Write Santa a letter at our Snail Mail Social

This Saturday we are hosting a Snail Mail Social with our friends Annie Yu and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler. We'll have vintage typewriters, custom stationery and all sorts of embellishments to encourage you to get out from behind the computer screen and send a letter. 

Bring the kids and they can write a letter to Santa. We have arranged with calligraphy artist Sarah Hanna from whom you can purchase a beautiful, personalized, hand written Santa response that will be mailed to your home or available here for pick up at Arch!

We encourage you to RSVP via our Eventbrite page, or on the Facebook event page. Hope to see you Saturday!

UPDATE!
Otto received his "Santa" letter in the mail today. Absolutely gorgeous!

Sample Santa Letter. Available for purchase at the Snail Mail Social

 

  

What is YUPO Paper?

Try Yupo Paper!

YUPO Paper is now available at ARCH! YUPO is a 100% recyclable synthetic polypropylene paper that has endless uses. It is tear and stain resistant, has a slick, smooth surface and is waterproof! It is traditionally used as a watercolor paper by fine artists, but can be used for acrylic painting and oil pastel as well. YUPO is also a popular material for making banners and signage as well as an underwater notepad for scuba divers!

When used with watercolor, the water evaporates into the air rather than being absorbed into the paper, which produces a unique look. You can also produce interesting painting effects by laying down color on YUPO and wiping out areas. YUPO also never buckles, which eliminates the need for paper stretching and soaking!

For designers and architects, the heavier weights of YUPO can also be cut in a laser-cutter without showing burn marks! ARCH carries two sizes: 20"x26"in a #74 weight and 25"x38" in a #144 weight (great for laser-cutting). Also makes a great model building material as it resists tearing and is very flexible and easy to cut.

There are tons of uses for this paper for fine artists, designers, and printers. Come by and check it out in person at ARCH! 

The Holidays Have Arrived At ARCH!

 Holiday Cards and Gifts are Here!

The holiday season is fast approaching and to keep you on track with your shopping and correspondence, we have a full selection of holiday cards and gifts arriving daily! Come by ARCH and check out our gift section. We have the perfect choices for everyone in your life; artists, designers, children, adults and the young at heart!

ARCH is your one-stop shop for fantastically unique stocking stuffers that will make you the hit of the season! Toys, stationary, jewelry, frames, office supplies and much more! We also have a creative selection of gift wrapping supplies and ribbons to complete the perfect gift!

Not sure what gift to give? We have Gift Certificates available for that person that has everything! They are available in any denomination and make an easy and desired gift for just about anyone. Let ARCH make your holiday shopping and letter writing just a little bit easier!

Dia De Los Muertos Tissue Crafts!

Celebrate Day of The Dead on November 1st and 2nd by making these festive, inexpensive and easy tissue paper decorations. They are also great for all times of the year; parties, home decor, etc.

Paper flowers in the shape of Marigolds or Cempasuchil are traditionally used on Dia De Los Muertos to decorate altars and tombs. You can make these beautiful flowers in just a few minutes, with just a few cents. Here is a great video from Happy Thought on how to easily create a beautiful bouquet!

Another paper craft that can be accomplished with all levels of skill is Papel Picado, or"punched paper" flag banners. They can be made easily with tissue and scissors or made into elaborate designs with a sharp x-acto knife or other cutting tool. They are then strung onto a piece of string and are hung up in portals in the home or across narrow streets or alleyways. Here's how to create a very easy design for your Dia De Los Muertos celebration also brought to you by Happy Thought!




Come by ARCH and get all the supplies you'll need to create your own unique Dia De Los Muertos tissue crafts! If you want to add your own personal touch, you can create your own cutting template for your papel picado or you can dip the tips of your flowers in a bit of elmer's glue and dip in glitter to add some sparkle!

Happy Halloween From ARCH!

 Happy Halloween From ARCH!

ARCH has a huge selection of Halloween-related curios and gifts and tons of materials you might need to create your own Halloween decorations and costumes. Come by and ask an Archie for help finding everything you need to make your Halloween gathering look great. We have tons of colored papers, glitters, paints and other crafty materials.

Graciano used all materials from our store to create this festive window of masks for our storefront! We carry Canson Paper and Cardstock in large and letter size sheets, as well as shiny silver mylar (great for creating false haunted house mirrors)! We carry lots of craft paints and cutting tools to create these intricate designs with ease.

Attending the Dia De Los Muertos Procession in the Mission this year? We have these great papier-mache' skulls to decorate as well as Snazaroo Face Paints to create your own unique look for the parade. Come by ARCH and see all of our great Halloween gifts and supplies and make your holiday the spookiest yet!

Tiffany Bozic "Drawn By Instinct" Now Available at ARCH!

 Drawn By Instinct

This beautiful monograph of Bay Area artist Tiffany Bozic is now available at ARCH! The images are stunningly beautiful and meticulously crafted. This book would make a great gift for anyone with a love for the natural world!

 Tiffany Bozic

Tiffany Bozic is a self-taught artist currently living and working in San Francisco, California. Bozic has spent the majority of her life living with and observing the intricacies of nature. Her wide array of subjects are inspired both from her extensive travels to wild places, and the research specimens at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California. Bozic has spoken at international events such as the 2007 Semi Permanent International Arts and Design Conference in Sydney, Australia. Bozic was also the first Artist in Residency at the California Academy of Sciences, where she created the "From the Depths" exhibit on the public floor of the museum in November of 2007.

www.tiffanybozic.net

Ginko Press, publisher of the book says of Bozic:

As a result of her rural upbringing in Arkansas, Tiffany Bozic inherited a closeness to the natural world, a lifelong imprint that informs her work. Her patron saints, John James Audubon and Ernst Haeckel, provide the artistic inspiration and painstaking attention to details of morphology — whether real, or imagined.
There are fascinating discoveries to be made in her work, from new species of nudibranchs to unexpected life forms that blur the lines of flora and fauna. We also discern flashpoints through unlikely pairings, perceptions of danger in tranquil settings — a commentary on the fragility of life? Whatever the intent, there is a mesmerizing dialogue at work, encompassing both inner and outer worlds.
Questions are posed and meticulously explored, and perhaps in the process, we get a little closer to the answers. Take a glimpse into hidden worlds where the mysteries of life still abound!

2013 Calendars and Planners Are Here!

2013 Studio Hinrichs Typography Calendars 

The ever-popular Studio Hinrichs 2013 Typography Calendars are here at ARCH! Features 12 different typefaces by legends in graphic design and makes a great gift for the designer in your life! We offer it in two sizes; 12"x18" for $26.00 and 2'x3' for $44.00. 

2013 Stendig Calendars

This vintage calendar from the 1960's is still as popular as ever! Makes a great gift for the design-minded and makes a statement in any corporate environment or stylish home! Stendig Calendars sell for $40.00 and are 3'x4' wide.

2013 MOLESKINE Planners

Keep up with your busy school schedule, meetings, and hot dates with a MOLESKINE planner. ARCH has 18 Month Planners and Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Planners in hardcover and softcover styles. Planners start at just $14.95!

Come in and check out our selection of planners, calendars, and more here at ARCH!