Going to the Font of All Knowledge

[akirlu]

So, is remotely affordable nice stationery -- letter sheets I mean -- just a thing of the past?

I was looking at the Crane's website and they seem only to do notecards any more, as if writing an entire single page, let alone multiple pages, is just not something anyone would ever want to do. And while a place calling itself The Stationery Studio does sell letter sheets, I happen to think $50.00 for 25 sheets, even custom personalized sheets, if they're not also, oh, I dunno, gold-foil-stamped, deep embossed, and impregnated with cocaine, is completely insane. I keep thinking I'd like to go back to writing more letters on paper with a pen, but I don't think I really want to work primarily on three-hole binder paper. Do I have to make my own stationery now?

Comments

[joyful-storm.livejournal.com]

Papyrus has less expensive nice things (I believe there's one in U Village). If you just want interesting paper w/out embossing or borders or anything, you might like the offerings at Paper Zone.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Good point -- Papyrus would be worth at least checking. I'll walk down there for lunch one of these days.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Something like this?

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Ah, so Crane&Co do at least still have full sheet stationery. I wasn't spotting it from a quick drive-by.

In truth, I was hoping for something a little less sober-sided than Crane&Co -- a plain, single color border seems so very, very dry -- but it's better than being lumbered with correspondence cards too small for more than a paragrhaph.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I knew they must..I have proper engraved stationery from them that's not THAT old (of course, it still has my ex's address on it, so I don't use it much)

[maryread.livejournal.com]

Fabriano mediovalis? Cartiera Magnani? Lokta papers are more textured, come in great colors.

I like that Crane Florentine stationery with the gold-printed paisley lining. Preferably with exotic foreign stamps on em, I save em for collage (why buy big expensive sheets of decorated paper to tear into pieces?)

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

It took a fair bit of searching, but is this what you're looking for?

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

A bit plain, really, but yes, that's a step in the right direction. What I really want is more of the stuff I got at Hallmark years ago -- embossed, stylized gold papyrus border -- or the 'Venetian' border letter sheets that were ever so popular, oh, probably about 20 years ago now.

I must be getting old. Reminiscing about stationery of the late 80s.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

I must be getting old. Reminiscing about stationery of the late 80s.

I know exactly what you mean. I'd send you some of mine, but I think I finally used it all up or gave it away a move or two ago.

The closest analog I've seen is stationery for use with laser printers: almost always letter sized, matching envelopes often available. Especially popular around the winter holiday gift-giving season.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

These are meant to be printed on, but they have the kind of paper you want. You might like these better, less printing but more stuff in the paper.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Without looking at what others have linked to, why not get something in a nice paper stock -- cream laid linen or pebbly -- and use a color printer to put a little bit of design down one side? Show me a couple things you like and I'll try and fake up something for you.

[shikzoid.livejournal.com]

If just paper is what is wanted, there's the greatest store right down the street from me in North Seattle. The Salvage Broker buys out stock from companies that are closing, and they get a lot of nifty stuff from printers, caterers and the like. They bought out the local stationer J.K. Gill about ten years ago and there's still some glorious paper there.

Kinda like going in to a bead store, only more so.

Paper? Ask a Professional

[ladyjestocost.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Paperzone? They have some seriously cool paper, mostly letter sized. It's about the first place I'd look. Arvey's also has some interesting paper.

Daniel Smith, as a sideline, sometimes has some interesting stationery.

You can also try online - some of the mills will sell directly to you.

[eackerman.livejournal.com]

I bought some Crane's letter size stationary last month. I'm a bit conservative when I buy my stationary--I've never found anything I like better than Crane's cream paper with the dark blue border.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for colorful, you might take a look at Colors by Design, or for something a bit more laid back, Stationery Xpress.