I took inspiration from "small batch whiskey" and other ways "small batch" is used to describe a limited series of products that are all made according to the same methods, materials, and process. While each book is fully made by hand, meaning that no two books will be exactly alike, the fundamental making method, materials, and process are all the same - a "batch."

There will be a limited number of books per batch. Once the full batch is sold, new designs and materials will be used for future collections. Check back for new drops and launches, or sign up for email notifications.

Chrysanthemum tea is a caffeine-free herbal tea made with dried chrysanthemum flowers. The type of chrysanthemum used for tea is a specific species of the flowers more commonly known as "mums" - Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum. Both species are still commonly cultivated in my mom's home country of Taiwan, where they thrive in the humid mountains.

While the recommended brewing method is steeping 2 oz of dried chrysanthemum flowers in 3 cups of boiling hot water, in typical Asian-recipe fashion, it's whatever measurements feel right to you. Chrysanthemum tea is naturally a light flavor, but feel free to adjust the strength to your personal preferences with more or less water. Sweetening chrysanthemum tea with a little honey is also one of my favorite ways of drinking it!

Woks of Life has some great history and a "recipe" for brewing chrysanthemum tea.

*Included with each purchase is a 2 oz pouch of loose dried chrysanthemum flowers. It does not require a tea bag, but you're welcome to use one for easy clean up! Please note that the pouch that holds the chrysanthemum tea is not designed to be used as a tea bag.

To see paper references and different pens, pencils, and watercolor swatches, click here.

For "writing" journals, I use Neenah Classic Crest 120 gsm/80 lb text in "Natural White." It's a very smooth paper that has a wonderfully fluid feel, though I've found that gel pens, inks, and watercolor tend to take a bit longer to absorb into the pages.

For "sketch journals," I use Neenah Classic Stipple Finish 120 gsm/80 lb text in "Bright White." This paper has a texture and toothiness, allowing pencils, in particular, to have a satisfying scratchiness. Pens and inks can skip a bit on this paper.

For "watercolor journals," I use Strathmore Series 400 Cold Press, 300 gsm / 140 lb. While not 100% cotton, I've found it to be strong enough to hold quite a bit of water, though it does have a warping/buckling point. It folds more easily than other watercolor paper types, which makes it ideal for watercolor journals. In full transparency, I'm not convinced about this as the best paper for watercolor journals and will probably experiment with different papers, but I'll update the product listing when I do!

Coptic stitch binding is one of the oldest methods to bind books and manuscripts, originating with the Copts, early Christians in Egypt. It uses an exposed chain link to connect signatures (folded sections of paper). This allows the book to lie completely flat. For me, it felt like the perfect starting stitch to launch a cup, a page with - a pure and beautiful form of bookbinding!

For a little bit more of history, one of the earliest surviving sketchbooks found in Egypt is a watercolor of a hare and a lion, and was suspected to be bound using a Coptic stitch. It's part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art collection - though sadly not currently on display.

We have plans this year to join craft fairs and markets around New York and the immediate area. Check back to see an updated list, or sign up to receive email notifications.

After an order is placed, processing time takes about 1-2 weeks. When the item is shipped, you'll receive a tracking number.

Due to the unique nature of each item, returns are not currently accepted. However, please always feel free to reach out if you experience any issues or problems - I will try to make it right!