Thankful
We’ve had an incredible year since our launch at the end of January. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for family, friends and all of our customers who have entrusted Stargrass Paper to deliver cards and journals to capture heartfelt sentiments and send joy and support to others. We thank you for your support of our small but growing business. We are also thankful for the amazing designers we are privileged to partner with – both in the U.S. and abroad.
We’re excited to announce our participation in Black Friday AND Cyber Monday. Visit StargrassPaper.com on Friday and Monday for deals on select beautiful (actually, some are downright gorgeous) cards and journals.
Sending warm wishes,
Alex & Martha
New Tuesday Goodies
“There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved.” ― Charles Morgan
The summer months seem to fly past. Here in Virginia Beach, we have memories of quick trips to the beach, mosquitoes, and our vegetable garden which is providing more cucumbers than is humanly possible for a small family to eat (which is good for our neighbors).
In the midst of this fleeting summer, we’re continuing to add new paper goodies every Tuesday, and introducing new designers too. We most recently began offering personalized stationery from Honizukle Press, based out of New Jersey, and fantastic greeting cards from Blackbird Letterpress, based out of Louisiana.
Our newsletter subscribers receive an email sneak peek and early advance of any sales too (you can sign up at the bottom of the Stargrass Paper homepage).
As time presses on, the surprise and magic of receiving a note in the mail still holds true. Take a moment to jot a quick note to a friend or family member today to share how much they are loved.
Follow us on facebook and twitter for extra frequent musings.
Thanks via Post-It
“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.” – Ralph Marston
I recently loaned a dear book to a friend, and received this thank you post-it tucked into the book a few weeks later. It reads, “Alex, Thank you so much for introducing me to this book. Very inspiring and I’ve recommended it to tons of folks. Take care and hope to see you soon! Sheldon”
As one-half of the Stargrass Paper Co founding team, procuring fine cards and stationery from around the world, I chuckled when I received this note. Does it matter my friend didn’t purchase, at the least, some cheap thank you card in order to better express his gratitude? I don’t think so.
A great piece of correspondence is thoughtful, memorable and clearly conveys the sentiment to the intended audience; it’s a reflection of both the sender and the sender’s understanding of the recipient. And a great thank you note, in particular, includes why the sender is thankful and how the gift has left an impact on them. There’s definitely a time, place and recipient for every kind of correspondence.
Spring Cleaning
It’s April and we’re finally thawing out. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, allergy season is upon us, and we feel compelled to get rid of the clutter in our lives. Our big issue is paperwork, but we also like to thin our overflowing bookcases. While parting with books is always bittersweet, we have a method to pass on the love we hold for our books AND keep in touch with friends year-round.
For the books you’ve decided to hold in your hand to savor at every opportunity, when you crack the spine open to the first page, pick a favorite notecard or postcard to use as a bookmark. When we do this, that card will accompany us on our entire journey through exotic locations (both literally and figuratively), whodunnits and laugh out loud comedies.
When we’re finished we write a note on our card to a favorite friend, pack it up with the book, and wish them both all the best. It’s a great way to say hello to a dear friend and make room for new books.
Looking for some great books to read and share? Some of our Favorites:
What books should we add to our to-read and share list?
Planning for the Future
We get through the dark chill of this season by planning for the future. And we prefer to capture our thoughts and dreams in a beautiful journal or inspirational jotter. Check out the stunning journals we sell at StargrassPaper.com <here>.
New to using a journal to take your life to the next level? Tinybuddha.com offers several tips to kickstart your journaling routine, including:
1) Start writing about where you are in your life at this moment. Describe your living situation, your work, and your relationships. Are you right where you want to be?
2) Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by maintaining a daily list of things you appreciate in your life, including uplifting quotes. Keep it in one journal or in a separate section so that you can read through it all at once. When you feel down you can read through it for a boost of gratitude and happiness.
3) Maintain a log of successes. Begin by writing the big ones you remember then regularly jot down small successes that occur during the week. As you pay attention, your list will grow and inspire you.
And check out a few of our favorite books for starting on the path of your dreams:
Starting a business? Check out: The $100 Startup, The Power of Starting Something Stupid, The Right-Brain Business Plan
Leading a healthy lifestyle? We like: The New Abs Diet, Essential Eating, Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses
Spending more time with your family? Some productivity favorites: Getting Things Done, The 4-Hour Workweek
Use the draw of hibernation to start planning and walking down the path of your dreams!
Do Something for Valentine’s Day
Love Letter to a senior
Did you know depression and isolation affect more than 6.5 million Americans ages 65 and older? According to AARP, “an estimated 6 percent of people ages 65 and older in a given year, or approximately 2 million individuals in this age group, have a diagnosable depressive illness.”
We joined the Love Letters movement with AARP and DoSomething.org to write Valentine’s for Meals on Wheels to deliver to seniors at risk for depression. Thank you to Massage Luxe and the Board Members of Girls on the Road South Hampton Roads for helping with this effort! We know how important a card can be when filled with encouragement!
Do You Write To Strangers?
Have you ever left a card for a complete stranger to find?
If not, we’re happy to introduce you to the MoreLoveLetters.com movement. Hannah Brencher created More Love Letters after writing 400 love letters to strangers over the course of a year. Now, her organization encourages people around the world to do the same to “lift, empower and mobilize individuals through tangible acts of love.” People who find these notes tucked away on shelves, left behind on a chair, sitting near a swing, have commented that reading these words of encouragement and inspiration from complete strangers makes them feel valued, understood and encouraged to continue through tough times.
For that reason, with every StargrassPaper.com order, we’re including a free “card for a stranger.” We’ll get you kicked off with a quote on the front, but it’s up to you to write something from the heart on the inside. It doesn’t have to be long or particularly profound. It’s a nice note with your words of encouragement. And when Hannah began writing those notes years ago, she found that leaving notes for others helped her get through her own tough times! You can learn more about Hannah by watching her TED talk.
We’d love to see where you leave these notes! Take a picture of your note and tag us on facebook or send an email to hello@stargrasspaper.com.
In the meantime, we’re excited to hear if any of you have already left a kind note for a stranger – please take our poll and let us know!
Launching an Online Paper Boutique. Um, why?
We’re excited to open http://www.StargrassPaper.com for business! But, we have to admit, the responses range from sheer exhilaration about the ability to purchase fine paper goods online, to utter confusion about attempting to revive a pastime beyond resuscitation.
Well, we absolutely LOVE finding quality paper goods with unique visuals and a strong voice. Just scouring the earth for these finds gets us excited – and if you’re reading this you probably share in our enthusiasm. But it’s also the use of these paper goods that gets us excited.
When you send a card or letter through the mail, it’s no longer the sum of it’s parts – it’s more than that. Technically it’s a few ounces of pulp and a bit of ink. And yet, to the person who receives that piece of mail, it feels like a hug, a high five, a big smile, or a sensuous back rub. From there, it’s a souvenir from a moment in time, and every time you gaze upon it is like stepping into a time machine.
We get bogged down in the day-to-day mechanics of our lives; sending your friend or family member a tangible piece of yourself builds relationships and can change a person’s world.
So, um, that’s why we’re so excited! Go ahead and send some paper love to friends and family today: http://www.stargrasspaper.com
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