Calling Cards

What inspired you to launch your own stationery business?

I have always loved stationery and have been an avid collector of paper ephemera since I was a little girl. Stickers, stamps, notecards, notepads, confetti, pens, pencils—you name it, I collect it. When my youngest child started kindergarten, I knew it was time to turn my passion for paper into a career. The business has never just been about making cute stationery; it’s about cultivating meaningful correspondence, thoughtfulness, love and gratitude.   

Did you love writing letters as a little girl? What was the ‘aha moment’ that made you want to turn this into a business?

I first started writing letters when I went to sleepaway camp when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I loved sending detailed accounts of my camp experience back home, and I couldn’t wait for correspondence from friends and family back home. Receiving mail has never gotten old for me — I believe it is one of life’s great joys. It’s such fun to see familiar handwriting on an envelope, or to receive a fabulous invitation addressed with beautiful calligraphy. December is my favorite month for mail—I absolutely adore getting holiday cards and watching my friends’ kids grow over the years.

Tell us about the best letter you’ve ever received.

Some of my favorite letters are from my children. I love seeing their adorable wobbly handwriting and cute messages. I also cherish a letter that my grandfather wrote to me when I graduated college. His belief in me meant so much, and I am so lucky to have the letter as a keepsake that I can return to and reread. 

Tell us about your design process. Where do you begin when designing a new line of stationery or other product?

I mull over new designs and products for a long time to get them just right. Inspiration can really come from anywhere: I’ll see something in a magazine, at a museum or in a boutique that gets my wheels turning and makes me want to make something. I then sketch designs and edit them until they make the cut. I literally drew hundreds of little hearts to find the exact design I wanted for our Love Notes notecard sets, which ended up being one of my favorite new designs. 

We are so excited for your collaboration with Riggs! The hotel has a number of feminine touches throughout (including, our favorite, the First Lady Suites). How do you think that aligns with your style/brand?

We are super excited, too! I am an avid traveler (and am a bit hotel obsessed), so I am delighted about this collaboration. Dear Annabelle definitely has a sophisticated, feminine vibe that makes it the perfect fit for Riggs. The key to our aesthetic is the dash of irreverence and wit. Yes, we love hearts, pink, and other traditionally girly things, but we always keep it elevated and never get too cutesy. 

Dear Annabelle offers much more than stationery now. Tell us about your latest collections and the inspiration behind them. What other products do you hope to introduce under the Dear Annabelle brand?

We started with notecards and notepads, but I quickly realized I wanted to incorporate an entertaining aspect (any excuse to host more dinner parties!) so we developed a line of place cards. From there we launched our gifting component with gift tags and wrapping paper, which have been a big hit. We recently introduced place card holders (our customers were begging for them) and cocktail napkins to round out our entertaining offerings, as well as a super fun deck of playing cards based on my love of party games. We’re in the process of creating notebooks, pens, and the most fabulous candles in gorgeous porcelain vessels. 

You have a large coffee table book collection. Do you have any favorites? Any tips on styling these as décor?

I love books, especially art books, and am always building my library. Whenever I see a new exhibit at a museum, I love to buy the book or catalog as a keepsake of the experience. I also adore books on travel, décor and florals (my other passions). I plan to someday write a book about the history of flowers in art, from the Dutch masters to contemporary artists.  

It is hard to pick favorites in terms of my book collection. That said, I am currently very into the catalog from the Rothko Retrospective at the Foundation Louis Vuitton (a favorite exhibit of 2023); my friend Bronson van Wyck’s book, Born to Party, Forced to Work (which features the most fabulous gold cover); and a vintage edition of Vogue’s Book of Etiquette from 1969 that was a present from my best friend, Melissa. 

You love stationery so much that it was even your beat at Town & Country. How did covering the market prepare you to launch your business?

Working as an editor at Town & Country really helped me develop my eye and personal aesthetic. When I covered the stationery market for the Weddings issues, I loved meeting various stationers and learning about the different printing processes. I briefly considered purchasing Mrs. John L Strong when it came up for sale, but I didn’t have enough capital at the time to do so. After having four kids and taking a long hiatus from the workforce, I knew that starting a stationery business was a dream that I had to pursue. 

Finally, what’s next for you? What’s next for Dear Annabelle?

Personally, I am excited for some fun travel this summer. We will be celebrating my husband’s 50^th birthday in Capri with friends, which is going to be incredible. I am also training for the NYC Marathon in early November. It has been on my bucket list forever, and I can’t wait to experience the magical energy of marathon day as one of the runners.  

In terms of Dear Annabelle, I’d like to continue expanding our wholesale business, so our products are accessible to people all around the country. I’m jazzed about the new products that we are working on, especially our Love Notes candles. I have a secret not-so-secret dream to open a Dear Annabelle boutique in New York City at some point in the not-too-distant future—I’ll keep you posted.