Psst...Makes a great gift!

One of our favorite collections, Boatman Geller, is excited to a feature a new hand-lettered collection from artist Erin Barnett in the Holiday Collection.  The lettering style is full of personality and  a little whimsy. 

A modern and fresh looking gift or look for your holiday photocard...

 

 



 

 

 

1 Cup with Icon Eat, Drink Be Merry .... 2 Tis The Season Large Flat Card

3 Merry & Bright Lime Photocard ... 4 Eat Drink Be Merry Coaster

5 Tis The Season Lucite Tray ... 6 Merry Little Christmas Teal Photocard

 

 

They're here!

KAREN ADAMS 2014

Nearly three years ago we began carrying these calendars, and wouldn't you know, they have become a real hit at Lettres.

Customers love these glittered treasures and we some have shared that they bring a smile to their face when they look at how lovely they are on their desk...
we have called our customers on file that have ordered them in previous years and the orders are in and waiting for pick up.

So if you've never purchased them before, we have anticipated the popularity and placed multiple orders for the 2014 calendars and refills.

If you're interested in a pretty gift for yourself or someone you love, look no further...
Come in and let us share them with you!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

And, hopefully, on paper. Dozens of the finest roses and boxes of the most decadent chocolate can’t top a beautifully crafted love letter. 

Here’s how to create an loving note that’ll capture her heart forever.....

Be Sincere
It may seem obvious, but don’t write a love letter unless you’re, oh, in love. If you’re not in that point in your relationship yet, don’t force it!

Keats, Wordsworth, Shakespeare.   Poetry of the amorous kind should be left for the experts.   Unless you’re intentionally attempting to be cheeky, there’s no need to struggle with finding a word that rhymes with “mon cheri.”


A love letter shouldn’t read like a chapter in a romance novel. There is a time and a place for content rated for Mature Audiences, but Valentine's Day is about love, not lust. That said, you’re not in junior high school. Hence, a love letter shouldn’t read like a chapter of an adult novel either.
Many a lovely sonnet, movie quote, song lyric and novel has been written about love. But those are their words, not yours. If words from any of the former sources have special meaning to you and your special someone — first date, where you met, etc. — then by all means, incorporate them into your love letter in a subtle way. But if they’re just words you happened to have found while searching love quotes on the Internet, skip them and include something straight from the heart instead.

If you’re writing a love letter, you’ve hopefully made many cherished memories together. A love letter should be a reminder as to why you love the recipient so. You don’t have to recount your entire first date, but rather the smaller moments - the way he opens the car door for you or the way she laughs with silliness during movies.


So, you’ve taken the time to craft the perfect love letter, NOW don't skimp on the paper and presentation. Make it a note she’ll want to tuck in her drawer and keep forever.

If a full blown love letter is just too much for you, than consider a valentine's day card from our selection such as Elum and Sugar Paper!  

Color of The Year

 

If you haven’t heard, Pantone's Color of the Year is Emerald (17-5641). We been so inspired by this vibrant color that we couldn’t resist sharing this inspiration board from one of our favorites (Dauphine Press).
The color is said to promote balance and harmony - all for that!
AND, what's even better, emerald is the color of growth, renewal and PROSPERITY...Bring it on!!

Enjoy our Emerald inspiration!
1)   showhome.nl
2)   viceroy hotels and resorts (santa monica)
3)   the pattern base
4)   yasmyn paul
5)   lolobu
6)   glitter guide
7)   robin pelissier
8)   style caster
9)   anthropologie
10) pinterest
 

Don't Forget the Holiday Thank You Notes



It took seconds to unwrap the beautifully packaged gift, a mere fraction of the time it took the giver to find the perfect gift, wrap it with care and deliver it to you.

The holiday season has not officially come to an end until one final detail has been accomplished…the Thank You note. A well thought out thank you shows appreciation for the giver’s efforts and reaffirms the value you place on your relationship with the giver.

Leaving the individual a message on their voicemail, texting or sending a Thank You note via e-mail simply doesn’t take the place of a handwritten Thank You note. Use this opportunity to use up the leftover holiday stamps.

1. Start your note off by mentioning the giver’s name and make sure you have spelled it correctly. The note loses all meaning if you start off on the wrong foot by insulting the giver.

2. Make reference to the gift and mention how you plan to use or enjoy the gift. "I am so excited to receive the gift card from Tranquility Day Spa. I have always wanted to visit and look forward to a relaxing massage and treatment." Or, "I love my new sweater and plan to wear it on my next date."

3. The reality is, a handwritten Thank You note is always appreciated and well received by the giver. The extra effort you took to acknowledge the giver and the gift will not go unnoticed next season.

4. Always write your Thank You note in pen or a very fine tipped marker. Only use pencil—even colored pencil—if you are a small child. If you would enjoy using colored ink to write your thank you notes, there are many nice colored pens on the market that will lift the receiver’s spirit while making your note writing more fun. Gold ink is very pretty but sometimes difficult to read. If you are going to use gold ink, try out a few pens in the store as some write better than others.

5. If the same person gave you multiple gifts it is not necessary to write multiple Thank You notes. If different family members within the same family gave you multiple gifts, you must write separate Thank You notes.

6. Check your spelling and grammar. Not only is it important to get the giver’s name correct, but also to pay special attention to the rest of the Thank You note. A poorly written Thank You note is an indicator that you did not spend much time or effort on the process.

7. Close the letter by stating that you would like to keep in touch or get together soon only if you really mean to do so. Otherwise, the statement will come across as insincere. Often, we are given a gift by a friend of a family member or as thanks an invitation. If you do not know the person very well or do not intend to follow up, close the note with a polite "Thank you again for your kindness."

8. The ending salutation should mirror the relationship you enjoy with the giver. "Love, Mary" would not be appropriate in all cases, nor would "Fondly" or "My best." Some alternatives would be "Warm regards," "Best wishes" and "Sincerely."

And finally, a Thank You note is better late than never. Optimally, a Thank You note should go out within the first to second week, but if several months have passed and you suddenly remember you overlooked someone, send the note out promptly and include a quick apology, such as "I’m so sorry, time got away from me but I wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the set of beautiful napkins you gave me."

Christmas Card Etiquette

One of my favorite Christmas time traditions is helping customers select and design their holiday Christmas cards.  I truly enjoy seeing their family photos and making suggestions on what complements the photo, the colors and overall feel.  On a personal note, I also love preparing, addressing and mailing out my Christmas cards to family and friends. It is also great to anticipate and receive the daily delivery of cards everyday when the postman arrives. Although this seems a pretty obvious task, there are some specific rules that everyone should observe when mailing out Christmas and holiday cards.

 

Here are some helpful tips to ensure that you put your best foot forward as you send a little bit of seasonal joy to everyone on your Christmas card list.

 1.      Wait for the season before you mail. It is true that it is a great idea to get your cards in the mail as early as you’re able, however, it is best to wait until after the Thanksgiving holiday. The ideal time for your cards to arrive is around the 2nd week of December. Try not to wait too long keeping in mind that the post office is extremely busy during the holidays and you certainly do not want your cards to arrive after Christmas day.

 

2.      Add your personal note or greeting and sign your name. Many families either make or order their cards from printing companies. These are all great and they offer the unique opportunity to send custom greetings that no one else will have. If you are ordering a large quantity of cards you may want to have your name printed on the card. This is certainly a fine alternative, but if it is possible you should use your own signature or penmanship wherever possible. This might include a personal note on the inside or the addressing of the outer envelope. Even better might be a short, handwritten personal note to each of your recipients. This gesture will show that you took the time to personally attend to and mail your recipients card.

3.      Always include a return address. The return address is a very helpful and important piece of information on any written correspondence. When your card is received the addressee will know right away who sent the card. The return address also ensures that they have your current and correct address for mailing out their own cards in return.

4.      Return the favor. Keep careful records of those with whom you are exchanging Christmas and holiday cards each year. If you have sent out a Christmas card to the Joneses for four years straight and have not received a card or greeting in return, it is perfectly acceptable for you to remove them from your card list. Their lack of response shows that either they are not interested in receiving the cards or do not participate in the exchange of greetings in that way.

5.      Send the hard copy. Opt for actual cards rather than e-cards as there really is no substitute for the real thing. Imagine hanging an email on the tree or mantle! A Christmas card is sent as an act of friendship and gratitude. The whole idea is to give and send a gift of blessing and joy to another. These are meant to be personal. This is the season to be jolly so buckle down and send out some cheer.

6.      Send co-worker’s cards to their homes. Handing out cards in the office may be easier, but you really should mail these to their homes. This adds a personal touch, while also eliminating the possibility that someone may take offense at being left out because you don’t have a card for him or her. Plus, Christmas cards equal tradition and the tradition demands that your recipient get to receive your beautiful greetings of glad tidings at the door—so take the time to mail the cards.


We have a beautiful selection of both personalized, custom and boxed holiday cards. I hope you found these suggestions and reccomendations helpful and we look forward to seeing you over the next few weeks to select your holiday cards.

The Art of a Hand Written Note

Many people underestimate the power of the hand-written thank-you note. Some think it is better to send an immediate e-mail or simply say thanks in person. But, a hand-written note is the ideal way to show your appreciation. With the ever-growing popularity of technology, the art of writing an “old-school” note is being lost. It may seem daunting and maybe a bit archaic to pick up a pen and a stationery card, but just remember these tips and you’ll soon be a pro.


Do's

• Handwrite the note.  Although it would be easier to send an e-mail or type a letter, a handwritten thank-you note is the most sincere and appreciated form of gratitude. The extra effort goes a long way.
• Buy stationery. Embossed cards with complementary envelopes look much better than folded notebook paper stuffed in a plain envelope.
• Personalize it. Not just in the personalized stationery, but in what you actually say. If you’re going to see the person in the future, refer to the event and say you’re looking forward to it. If the person gave you a silver picture frame, don’t simply thank them for it, but add, “I plan on using the frame for a wedding picture in my living room.”
• Even if it’s late, send a note. Don’t feel embarrassed. It’s better to send a late thank-you than none at all.
• Take your time. An illegible note won’t do much good and neither will one with scratch marks all over it. Use a nice, fine point pen, so the ink won’t bleed or smudge. Traditionally, thank-you notes are written.
• Send thanks for trivial things. Why not? Whether it’s for a casual get-together or for a neighbor who collected your mail and watered your plants while you were gone, a hand-written note is the best way to show your appreciation. It may also ensure that you’ll get the invite or extra help in the future.

Don’ts

• Don’t exaggerate. Of course you can rave about a gift, but don’t lie about how much you like something. It may be obvious if you say, “The monogrammed soap is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!” Most likely you’ve seen better, so simply say, “The monogrammed soap was very thoughtful and will be perfect for the powder room.”
• Don’t be stiff. Show your personality. It’s okay to use humor, sarcasm, or idioms to express yourself, as long as you’re not insulting the gift. If you’re questioning whether you should write a certain joke or phrase, ask yourself if you would say it in-person. Try to maintain the same tone with the person on paper as you would in-person.
• Don’t refer to specific amounts of money. These might seem like the hardest notes to write, but all you have to say is “I greatly appreciate your generosity. I hope to use the money to…” Just make sure the giver would support your money plans.
• Don’t ramble. You may want to go on and on about how your new job is going, a family friend you ran into, or that new movie you saw, but don’t. Be concise. It is a thank-you note after all, so stick to the thanks. If you feel like writing more, write them a separate note to fill them in on your life and see how they’re doing.                                   
• Don’t assume an in-person thanks is enough. If a person went to the trouble of hosting a party or purchasing a gift for you, you surely can take the time to write a note. Make sure to thank the host of a party in-person, but since your thanks may get lost in the excitement, a note is a great addition.

If you need additional help and guidance, stop by and pick up some very helpful books on correspondence, etiquette and messages for all occasions and most of all remember that your note stands out and touches the person in a way NO OTHER communication does!