By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Pearl Stationery
Pearl Stationery’s charming line of trick or treat favor boxes, ideal for your chic Halloween party.
Philadelphia native Stephanie H. was invited to a card making class about a year ago with her cousin. It seemed to awaken her child within. Stephanie had a passion for scrapbooking, crafting and paper projects as a little girl—spending hours working her way through stationery kits and playing with stamps, construction paper and embellishments. And, thus, a few weeks after her class, Pearl Stationery-her popular line of high-end custom stationery-was born.
Now thriving on Etsy.com, an online store for artisans, collectors and hand crafters, Stephanie finds inspiration abounds from just her daily life. “I was riding the train into work one day this summer and noticed all the men in their business shirts that looked so crisp-white with the pinstripes. I thought the designs were very intricate and clean and summery, so my mind started thinking. A few weeks later, I put together a set of cards from that one thought. Inspiration can come from anywhere and with stationery, you can really go in so many directions-have fun, be creative,” enthused the young designer.
As part of her fall line, Pearl’s selection includes these autumnal shades accented by charming quotes from well-known authors, like Emily Bronte. “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”
Since her launch last year with her incredibly affordable line (over half the price less than any retail or custom stationery store), Stephanie, 23 and a Lansdale native, has prospered with her business [keenly] referred to in short as P.S. or Pearl Stationery. Stephanie is very inspired by the seasons, especially her weekend jaunts down to the Jersey shore. “I found this Martha Stewart anchor punch and I just worked around it, and created something my own. I love the shore, love summer. Handcrafting is back, and Etsy obviously is providing this cool technology to support the resurgence of this industry. People get great delight in sending something handmade and when someone takes the time to send a friend or loved one a card, thank you note…it is special and something that is really appreciated.”
Etsy Site: pearlstationery.etsy.com
Started on Etsy: March 2008
Price Range: $1.50 and up per invitation/item
Sales on Etsy: 90
Email: pearlstationery@yahoo.com
Hometown: Lansdale
Age: 23
High School: North Penn
College: DeSales University
Occupation: Events Editor
Invite your guests in style with Pearl’s understated, yet elegant, Thanksgiving invitations.
A Sale Down Under: An Etsy customer from Australia recently a placed an order with Pearl Stationery. “That really made me excited to think someone in Australia, on the other side of the world, appreciates my stationery and will be using it to send thank you notes to their friends! It’s pretty cool,” said Stephanie.
Attention to Detail: Every piece of Pearl Stationery is handmade and created by Stephanie herself-every ribbon is hand tied, every embellishment glued by hand, every stamp perfectly centered and placed on her invitations, every piece of paper meticulously handled when it comes off the printer. “I am very careful and precise with all my products; it is my name behind it. It’s time consuming but that is what my customers expect and appreciate.”
Spook-tackular Selection: Halloween parties are right around the corner, and Pearl Stationery has created the coolest invites around. Wow your guests with the shabby chic look of Pearl’s classic-meets-contemporary Trick or Treat invitation. The original design is custom printed with hi-definition ink on smooth pumpkin orange cardstock & hand-embellished with mini Swarovski crystals. Pearl’s line comes with a matching black linen envelope. Stephanie recommends writing the recipient’s address on the front using a white gel pen (not included) for a chic look. $2.50 per, 5 x 7. Visit Pearl Stationery.
Etsy Love: “I am always amazed by the talent on Etsy, I find myself getting caught up in the photography, the pottery—really everything. Etsy gives me, as a handcrafter, this awesome appreciation for people with so many levels of talent.”
Seaside Heights: Pearl’s seasonal lines are just what Main Liners and consumers alike, who appreciate a creative eye and great value, are looking for. Her summer barbeque and nautical-themed party invites are simple, clean, and preppy and have wide appeal.
Send seasonal sentiments this fall with this series of greeting cards, hand stamped inside in chocolate ink with the greeting “Warmest Wishes.”
Publisher’s Picks: We can hardly wait for Turkey Day here at AML, one of our favorite holidays. So, we are ordering Pearl’s Rustic Leaf Table Setting Set-an adorable Menu and Place Card Duo for Thanksgiving Dinner. The holiday line boasts ever-so-slightly distressed edges and chocolate brown ink on smooth ivory stock card. It is not only chic but super affordable, one menu and one place setting is only $1.50 for the pair!). Visit Pearl Stationery.
Bridal Bliss: Stephanie’s customized wedding invitations are one part of her booming Etsy-based business. One of her favorite brides had a Hawaiian-themed wedding with a magenta and black color scheme. “I did not want something in your face ‘Hawaiian’, it was very fun to work with a cool, contemporary color theme of black and hot pink and make it work in a sophisticated fashion,” explained Stephanie.
My Best Friend’s Wedding: Stephanie’s best friend is getting married in July 2010, so she is working closely with her for an elegant, custom invite. She will work with local brides within the greater Philadelphia region to develop stunning, yet affordable, wedding stationery. “I really enjoy working with brides and having that one-on-one interaction. They take their invitations very seriously so it’s a rewarding creative process for me.”
In The Works: Pearl Stationery can provide Save the Date cards, Holy Communion invites, bridal and baby shower invitations and more. Stephanie will be expanding the line to include other selections this fall, due to customer request, including some custom family party invites for Yours Truly!
A full selection of Pearl Stationery’s custom stationery and invitations, from wedding to holiday themes, baby announcements and more can be found on her Etsy site at http://pearlstationery.com. To inquire about custom orders, email: pearlstationery@yahoo.com.
Know a great Etsy vendor that’s based in the Delaware Valley? Send us their link for consideration for our Etsy Phavorites series. Contact: info@aroundmainline.com
