out in June. It worked, once, managed to summon some snow. Not in June. But still. I digress. As I do.

Sadly, it’s not winter yet. For that reason (winter = end of semester), this is a quick one, the throes of the semester deeply upon me.

Nonetheless, I have six lovely new maple leaf art pieces for you to enjoy in this week’s roundup! If you’re a fall fanatic, or Canadian I guess, you’ve come to the right place!

Man…now I want some maple candy…

possum paper works product roundup

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links. For more information about what an affiliate link is and what they mean for you, see my privacy page. I only recommend art I love!


Pencil Product Roundup

I have a love affair with pencils. Most writing implements, actually. Maybe it’s a writer thing (most writers I know hoard stationery, even when writing mostly on the computer). Maybe it’s an engineering thing (I know multiple people in STEM who can rate recommend a pen or pencil as well as any professional website). Could be I just really like stationery. And oh, I do.

I love Ticonderoga wooden pencils. The feel of a new one in my hands is magical. I’ve been lusting after Blackwing Pencils since I found out they exist. I have boxes full of super cheap promotional pencils that I will never use, but that doesn’t mean I’ll get rid of them anytime soon.

My Pencil: A Love Story

The mechanical pencil I use for most everything came at the recommendation of a fellow engineering student I met in high school. She’s one of the stationery connoisseurs I mentioned earlier. I was always so entranced when she’d pull from her bag a metal mechanical pencil or a working fountain pen, just for everyday note-taking.

I asked all the questions, of course. What the writing implements were, where they came from, how could I find one for myself, what the best kinds were. She recommended the Pentel GraphGear series, probably the most engineering-y pencil to ever exist at a reasonable cost.

The set I bought later that year came in a pack of two. Four years later, I have yet to need the second one. Sure, the first has run out of lead multiple times, and I’ve lost the eraser cap, and I’ve nearly lost the clip, and I have to use a cap eraser now instead of the tiny one that fits into the top – it doesn’t matter. That one pencil has pushed through every challenge of the last 4 years. I will keep using it until it disappears or breaks in half.

I love my pencil.

 

You probably didn’t need to know that. But now you do! Maybe you feel the same way about a pencil yourself – if so, you’re in the right place. I’ve made a collection of 10 awesome art pieces that honor the mighty pencil for your perusal. They would all make fantastic gifts for your favorite creator (including yourself), and all works directly support the artists who create them!

Without further ado, here’s the pencil product roundup!

pencil art roundup

1) Hive Five Studios, Cross My Art Hope to DIY Enamel Pin

This pin is adorable. I love the tiny flowers mixed in with the hands, and the detail on both the pen and pencil is fantastic.

2) YEAHYELHSA, Holographic Pencil Vinyl Sticker

Psychedelic, man. I dig it. This would look so great on a laptop!

3) Leebobawitz, Keep Creating Pencil Hard Enamel Pin

I love all of these? The black one makes me think of my beloved Ticonderogas. I would put any one of them on a bag or jacket in an instant, though.

4) Amber Pitcher, Blush Pencils Carry-All Pouch and Pencil Mountain Poster

Amber Pitcher’s got multiple snazzy pencil designs that come on all sorts of products at Society6. Most are in these lovely blush palettes, though there’s also some black pencils. I love the bold graphics of the poster, but the little bag would make such a perfect pencil pouch! You know, for all of a fifth of my collection, maybe.

5) Betsy Roo Creations, Resist Pencil Art Print

Beautiful. This stamped print would make a great addition to any desk or workspace. I’d frame it and pop it onto the top of my desk, the perfect reminder that art should always challenge something.

6) Rostislav Kralik, Peace Of Mind Art Print

In a change of direction, I checked out Fine Art America’s selection of prints, and found this gorgeous photograph. I love the intense black and white contrast. It almost feels too fancy…

7) Dollopheaded Merlin, I Can Speak So Much Easier With My Hands Notebook

Same. No, really. Verbal communication? Not my thing. Written? I’m here writing, aren’t I? Chances are, you or a writer you know feels the same way. I love that this design comes on a notebook. Perfect for any verbally-confused writer like me.

8) Picomodi, Never Stop Creating Art Print

This bold design would look amazing over a writing desk. All writers and artists need reminders to create sometimes.

9) Shiny Dangly Bits, Pencil Earrings

There are so many cool pencil earrings out there. This pair is made of resin, but other people use scrap bits of wooden pencils to make their art. I love that concept, but I would never wear them – I don’t need to stab myself on accident. These cute little earrings (with dull points) make much more sense.

10) Pietari Posti, Big Pencil Art Print

The weirdly circus-style colors here make writing and art seem much more fun than they actually are most of the time. Maybe that’s motivational? Yeah, I dunno. But I love this bright design. Almost as much as I love pencils. Almost.


possum paper works logo

Check out more product roundups here!

If you’re still hungry for more arts to shop, may I recommend my own lines of notebooks on Etsy and my art on Society6 and Redbubble? Your support is much appreciated and helps keep this blog running!