Our process for creating bespoke, social stationery is intimate and personal.
When a Bespoke Monogram is commissioned, our clients are brought through a series of interviews and questions similar to what is used in branding research. This investigation discovers the core visual representation of who you are and how you wish to be perceived. Remember, when someone receives a note, calling card, or letter from you, you have one shot to make that perfect impression. Mutually, we evaluate reference material, historic and contemporary. We talk a whole lot, and/or we exchange emails sharing photos and images from the environment, museums, magazines, blogs, etc.
We look at loads and loads of colors for the ink to be engraved onto the client’s stationery. All ink but black is mixed by hand and to the eye. Matching as closely as possible a target color. Target colors are usually paint chips, clippings from bits and pieces found in the environment, and some commercial color-matching systems. Why, once, a client asked that a very specific New York City dirt be matched. And, it was!
In terms of papers, we keep in stock only one. #9 Onion Skin paper, a photograph of it in use is at the right. Of course, for everyday correspondence, we recommend our gorgeous, Alpha Cellulose, eggshell, and smooth writing papers that Mrs. Collins uses herself. Additionally, we work with a super-thick, 100% Cotton Museum Board.
We counsel clients to understand that this is considered a slow process. Similar to the slow food industry. Think of what we do as slow stationery. Patience with us is a virtue.
What we do involves hours of hand labor and little is automated. Slight variances in print quality and eccentricities, in general, are to be expected.
To commission your own engraved stationery, and for current pricing, have a look HERE.