Full of Possibility

New paper, fresh starts, and the joy of small discoveries

Hello friends,

Some weeks feel like they rush by in a blur, don’t they? But then I look back and notice all the little moments tucked inside—conversations, experiments, books, and unexpected sparks of inspiration. I love when the days feel layered like that.

This week I had the chance to meet the new freshman students at Oberlin College as they begin their school year. Their energy was contagious. Around the same time, I made 48 sheets of handmade paper using a cotton and abaca blend. Each one came out slightly different—textured, fibrous, and full of possibility. Now the real question is: what should I do with them? Art? Prints? Mini booklets?

I’ve also been keeping up with my book cover paintings. Here’s a snapshot of the most recent ones—24, 34, 35, 36, and 39. I’m a bit behind with the painting because I just finished reading book 57. Out of all of them, Broken Country really stayed with me. It was the August pick for the Books Are My People club with

Jennifer Caloyeras

, and I enjoyed it so much that I’m already looking forward to reading more by this author.

Another book that came into my week in a surprising way was Being and Nothingness. My daughter started reading my old copy—the one I bought used back in 1996. It’s filled with layers of margin notes from readers before me, and this week, while flipping through, I even found an old to-do list I’d left behind as a makeshift bookmark. Do you ever stumble across those little time capsules in your books?

I also visited the Sculpture Center, where Patricia Brett’s exhibition completely drew me in. All of her pieces were made of paper—much of it created at The Morgan—and transformed into forms that were both personal and inventive. It’s remarkable how paper, so familiar and ordinary, can hold such emotion and power when reimagined.

On a smaller scale, I’ve been reimagining paper, too. I created a new postcard recently, “To See To Be Seen,” and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. There’s something so grounding about sending a physical card into the world, knowing it will land in someone’s hands.

And then, in the studio, my first resident artist, Katarzyna Łyszkowska, is wrapping up her residency this week. Together we’ve learned how to make pulp and paper, and I’ve had the privilege of watching her stretch her practice in surprising ways. It’s been a rollercoaster, yes, but also a gift. She’ll be sharing more in her artist talk this Thursday at 12:15 pm (EST)—I’ll include the Facebook Live link here.

And now September is here. What does this month bring for you? To me, it feels full of possibility. Both of my kids just started college last week, and we had the joy of buying notebooks, pens, and pencils—a ritual I secretly love. The weather has shifted, too. We pulled out our sweaters, and the crispness in the air feels so invigorating.

As I look back on this week—full of books, paper, art, and small discoveries—I’m reminded how much joy comes from paying attention to the details. September feels like it’s asking us to notice those layers, to find possibility in both the new and the familiar.

What’s sparking your curiosity right now? What little rituals, projects, or surprises are carrying you into this new season?