#magicpaper

RARE p.74

Collection particulière / Private collection

Almost two years ago, I started dreaming about what the cake business would become. I knew i wanted to tell a story – the story of the recipe, the story of all the people and the steps that have shaped my path. Though the first elements were created easily – the symbol i had been drawing for years since i was a child, the monogram of my name – it did take me a long time of introspection and analysis to discover the cake’s identity. And, because one cannot see very well from inside the box, i relied on my friends and community to validate what i had built.

The name – which turned out to be my husbands (and my) last name, a token of love that defines such a big part of who i am – was also the result of a collaborative session i held with my online community.  I trust those who surround me – i trust their feelings. 

When it came to packaging, i knew exactly what i wanted – natural unprocessed materials, hand crafted as often as possible to which i would add a personal note – whenever the textures, shapes and sizes allow me too. Because what i want to do is spread the magic, i like to put a little bit of soul in everything i do – i think this is what makes the difference. Basically, my signature is on everything that I build with my own hands.

So i found cardboard boxes fluidly shaped that i could personalize, labels that i could sign on and i made – with my own two hands – stamps with my symbol and monogram. By the time I arrived here, I had everything ready, all I had to do was to find local solutions for packaging. Of course, I encountered problems when looking for similar boxes. Most of the shops had the same square format and that was not a suitable option for me.

Most of the box producers in Montreal work on large volumes / orders, and those that do take smaller orders are quite expensive. I finally found a local supplier that can accommodate my needs, but ultimately, my plan is to produce the boxes locally in Montreal.

Then, I needed business cards and I wanted something special that I could make myself. I searched online to see what options I had, and then I started looking for local paper stores. Luckily, Montreal does have a few specialty paper stores, but when I found “Papier Japonais”, the feeling brought back childhood memories of my grandparent’s garden each spring when we used to pick flowers – each flower had its own color and personality and I felt as if it was telling me its story.

I bought a sheet of Japanese paper that was way older than i was. I got a few helpful tips / tricks on how to use the paper from the store’s owners – wonderful people by the way – and I went home and spent some time interacting with this fantastic product. 

I have learned to consider Japanese Paper as a reflection of human life and spirit from nature. It is very thin, translucent and delicate, yet it is durable and keeps its life for more than a thousand years. It is easy to work with, but I must choose the ink and paper carefully since most Japanese papers have a distinct personality and are quite permeable.

And so, with a personal touch, I brought my passion cards to life.