GET CARDED: SWEET VALENTINES

This Valentine's day, seal it with a kiss.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Strong
Well said, Mrs. John L. Strong.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Boddington
Sweet As Sugar from Mr. Boddington.
Photo courtesy of Dempsey and Carroll
Adorable. Dempsey and Carroll

Photo courtesy of Paperless Post
Is someone the star in your universe? Share this Starry Heart card by Enormous Champion on Paperless Post.
Photo courtesy of Dempsey and Carroll
Love Bug Notes, Dempsey and Carroll

Photo courtesy of Bell'Invito
Flamingo fabulous from Bell'Invito.
Photo courtesy of Smythson
Keepin' it real. This Smythson of Bond Street card with elegance and simplicity states the facts, just the facts.

Photo courtesy of Paperless Post
Cuteness. Foxy from Paperless Post.

Photo courtesy of Leta Austin Foster
Say Je T'aime with this darling Parisian birds card from Leta Austin Foster.

S.W.A.K.

MAKE IT HAPPEN IN 2012, WRITE IT DOWN!

Time, as they say, waits for no one. This is why it is best to make the most of every minute of the day, write everything down, and check things off your list as you go. Ha! Like that really happens. Maybe in a perfect world. Well, we can all kick off the New Year with a bang and try. Here are some calendars to help you make every minute count. Let me know how that works out for you.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Boddington
If you live to be Inspector Clouseau's American counterpart, perhaps Mr. Boddington's Criminels du Monde Calendar will help you to be a better sleuth.


Photo courtesy of Linda and Harriet

I can't help it, I just love what Linda and Harriet create, their letterpress papers are so creative and unique. Their new calendar is filled with patterned pages that do double duty as postcards!

Photo courtesy of Cavallini and Co
Horticulturalists will appreciate the lush blooms on Cavallini's Botanica Calendar. They capture a botanical bounty that will seem like a fresh bouquet every month. Through Calendars.com.

Photo courtesy of Kate Spade
What does the coming year hold for you? What's in the cards? Kate Spade's graphic wall calendar of punchy fashion and lifestyle shots will keep you in the red.

Photo courtesy of Connor Paper
With tentacles too numerous to count, this Connor hand - stamped golden Octopus Calendar will change color depending upon the season. The sheer amount of tentacles and the fact that you can see them all still has me awe-struck.

Photo courtesy of Dempsey and Carroll
Engraved gilded script lavishly enhances Dempsey and Carroll's desktop easel calendar. It adds a bit of formality and is a great gift for a work friend to use at the office.

Photo courtesy of Thornwillow Press Historic designs figure prominently in the Thornwillow Press version of the easel calendar. Their motifs are perfect for those that appreciate the past while moving forward.

Photo courtesy of The Printery
The Printery has engraved gold motifs from pagodas to fish and their easel is nickel.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Strong
You can't go wrong with a classic like this on your desk. Mrs. Strong's easel and calendar pages will keep you counting the days on posh papers with beautifully engraved motifs.

Photo courtesy of Paper Source

Hand blocked designs with old school charm like this happy octopus with school of fish make the Paper Source Art Grid Calendar a darling choice.

Photo courtesy of Snow and Graham
Snow and Graham's calendar has lots of space to write away, plus their flowery designs and bright colors are cheery.

GOOD ON PAPER: DEMPSEY AND CAROLL TAPS TEXTILE MAVEN MADELINE WEINRIB FOR A CAPSULE COLLECTION

Photo courtesy of Madeline Weinrib Studio Printworks
Allemande, her black and white wallpaper was created with Studio Printworks and inspired by a vintage French Brocade

Textile and rug designer Madeline Weinrib has been tapped by American stationer Dempsey & Carroll to do a limited edition writing paper collection. It follows on the heels of a wonderful John Derian collaboration. Madeline's designs are known for their exotic pattern play and painterly feel, and they translate well to envelope liners, adding a charming element of surprise. It is like wearing a great coat with a punchy patterned silk lining- a burst of color lurks inside. If you want to make them your own, personalization is available too- why not add your monogram in a bright contrasting color? Madeline spends much of her time traveling India and exotic lands, and one of the organizations she supports is Project Mala, a non-profit organization working to eliminate child labor in the Indian carpet industry. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these cards benefits Project Mala, so do good and write beautifully.

Photos courtesy of Dempsey and Carroll
Allemande, a pattern with a painterly flourish of over-sized damask florals is executed in graphic black and white. Ten black-bordered cards and ten lined envelopes come in each boxed set, including two of each of the five liners.

Isabelle is inspired by a block printed fabric print, one repeat is an all over and the other is a spaced pattern. I am a pink girl, so I love this one. Ten geranium-bordered cards and ten lined envelopes come in the boxed set, with five of each of the two liners.

Isabelle in blue and ecru has a crisp look to it. Whichever you fancy, the person you send it to will surely be in for a treat.

GOOD ON PAPER: DEMPSEY AND CARROLL TAPS JOHN DERIAN

Decoupage artist John Derian creates objects with charming old world designs and prints from his East Village shop that could work well on just about anything. He was asked to do a collection with stationer Dempsey and Carroll, and decided to go with the classics. His capsule collection follows those done with interior designer Celerie Kemble, event planner Bronson van Wyck, fashion designer Lela Rose and Schumacher fabrics. The Derian patterns are familiar to those that hoard his glass plates and paperweights, those that admire them from afar, and shoppers that frequent Target. Now they grace fine writing papers, making a statement in mail. I hope a wallpaper and fabric line are next....

A boxed set contains 10 cards and envelopes of the same pattern

Floral Maze

Maze

Water Lillies

Sea Urchin

Red Flower

SCHUMACHER TEAMS UP WITH DEMPSEY & CARROLL FOR PUNCHY PAPERS WITH PRINTS

Last year, Dempsey & Carroll called on fashion designer Lela Rose, event planner Bronson van Wyck and interior designer Celerie Kemble to come up with catchy designs for a limited edition collection. This spring, the limited-edition collaboration is with F. Schumacher, the American fabric house. Envelope liners burst with color from new patterns and make mailing a missive more meaningful.

Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon pattern in aquamarine graces the envelope liners. They come in a box of 10 cards.

The Imperial Trellis pattern comes in five colorways, offering a subdued or punchy option.

Chenonceau, a print with flowers and birds, jumps off the page with positive and negative space.

A GENEROUS OFFER FROM DEMPSEY AND CARROLL TO FORMER CLIENTS OF MRS. JOHN L. STRONG

Today I was contacted by Jonathan Arnold, the general manager of New York- based stationer, Dempsey and Carroll. He told me about a great program they are offering to former clients of Mrs. Strong. Many paperless people are turning to Dempsey and Carroll to fill their printing needs, and this generous offer makes it worth while.

A Special Offer for Former Clients of Mrs. John L. Strong:

Dempsey and Carroll products are handcrafted in the traditional manner -- from the hand-bordered cards to the individually lined envelopes we offer. All of our products reflect our true commitment to quality.

If you need to replenish your supply of writing papers, we would be happy to help. We can use your existing engraving dies or plates if you have them. If not, we can work from a sample. Or, if it is time for a change, we have thousands of options to help you design your new stationery.

Our special offer* includes your choice of a free name plate, $50 off a return address plate, or $100 off a monogram die for all former Mrs. John L. Strong clients placing new orders for their current papers.

Please contact us at info@dempseyandcarroll.com or 877 750 1878. Or, visit our store at 1049 Lexington Avenue, between 74th and 75th Streets in New York City.

What a nice thing to do. Jonathan, thank you for letting me share this with fine stationery aficionados everywhere! Online ordering a breeze at Dempsey and Carroll.

MRS. JOHN L. STRONG HAS CLOSED- IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF A BUYER?

Photo Courtesy of Vivre
I heard it a few weeks ago, but did not want to believe it until it was confirmed. Then I read about it in the New York Times. Mrs. Strong, founded in 1929, has closed. Their fine, handmade writing paper represented a genteel, elegant way of living, entertaining and communicating. The demise of a great American brand like this says something about the times we are living in. Nannette Brown, a style icon of mine, purchased the company several years ago, injecting a youthful, au courant style into the signature red and brown packaging, design selection, icons, candles and gifts. Her freshening of the brand attracted a new customer, and it was easy to believe there would always be a loyal following, willing to spend more than usual to leave a lasting impression. A splurge for some, a necessity for others, handmade quality products like this seem to be a dying breed. Brown tried to find a buyer for the company she revived, to no avail. Is there a company out there that will swoop in and save Strong?
If there is no turnaround in sight, take your custom plates to the following brands: The Printery in Oyster Bay, Dempsey and Carroll, and Smythson of Bond Street.