OUR STORY
THE OWNER
Crystal has lived in Vancouver, WA since 2010 with her husband Michael, their kids Aden & Helen, and their dog, Coava. Made for cultivating beauty and helping people experience joy through her intentional presence and creative expression, she hopes that you feel inspired and welcome when stepping into the shop. Write on!
THE NAME
Pronounced ur·in·jee·uhm, Eryngium is Crystal's favorite flower commonly known as Sea Holly. This ornamental perennial is cherished for its thistle-like appearance, and makes for a striking element in floral arrangements and gardens and stationery designs. Paper prints and types of this botanical beauty are prized as far back as the early 18th Century and have inspired artists for centuries.
THE INSPIRATION
Peering into the windows of Third Elm & Press in Newport, R.I at the young age of 11, I began a life-long love affair with paper and all associated with it. At age 12, tucked into a corner of a Walden Books was the discovery of the Griffin and Sabine series, and from that extraordinary correspondence a creative light took hold. From Rhode Island, I made my way to a small College in the Rocky Mountains, basked in starry nights, hiked mountainsides and spent almost every afternoon in Macdonalds Papeterie in Estes park, CO. In 1999 the shop went up for sale and I was offered first ownership. I did not have the backing to accept, but it was clearly evident that I loved paper and was the Papeterie's #1 fan. In 2004, the wind brought me to the Pacific Northwest, where I scribbled letters on napkins, wrote long letters in dark pubs late at night, and found delight in a local haunt, Oblation Paper & Press.
Inspired by all these years of travel and meeting new people everywhere I go, I continue to find joy in writing ephemera: paper, inks, and wax stamps. Eryngium is now the realization of a lifelong dream of owning my own papeterie. The kindred community of letter writers, lovers of all things pen, ink, and paper, and those who deeply desire to connect through the written word are the wings to this dream. I am in awe of your passion and expression, and the beauty that unfolds when we share ourselves. I look forward to visiting with you in the shop. With gratitude, Write on!
​
- Crystal Humble Lary
