A Quote for Mother’s Day by Maurice Sendak

by craneandco

“Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over.

I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, “Dear Jim: I loved your card.”

Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, “Jim loved your card so much he ate it.” That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.”

Etiquette: How to Write a Post-Interview Email & Thank You Note

by craneandco

Thank You Note They liked your resume enough to call you in for an interview: Congratulations! We’re sure you nailed it, but your work isn’t quite done yet. Now, it’s time to follow up.

The Follow-up Email

Follow-up email(s) should be sent the same day to your interviewer and anyone else who was involved in the process (we hope you took everyone’s business card while you were there), from the secretary who scheduled the interview and brought you a glass of water to prospective co-workers who may have popped in to ask a few questions.

This email should be brief: One sentence thanking so-and-so for taking the time out of his/her day to meet with you. Include a detail or two that refreshes his/her memory about the conversation (chances are they had several applicants walk through the doors that day) — a shared alma mater or a shared affinity for U2, for example.

Mother’s Day Missives: Advice from Our Own Moms

by craneandco

Without the help of many outstanding women, Crane & Co. wouldn’t be the esteemed company it is today. She hand-borders personalized notes and cards with meticulous care. She speaks with customers to make sure each and every order is exactly what they’d hoped for and more. They letterpress. They design. They crunch numbers.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked our female staffers to recall their favorite quotes from their own mothers, grandmothers & even great-grandmothers. What transpired were missives on everything from fellows and fashion to dreams and decorum.

Enjoy, and Happy Mother’s Day!

Peggy Driggers, Merle Bottoms & Willie Chalker
mother, grandmother & great-grandmother of Gayle Driggers, Product Development

“When you educate a mother, you educate a family.”
“Attitudes are more important than facts.”
“On a galloping horse, who’s going to notice?”
“If two people agree on everything, then one of them’s not necessary.”

From Gayle: “In all my years, I never got a card or letter from my grandmother (Merle Bottoms) on behalf of herself and daddy Jim (my grandfather) that didn’t end with the phrase ‘We love you and are so proud of you.’

This has sustained me and many members of my family during times good and bad.

Let’s Race! Kentucky Derby-Inspired Stationery

by craneandco

Ah, the smell of freshly cut grass, mint julips and, well, that equine fragrance only a rider can love. The Kentucky Derby is this weekend, and we can’t wait to don our favorite hat, fresh from the milliner.

In celebration of all things equestrian, here are our few of our favorite Derby-inspired picks surely to land in your winner’s circle:

1) Leather iPad Sleeve in Dark Brown
The handsome leather of this iPad sleeve reminds us of a most prized saddle, only befitting of the fastest stallion. 4G on 4 legs, if you will.

2) Hand-Bordered Stirrup & Crop Notes
A leather boot, slipping into shiny brass, followed by a gentle nudge to the haunches. You’re off to the races. Or, at least the trails.

Post Script: Oh So Beautiful Paper’s Nole Garey

by craneandco

Whether stationery is your business or your pleasure (or, hopefully, both), Nole Garey’s blog, Oh So Beautiful Paper, is essential reading. Every day the Washington D.C. resident satisfies our appetite for stunning invitations, charming greeting cards, wonderfully unique personalized stationery and anything else fit to be inked. Here, the GW grad talks postage preferences, growing up with creative parents and why it’s important to write to the person you see every day.

Briefly describe your work and its connection with the post.
I am the editor and publisher of Oh So Beautiful Paper. I review submissions of work from independent artists and designers, choose my favorites, then create a post around the submitted work. I always include an introduction with my own thoughts about the work, but I also try to include something from the designer about the origin of the project, including the purpose of the project, inspiration sources, and printing specifications.

Rainy Day Writing Activities Your Kids Will Love

by craneandco

We’re so excited to welcome guest blogger Mindy Lockard, aka The Gracious Girl, to our humble little space on the World Wide Web. As we mosey on out of April and into May, we thought she would be perfect to share her tips on rainy day activities to do with kids. Enjoy!

It’s said that April showers bring May flowers…

and with all of the rain we’ve had out wet, I mean West, this year… I’m looking forward to more than just a bouquet come May.

That said, we’ve found a fun way to pass the time inside by showering our loved ones with handmade treasures in the mail.

Introducing Our Envelope Liners by the Sheet

by craneandco

Like the pocket square or the cherry on top, an envelope liner is the exquisite detail that ties one’s stationery set together. It is the first hint of the specialness that is to come. We thought it was about time, though, that the envelope liner was the chocolate ice cream.

But enough metaphors. Introducing a carefully curated collection of some of our favorite envelope liners in all of their full-sheet glory. Inspired by the idea that they would be used for everything from scrapbooking to gift wrapping to interior decorating, we selected five liners from the Crane & Co. archives that we thought offered something for every taste and style:

Fiorenza in the Spring Time Liner

How does your Italian garden grow?

Enter Our Pinterest Luck Be a Lady Mother’s Day Giveaway!

by craneandco

Life coach. Cheerleader. Tear Dryer Extraordinaire. Whether she prefers a suit, an apron, a uniform or a tennis skirt, Mom is always donning her most important accessory: a heart of gold.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we’re hosting the Luck Be a Lady Giveaway, the winner of which will receive a $100 toward anything on our site. Here’s how to enter:

1) Log onto your Pinterest account*, follow us and create a board called “Luck Be a Lady”.

2) Fill your board with 10-20 ‘pins’ inspired by your own mom. (Take a look at our example).

3) Email us a link to your board at concierge@crane.com.

4) Tell all your friends to enter, too (a little healthy competition is good).

Earth Day Stationery & Gifts You (and the Trees) Will Love

by craneandco

We’re quite proud of the fact that our paper is 100% cotton, especially when Earth Day rolls around each year. So, while you should feel confident you’re doing a little something for the environment every time you purchase our stationery, we thought we’d select a handful of our favorite tree-friendly products just in time for one of our favorite holidays.

Flora
We can’t help but want to pack up our picnic basket on a sunny day and head to the nearest field when we see our ecru Dandelion Note featuring a delightful pop of yellow. With a sustainable bottle of wine and locally made Chevre, of course.

Post Script: Liz Richmond, owner of The Paper Bag

by craneandco

Fifteen years ago, Liz Richmond did what most stationery lovers only dream of doing: She bought a stationery boutique. Situated across from an amusement park in Allentown, PA, The Paper Bag has been in business since 1982 (30 years if you’re counting). Richmond joined its staff two years later and has been there ever since. Here, she talks with us about celebratory stamps, Old Money and why she thinks classic correspondence isn’t going anywhere.

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