Blue French Pinwheel Mini Letterpress Notebook Papillon Press

Mini notebooks are great for book clubs, lists, meeting notes, and anything else your heart desires. 

Measures: 5×4 inches 
Paper: 70# text
Interior Pages: Blank

This design originates in 18th Century France. Designs like this were called Papier Dominote. France was an active producer of these patterned papers, which were used as end sheets in books, coverings for books, and wallpaper. These papers would be printed one at a time on a hand press on hand carved wooden blocks. The block would have been inked with a thin paste-based ink, the paper laid on top, and the pressure applied would be from a barren or a muller. Our block printed papers use archival oil-based inks, and are placed in a press. Essentially the process is the same, with a few alterations. 

We use Neenah Cotton for our block printed designs, and interior sheets are from French Paper Co. – a Michigan-based paper company! Notebooks are block printed and labels are hand-stamped in house. 

Handcrafted in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Papillon Press is Madeleine and Vernon Wiering, a daughter and father design team, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For those wondering, Papillon is French for “butterfly” and is pronounced “pa•pē•yon”.  We call ourselves “design archaeologists”, who dig through the past to find designs and decorated papers and resurrect them by reproducing and reimagining these often hidden examples of beauty. We then make them available as decorative paper and derivative products.