Is Crane's Best-Seller Among These Creatures?

Remember when we met this guy?



To refresh, our little friend here was the best-selling boxed stationery item in 2008, part of Crane's Paper Collage Animals Collection.

Well, move over, little fella, there's some new contenders on their way to the National Stationery Show in just 11 more days. So, for today's exclusive look at Crane designs making their debut in New York:













And my personal favorite:

Best-selling Stationery from 2008 - Some Surprises

I was thinking about writing a piece about New Years Day and New Years babies and some new personalized birth announcements. But that will have to wait until my new photographic equipment arrives. Among the many resolutions I have for the New Year is to take better photographs - especially with the proliferation of letterpress designs, which are particularly challenging.

But I digress.

While doing some research on sales and designs, I came across what I think is an interesting phenomenon. I have to admit, I was surprised.

Crane & Co., the oldest stationery firm in the country; cotton-fiber paper; family-owned for more than 235 years and eight generations. Classic, formal, traditional.

So, if you were to guess what Crane's best-selling piece of stationery was this past year, I'm betting you would chose the timeless CN1116 - Crane's classic white or ecru Kid Finish folded note. I know I would. If there ever was an icon for stationery, that would be it.

Well, you'd be wrong. Close, but wrong. I'd give you another guess, but we haven't got all day.

Ready?

CF1829!

Sorry, that's Crane-speak. Here it is:

If your kids haven't written their post-holiday thank-you notes, you might be able to encourage them with some cute little monkeys!

The Ties Between Fashion and Stationery

One of the aspects of blogging I enjoy most is getting to interact with a wide range of people with whom I never would have come into contact without the blogosphere. There is a certain affinity not just among bloggers, but among those who blog and those who follow blogs. I do both.

I had one of those "out-of-the-blue" encounters recently with Stuart Hotchkiss, who started his neckwear business - Capital Ties - in 2005. Based in Washington, DC, as you might imagine, Stuart has rolled out the "Nick Hotchkiss" collection of ties in honor of his great uncle, Elmore "Nick" Hotchkiss Jr. (1883-1947).

Nick Hotchkiss was a member of an old Southern family and long prominent in business and social interests in Richmond, VA. He was a former president both of the Commonwealth Club and the Country Club of Virginia and had for some years been secretary of The Richmond German. He was was also a close friend of golf legend Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones and was invited by Mr. Jones to become a charter member of Augusta National Golf Club on May 16, 1932.

Upon perusing the Nick Hotchkiss Collection, it dawned on me that, in this instance as with many others over time, there is a very close relationship between fine fashion and fine stationery.

Friday Eye Candy

My feet still hurt from all those hours at the National Stationery Show, and I'm really looking forward to the long holiday weekend. The Blissful One tells me she's taking the afternoon off - well-deserved after dealing with the onslaught of national media at the Crane booth.

There was much for them to see, what with the new Walt Disney Signature Stationery launch, the adorable new Disney Initial Notes and the 2008 engraved holiday cards. But as we toured folks around the booth, there was one stop that always elicited an "Awww, they're sooooo cute!"

Crane introduced a set of Cut Paper Animals last year in its baby stationery collection, and they were an enormous success. Debuting at the show were some notable additions, including a Panda, Sea Turtle and Giraffe. These three cuties join the rest of the collection, which features a butterfly, frog and monkey.

Enjoy your weekend!