Now that Christmas has come and gone, it’s time to gear up for 2019, which can only mean one thing: New Year’s Resolutions! We all make them, and sometimes we even fulfill them, but I thought I would check in with three National Stationery Show exhibitors, all in the Emerging Designers section, to see what the New Year holds for them — in addition to their NSS debuts, that is!
Megan Heddinger of Wilde House Paper is the one-woman show behind this luxe California house of design. Every piece is concepted, designed, hand-crafted & packaged by her — and seamlessly blends the artisanal into the everyday. How exquisite is this painted jotter set?
“I love New Year’s Resolutions, but I’m totally the girl who sits down and writes them on January 1st,” she laughed.
Apparently my reaching out to her made her start a bit earlier than usual!
“I always break my resolutions into three categories: health/wellness, career & lifestyle,” she told me. “For Health/Wellness, run three half marathons and develop the habit of meditating daily. For Career, partner with 100 retailers to carry Wilde House Paper and collaborate with five dream partners. And for Lifestyle, get engaged. My boyfriend and I met in college and have been dating for seven years since. He’ll be at NSS2019 with me so I was thinking that it would be a funny talking point for people!”
Okay, Megan’s put mine to shame! Meanwhile, I can’t wait to see this all in person in Booth N15A.
Mabel Nevel is the founder of Âme Courrier, which translates to “soul mail.” Mabel believes that when you write a card to someone, you’re giving a gift that is far beyond words: a part of your soul.
“When the New Year approaches, instead of making resolutions, I choose a word to define my upcoming year,” Mabel told me. “In 2018, my word was ‘hope’ in order to remind myself not to lose my hope. In 2019, I’ve chosen ‘hold fast’ — a 2-word phrase, but it counts! — to remind myself to hold fast to my faith, my work, and my dreams.
“This phrase comes from Hebrews 10:23: ‘Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.’ So I actually find it to be the perfect extension of ‘hope’ which is my word from 2018!”
“Hold Fast” can apply to so many aspects of life — so I’m thinking Mabel will have a most meaningful year. She expanded on the entire concept in her blog here.
All of these enticing designs are printed in New York and packaged & shipped by hand. Find Âme Courrier in Booth N20B.
Last up, the work of Tal Shpantzer of talfoto will hopefully be familiar to TPC readers, as I’m a longtime fan. I’m so happy that Tal and her lovely work will be at #NSS2019!
Tal Shpantzer has been in New York since 2000, following several years studying & shooting in Tel-Aviv, Prague & Europe. According to her artist statement, “My interest in photography lies in exploring moments that are undefined. I am fascinated when a dialog emerges from what appears to be the simplest of moments from states of uncertainty and transience. A raw and unpretentious moment can reveal complexities, evoke imagined histories, and hidden truths.”
Tal’s resolutions? To spend less time on her iPhone, and more time focused on art, design, friends and family. She will continue her first year of a no-sugar healthy lifestyle, and balance her fashion work with supporting non-profits that she believes in — like Writes For Women!
Oh, and Tal wants to write more snail mail! That’s a resolution we can all get behind! Find Tal in Booth N4A — and she’s just one dazzling find in the sea of dazzling finds that is #NSS2019!
