I have returned from San Francisco with lots of paper goods (my favorite addiction), and found a gem of a store there:

Ever since I was little, writing instruments and surfaces proved irresistible to me.  My mother, a lawyer, was in charge of an office and, of course, its office supply closet was my favorite playground.  I looove folders and ‘things to put/organize things in’.  Consequently, The Container Store is a place best for me to avoid.

In comes Mai-Do .  I spotted this quaint store  from the other side of the Westfield gallery (by Union Square) and even though I had no idea what it was, I could smell trouble.

Here are some photos of the incredible selections of folders at Mai-Do (every color imaginable).

And did I mention the pens? Did I mention the …ehm…notebooks?

Everything in this store appears to be carefully handpicked and designed to be lethal to the incorregible paper addict (quoi? moi?).

I am beginning to think Stephen King’s ‘Precious Things’ was modeled after Mai-Do.

To wit below the spoils:

1. Thin Notebook by Apica. Made in Japan (of course!)

2. Origami Paper

3. Hi.Tec.C Pens 0.25 (a size next to impossible to find) and 0.3 by Pilot

4. Post-It holder by Sacchi

What a delicious place. A true feast for the eyes (and hands- of course I had to touch and open everything).

This store  reminded me of one of my favorit-est places in the world, Muji, and to never, ever–for any reason– go to Japan or Singapore:  death by paper surely awaits me there.  At the end of my visit I got a small Mai-Do card with four stamps, and, after it’s filled, it’s good for a discount at the store.  Something tells me I will be back.

I couldn't find my card, so the wonderful people at Maido sent me another.

Even the stamp are design well thought-out.