When working in stationery, it never hurts to have a love of graphic design and a basic knowledge of typography. At Dempsey & Carroll, we’re all a little bit obsessed with type, and we love it when customers want to explore interesting options and typestyles. One of the most basic distinctions between different styles of …

Britni Wood, a party planner living in West Hollywood, was profiled in The Wall Street Journal.  Each week, Ms. Wood sits at her desk to write notes to friends, family, and acquaintances.  She enjoys the “charming” qualities that a hand-written note brings to both the giver and the receiver.  When planning events, Ms. Wood encourages …

1878 was the year Dempsey & Carroll was founded in New York, but it was also the year that these things happened too! Here’s a list of some incredibly impressive people who were born in 1878… January 6 – Carl Sandburg, American poet and historian (d. 1967) January 22 – Constance Collier, stage & screen …

Dempsey & Carroll is known for very classic and traditional wedding invitations—but that doesn’t mean we can’t break from tradition every once in awhile! Try using an unexpected color. Deep purple is elegant, unexpected and beautiful. Using a different typeface for the bride and groom’s name adds interest and really makes them stand out—it’s their …

We really enjoyed reading last week’s Tricks of the Trade in the Journal about Bobbi Brown’s tips on giving off the best impression in new situations.  Brown, who founded Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, notes that she prepares for each event or meeting she is attending by researching the gathering beforehand.  By knowing about the formality of …

         Before the age of the telephone, the calling card (or carte de visite in French) had a significant role as a social tool. In the days when ladies might receive visitors during hours they were known to be “at home,” the calling card served to announce a visitor to the house. …

Each card is a separate work of art, worthy of preservation not only as a memento of the occasion for which it may serve, but for the sake of originality of fancy, beauty of color, and skill in drawing it evinces. Messrs. Dempsey & Carroll have evidently been fortunate in securing the aid of artists …

DRAW INSPIRATION Writer’s block? Read the love letters of ages past. the everyman’s library: love letters is a great source. PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE A useful framework is to articulate meaning in your path together. AVOID CLICHÉ  If your letter sounds like a store-bought card, you might as well skip this entire exercise. Be specific to your reader. AVOID QUOTES  A …

We love learning about our history here at Dempsey & Carroll, so imagine our excitement when we unearthed this 1879 article from The Home Journal, the publication that would become Town & Country in the new century. Reading an outsider’s perspective of the company’s operations was a real treat for us. The love of elegance …