Brand Friend Spotlight: Danielle Murdock

With the launch of our Brand Friend program, we’ve been able to connect with others who love the art of the handwritten note, our products, and our brand. If this sounds interesting to you, learn more about how to be a Dempsey & Carroll Brand Friend on our website!

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Danielle Murdock as part of our Brand Friend Spotlight series. Based in Connecticut, Danielle just completed her Masters in Education at the University of Hartford and is an avid blogger, traveler, and fashion aficionado.

How did you learn about Dempsey & Carroll? Are there any particular collections that stood out to you?

I originally learned about Dempsey & Carroll through Instagram. I knew that there was something innately charming about the Dempsey & Carroll “look,” and once I experienced the quality of the paper myself, I was sold!

I was first intrigued by your beautiful holiday card collections because I love classic stationery and Christmas is extremely important to me. There are so many family traditions around the holidays, and handwritten Christmas cards are always an essential part of the season. A handwritten holiday card is a personal well wish to a loved one to let them know that you’re thinking of them during that magical time of year.

We’d love to hear more about your love of letter writing! How do you make traditions modern during the age of instant communication?

I have always been a paper person, particularly when it comes to handwritten correspondence and journaling. There’s something refreshing about writing a letter; it provides a more personal touch than an email or text. My boyfriend and I write thoughtful cards for every birthday, anniversary, or “just because,” and each one is really special to me. It’s far more romantic and meaningful, and it serves as a reminder of what we mean to each other.

Can you recall the most memorable letter that you’ve received (or sent)?

One of the most memorable letters that I received was my acceptance letter to New York University (my dream school) back in 2013. It was a stressful time as I was in the process of transferring schools, but I will never forget the shock and happiness I felt when I saw the word “Congratulations” on the page. Receiving that piece of mail changed my entire life and it gave me the opportunity to fall in love with New York City. Although it wasn’t the most personal letter I’ve received, it certainly had the most impact!

Where is your favorite place to write and catch up on correspondence?

My favorite place to write is my vintage desk that was given to me by my boyfriend’s mom. She’s an expert on all things vintage, and this piece was such a special find for a history-obsessed girl like me. It’s the perfect area to store my pens, stationery, and journals; it’s my go-to spot for letter writing, blogging, and more. The desk is in such pristine condition, and it makes me feel like I’m in a different time period.

What are a few of your favorite things to do in your spare time?

I really am a writer at heart–I love to blog and read in my spare time. Fashion is important to me, and my joy in clothes was actually the basis for starting my blog, The Minty Pink. Trends come and go, but classic pieces never go out of style!

I spend a lot of time hanging out with my family and friends; I’m quite social and seeing people I care about is a must! My friends and I have a lot of game and movie nights and we take weekend trips in the warmer weather. Just like everyone else, I enjoy my fair share of TV in my downtime – Game of Thrones, The Crown, Crime Documentaries—the staples, of course.

We’ve heard that you’re planning moving closer to New York City (our home)! What are a few of your favorite things about New York and what made you want to move back?

I’m head over heels for New York City. Having gone to NYU for undergrad, I really was able to take in a lot of different parts of the city during those years. I consider it my “second home” and have yet to find anything that comes close. For starters, the food is unbelievable! I have a handful of favorites, like Patsy’s in Harlem for pizza, and the Union Square Greenmarket for fresh produce and local goods.

One of my favorite things about New York is being able to take long walks from the east side to the west side to take in the history and beauty. Exploring the streets of NYC is such a fun activity because it changes so much from neighborhood to neighborhood. Although I don’t know where I’ll be moving, being closer to the city is an absolute must in my book!

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Danielle! Keep up with Danielle on Instagram @danimurd, Twitter @themintypink, and The Minty Pink blog!

Learn more about being a Dempsey & Carroll Brand Friend!

Our Annual Sale 2019: Frequently Asked Questions

The beginning of a new year means that it’s time to start things off with a new note! That said, we’re thrilled to share some answers to some frequently asked questions regarding Our Annual Sale (the perfect opportunity to update your stationery wardrobe with new notes of your very own).

What is the Dempsey & Carroll Annual Sale?

Our most popular correspondence cards are offered at special pricing during the month of January. Pricing of $295 (regularly $480) includes 100 #3 3-ply engraved correspondence cards, 100 plain envelopes, and a new one-line engraving plate. Not sure what any of this means? Don’t worry, we’ve done the heavy-lifting for you. You’ll be sure to impress anyone with this classic choice.

Can I use any ink color or typestyle for my new cards?

This year, we are offering a selection 9 ink colors and 9 typestyles as part of the sale pricing. The 2019 offerings are listed below and on our website!

What if I already have an engraving plate that I’d like to use? Is there an additional discount?

You are more than welcome to use an existing name plate for your sale order. Your existing plate can be in any typestyle. There is no additional discount offered when you use an existing plate.

Can I add a return address to my envelopes?

Yes, you can certainly have your envelopes engraved with a new or existing return address plate. The pricing for a quantity of 100 engraved cards and engraved envelopes with an existing return address is $490 (regularly $745). A new return address plate can be purchased at our normal pricing for an additional $190.

Will I receive a proof for my sale order?

A design proof is not included with your sale order, though you may choose to purchase a proof with your order for an additional $10.

I am planning on using my cards for more formal occasions like sympathy notes and professional correspondence. Do you have any ink color suggestions?

We would suggest using a more neutral ink color like Black, Regent Blue, Baron Gray, or Hunter Green for formal correspondence.

Our Annual Sale is available through January 31, 2019
Please feel free to email us with any questions: info@dempseyandcarroll.com

A Look Back at our 2018 Partnerships

As we look back at another great year at Dempsey & Carroll, our partnerships remain some of the most memorable highlights. 2018 brought several new collaborators into the Dempsey & Carroll mix, as well as some of our old friends who we were delighted to work with again. Our collaborations allow us to push ourselves in new directions – experimenting with new techniques and designs. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work alongside these visionary and truly wonderful brands this year.

Caitlin McGauley

Having worked with Caitlin in 2017 through our partnership with The Maryn we were thrilled when she decided to introduce stationery to her own business. Her whimsical, bright, beautiful designs have been favorites of ours since we began working with her in 2017 and we absolutely adored translating some of her famous animals and animal-inspired prints into stationery. Who can resist her charming fox or a pink cheetah with red spots?!

Shop the collection here

Caitlin McGauley Fox

Caitlin McGauley Cheetah

Sister Parish Design

We have been following Sister Parish Design for years now as admirers of their stunning prints, so you can imagine our delight when they approached us about developing a line of Sister Parish-inspired stationery. As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Sister Parish herself, Susan and Eliza Crater lead their amazing brand and embody Sister’s vision. We took two iconic Parish Hadley prints, Serendipity and Desmond, and highlighted these motifs as classic stationery sets.

Shop the collection here

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Desmond

Sister Parish fabrics

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Serendipity

Whispering Angel

Who doesn’t love a little something pink? We absolutely adored working on this collaboration with the winery behind our favorite rosé. Two charming angels engraved in Whispering Angel’s signature pink adorn the top of the luxurious 4-ply note cards we created for this wonderful winery. Time to drink pink!

Shop the collection here

Whispering Angel x Dempsey Carroll

Life Itself

We partnered with the team behind Amazon Studios’ Life Itself this year to create a set of stationery reflecting two of the beautiful locations featured in this film. The stationery set showcases New York City and Carmona, Spain alongside a charming engraving of a fountain pen. The collaboration was inspired by the reasons we write, and connecting people in places thousands of miles away from one another.

Shop the collection here

Lingua Franca

We could never in our wildest dreams have imagined that one day we would be selling stationery that had been embroidered and even more so, embroidered with the coolest phrases like “booyah” and “everyday i’m hustlin’,” and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Hi, it’s us, Dempsey & Carroll, a 140-year-old stationery brand just selling cards with Rick Ross lyrics on them! How cool?! We loved every second of working with Rachelle of Lingua Franca and her truly amazing team. We are so happy to be able to offer these amazing note cards and delighted to partner with Lingua Franca, a company whose work we admire and are proud to be affiliated with.

Shop the collection here

J.McLaughlin

Third time’s a charm (though we loved the first and second ones too!)! This holiday season we released our third collaboration with famed ready-to-wear brand, J.McLaughlin. We shifted towards playful prints inspired by the season and created by artist John Pirman paired with cheery engraved phrases like “What a bright time,” and “Cheers.” We’re certainly cheersing a few of our friends this December with these note cards

Shop the collection here

J.McLaughlin x Dempsey & Carroll Holiday 2018

We always love collaborating with other brands to bring new designs to our paper. In some cases, our partnerships have resulted in multiple collections over the years.

We were delighted when our friends at J.McLaughlin approached us earlier this year to collaborate for the third time. Once the design process began, we knew that we wanted to try something completely different!

When the J.McLaughlin team showed us the geometric prints from their fabric collaboration with Florida-based artist John Pirman, we were absolutely charmed! The pops of red, gold, and blue would translate beautifully to the linings of our envelopes, and engraved holiday sentiments would tie the collection together.

We’re thrilled to ring in the holiday season with our J.McLaughlin Holiday card collection!

Shop the collection: J.McLaughlin Holiday

Brand Friend Spotlight: Tadd Casner

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Tadd Casner as part of our new Brand Friend Spotlight series. Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Tadd is a Gilded Age historian, architecture enthusiast, writer, and more!

How did you learn about Dempsey & Carroll? Were there any particular products that drew you in?

I actually found your firm a couple years ago while looking for a proper engraved calling card. I used my Emily Post etiquette book (1924 edition) as my guide!

When ordering my calling cards I knew that I only wanted my full name centered in the middle and my street address only (not city & state) in smaller font size in the lower right corner. Very old fashioned! I live in a city, albeit much smaller than New York! The font style and card stock thickness were very important to me. The calling cards that Dempsey & Carroll produced for me are perfect in every way!

How do you make traditions modern? We’d love to hear more about the work that you do in your historic neighborhood!

My husband and I live in our 1908 Queen Anne twin townhouse here in the Centre Park Historic District here in Reading, PA. The Centre Park Historic District, Inc. is a volunteer neighborhood organization that was established in 1982. Its mission is “to promote architectural preservation and enhance neighborhood living.” We have various events throughout the year including our annual Gourmet Garden Tour and Christmas House Tour. We promote our events on our website as well as on our Facebook page. In 2008, “This Old House Magazine” named Centre Park Historic District one of the top ten neighborhoods in America to purchase an historic fixer-upper.

I am now in my third year of serving as President of the Centre Park District. Truthfully, I became President because few people were interested in undertaking the task, though it has been a rewarding experience so far!

When did you know that you wanted to be a historian? Are there any particular time periods that interest you the most?

I’ve been fascinated by history and architecture since childhood. I suppose I was born with a talent for it! My main focus is on The Gilded Age in America and Britain because I’ve always loved the style of that period. I can remember reading the same books over and over again and being obsessed with photographs taken during that era when I was young.

Are there any interesting projects that you’re working on now?

I am currently working on writing a Biography of J.H. Sternberg, a steel magnate here in Reading during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. He was a very important pioneer in the iron and steel industry, as he patented machinery to produce nuts and bolts. For seven years, I actually resided in the home he had constructed. The home, “Stirling,” sits on a five-acre property in the Centre Park neighborhood.

I am the co-host for two live TV programs at our community television station. One of the shows covers the Centre Park Historic District events, and the other show, “The Passing Scene,” is focused on local history in general.

Where is your favorite place to write and catch up on correspondence?

As we are restoring our home, I’m limited to writing at a small built-in desk in one of our dressing rooms. I also use the dining table in our restored dining room, though I am currently looking for an Edwardian period writing desk.

I love writing letters and notes. In our modern era of texts and emails, a handwritten missive seems so much more special and permanent.

Brand Friend Spotlight: Kerrie Kelly

Based in California, Kerrie Kelly is an award-winning interior designer, author and contributor, product designer and multi-media consultant, and more! On Kerrie’s trip to NYC last weekend, she paid us a visit at our flagship store on the Upper East Side to work on a bespoke stationery project and see our latest collections.

How did you learn about Dempsey & Carroll? Do you have plans for your next set of bespoke stationery with us?

I was born in California and my husband was born on New York’s Lower East Side. When we would come to visit New York (we live in California now), we would each share our version of the city. My husband would take me to his church, his school, and Katz’s Deli. Having worked for Ralph Lauren Home Collection, my version of the city was all about Park Avenue, the Polo Bar, and MoMA. While enjoying those neighborhoods, I came across Dempsey & Carroll and fell in love with the quality, history, and brand story. That translated into creating bespoke stationery for my husband, and ultimately for myself. I am currently putting together a bespoke collection that highlights my Blonde Fox accessory collection with GO Home, Ltd. It will be a flat card with a navy blue border and a side profile of a golden fox leaping.

How do you make traditions modern?

I believe traditions can be made modern by adding our own personal spin to family tradition along the way; add modern glassware to a china set, cover a family heirloom in a modern looking fabric, or use an updated font or stamp on a traditionally patterned card or note.

Tell us more about your love of history and how you incorporate vintage pieces into your work and own home!

When it comes to history, I love to celebrate my family’s heritage. Our dining room is painted a deep navy blue and has a wall of white shelving that features my great grandpa’s trumpet, my in-laws’ wedding photos, my grandma’s old encyclopedia set, and my grandpa’s shaving kit and camera. Being surrounded by these pieces in a place where we entertain and enjoy friends and family is so comforting. We reminisce about so many good times while creating even more!

Where is your favorite place to write and catch up on correspondence?

I love to write in my home at a secretary that I designed for one of my furniture collections. It has several letters posted with special messages from dear friends and family. It also has my stamps, beloved pens and letter openers. To be surrounded by my favorite things always makes for better letter writing.

What are a few of your favorite things to do in your spare time?

As an interior designer and product developer, I appreciate unique designs, rich experiences, and quality goods. I love practicing yoga, visiting art museums, enjoying special dinners in the city with friends, and taking weekend trips to nearby Napa Valley. These experiences will always keep my creative juices flowing while providing the opportunity to meet new people (and send more correspondence!).

Thank you for sharing with us, Kerrie! Be sure to check out Kerrie’s Instagram (@kerrielkelly) and website to learn more about her work and travels.

Learn more about being a Dempsey & Carroll Brand Friend!

Handwritten Thank-You Notes Have Surprising Consequences

In a recent piece on Psychology Today’s site, Author Christopher Bergland asks readers: “When was the last time you sent someone a handwritten ‘thank you’ note of gratitude or appreciation?”

Throughout the article, Bergland references a fascinating new study on the underestimated benefits of handwritten letters and the importance of putting pen to paper. This study, “Undervaluing Gratitude: Expressers Misunderstand the Consequences of Showing Appreciation,” was led by Amit Kumar, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Texas, and Nicholas Epley, Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago.

One of our favorite points from the research is how the action of expressing gratitude in a handwritten letter is proven to boost positive emotions for both the writer and the recipient; it’s a win-win situation!

Photo Aug 20, 5 03 17 PM

“We looked at what’s correlating with people’s likelihood of expressing gratitude—what drives those choices—and what we found is that predictions or expectations of that awkwardness, that anticipation of how a recipient would feel—those are the things that matter when people are deciding whether to express gratitude or not,” Kumar said in a statement. “What we saw is that it only takes a couple of minutes to compose letters like these, thoughtful ones and sincere ones. It comes at little cost, but the benefits are larger than people expect.”

Over here at Dempsey & Carroll, we always love reading about the positive feelings associated with handwritten letters. We invite you to read Bergland’s full post, “Handwritten Thank-You Notes Have Surprising Consequences,” so that you can get inspired to put pen to paper!

#makingtraditionsmodern

capri 2

Destination Dempsey: On the Mediterranean

There’s nothing better than coming home to your own bed after a few days or weeks away, but boy, those vacation days sure are lovely to look back and reflect on…

Carolyn, here, from Dempsey & Carroll’s marketing department. I just returned from eleven days traveling through the Mediterranean. It was absolutely fabulous. There is nothing better than the crystal clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the delicious salty breeze in the air.

I started out in Nice, France – a perfect jumping off point, especially if you want to spend some time exploring some of the nearby towns. A favorite of mine is Beaulieu-sur-Mer. If you’re looking to stay over, I recommend La Reserve de Beaulieu as it’s centrally located, and the hotel itself is gorgeous, with an unbelievable pool and access to the sea.

From Nice, I went off to Saint-Tropez where I spent most of the day at the famed beacb club, Le Club 55. There are many other beach clubs along the same stretch of beach – Nikki Beach, Tahiti Beach, to name a few – but I’m partial to Le Club 55 which sits at the end of beach and is a bit more relaxed and quiet – perfect for families!

Next up, Marseille, France! To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect in Marseille and I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the newer buildings on the city’s waterfront including the MuCEM, built in 2013, were incredible. The MuCEM had a wonderful Ai Weiwei exhibit that I was lucky to see.

After a day in Marseille, it was off to Corsica. I visited a charming coastal village called Calvi which has beautiful shops, and stunning beaches. The water was the perfect respite from peak afternoon heat.

Onto Sardinia! I spent the day in Alghero on the northwest coast of Sardinia. The town has a ton of Catalan influences though it is Italian. The beaches were breathtaking, though my favorite part of my visit was tasting a local delicacy: seada – a semolina dumpling filled with pecorino cheese and topped with honey.

From Sardinia, I traveled to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. I took a biking tour of the old city and saw everything from the iconic cathedral, to hidden shops on cobblestone streets. I only wish I had had more time there. I’m told the Belmond La Residenicia Hotel is magical…A reason to journey back to Mallorca!

The final stop of my trip was Barcelona, Spain, a city that I have visited before, and could travel back to time and time again. Everything from the palm trees, to the grand avenues, to the delicious food and divine smells draws me back to this incredible city. I spent two days of my trip exploring Mountjuic and visited the Joan Miro Foundation, the Botanical Gardens, the Greek Gardens, and strolled through the windy, charming streets of the neighborhood.

That’s all for now….Until next time!

Xo
Carolyn

#DestinationDempsey

What’s in the Box?

Sure, we love keeping our note cards and sheets in our Keepsake Leather Boxes, but once our papers run out, we often wind up using our signature boxes for all kinds of fun storage needs. If you’re nearing the end of your stationery supply here are a few tricks we’ve been using ourselves that we thought you all might enjoy!

Some of our favorite pens and a few forever stamps – perfect for when we’re writing a note. All of our supplies are in one place!
A few of our favorite necklaces and rings to keep them from getting tangled in a larger jewelry box
Scarves — Summer, winter, you name it. Our boxes have everything from wool scarves to silk scarves stored in them.
Lipstick – sometimes we’ll use a few boxes depending on the lipstick color. One for reds, one for pinks, one for clear glosses.
Buttons – finally a place to keep all of those extra buttons from new sweater purchases.
Photos — Retro, we know. Our boxes are perfect for any old photos, or even new ones (some of us still get them printed)!
Letters — A given coming from us, but a very true statement. We LOVE saving letters and invitations from friends and family. Our boxes are the perfect place to store them.

We’d love to hear about how you would use your Dempsey & Carroll Keepsake Leather Box. Purchase your own box on our site and share with us on Instagram @dempseycarroll.

Spotlight on Sister Parish Design

In honor of our new collaboration with Sister Parish Design, we had the pleasure of interviewing its President and Co-Founder, Susan Crater. We learned about her decorating style, inspirations, and the lasting influence of her grandmother, legendary Designer Sister Parish.

We are thrilled to bring the Parish-Hadley design legacy to paper with the launch of our Desmond and Serendipity correspondence card sets!

Susan with one of our Desmond cards

Sister Parish fabrics

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Desmond

What inspired you to revive your Grandmother’s work and start Sister Parish Design in 2000? Did you always know that you wanted to work in the design field?

The truth is that I did not always know that I wanted to work in the design field. I did always know that I appreciated a beautifully decorated room, and especially appreciated and loved the rooms that my grandmother and Albert [Hadley] designed. It is these rooms that inspired me to create this collection.

Serendipity red wallpaper

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Serendipity

Many of your patterns are from the Parish-Hadley archives, though you have also launched new patterns along with a home accessories collection. How do you find a balance between honoring the Parish-Hadley tradition while continuing to update your offerings?

We look to the rooms that Parish-Hadley decorated and we look to the rooms that inspired Parish-Hadley to guide us in building our collection. How are textiles being used and what types of textiles are being used in these rooms? Will decorators today want to use these textiles in the same way or will they want to use them differently? These are the types of questions we ask ourselves in order to build a collection that will continue to honor the Parish-Hadley legacy.

Desmond Wallpaper

A home study with Desmond Wallpaper

What is your favorite piece of decorating advice that you like to share with friends and clients?

“Innovation is often the ability to reach into the past and bring back what is good, what is beautiful, what is useful, what is lasting.” -Sister Parish

Photo: Horst P. Horst/Condé Nast Archive

Sister Parish, 1974

What do you think that everyone should avoid when decorating a home? Do you have any design-related pet peeves?

One thing my grandmother taught me was the importance of scale. Overly large and overstuffed furniture will ruin a room.

You have a gorgeous house up in Bedford, New York! How would you compare your personal design aesthetic to that of your Grandmother’s? Do you have any favorite pieces of hers that you have out in your home (furniture, decorative pieces, etc)?

I’ve always wanted to create the same comfortable and beautiful rooms for my family that my mother and grandmother created for theirs. I’m particularly in love with a green velvet Lawson style sofa designed by Billy Baldwin. Baldwin was small in physical stature and would use the Lawson sofa as his bed in his studio apartment. The same green velvet has been on the sofa since the 1980’s and it has only gotten better with time!

Photo: Oberto Gili for Architectural Digest

We’d love to hear a bit more about the Desmond and Serendipity patterns that are featured as part of our collaboration. How did you end up choosing these particular designs?

Both Desmond and the Serendipity are small all over prints that make a big impact. They are tried and true patterns that have added depth and sophistication to many rooms over the years. We knew they would have the same effect on stationery as they’ve had on rooms.

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Serendipity

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Desmond

You have priceless handwritten letters from First Lady Jackie Kennedy to your grandmother in your archives—a perfect tie-in with our partnership. Why do you think that handwritten correspondence is still important in 2018?

A beautifully handwritten letter is like a beautifully decorated room. If properly cared for, it will last forever!

A closer look at a letter from Jackie Kennedy to Sister Parish

Letters from First Lady Jackie Kennedy

Where is your ideal place to sit down and write a letter?

My porch in Maine.

Susan and her daughter, Eliza, at the Dempsey & Carroll office during the photo shoot for our collaboration

Many thanks to Susan for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to shop our collaboration on our site here!

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Tag Archives for inspiration

Brand Friend Spotlight: Danielle Murdock

Our Annual Sale 2019: Frequently Asked Questions

A Look Back at our 2018 Partnerships

J.McLaughlin x Dempsey & Carroll Holiday 2018

Brand Friend Spotlight: Tadd Casner

Brand Friend Spotlight: Kerrie Kelly

Handwritten Thank-You Notes Have Surprising Consequences

Destination Dempsey: On the Mediterranean

What’s in the Box?

Spotlight on Sister Parish Design

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