Business to Business

Since founding HPD I have had the opportunity to work with many fabulous and talented people. There have been many businesses that have supported mine and I love to give back by making referrals whenever I can - this is just one case!

Recently I was challenged with finding a great birthday gift for my mom who was turning 65. What do you get for the person who has everything? It had to be something unique and special as turning 65 is a momentous occasion for anyone but even more so for my mom as she is a cancer survivor.

Fortunately, it didn't take me long to think of something perfect! I called upon my favorite embroiderer from Inspired Embroidery (http://www.inspired-embroidery.com). I asked Claudette to embroider onto a pillow a poem written by my son Thomas. She always does superb work and the pillow is lovely!

When you are trying to find a gift for the person who has everything a gift from the heart is the way to go. I think this is a wonderful gift idea and one my Mom will treasure for years to come.

PS. In case you can read the poem, it says:

When I sit on my spot on the carpet, My toes wiggle and I giggle.

Back to School!

Did that just make you cringe? I just celebrated the 4th of July when I received a catalog in the mail featuring back to school items. I am struggling to figure out my son's camp schedule so thinking about back to school might send me over the edge.

If you are a "super mom" and already several steps ahead of me, don't worry, Hampton Paper has been working all summer on back to school items is getting ready to release our highly anticipated new lunch box notes and family calendars (a favorite of the beautiful actress, Angie Harmon!).

In the mean time, if back to school preparation in on your list of things to do, here's what we recommend:

Luggage Tags - for lunch boxes and backpacks

Photo Cards - for those picture perfect back to school cards

Book Labels - for text and note books

Name Stickers - for all supplies

Notepad - for notes to the school and teacher

SouthamptonTrunk Show: The Elegant Setting

Here at HPD we are working feverishly to prepare for our upcoming trunk show at The Elegant Setting in Southampton on Saturday, July 31st from 12-4.

If you have been to The Elegant Setting then I'm sure you will welcome any excuse to visit again, and if you have never been, you are in for a treat. Let me elaborate. It is one of my "must visits" when I am in Southampton. It's an exquisite store that more than lives up to its name with a beautiful collection of unique and elegant (hence the name) items. It is exactly what you wish a great boutique to be and more! Fabulous finds grace every shelf and even my husband, who is not much of a shopper (and really, how many are?) is thrilled by the selection of uncommon cocktail and cookbooks.

We will be printing personalized gift tags on site while you wait and as a "thank you" to those who come, we will be offering free return address labels with every purchase!

Check out our web site http://www.hamptonpaperdesigns.com/ to see all the available products and images.

See you on the 31st!

photo: (L) Kristin Mika (R) Stephanie Finkelstein

I'm Obsessed.....

I'm obsessed with our new cookie line. (Did you think I was going to say the new Louis Vuitton shoes? I am obsessed with them too but that's for another day!). The only thing better than they way they look, is the way they taste! Delicious goodness in each bite, these shortbread cookies are topped with lemon sugar icing and of course the Hampton Paper image of your choice!

Perfect for party favors (think wedding, bridal shower, birthday) hostess gifts or just something extra special for dessert.

Coming to our web site soon!

Holy Griswold!

Yes, summer vacation for many means the traditional family vacation. I visualize the Griswold family driving cross country in their station wagon with Aunt Edna tied to the roof and "Holiday Road" blaring in the back ground.

Whether you are headed to the beach or lake, across the country or all the way to Cairo like my friend and realtor extraordinaire, Kim, Hampton Paper has the perfect travel accessory... kids journals and sketch pads. Kim purchased the journals for her girls and her niece and nephew - what a hit!.

Journaling is a great way for kids to express themselves and for Moms to sneak in some encouragement to practice writing and spelling over the summer. As an added bonus you might get a good chuckle when you read it and see the world through their eyes! If you have little ones who cant write, the personalized sketchbook will ensure they don't get left out of the fun. It's also a great keepsake for children to look back in years to come and remember that special family trip. Also, if your kids are like mine they love to see how much their writing and drawing has improved and reminisce about last year when they couldn't spell (or draw or write whatever the case may be!)

Look for this new addition coming to our web site. The personalized journals retail for $28.00.

Happy Trails!

Pen & Pencil

With the recent launch of my blog I have been struggling to think of a name. "The Pressure, The Pressure of a Name" (can you guess what movie line is that is from?!!) My fellow bloggers are so creative and all seem to have found a name that fits perfectly into the theme of their store or style. So what to name the HPD blog has been haunting me. The competition is fierce!

In an attempt to clear my head and think of something clever for my blog I went for a run at the beach in Quogue (yes, I was running) and as I rounded the last corner on my way home onto Deer Path it finally it came to me and in the nick of time because 3.0 miles is all I had in me. Here goes.... Pen & Pencil.

Not only does it seem perfect (my fav word) for the blog because it relates to my company but also has sentimental meaning as it was one of my Grandpa Barney's favorite restaurants in NYC in the 80s (do you remember it?). Grandpa Barney loved Pen & Pencil because he was greeted by name, quickly escorted to "his" table and within seconds was brought his drink (for the curious, Black Label on the rocks, no twist). To further add to his enjoyment, Grandpa Barney was one of the few people who had a house account.

I fondly remember joining him for lunch on many occasions in the 80s at Pen & Pencil and then having been given a crisp $50.00 bill, I was on my way to Bloomingdale's!

So, to the official launch of Hampton Paper Designs' Blog "Pen & Pencil" and in memory of Grandpa Barney, "Salute!"

New banner and image to be uploaded soon.

Here Comes The Bridal Line!

We at Hampton Paper Designs are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new bridal line! Now the same company that provides the unique, quality products for all of your party planning needs has finally expanded to offer the same extraordinary looks for custom wedding stationery.

Today's chic brides and grooms are constantly striving to raise the bar for their wedding and adding their own personality to the event. What better way to set the stage for your big day than with an invitation featuring one of our 200 hand-painted images?

Nothing illustrates this better than the recent wedding of celebrity couple Jana Kramer (One Tree Hill) and Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do!) as featured in this week's OK! Magazine.

Hampton Paper Designs was proud to provide the entire paper ensemble for their special day. Jana and Johnathon were able to choose several images to reflect their personal style and enhance their day. From the custom painted purple orchids that adorned the invitations, response cards and table cards to the lighthouse used on the personalized luggage tags for the gift bags and finally the sparklers on the signs inviting guests to the fireworks show, everything perfectly captured the mood of the day.

Hampton Paper can help simplify your wedding planning by taking care of all your stationery needs. We are excited to be offering this service and we will do everything we can to contribute to making your wedding day the most memorable day of your life!

Please visit our new wedding section on our web site to view the entire line. www.hamptonpaperdesigns.com