Welcome

Gallery Shibui was born out of a great love of Japanese Design. As a design student at the Rhode Island School of Design I pored over books of Japanese Architecture and Interior Details. I was enamored of the simplicity and elegance of Japanese design.

Later, practicing Interior Design in Boston, MA I found a store that carried Japanese handmade papers and I was hooked. I bought them because I loved them and would eventually incorporate them into a book or box or a wrapping for a very special gift. The love of these papers and Japanese design was only furthered by living in San Francisco for five years before moving to Raleigh. It was there that the the idea for my store started developing.

Three years later, I realized my dream and opened Gallery Shibui. For nearly three years we have offered not only beautiful handmade papers, but an unusual line of gifts, textiles, and workshops. In November of 2009 we closed the first store and moved the paper and book arts workshops to a new location. This move allows us to further pursue our love of beautiful paper as well as facilitating unique workshops in the book and paper arts.

I do hope you will come visit us and be as fascinated as I am with wonderful paper and the creative process involved in making books by hand.

Alice B. Southwick, Owner