The Stationers Guild

This is the last week for Crane’s summer stationery sale where you can receive 25 FREE personalized stationery notes or sheets if you order 75 or more.  This great summer promotion makes you want to get off the beach and visit a Crane dealer in your neighborhood.   This great promotional offer is available at Crane dealers across the United States or at Crane online.

We’ve always had a love for cotton paper and striking designs and styles. I still think of how delighted I was by the engraved seal of a European royal family that appeared to float just above their menu card. My enthusiasm hasn’t diminished over these many years and I am fortunate enough to have a stationery store and can indulge my obsession.

There is certainly something special and personal about finding the time to send a hand-written note to a relative or good friend. I prefer to use a half-note with my engraved monogram while my spouse prefers the correspondence card with his name engraved near the top edge. We each enjoy the advantage of switching our stationery every few years whenever we get tired with the colors or a particular envelope lining. As such, we were fired up to receive a new Personal Stationery Album from Crane.

For over two hundred years Crane & Co. has set the standard for custom-made stationery and personalized announcements. In June, Crane released its brand new Personal Stationery album that contains everything a consumer needs to have for communicating in style: half-notes, correspondence cards, calling cards, pocket jotter cards and note pads. Crane has rejuvenated many of its vintage stationery choices along with including a number of completely new contemporary designs that are without doubt very likely to appeal to stationery lovers.

Crane’s Personal Stationery album contains a new page layout featuring a comprehensive stationery wardrobe for both business and social stationery. Its easy product presentation shows quite a few color and paper-size alternatives as well as attributes call-outs highlighting premium capabilities, artistry, etiquette and design suggestions.

The latest stationery album also is designed with a useful summary of Crane’s premium papers, double hand-bordered cards, engraving and monograms. There are some 80 envelope liner alternatives to pick from in addition to Crane’s proprietary fonts and motifs. Simply speaking, it is a virtuoso showcase of Crane’s rich traditions for making sophisticated stationery.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Now through August 2nd, received 25 FREE thank you notes or personalized stationery from Crane when you order 75 or more.  This great summer promotional offer is available at Crane dealers in the United States or at Crane online.   We recommend shopping locally at your local stationery store to see Crane’s great new designs and customization options.

I’ve always had a love for cotton paper and eye-catching patterns. I still recall how stimulated I was by the engraved crest of a European family that appeared to float on a correspondence card. My ardor has not yet diminished through these years and I’m fortunate to own a stationery store and can indulge my interest.

You will discover something very special and completely unique about making the effort to send a hand-written note to a loved one or close friend. I opt to make use of a half-note with my personalized monogram while my husband prefers the correspondence card with his name engraved across the top edge. We each enjoy the luxury of switching our stationery every couple of years whenever we get tired of the color styles or a particular envelope liner. As such, we were excited to take delivery of the newest Personal Stationery Album from Crane.

For more than two hundred years Crane & Co. has elevated the bar for personalized stationery and custom invitations. In June, Crane launched its latest Personal Stationery album that contains almost everything a customer really needs for communicating in style: foldover notes, correspondence cards, thank you notes, jotter cards and note pads. Crane has rejuvenated many of its vintage stationery styles and designs as well as incorporating a number of fresh modern designs which are certainly very likely to catch the attention of stationery lovers.

Crane’s Personal Stationery album contains a brand new page layout displaying a comprehensive stationery wardrobe for both business and social stationery. Its straightforward product presentation shows many color selection and paper-size options as well as features call-outs highlighting premium features, craftsmanship, etiquette and design ideas.

The latest stationery album also provides a helpful summary of Crane’s premium papers, double hand-bordered cards, engraving and monograms. There are approximately 80 envelope lining alternatives to pick from in addition to Crane’s proprietary fonts and motifs. In short, this is a virtuoso showcase of Crane’s rich traditions in making exceptional stationery.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Maybe it’s time to consider getting off of the beach for a few minutes and visit a stationery store in your neighborhood to see Crane’s great summer stationery promotion.  Until August 2nd, you receive 25 FREE thank you notes or custom stationery for every order of 75 or more.    This promotion is available at Crane dealers throughout the United States or at Crane Online.

I’ve always had a love for fine paper and innovative styles. I still recall how stimulated I was by the engraved seal of a European royal family that seemed to float on a business card. My interest has not declined during these years and I’m fortunate to own a stationery retail store and can enjoy my interest.

You will discover something very special and unique about taking a few minutes to mail a hand-written note to a relative or friend. I opt to use a foldover note with my engraved monogram while my husband enjoys the correspondence card with his name engraved along the top edge. My spouse and I have the benefit of updating our stationery every few years after we get tired of the designs or a particular envelope liner. As such, we were thrilled to receive the fresh new Personal Stationery Album from Crane.

For more than two centuries Crane & Co. has set the standard for customized stationery and personalized invitations. In June, Crane unveiled its brand-new Personal Stationery album which includes most everything a consumer needs to have for communicating in style: half-notes, correspondence cards, thank you notes, pocket jotter cards and note pads. Crane has refreshed many of its vintage stationery choices as well as introducing several brand new contemporary designs that are undoubtedly likely to capture the fancy of stationery addicts.

Crane’s Personal Stationery album contains a brand new page layout featuring an extensive stationery collection for both business and social stationery. Its straightforward product presentation depicts quite a few color selection and paper-size options in addition to attributes call-outs accentuating advanced capabilities, artistry, etiquette and design tips.

The new stationery album also is designed with a practical guide to Crane’s premium cotton papers, double hand-bordered cards, engraving and monograms. There are some 80 envelope lining options to choose from in addition to Crane’s proprietary fonts and motifs. In a nutshell, this is a virtuoso display of Crane’s rich traditions in making exceptional stationery.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

A question we are frequently asked as stationers is whether it is appropriate to use the monogram of the bridal couple on their wedding invitation.  The simple and correct answer is “No!”   I realize that there are many wedding invitations that now use monograms, but it is not proper etiquette and, if you will bear with me, doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Simply stated, “It is not appropriate to use your ‘married name’ monogram, because the couple is not actually married at the time the wedding invitation is sent.”  Some self-appointed “do your own thing” wedding consultants may disagree, but common sense dictates otherwise.   Others feel that it is bad “Juju” and that one may jinx the wedding by anticipating the ceremony that has not yet been officially recognized by either civil or religious authorities.

To most experienced stationers, it is pretty straight-forward, so imagine our surprise when we saw a beautifully engraved monogram on a Crane wedding invitation in their recently released new Wedding Invitations Album.  We assumed that there was a “boo-boo” since the monogram initials did not seem to have anything in common with the names of the wedding couple.

After some forensic science, namely reading the fine print,  we discovered that the beautiful engraged monogram was the monogram of the mother of the bride!  In a note citing Crane’s Blue Book (the reference source of choice for wedding invitation wording and etiquette), Crane states that “As the social hostess for the family, the bride’s mother’s monogram is traditionally printed on the invitation.”  Now, this is news to me, but I will conduct further research to determine the origins of this custom.

In all fairness, I think that the mother’s beautiful monogram overshadows the importance of her daughter’s wedding.  Common sense suggests that it might be more appropriate to let the attention fall on the bridal couple.  Found below is some beautiful engraved stationery for the bride:

Regardless of the wedding etiquette in play here, I think we can all agree that Crane surpasses itself with the quality of its engraved stationery and invitations.  That being said, I would recommend that bridal couples avoid using the monogram of the bride’s mother despite some precedent for this tradition. 

Richard W. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

I realize it has been a long winter, but the cold and snowy months of January and February are months for reflection and catching up on correspondence.  This thought came to me while Sheila and I were relaxing and catching a few “rays” between snow storms.

While most of our neighbors spend the winter in Florida, a few hearty (read “foolish”) souls grit it out in the northeast.  We are often so worn out by the holiday season, that we don’t get a chance to read Christmas cards and holiday greetings until early January.   For me, there are few things better than sitting down in front of a roaring fire and leisurely work through a mountain of cards from friends and family. 

“Catching up with the Jones family” may seem rather banal in today’s digital society, but I have found that reading a short note or the occasional letter to be a comfortable and reassuring form of communication.  Other than using exclamation points and the occasional hashtag or asterick, I have found it difficult to express feelings or context in a 140 character text message.  

As I read through the letters, I am often prompted to pick up my pen and dash off a short note congratulating new grandparents on the birth of their first granddaughter or offering sympathy to a friend who had lost a loved one during the previous year.   Frankly, there is something intimate and civil about using a handwritten note for those occasions.

Fortunately, many fine paper companies offer stationery promotions during January and February.  I still believe that Crane’s free die promotion is one of the best sales events of the season.  Simply order 100 personalized notes and cards and receive  free name and address dies (a $96 value).  Similary, William Arthur and Vera Wang will provide you with 25 free pieces of stationery with any order or 75 or more.  Writing those handwritten notes has never been easier or less expensive.  So don’t let the winter get you down and “cut yourself some rope” by getting personal with personalized stationery.

So hang in there and get busy writing. It can be infectious.

Richard W. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

Last weekend, a woman walked into Thérèse Saint Clair looking for ecru sheets that matched the engraved, double hand-bordered sheets of her personalized stationery.   It isn’t often that you see engraved stationery of this quality and I commented on its elegance.  She explained that her husband had bought the stationery for her some years ago in London and that sadly all she had left were a few envelopes.

Her husband arrived shortly thereafter after parking the car in snow-challenged Greenwich and brought with him the matching envelope.  As I suspected, it was engraved stationery from Smythson of Bond Street.   In recent years, Smythson has been a playtoy for investment bankers, but was acquired last year by the Italian group Tivoli.    I tend to think of Smythson more for their leather products than their stationery, but Smythson craftsmanship and paper quality remains high.

Unfortunately, we were not able to match Smythson’s paper (color and size were a bit off), but I did suggest that Crane had some beautiful hand-bordered papers and could certainly match the color palatte of her existing stationery.  For those not familiar with hand-bordering, the video clip below shows Crane’s experienced and talented artisans demonstrating how card stock is hand-bordered.  This demo took place at the 2010 National Stationery Show:

In a world of flat-printed Photoshop cards, it is a breath of fresh air to see skilled artisans practice their trade and produced hand-bordered stationery of exquisite beauty. To see examples of Crane’s elegant stationery, visit a stationery store located in your neighborhood.

Richard W. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

I came across an interesting article in today’s New York Times by Sam Roberts with the intriguing title that “More Men Marrying Better Educated, Wealthier Wives.”   The gist of the article suggests that men who have sought marriage “from the standpoint of physical and mental well being”  now realize that a better-educated partner can also contribute to their “economic well-being.”   While this might be seen as a major evolutionary break-through in male maturity and self-realization,  the “alpha female” (The Knot’s characterization of the upwardly mobile female) is unlikely to compromise her rigorous approval standards.  One anonymous textile executive quoted in the article reportedly queries bar slugs and first dates with “Do you have a passport and a library card?”  Gosh, that will certainly weed out the field of eligible males rather quickly and so much for “Love at first sight!”

As I have no skin in the game (married to a far smarter woman and breadwinner -a fact which she reminds me of each day), I am free to offer this advice to men whose emotional IQ is higher than their testosterone level:  Buy engraved stationery and seek out a woman with an expensive pen.   I might add that Crane & Co. and William Arthur have sensational personalized stationery promotions going on right now, so you can buy in cheap and score big with a personalized note to the woman of your dreams who is currently involved in an unhealthy relationship with her Blackberry.   Can you imagine her reaction when she receives your hand-written note on engraved stationery?   Her Facebook “friends” and “Twits” on Twitter will simply fade into oblivion proving decisively that the pen is mightier than texting. 

If you need help selecting your stationery, please enter your Zip code or City and State in the Search Bar in the right hand corner to locate a qualified stationery store in your neighborhood.   If, however, you are looking for a woman with the “right”  fountain pen, might I suggest a limited edition Omas Château Lafite Rothschild fountain pen with a sterling silver nib which retails for $1,750.  I ordered the Chateau Lafitite pen for a woman as a birthday gift to the man of her dream’s whose passions were limited edition pens and French wine.  Apparently, his passions didn’t extend to the woman in question and I still have the Omas pen.  If your bride-to-be is looking for a pen to ink the relationship, tell her I have a great deal for her at Thérèse Saint Clair.

Chateau Lafite Fountain Pen

Richard May
Therese Saint Clair

Now through June 1, 2009, Crane & Co. will be offering customers who purchase 75 or more personalized invitations, announcements, or stationery, 25 additional pieces free of charge.  This promotion is good on all personalized purchases from any of the Crane customization albums. 

Personalized stationery is a great gift for graduations, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.  Contact an experienced Guild member store in your neighborhood and take advantage of this great promotional offer from Crane.

One of the most eagerly awaited events of the year is Crane & Co.’s signature die sale for personalized stationery.  Receive free custom engraving dies (a $96 value) or free thermography (a $58 value) on your envelopes when you purchase one hundred of Crane’s 100% cotton notes, cards or sheets plus envelopes.  This sale runs from January 3rd through February 17th.  Contact a Guild member store in your neighborhood to learn more about this exceptional sale.