Issue #100

100 Issues!

100 Issues! This is the 100th issue of The Anchor Drop Newsletter, and I have all of you to thank for getting us here – I wouldn’t have a newsletter to write if I didn’t have anyone to read it. To be honest, I didn’t think this far ahead when I first started writing this newsletter. As with most things that I do, I just jumped in and didn’t look back, figuring things out as I went along. Am I a planner? Yes, to a certain extent, but it’s more that I just know that I CAN do it without knowing HOW I’m actually going to do it. That’s pretty much how I live my life – I’m definitely not afraid to “try.”

It’s been a while, and there are some new folks here on the list, so I thought I’d (re)introduce myself. Hi, I’m Gail and I have a love of paper, creating and snail mail.

Yes, I have a degree in Studio Arts and Graphic Design, but my art education began at a very young age. My mom was a “maker” before it was even a “thing.” She was not formally trained in art, but she did do ALL the things, from painting and drawing to knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and beaded flowers, finally settling on quilting. Along the way, I watched her stretch her creative wings, and I got to “play” with her watercolors, pastels, fabric, yarn, beads, all of it – and it was wonderful!

I have always had a love of paper - all kinds - colored, textured, smooth, recycled, handmade, metallic, pearlized - you name it, I find it all fascinating. As a Graphic Designer, I got paper samples from printers frequently. Every time it was like looking at Christmas morning, they were all so pretty! The possibilities of what to make with them were endless. They were magnificent and I hoarded them!

I was introduced to making cards by a friend many, many years ago. I made cards for all of my own needs as well as invitations for showers and weddings for friends and family. I never really thought about starting my own business selling cards because I was already working as a freelance Graphic Designer – which I LOVED by the way. Years later, COVID gave me the perfect opportunity – what started as a way to pass the time while stuck in the house, became a product that people were actually interested in purchasing. At the time, connecting long distance was the only way to connect, and friends started placing orders for cards that I shared on my blog in order to reach out and stay close to their own family and friends.

​Anchor And Inks Stationery started slowly from there, but I haven’t looked back since that first order – thanks Mary! Running my own business is challenging, but I have never shied away from a challenge. One of the challenges of running a small business is “wearing all the hats,” or being the one person to do ALL the jobs. One of the best things about running a small business is that every day is different – I love that! There is never a dull moment, and no office politics to deal with, and no one to answer to except me – can’t get better than that.

A lot has changed since I decided to make this a business. We’ve moved – twice – not fun! And I’ve had many successes and disappointments. But the one thing that stands out the most in all that time is that it seems people have forgotten many of the lessons we learned during COVID. We have all quickly gone back to our daily lives almost exactly as they were, while forgetting what it was like to be virtually cut off from those we love. It seems we have forgotten how important it is to “connect” and stay connected to those in their life, whether they live near or far. I would like to think that we learned some valuable lessons during that dark time, and I see it as my job to remind people that connection truly matters. And one of the best ways to connect is to send happy mail to those we love – whether it’s for an event or just to say “I’m thinking of you.” Taking time to send a card is one of the nicest things you can do for those in your life who are so important to you.

To that end, I will continue to create beautiful cards for you to send to your friends and family – both near and far – for any reason and no reason at all. It’s vital to our well-being to maintain connections and to make new ones. What better way to connect than to share some of your day - your successes, your failures, your major and minor life events - with friends and family? Yes of course, send birthday cards, by all means, celebrate every trip around the sun, but why stop there - send a card for anything and everything and even for no reason at all – that’s the beauty of cards! They are the perfect vessel to share little notes about what you have been up to, your hopes, dreams and future plans, and even memories that you share with the recipient. Use cards to connect or reconnect and maintain the relationships that are vital to a well-balanced and content life. Send cards because no one hangs a text on the refrigerator or puts it on the mantle or saves an email in a memory box. Sharing even the ordinary parts of your day elevates them to something special, and sharing them in beautiful, hand-made cards will elevate any message to something memorable. Send some keepsake cards and make someone’s day. You can find some beauties here.​

Thank you for taking this ride with me. I am honored that you choose to subscribe and read this newsletter every week. I would love to hear from you - what do you think of the newsletter? What are some things you would like me to cover? Let me know what you think - hit "reply" to this email, I look forward to hearing from you!

Things To Come

I have plans. I have so many plans, lol. Now to find the time to implement them all. I will say that some projects will take longer to see the light of day than others, but the hope is that I will be able to bring each one of them to my Shop - and since you are a newsletter subscriber, you will be the first to know about all of it!

I mentioned stickers a few months ago and asked what interests you when it comes to stickers. I got a few responses, but would always love to hear what you might be looking for when it comes to stickers. The plan is still to intro a wide variety from decorative to planner/organizational stickers. I'm taking my time with this one because I want the end product to be high quality and durable, so lots of research is going into this product.

Plans for a Card Club are in the works - clever name to follow. All the essentials you might need each month, delivered right to your door. Exclusive designs, just for you, to help you put a smile on someone else's face. How great is that?

Once I finish up the special order I alluded to last newsletter (yes, pictures will come once the order is fulfilled), I will be releasing Round 2 of my Coastal/Nautical collection. Round 1 was VERY well received, and I can't wait to show you the rest!

And of course, believe it or not, Christmas is not too far off. I have already started preparing, and you see some Sneak Peeks of those in the coming month or so.

Stay tuned, there's plenty more in the works - including an update to my website, and logo - and you will want to be here for ALL of it, so stay tuned!

Contact Us Get in touch about custom orders, invitations, announcements, bulk orders or anything else. Look forward to hearing from you. Contact Us

Follow Us We're on Instagram. Follow us so you don't miss the fun. Follow Us

Tell Me All About It!

Have an opinion about any of the cards you've purchase from me? You would make my day if you would send me a review. Your review can help others who are on the fence about making that first purchase. Let them know about the quality, the attention to detail, how quickly you received your order, and any other thing you might have hesitated about before making YOUR purchase.

A few quick and easy ways to accomplish this:

1. Sign in to your account at anchorandinks.com and leave your review under the items you have purchased.
2. Didn't set up an account yet? You can still do that now, even if it's been a while since you made your purchase. Your account will automatically link to your purchase through the email you used with your purchase.

Set Up An Account Here

3. Don't want to put it on the website yourself? No problem,
you can email your review to gail@anchorandinks.com​
and I will add it to the website.

Thank you so much for supporting my small business and for helping others to make an informed purchase!

If you haven't made a purchase yet, I would love to hear from you too! What's holding you back? Is there something you need that I don't yet have in the Shop? Send an email to gail@anchorandinks.com and tell me all about it.

Quote Of The Week

“The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love.”​
- William Wordsworth

See you next week!
If you love reading my newsletter each week, please share it with your friends.

Just a note, the stories and images, and things I share in my Anchor Drop Newsletter are ©anchorandinks. Please enjoy them, and even share them with others - but please, only in the context of my newsletter - you aren't authorized to remove them, use them, or pass them along out of this context. Thanks!

Newport, Rhode Island
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​