A Menagerie of Materials 

Exploring Two Hands Paperie, where creativity and community intertwine

By Amanda McCracken  »  Photos by Charity Theiss

If an art museum crossed paths with a pirate’s treasure cove, it might feel like strolling through Two Hands Paperie. It’s where creatives come to be inspired, discover new materials and stock up on staples. From wax seal stamps and fine Indian cotton paper to origami kits, the finest calligraphy pens and vintage stamps, Two Hands Paperie is to creatives what a hardware store is to a handyman, an essential source.

In 1993, book binder Diana Phillips opened a tiny shop downtown Boulder on 8th street behind Lolita’s to repair and restore books.  She needed a name for her place in the phone book, so she aptly named her one-woman business, Two Hands Paperie. But when her friend approached her about selling the paper she imported from all over the world, Diana changed her business model to include selling others’ products too. The store grew so big she moved it to its current location on Pearl Street. 

A few years later, Mia Semingson moved to Boulder to attend grad school at CU in photography. The first time she came to the store was to gather supplies for a book making project. “I was so enchanted by this tiny little store. I had never been in anything like that before,” says Semingson. 

A few years later, while she was teaching classes at CU, she got a second job working at Two Hands where she apprenticed under Phillips as a bookbinder. Her involvement grew as did the store. At one point, Two Hands Paperie was in Denver, Broomfield and Santa Fe, but eventually those stores closed. In January 2010, Semingson and her husband Gerald Trainor bought the remaining store on Pearl when they learned that Phillips was going to close it. 

Semingson says one of the store’s goals has always been focused on building community and relationships with customers. One of the ways they do that is through classes. “Part of the store experience is sharing knowledge about different techniques and bringing people together. People seem really hungry for that.”

Classes range from book binding and visual journaling to watercolor collage and meditation drawing. Some classes are even free, but reservations go fast! When the pandemic caused the store to pivot to online classes, Two Hands developed new ways of teaching creativity and helping students to connect. Many of those classes still exist. Kits are sent to individuals, so they don’t have to go hunting for their own materials. 

Semingson also points out how these classes potentially benefit mental health.  Research has found that when people are working with their hands on a repetitive task (not trying to mentally problem solve), they are more likely to have breakthrough ideas. Hands-on physical activity is also associated with a decrease in depression. When you can produce results that you can see and touch, you feel more in control of and connected to your environment. 

Recently, Semingson recorded five courses in California through Creative Bug. These are on-demand courses, so once purchased, they can be rewatched. This helps the store reach a broader audience.

But, Semingson says, the store still caters to repeat local customers. Some folks, she says, have been taking classes every semester for 14 years.

One of Two Hands’ employees hosts a Traveler’s Notebook meetup. “She has developed some really strong friendships from people wanting to come and share their notebooks with each other,” says Semingson.

This sharing is what thrills Semingson. “They’ll come to buy materials and ask for some ideas on how to do something. They go home, make something and return excited to share it with us. What’s really important are those relationships that we can continue to develop,” she says.

Two Hands Paperie just celebrated its 30th year in business in Boulder—an accomplishment few stores on Pearl Street can boast. Perhaps it’s due to how it has invested in helping the community flourish.

Amanda Fan can attest to the store nurturing her own creative entrepreneurial spirit. She credits Two Hands with the start of her business, Boulder Colors, which makes its pigments and paints using locally grown plants and locally sourced food waste. 

“Before I met Mia, I was just a crafter with a side hobby, and after, I became a full-time small business owner. She provided a safe and welcoming environment for me to gain the confidence to do in-person events,” says Fan. There, she made her first wholesale order. Within two months of that first event, she had quit her job to pursue paint-making full-time. “I haven’t looked back since. I am forever grateful Mia took a chance on me.”

To learn more about Two Hands Paperie, visit twohandspaperie.com.