FOR THE RECORD
STATIONERY
for stories worth preserving.
est. 2020
a MORE TANGIBLE life
My notes on living, making, and finding our way back to the real world.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the things that make up a life. Where our attention goes. What we reach for when we have a spare moment. The things we make time for, and the things we hardly notice anymore.
My husband and I have been making a conscious effort to step away from our smartphones and spend less of our lives online. I want more time for books, handwritten notes, long conversations, getting lost in a project, laughing and playing with my kids, and being present for the ordinary moments that make up a day. I want to be a little harder to reach digitally, and a little more available to the life happening around me.
I'm still figuring out what that looks like in practice. It's not about rejecting every modern convenience or doing everything the old-fashioned way. It's about being more deliberate about what I let into my life, and remembering that I have a choice.
Perhaps it's natural that these questions have found their way into my work, too... or quite possibly my work influenced my desire to start questioning these things.
For the Record is built around things you can hold. The drag of my nib across paper. The impression of the letterpress. The weight of an envelope, a handwritten name, a piece of stationery tucked away long after the day it was made for. These things take time, and I think that's part of what makes them meaningful.
I want to build a business that reflects my values. Thoughtful work, personal relationships, fewer distractions, and a greater appreciation for the things we choose to make and keep.
This page is a place to gather some of the ideas, books, and practices that have been encouraging me along the way. If you're also feeling the pull toward a quieter, more tangible life, I hope you'll find something here that inspires you to try a little less screen time and a little more of the world around you.
You don't have to change everything at once. You can begin with one small thing.
READING resources
no. 1 / you don't need a smart phone
by August Lamm
The book that sparked deeper change for me. It explores leaving the smartphone behind and navigating practical challenges of everyday life without one.
no. 2 / the anxious generation
by Jonathan Haidt
A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.
no. 3 / syme's letter writer
by Rachel Syme
This has a permanent home in my studio space. I take it out
when I want to learn something new, when I want to be inspired, or when I am bored. There is always something to discover in here. Plus as a stationery designer, it would be wrong of me NOT to include something here about mastering the art of sending a letter...
Your time = their money.
This is the phone I own. It has been a life changing switch
for me. I am obsessed with this company, its mission, and
just about everything they do. Check them out.
I use my light phone to take all my video footage and photos of my work now. It is vintage, slow, and intentional. And the
footage FEELS that way. That's the best part.
MADE TO BE HELD
For the Record Stationery is my small contribution to a more tangible world. I create custom wedding stationery and calligraphy by hand, working with paper, ink, print, and the details that make each piece personal.
My work begins with a conversation and ends with something you can hold, send, save, and return to years from now.
If you're planning a wedding and want to create something meaningful on paper, I'd love to hear about it.
SMALL things to try
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keep something to read nearby
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start carrying a notebook with you
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write a letter instead and actually mail it
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pull out your old ipod and use it, or better yet your record player
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take a walk with no agenda
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visit a bookstore or your local library
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memorize the directions before you leave the house