If you walk past the Frippery by Rose booth on a Saturday Market, you’ll not only see beautifully crafted one-of-a-kind notebooks and greeting cards, but you’ll meet a vendor with a story as unique as her products.

Rose Crawford, owner of Frippery by Rose, is a paper crafter and Oklahoma native. Her superpower is taking two-dimensional objects, or things she sees on a screen, and creating them in 3-D … a power that came in handy when she joined the U.S. Navy after 9/11.

Growing up with a love of aviation in a landlocked state, she told her Navy recruiter that she wanted to work on airplanes and she wanted to be at sea, despite never having seen the ocean. Her first time ever flying was to boot camp, and she first saw the ocean when stationed in San Diego, Calif.

“People would say, ‘You’ve never seen the ocean? Why did you join the Navy?’ And I was like, ‘Well, how else am I ever going to see it?’” Crawford said.

While still in service to the Navy in 2016, she discovered paper crafting on YouTube. What started as background noise quickly became a hobby as she put her ability to transform 2-D objects into 3-D to use.

“I watched this one YouTuber, LyricLover, create greeting cards. It made me wonder what else I can do with paper,” she said.

Crawford then started experimenting with composition notebooks. After several redesigns, she came up with the perfect iteration. Each notebook is made from a combination of chipboard and paper with handcrafted spines that flatten when open.

Construction of the notebook on average takes about four hours.

Crawford decided to turn her hobby into a business while still in the service, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When you make a lot of things the things start piling up. I have more greeting cards and notebooks than I could ever use, plus crafting supplies are expensive,” Crawford said. “I realized if I sold them successfully, then I can pay for craft supplies, support my habit with my habit.”

Then during the initial stages of lock-down, Crawford found herself with even more downtime to craft. Coordinating with her command, she worked on projects repurposing old Navy uniforms.

Since Navy uniforms aren’t chemically treated in the same process as other military clothing, she was able to safely sew them into masks for essential onsite personnel and workers.

After retiring from the Navy last year, Crawford decided to take the next step with her business by applying at farmers markets to sell in person.

As for the company name, Crawford explained, “I was chatting with a friend about what I should name my business. He said, ‘You like old words, right? What about frippery?’ And I said, ‘Oh I love that word!’”

Frippery is an old word meaning finery or embellishment. In turn, each of Crawford’s notebooks is unique and one-of-a-kind.

Crawford never repeats paper combinations. The decorative paper covers are also often second-hand and local.

“That’s the scary thing about repurposed paper; I only have one sheet to work with,” she said.

In addition to using sustainable sourcing practices, each notebook is also refillable to lengthen its lifespan.

Crawford said her customers often use them as journals or as a place to store daily reminders.

If journaling isn’t your thing, Frippery by Rose also offers a lovely selection of greeting cards and even the occasional scrapbook. Email Crawford at rose@fripperybyrose.com to place a custom order or receive her expert opinion on caring for your Frippery by Rose notebook.

Rose expressed that she was pleasantly surprised and excited she’s been welcomed so readily into the farmers market community.

“Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market is a super fun and happy atmosphere,” Crawford said, adding with a chuckle, “You can’t beat it, not even with a stick.

Bailey Loveless is the market director of the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market / A closer look at a beautiful Alice in Wonderland-themed scrapbook by Frippery by Rose’ Rose Crawford . This was repurposed from a children’s book.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market / A closer look at a beautiful Alice in Wonderland-themed scrapbook by Frippery by Rose’ Rose Crawford . This was repurposed from a children’s book.

The notebooks at Frippery by Rose’s booth are all unique and one-of-a-kind.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market / A display of colorful, handcrafted greeting cards by Frippery By Rose.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market / A close-up of a custom crafted Alice in Wonderland-themed notebook. The notebooks, made from paper and chipboard, each take about four hours to craft. The latch is fastened with brads.