The Stationers Guild

One of the truly remarkable features of fine stationery is the craftsmanship and number of times that fine paper is touched by hand to produce the elegant stationery and invitations that grace important social events. Nowhere is this better exemplified than the craft of hand-bordering.

This year at the National Stationery Show, Crane & Co. will be proudly exhibiting this beautiful craft as Deb Larkin and Sally Rice will demonstrate their hand-bordering technique. I know from past experience visiting Crane’s facilities in Dalton, MA that this is a must-see exhibit and will likely be the signature highlight of the Show. This exhibit will run at the Crane booth from Sunday to Tuesday (May 16th through May 18th). Found below is a short video prepared by Crane historian, Peter Hopkins, demonstrating this beautiful art.

I encourage all stationers and buyers to visit the Crane & Co. booth and revel in this beautiful art form that is gradually being displaced by shoddy digital reproduction and full-bleed digital printing. See and feel the difference of real craftsmanship on 100% cotton paper.  It is well worth noting that Crane & Co. has been recycling for over 200 years.

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

I was recently at a cocktail party exchanging the usual banalities when a young woman (early thirties) asked me what I did? I told her that my wife and I owned a stationery store in Greenwich. Perhaps feeling sorry for me, she enthusiastically responded that “some of best friends use stationery.” Helping her to feel more comfortable with her obvious embarrassment, I explained that I had arthritic thumbs and couldn’t text all that well and found that the occasional handwritten note on engraved stationery was a good way to stay in touch with friends.

Proving that all good samaritans now have an iPhone, my enthusiastic new “friend” promptly explained that “the iPhone has this new app (read application) which allows you to speak into the phone and it will automatically post your Tweet.  No need to struggle with your disability.  Doesn’t Apple think of everything?”   

Not one to miss out on continuing this informative conversation with Generation Y, I explained I had heard of Twitter, but “was looking for a more meaningful form of communication than 140 characters.”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” she responded. “It’s not what you say, but how often you say it.  It’s all about being connected with your friends.  Sending a note is cute and sentimental and all that . . . but imagine being able to chat with all your friends  instantaneously.”

Feigning ignorance, I remarked “I had never thought of it quite that way.  I suppose none of my friends really care to be that – oh, how shall I phrase it:  ”intimate?”  Doesn’t it bother you to be on call 24/7 and what about privacy?

Not one to be deterred, “Twitter_Lady” quickly picked up on the privacy issue.  “It used to bother me until I learned how to create circles of friends and small groups on Twitter to share my thoughts.  I mean you don’t have to share everything with everybody, it is really pretty cool how you can be as open or as private as you need to be.”

“I find the subject very interesting. Perhaps I could drop you a note and you could let me know what I need to do to get connected on Twitter,”  I suggested.

“Oh, it’s not that difficult, just go to Twitter.com and set up an account,” she said.   Once you’ve got your Twitter name, just send me an email Tweet @jtpapertiger and I’ll add you to my followers.

To paraphrase the eighth Century poet Han-shan

“There was an old woman who lived east of me
She laughed at me for falling behind
I laughed at her for getting ahead
We laughed as though we would never stop
She from the East and I from the West.” 

Richard W. May
Thérèse Saint Clair