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 Lotka
Paper, read the story behind what PawPrints greeting cards are printed on...
Lotka paper is acid-free and tree-free, (the lotka bush completely
regenerates after harvesting), thus making it a very ecologically
sound product. It is made today just as it was a thousand years ago,
by hand in the mountains of Nepal using the inner bark of the lotka
bush. Lotka is one of the strongest paper fibers, and since new
growth regenerates quickly it provides a renewable resource for the
artisans who depend on the fragile ecosystem of Nepal for their
livelihoods.
PawPrints' supplier is a small company located in the southern
portion of NH. The owner acquired his company in the late 90's for
both
financial and emotional reasons; they had a strong desire to help
the people of Nepal. Their paper is made in rural, mountainous
villages with no electricity. The paper has to travel for 5 days and
5 nights, on the backs of donkeys, to reach the nearest passable
road. From this point it travels to Kathmandu, where their finished
products are made.
The tradition of Lotka paper making is old and done in all Himalayan
countries; it has always been an important activity in rural Nepal.
Spread throughout the high hill region, papermaking represents a
great source of revenue for the hill tribes. PawPrints’ supplier
does not exploit their laborers, but instead practices fair trade
ensuring the product they use
continues to provide a good income for the 100 families it supports.
One of the sure ways you can tell PawPrints is on handmade paper, is
occasionally you will get one where the image is slightly off. This
is from the paper being cut slightly uneven. I could easily correct
this, but it is this charm that makes each card unique. PawPrints is
proud to use Lotka paper as its primary paper source for its
greeting card line, and thus add
to the success of families in a less privileged part of the world.
May you enjoy sending them as much as I have had creating them! |
Artist Statement
of
Chris Matthews,
Creator of PawPrints by Chris Matthews
Two very old sayings have a great impact on my life
and my work. The first is, "that which doesn't kill us makes us
stronger", and the second is "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
When Friedrich Nietzsche made his statement at the turn of the 20th
Century and the Greeks in the 3rd Century B.C. uttered theirs, you
wonder if they knew the impact such a few words would conjure in the
minds of so many people years later. Whether an artist admits it or
not, this is what we all hope deep down; that our work will cause a
profound impact in someone's life for just a moment. I am no
different. My goal is as you look at my work; you stop if even for
just for a moment, and go back to a memory which is sweet and
lasting. I want you to take a deep breath, step out of your hectic
life and just relax; hopefully, renewing your mind and spirit again.
My medium is photography, which occasionally has free verse poetry
either I or others have written. My images can sometimes take the
form of partial black and white for contrast, or they can be full
color. The goal is to create an image to soothe the soul, so to
speak. The name PawPrints comes from our black lab, Bosco. I sat
watching him one day and was fascinated by his alertness and
absorption of everything around him. He was truly in the moment, so
the name PawPrints seemed appropriate. The goal of PawPrints is to
grab your attention and have you completely absorbed in the image
and to "be in the moment".
I hope you enjoy my work as much as I have enjoyed creating it. I
hope as you look at it from day to day; you just sit back, take a
deep breath, and say ahhhhh, even if just for a moment. If you can
do that, then I have accomplished my goal; to bring a
little peace, tranquility and nostalgia for a
simpler time into an otherwise hectic day.
A portion of the profits of all PawPrints items goes to children’s
charities. |
