Calling All Etiquette Experts: What Would You Do?

If a guest brings you a wonderful bottle of French wine, and you can't find a bottle opener, is this acceptable?

Note: Etiquette experts around the world are flocking to this site, so you may have to be patient. If the video box doesn't show up, here's a link.

Bordering The Buzz at the Stationery Show

For more than 20 years, I have considered myself one lucky guy to have watched the steady hands, calm demeanor, attention to detail and complete dedication to quality that Crane's artisans bring to every piece of stationery they touch. I've seen craftsmanship honed over generations, many times handed down from father to son and from mother to daughter.

But it's an experience you can only get in Dalton. Until the National Stationery Show earlier this week. Crane brought two hand-borderers to the city to demonstrate their unique brand of traditional New England craftsmanship at the Jacob Javits Center.

It was jaw-dropping. Hundreds of visitors to the Crane booth every day stood transfixed as Sally Rice and Deb Larkin plied their craft. Their normally quiet and highly focused art was suddenly the talk of the town. They expertly bordered more than 5,000 cards and notes while being peppered with questions, flashes popping and  gasps of incredulity flying around the booth.

"I had no idea."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Unbelievable"

"I can't believe what I'm seeing."

If you haven't seen a video of hand-bordering at Crane, you can now and you can believe what you see. I think you'll understand why I'm still completely dazzled after 22 years. I recommend switching to full-screen mode.

Sights & Sounds of a Stationery Journey at Crane

I was giving a tour at Crane for a stationer from Australia earlier this week and brought along the video camera to capture some of the sights and sounds of stationery on the move as we prepared for the National Stationery Show. The shots are mostly random. Sights and sounds that attracted my attention as we moved through the stationery process.

Making Fine Stationery from Crane Paper - 1926

A little while back, I posted a video of a film showing paper being made at Crane's Bay State Mill in 1926. Here is Part Two, which shows how Crane paper was made into Crane stationery.

Enjoy!

Crane's Engraved Stationery on the Globe 100

Back to reality after the National Stationery Show. I've got some more photos to show and some more stories to tell, and will get to them as the dust settles. But today, I just wanted to hook you up with a new video on the Boston Globe 100 site.

I did an extensive interview for the filming, but I had such a bad day that they left me out completely. And that's a good thing. I remember I was describing the unique qualities of engraved cotton papers, and said something like, the fine-line detail and the signature bruise on the back of the card were the "hallmarks" of engraved stationery.

Oh well, the good news is that I should get an extensive blooper reel....

Life on the Edge: Gilding Crane Stationery

Some of the most elegant Crane papers used for stationery, invitations and announcements feature beveled and gilded edges. As with many other embellishments to Crane papers, beveling and gilding is done by hand; by Crane artisans who train under a master and who will spend up to a year to perfect their craft.

Here's a video of Tom Garvey, a master gilder of 20 years at Crane.

Hand-bordering Fine Stationery at Crane

I was giving a tour to a new employee earlier today, and we had a blast gabbing with all the wonderful craftspeople who apply those elegant borders on Crane's fine paper. I've been sitting on this video for a while and decided it was time to share it with you. It features Deborah Larkin, who mastered her craft at Crane 20 years ago.

Insider Note: More than 15 years ago, some folks wondered if they could figure out how a machine could print borders of the same quality. They gave it their best shot. Not a chance.

Enjoy!

How Do They Do That?

There's a lot that goes on between the time you place your order for personalized stationery and when it arrives at the store, beautifully adorned with engraving or thermography. Every time I have the opportunity to take visitors on a tour of Crane's Personal Design Services, where all this happens, I marvel at the craftsmanship, attention to detail and personal care each order receives. Plus, I love to watch other people work.

Since I can't take each of you on a personal tour of Crane, here is a look at engraving and thermography on fine cotton paper.