Putting Everything in Ordning

Once upon a time (thirty years ago or a little more,) in a land far, far away (Stockholm) there was a little bookbinder who made beautiful hand-covered notebooks. These notebooks were undoubtedly the fairest in the land. So many suitors did they inspire that in 1982 the little bookbinder opened a shop just to showcase these notebooks and the photo albums and binders they had begun to make to keep the notebooks company through the long Swedish winters. And they caled it Ordning&Reda (All in order.)

Word of these wonders spread all over the land and to other lands and more stores were opened to proclaim the beauty (and functionality) of these products until there were over 50 stores in 15 countries. Then in Barcelona, Ordning met Carmen (Mamen to her friends). She’d studied law and worked in accounting but always knew that one day her prince would come in the form of a business all of her own.

She took the franchise over from the original owner about a year after it opened (she had been the Cinderella working there when the owner decided it wasn’t her cup of tea after all.) Although it took her a little while to get the hang of being the boss now her super staff and the service they give are proof that her days as an apprentice businesswoman are over and Mamen and her partner (who takes care of press and pr,) are looking for a new space – why shouldn’t they, they’ve increased sales every month since they opened. Now that’s something!

And that must be because no one can resist the charms of the hand-bound notebooks (their technique comes from their book-binding days, using separatas of 5 sheets and linen thread to make resistant and lovely to use,) hand-covered binders and albums, the gorgeous displays – the colors make it look like a candy shop for stationary addicts. And the cards with beautiful drawings that remind us of some other Nordic design masters. All of this, and the pencil cases, cell-phone holders and bags make you want to put your life in order for once and for all!

Ordning&Reda
Via Augusta, 40
08006 Barcelona
Tel 93 217 2558
http://www.ordningbarcelona.com/

Post it

Everyone from the Der Speigel to AlterNet to the New York Times is talking about Barcelona, because it’s cool, it’s green or it’s the new Paris (the city, obviously.) So if you’re here on a visit you’ll want to make sure to let all your friends know. Send a postcard. Yes, they do still exist.

And if you live here why not do something really unexpected and send something through the mail to your friends. To channel Diana Vreeland, why don’t you … use postcards as thank you notes for dinners, weekends away, etc. Could win you big points and get you invited back – I got a call saying I was the nicest person in Barcelona for doing that and that was quite a boost to my day.

Best postcards – of course you can go for the scenic views and raunchy jokes from the newstands on the Ramblas, or you can be a little creative.

The old school scallopped edged post cards from Urbarna (http://www.urbarna.com/) give you the chance to celebrate the 30th anniverasry of the I (Heart) NY logo with their postcard showing a guy with sticky fingers and a stain on his I (Heart) BCN tee. Plus lots of other fun and unexpected looks at the city. (And Palma and Sitges if you happen to be there.)


Look for them at:
D’Athe Shop - Pza Regomir 5 tel 93 317 8008
The newstand in front of the Café Zurich


The stencil-look postcards from Inkworks (http://www.inkworks.info/ ) help you get your message across without mincing words. Thanks 1.000.000, or Let’s Dance help get the conversation started.



Look for them at:
D’Athe Shop (see above)
Caixa Fòrum museum store - Avda. Marqués de Comillas 6-8 tel 93 476 86 00