Handwritten History: Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865 Union officer Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger read aloud General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas. This date, which has become known as Juneteenth, informed Texas that all those enslaved in the state were free.
In 2020, archivists at the National Archives in Washington discovered the original, handwritten record of the Union Army order buried in a leather-bound book — its location largely unknown until then.
Destination Weddings with Cristina Verger
If there’s anyone who knows how to plan a destination wedding it’s Cristina Verger. For over 15 years, Cristina and her team have built a reputation for innovation, impeccable taste and a keen eye for detail.
Love Through Letters: John Keats & Fanny Brawne
The story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne is beautiful and tragic. Much of what we know about their relationship is because of the letters Keats wrote to Brawne throughout their short and ill-fated time together.
Our Mid-Winter Mood Board
A little inspiration for the cold winter months.
Getting Creative: Our Annual Sale
Our Annual Sale is in full swing it’s the perfect time to have some fun with your correspondence! If you’re familiar with our sale, you know the drill: a new one-line name plate, 100 engraved cards and plain envelopes.
You don’t have to stop there though! Yes, added finishings are an additional cost, but with engraving and a complimentary plate, now is the perfect time to think outside the box and design something really special.
We’ve come up with a few inspirational ideas to get your creative juices flowing…
Summer Entertaining with Stephanie Cain
Stephanie Cain is a journalist, media coach, brand strategist and longtime brand friend! She currently writes for The New York Times, Fortune, and Vinepair, and her byline has also appeared in Hamptons, The Knot, Brides, and many other major publications. She and her husband Vik moonlight as an expert hosts, coordinating everything from large cocktail parties to birthdays for her daughters, Phoenix and Selene.
Spotlight on Mariah Grumet of Old Soul Etiquette
Mariah Grumet of Old Soul Etiquette is an etiquette consultant and our latest collaborator! We had the pleasure of speaking to her about how she started her business, her philosophy on etiquette, and how to incorporate letter writing into your daily life.
Gracious Living: Attending Dinner Parties
As we approach the summer months, we begin dinner party season! Here is some etiquette advice to keep in mind if you’d like to be a gracious guest.
Mother's Day Gift Guide
With Mother’s Day coming up, we have moms on our mind. If you’re celebrating someone this year – whether is be your mom, someone who’s like a mom to you, or mom friends and family, our Mother’s Day Gift Collection will help you pick the perfect present just for them.
National Letter Writing Month 2023
April is our favorite month of the year because it’s National Letter Writing Month! This year we’re celebrating some of the ways letter writing has featured in pop culture – through movies, books, and music. We hope our recommendations (head’s up – synopses contain some spoilers!) inspire you to watch, read, listen, and then write!
How to Write a Meaningful Condolence Note
A meaningful condolence note can be one of the most difficult things to write. It’s not easy to know what to say to someone during such a sensitive time. The best condolence notes are warm, personable, and consider the needs of the recipient.
International Women’s Day 2023
International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. Today, we’re celebrating the women who are a part of the Dempsey & Carroll family with a look back at the collaborations we’ve done with some extraordinary women. They make the world a more thoughtful, creative, and kinder place. We’re so grateful to know them and encourage them today and every day!
Dress Your Desk: Valentine’s Day
It’s February and love is in the air! We can’t wait to cozy up with some tea and cookies in our favorite writing spot and send some valentines!
Whether you’re sending declarations of romantic love or reminding your friends how much you care, “Dress Your Desk” in love with this curated collection of items from some of our favorite brands to set the mood for some Valentine’s Day correspondence.
Staff Picks: Our Annual Sale 2023
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the Dempsey & Carroll Annual Sale! We’ll be celebrating all month long. Need some inspiration for your stationery? Check out what our team is getting this year, and then head on over to Our Annual Sale to create your own!
Emily Post’s ‘Etiquette’ Receives a Modern, Centennial Update
When Emily Post initially published her principles on etiquette in 1922, she couldn’t have anticipated just how much would change in the coming century. Now, in 2022, her descendants Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning sought to update their great-great grandmother’s work.
Upon its initial release, Emily Post’s Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home was a topical, comprehensive guide on how to conduct oneself in early 20th century society. Spanning subjects from afternoon teas to debutante balls, the book now acts as a benchmark for just how much social expectations have shifted over the past century.
Yes, People Do Still Love Paper! – Why Handwritten Notes are in Vogue
In an era where conversations about the metaverse and cryptocurrency feel inescapable, it seems that the world is beginning to lean away from tangible experiences. As a brand that prides itself on preserving the tangible, we at Dempsey and Carroll are constantly fielding the question “do people even use this stuff anymore?” But in a recent article, Axios asked their readers if they still value a handwritten note. The response was overwhelmingly positive – yes! In fact, across all generations it seems that the novelty of the handwritten note is what makes it so special.
“Thank-you notes are such a dying artthat the person I’m thanking often thanks me for sending the note,” one reader shared. The New York Times published an article expressing a similar sentiment, consulting with our collaborator Nick Leighton of the Were You Raised By Wolves podcast. Nick shared similar findings, stating that “thousands of listeners tell us that they’re disappointed in how no one writes notes anymore saying thanks.”
Spotlight On Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne
Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne started Warm & Wonderful in 1979, selling knitted jumpers from a market stall in Covent Garden, London. The pattern – rows of white sheep and one proverbial “black sheep” was a major hit and seemed to resonate with some more well-known black sheep of the time: David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Shelley Duvall, Penelope Keith, Anthony Andrews — and, of course, Lady Diana Spencer.
Warm & Wonderful x Dempsey & Carroll
Warm & Wonderful was founded by friends Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir, who began selling their knitted jumpers out of a market stall in West London’s Covent Garden in 1979. Their first design – one black sheep amongst a flock of white ones – instantly became a global phenomenon when a young Lady Diana Spencer was photographed wearing it to a polo match. Now, over forty years later, this iconic “Black Sheep” design continues to make people smile, and is fittingly enshrined in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s permanent collection.
Fall Favorites: Thanksgiving Host Gifts
As the holiday season grows ever closer, our calendars begin to fill up with dinner parties and events. If you’re looking for a way to thank the hosts in your life, don’t fret! The Dempsey and Carroll team is sharing what they’re bringing to the table this year.
Our 144th Birthday!
This coming Sunday marks Dempsey & Carroll’s 144th birthday!
While almost every aspect of 21st century New York would feel foreign to John Dempsey and George Carroll, our shop on 1049 Lexington would be a source of familiarity and comfort. We have continued to celebrate the art of engraving since 1878!
Carolyn + Zach
Carolyn and Zach chose our Embassy sized invitations with baron ink. The couple went with a modern typestyle called “Veritas.” The invitations are finished with silver foiled edges. The inner envelopes are lined with matte paper, featuring an art deco inspired design.
Wedding Dress Codes
While a wedding doesn’t revolve around guests’ personal style, it is important to understand and follow the dress code. But this isn’t always easy – what are the dress codes and what exactly do they all mean?
4th of July Weekend Wish List
The 4th of July is around the corner and what better way to celebrate than gathering with your friends and family? Whether you are attending a backyard barbecue or hosting a garden picnic this weekend, let our summer wish list inspire you!
Dress Your Desk: Coastal Grandmother
Are you obsessed with sweaters at the beach, a to-die-for vegetable garden, all-neutral-everything, Nancy Meyers movies, and Ina Garten? You *might* be a Coastal Grandmother.
Brand Friend Spotlight: Stephanie Marrs
1.First, tell us a little bit about yourself!
I’m a wife, mother, working professional, avid decorator, and lover of entertaining and styling. I grew up in South Carolina and am now proud to be living in our nation’s capital…or just across the bridge from it! You can find me perusing estate sales, traveling, and seeking out inspiration anywhere I go. My favorite weekends are spent with my husband and son exploring our beautiful area.
