Photographed by MJ Kroeger
Master Class
The Art of the Handwritten Note by Marcie PantzerTop 5 Tips: The Art of the Thank-You Note
2. A little funny goes a long way. Adding an inside joke or a humorous aside makes every letter that much worthier of a smile.
3. Keep it short and sweet. No one wants to read an opus.
4. Compliments to the chef! I always praise the hostess of a dinner party or the gift giver of the gift. It feels so good to be flattered, and it’s rare that you get it in writing.
5. Use Dear Annabelle notecards! Just kidding—sort of. ;)
Q&A
What inspired Dear Annabelle?
Dear Annabelle was inspired by my life-long love of paper and letters. I have been collecting stationery since I went to sleepaway camp as a little girl. I loved sending letters to my family and friends, and I remember the thrill of receiving letters back, instantly recognizing the distinct handwriting of my mother or grandmother on the envelope. I wanted to build a company that was based on this singular joy, of sharing love through letters. Dear Annabelle is about celebrating what is classic, beautiful and timeless.
And the inspiration behind the name…
Annabelle is the name of my daughter, who is a source of so much inspiration for me. She was part of my motivation to start this company; I wanted to show her that she could do and be anything she wanted in this life. I had always felt that starting my own business was an impossible dream, but growing it from the ground up has been one of the most exciting and joyful experiences I’ve had. I hope it inspires Annabelle to follow her own impossible dreams.
The importance of the hand-written letter…
Receiving an actual letter, that you can hold and save and re-read, is so uncommon today. There is a sense of permanence that is delivered with a letter. You can hang it on your bulletin board. Your children or grandchild could uncover it years from now. My husband’s aunt has a collection of love letters from her husband. When he died last year, she was so grateful to have all of the letters to cherish and read.
I also think that handwriting is so soulful—you can see really someone’s style in their handwriting. Even if it is messy or imperfect, it says something about the person. Think of the great artists whose handwriting is so recognizable—Matisse and Andy Warhol. And you can tell a lot about a person by the type of stationery they use—the type of paper they’ve chosen, the color of their ink, their personal monogram…
Most memorable one you've ever received…
I was extremely close to my grandfather, who passed away several years ago. He was very good about sending letters. He had handwriting you could recognize from a mile a way and he always used a red felt tip Paper Mate pen. When I graduated from college, he wrote me a letter that I still keep in a box above my desk—all about taking risks as I started my new chapter. When I need a reminder to be courageous—like when I started this business, for example—I take it out and channel his belief in me.
There is a sense of permanence that is delivered with a letter. You can hang it on your bulletin board. Your children or grandchild could uncover it years from now.
The etiquette is gradually shifting—it’s now considered acceptable to email or text for most communication. That being said, a handwritten note or letter never goes out of style. A well-written thank-you after an important job interview or a delicious dinner makes such a big impact. Often I will send a quick text to thank a friend for a fun evening or thoughtful present, and then follow up with a lovely note. There can never be too much gratitude in the world.
I find that my handwriting has gotten worse and worse as I do more things on my computer and phone. But when I do write notes or letters, I try to slow down and put thought into how I’m forming each letter. This practice not only delivers more beautiful notes, but it acts as a kind of meditation—a break from the endless typing and texting we do all day.
I also feel more inspired when I use a nice pen. There is something about holding an elegant pen that makes me relish in the act of writing. I love pens that roll nicely across the paper and ones that don’t easily smear. (My favorites are Muji pens from Japan, Gelly Roll and Mont Blanc pens.) And paper’s important here, too—Dear Annabelle uses smooth finish paper, not textured, making the feel of writing smooth and graceful.
