One Luxury I Can't Give Up ~ Crane's Stationary

I understand we are in a recession and considering that DH and I have had two babies in as many years, we certainly changed our lifestyle and our budget along with it. Did I mention we also bought our first house last year? Yes, so we owe a whole lot of money to the good people at WellsFargo as well.

There are plenty of things we've cut back on... some greater than others but there is one thing I just can't give up... fine stationary. Much like my interest in all things having to do with etiquette, I have a minor obsession with beautiful stationary. During a Christmas trip to England with DH a couple of years ago I was practically escorted out of Smythons of London after drooling on their stationary. I mean gorgeous!

Before I continue I should probably let you in on a little secret. While I adore reading about etiquette and the rules of past society I'm not even close to keeping up with the social mores of today. Do you doubt me?  How's this for crummy behavior, today is January 16th and I've yet to write even one thank you note for myself or my boys from Christmas. Uh huh, that's right and you'd think the guilt would be killing me but it's not.

I've got my gift list, my address book and even my beautiful stationary (more on that below) sitting on my desk just waiting. And every time I pass them, I sigh knowing they are glaring at me with a very judgmental smirk.

This is a long weekend, so perhaps I'll set a goal of 5 notes. That's not hard right? I'll just whittle away at  the list till I'm done. Keep your fingers crossed I get through the list before next Christmas.


So on to the purpose of this post.... Stationary. Like so many other things in my life, I was first introduced to beautiful stationary by Mamere. She gave me my first set of *personalized stationary from Crane's when I was in junior high. Of course I picked the white correspondence cards with hot pink and lime green ink. I believe I have mentioned that I was uber preppy way before it was cool. In fact it was decidedly uncool as I reached tween status in the midst of the wretched "grunge" phase. Ick ick ick!

Over the years I varied my stationary from the wild to the more traditional and in recent years I've settled on ecru correspondence cards with gold ink. I love love love it. It makes me smile just to look at the navy Crane's box. I also updated my enclosure cards when DH and I got married and love them as well. Very traditional, ecru with our names scripted in blank ink. I know its silly (much of what I do and think is in fact silly) but it makes me feel connected to the past. I often imagine life at the turn of the century being something like an Oscar Wilde play and I want to have the stationary to match.

If you love stationary like I do, you have your own favorite I'm sure but even if that is the case, I implore you to take a look at Crane's stationary online at www.Crane.com or even better visit your local stationer. Feeling the stationary gives you an even better appreciation for it's quality.

Oh and if you're looking for a fun book about etiquette in society please check out Letitia Baldridge's autobiography, A Lady First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and American Embassies. I read it years ago and it is a lovely and charming book. I'd loan you my copy but it's been exiled to our storage shed along with all our other sad and lonely books. Dear bookcases, where for art thou?

Cheers, 
Ouiser

** My stationary is personalized using thermography not engraving but I'm going out on a limb to assume that most people reading this aren't interested in a lesson in the difference. If I'm wrong you can read about the differences and even see a video about it on the Crane's website.  Engraving is more personalized but thermography is also lovely and less expensive.  See DH,  I'm totally thrift conscience!