Artisan Center -> 2757 East Third Avenue, Denver, CO 80206

ANOTHER profile in that special series dedicated to bringing our readers biased reviews of shops that carry our goods.

Okay, so I began my exhaustive research with the Yelp reviews. One phrase stood out, "This place hasn't been around for 30 years by sucking."

That should be their slogan.

Do you need soaps, jewelry, mobiles, salad bowls, stained glass, OUR CARDS, or a bird house made of a Minnesota license plate??

You do? After reading those reviews, I had to go check this place out for myself:

Those people are small. And blurry.

The customs official demanded we tell him our plans while in Toronto. I told him it was none of his business, and as I reached for the silver cigarette case in my coat pocket, I was wrestled to the ground. The tasers saved me a trip to the bathroom. 

Thank God my husband speaks Canadian or we'd still be in the interrogation room.

I should have told that official that my plans were to watch t.v. in my bathroom mirror while soaking in the tub. I think that's what I did? My head still hurts pretty bad from being banged on the terrazzo.

Like Dora the Explorer, I packed a map and a monkey in my backpack, finished my screwdriver, and headed out.

Using the handy Where To Buy page as a guide, I was able to track down three local stores that carry Zeichen Press goods. Needless to say, my reception was overwhelming - being hoisted up on shoulders and paraded down Queen Street was too much. Do you hear me, shopkeepers??

°°°

First shop: Outer Layer, a cheerful boutique. Full of fun and, dare I say, whimsy? No. I'll never say that again.

But how else could I describe a doll that is also a cheese grater?

Or the Ann Taintor magnet collection on the antique bank safe??

Or a manager named Jett Black???

°°°

On to Shop #2: Valhalla Cards & Gifts:

This shop felt like everything in it was curated by a man named Chadwick. Wait, it was! From the Dumpling Dynasty Bunny Kit:

To the Unicorn Wishes action figure:

This shop wouldn't let me leave - Chadwick finally had to throw me out. But not before he placed an order for more cards.

°°°

Okay, onto #3: The Paper Place:

Because paper is my bread & butter, I felt extra reverent crossing the threshold. As I knelt before the card rack, something inside me said, "hey! I wonder if this place has erasers shaped like peanuts."

And it did! I bought the whole bowl.

I hugged the sock zebra before I left. It was time to go. I knew this because I saw the policeman walking through the door.

Until we meet again, Toronto. Until we meet again.

Urban Indigo-> 3339 Lakeshore Avenue Oakland, CA

Another profile for the special series dedicated to bringing our readers biased reviews of shops that carry our goods.

This will come as quite a surprise to many (none) of you: But I'm not the seasoned traveler I appear to be. What?? I'm not the gal that climbs confidently into a cab, casually relates Gate Info to the driver while applying a super-coat of lipgloss and checking her voicemail messages.

But this doesn't stop Zeichen Press Goods from making their way around the globe! Thank God! 

I'm happy to say that Urban Indigo (Oakland, California)

has added our cards to their adorable shop. What can I say about a shop that I've never been to in a town I've never seen?? I'll think of something: Owner, Cynthia Bragdon, has amassed a collection of swoon-worthy gifts for any occasion - from mini-terrariums

to pewter wishbones:

I need those things!

But it's not a random collection of oddities, it's a random collection of affordable design.

...It's a gallery of useful art objects.

...It's in California!!

What are you waiting for??