Shop tour: Falkiners

For years I studied in the street next to Falkiners/Shepherds Bookbinders on Southampton Row and often popped in at lunch to revel in its traditional surroundings, and look at its pretty Japanese chiyogami papers. I can never resist a nostalgic peek when I'm in the neighbourhood. Someday I would love to take one of their bookbinding courses, where I'm pretty sure my paper of choice would be one of their stunning autumn-hued leaf papers.

I treated myself to one of their 2012 diaries {this is unusual for me; it will probably remain half-empty for the first months of the year, as happened with my Persephone books diary.} I will take a photo soon, as it's covered with another of my favourites; flying swallows...

{No photos of the whole shop as my camera skills didn't pull them off; but it's such a lovely place to visit; large with lots of old wooden shelving and racks and just so much paper of every description. Their shop in Mayfair is smaller, but its an unexpected treat to come across it in the midst of the surrounding restaurants and bars.}