New kate spade Gift Sets for the New Year

Continuing with our look at stationery styles for the New Year, today I've got a couple of brand new gift sets from Crane's kate spade collection. Kate has a wonderful sense of style and design, which I guess comes as no surprise to most of you, and I love her whimsical way with words.

First is the all-occasion gift set (actually five occasions, but who's counting?) with three each of five designs, all tucked in a neat and organized box.

Text reads:

Outside: A Round of Applause

Inside: Congratulations

Outside: The Icing on the Cake

Inside: Happy Birthday

Outside: I Heard You Were Under the Weather

Inside: Get Well Soon

Outside: For No Particular Reason

Inside: Hello

Outside: You Read My Mind

Inside: Thank You

Next is a very cool Bon Voyage fold-over boxed set. The collection includes 12 notes, with six red and six blue envelopes, and three each of the four designs shown below:

These gift sets will be in stores and online in February.

Holiday Gift Guides Make Seasonal Recommendations

Every year I get calls from magazine editors asking for samples or photos of Crane stationery and accessories for their holiday gift guides. I was mulling over if there might be some trends over the years, but struggled to find any. But then it occured to me that I was taking the wrong perspective.

These editors are the arbiters of taste and style for their readers. They are mostly young, having grown up in the computer age, and they recognize that fine stationery, printed and written invitations and complementary lifestyle accessories are important to them and to their readers. It's not just pretty pictures. It's good solid advice from those in the know.

I was away for a few days and upon my return, there were several magazines in the mailbox featuring Crane products. In this batch there seems to be a preference for kate spade products.

Here are the most recent:

Philadelphia Style magazine with Crane's Cartography Notes.

House Beautiful magazine and a Pineapple Menu Tile.

Canadian House & Home magazine with, clockwise from top, kate spade word place cards, kate spade vintage cocktails invitation, Crane's Aqua Squiggle Printable Invitation, Crane's Regency Stars Thank You Note, and kate spade lobster printable invitation.

Lucky Magazine and kate spade playing cards.

Scottsdale Magazine and top, kate spade letterpressed elephant calling card; bottom, kate spade letterpressed awning stripe calling card.