Colonial Card makes a beautiful Father’s Day gift.

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18. How will you surprise and delight Dear Old Dad? He’s been around the block a few times and knows all your tricks: the novelty tie, the fishing-themed card, the white knee socks. These are tried and true, and to be honest, perhaps a little too tried…and tired. Maybe it’s time to branch out a little this year and consider these truly unique Father’s Day gifts. We’ve got some great ideas to take your gift from blah to ahhh-mazing.

Old “blah” idea: Socks. 

Yes, we grant he probably does have holes in his socks and may be in need of new ones…but won’t he be surprised if you give him a gift for his heart, rather than his feet?

New amazing idea: Father’s Day Picture Frame. 

Give your dad a very special personalized picture frame using his favorite photograph. This is what makes it unique: you can include up to three lines of personalization in one of six lettering styles. Beautifully crafted from solid wood. Hang on a wall or display on a table or shelf. Photo size is 4″ x 6″.

Old “blah” idea: Beer cozy. 

Ahhh. The beer cozy. It’s the ultimate easy choice in Father’s Day gifts. But these get grimy pretty quickly. Truly…how long will a new one last before it finds its way to the trash?

New amazing idea: Altamira Pint Glass. 

Customize this 16 ounce pint glass with one of 10 exclusive monograms, including Classic, Circle and Whitlock. Get dad two or three so he can kick back with friends. Clear glass. Dishwasher safe.

Old “blah”  idea: Baseball cap.

Yeah, he has twelve of these hanging in his closet already.

New amazing idea: Morelia Wall Sign.

Perfect for a man cave or home entertainment room, this wall sign offers one of line of text and a choice of lettering style. Hang it with the included 4 wall-safe adhesive mounting squares or display it on a shelf with attachable supports. Laser cut from .25 inch MDF board in white, black or neutral.

Old “blah” idea: Tie.

More and more workplaces are going business casual. If he only wears ties at weddings and church, it wouldn’t hurt to let him pick out his own.

New amazing idea: One-Line Note.

Everyone needs his own stationery. After all, thank you notes are must-do, basic forms of etiquette. He can also use these for quick notes to college-age children or a birthday card for his mom. Simple but powerful, the One-Line Note features Dad’s name crisply embossed in an all-caps font, surrounded by bullet points. It’s a classic design that’s the opposite of frilly and frou frou. The folded note is precision-crafted from double-thick paper in a choice of white or ivory. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Opt for the embossed return address, hand-inserted envelope linings, border or 100% cotton paper to create special Father’s Day gifts.

Stately Wine Glasses make beautiful gifts for graduates.

It’s that time of year: Graduates line up for hard-won diplomas, while proud parents look on. Giftsin24 makes it easy to find gifts for graduates that reflect their accomplishments. Because our gifts are personalized or monogrammed, grads can instantly see the care and thought you put into the gift. But don’t worry, we won’t tell them how easy and fast it is to order from Giftsin24!

Some of our newest products strike the perfect note as gifts for graduates. Explore our engraved glass barware, including wine glasses, shot glasses, beer mugs, mason jars and more. A variety of designs can show off names, initials and graduation years. Personalized stationery is always a winning gift, especially as it can help graduates during that all-important job search. Monogramming, embossing, raised ink and upgrades such as lined envelopes are all beautiful touches. We also have a variety of keepsake ornaments that fit the bill.

Here we present five affordable gift ideas that earn an A+ from newly minted grads.

For Showing Off Their Accomplishment

Graduate Wall Sign   This is one of our favorite new gifts for grads. Any graduate would love to show off his or her accomplishment with this precision-crafted, personalized wall or shelf sign. It offers two lines of text (up to 20 characters each) in a choice of font, plus mortar board artwork. Display it on a desktop or shelf with attachable supports or hang it on a wall with four wall-safe adhesive mounting squares.

For Celebrating

Miramar Wine Glass  Encourage the graduate to kick back and enjoy life after all their hard work at school. Personalize this 11 ounce wine glass with up to three lines of text in your choice of lettering style, plus a choice of motif, including fleur de lis, grapes, crab, palm trees, captain’s wheel, anchor, chair, flag and star. Clear glass. Dishwasher safe. This design also comes in a stemless wine glass.

For Remembering

Graduation Cap Keepsake Ornament  Long after the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” fade, the graduate will have this special glass ornament to remember that proud moment. Planning a graduation party? Use this ornament as stylish place cards, party favors or a gift tag. Precision-crafted from clear glass with a beveled edge and a subtle jade tint. Includes silver ribbon for display and a black velvet pouch for safekeeping.

For the Job Search

Classic Frame Monogram Note  A thank you note after a job interview can make or break the graduate’s chances for landing the job. Beautifully crafted stationery can help the graduate polish their professional image. This note is simply gorgeous, bringing a refined design together with the smooth and carefree lines of a script monogram. Choose crisp white or classic ivory paper. Includes 50 color-matched envelopes.

For Hanging with Friends

Soltero Shot Glass  Help the graduate celebrate his or

Soltero Shot Glass is one of our favorite gifts for graduates.

her first job with a bottle of great liquor and this beautiful, engraved shot glass. A stylized oval highlights his or her initial on the clear glass. Choice of font. Dishwasher safe.

Raise a toast to our new collection of engraved barware and stemware. Try them out for all of your special celebrations.

Our personalized drinkware comes in all shapes and sizes. From engraved wine glasses, mason jars and shot glasses to personalized champagne flutes, stemless wine glasses, pint glasses and beer mugs, this personalized glassware features your message or monogram. We’ve also expanded our line of mason jars with new designs, monograms and lettering styles.

Many Uses

Use our engraved barware as party favors, such as personalized anniversary or wedding toasting flutes, bachelor party shot glasses or custom bridal shower wine glasses. Our personalized shot glasses or stemless wine glasses also make pretty votive candle holders for your reception. Shot glasses, beer mugs and pint glasses are perfect for a man cave or home bar. Our beautiful lettering styles and monograms make them extra special.

We custom make these glasses to order. Many offer unique designs. What’s more, our precision engraved, beautifully designed monograms and lettering styles shine through.

Made from real glass, these custom printed glasses are dishwasher safe. The sturdy and well-crafted barware and stemware feel wonderful in hand.

In addition, we offer them at an affordable price: There’s no minimum order or set up fees, and personalization is always free.

Best of all, our quality is second-to-none with amazingly fast production: we ship your personalized item in 24 hours. Plus, enjoy FREE FedEx ground shipping on all orders.

Explore our new collection of personalized glassware and barware.

The Matrimony Wall Sign comes in 3 finishes.

They are here! Our personalized wall signs are ready for your kitchen, nursery, bedroom and more. After many months of development, Giftsin24 is proud to announce our brand  new, hot-off-the-press collection of decorative wall signs that are as attractive and versatile as they are easy to display.

Not only can you personalize your sign with your name or monogram, but you can also choose from a range of our most popular lettering styles and exclusive monograms. Guaranteed to add interest and a splash of personality to any room, the signs are available in white, black or natural finish.

Gift Ideas

Gift ideas are endless: personalize a sign for a newlywed couple to celebrate and announce their marriage. Monograms also work great for new homeowners as housewarming gifts. Our line of child- and sports-themed signs look lovely in nurseries and toddler’s room, as well as tweens and teens. Maybe your guy is getting a new man cave or you’ve just renovated your basement? Our signs are the perfect statement pieces.

Walls Signs Work Everywhere

The Zoo Train Wall Sign is perfect for a new baby’s nursery or toddler’s room.

Our signs work great in every room in the house, including:

• Kitchen
• Entry way
• Baby’s room
• Bedroom
• Den
• Living room
• Man Cave
• Basement entertainment room
• Office
• Cubicle

Crafted from lightweight yet sturdy .25″ MDF board, all can be hung on a wall using wall-safe adhesive squares. Many other also come with decorative supports that enable you to display the signs on a shelf or table.

There are 40 designs. See the whole collection here.

Mother’s Day will be here before you know it: May 14, 2017. We’ve got beautiful Mother’s Day gifts that are sure to delight your mother on her special day. Whether it’s monogrammed stationery, a pretty picture frame of her and the kids, or breakfast in bed served on a fancy personalized board, she’ll love the effort you put in to make her day perfect.

Breakfast in bed served on the Valentina Cutting Board. Deliver her favorite muffin and coffee just the way she likes it, and serve it all up with extra flair on this beautiful cutting board.  Engraved with her initial and an elegant flourish, this item is made from eco-friendly bamboo.

Her favorite photo of her and the kids inside the Mother’s Day Picture Frame. Create a treasured gift she will enjoy every day. Snap a 4″ x 6″ photo or use one of her favorites and insert it behind the glass of this carefully crafted frame. Personalize it with up to three lines of text in one of six lettering styles. Made of solid wood in a natural finish. Includes rings for hanging and easel back for table display.

A book of pretty stamps and the Casual Card. The Casual Card offers a sampling of attractive lettering styles. Choose a pretty raised-ink color and we will print Mom’s name on wonderful, triple-thick paper. Comes with 50 Pinnacle pointed-flap envelopes. Upgrade with an optional colored border, return address on the envelope flaps or pretty envelope liners. Or visit your nearest United States post office and buy her a book of pretty stamps.

A beautiful pen and the Delavan Monogram Note. What better Mother’s Day gift than traditional monogram stationery? This beautiful folded note crafted of double-thick paper offers a choice of monograms and raised-ink colors. 50 envelopes included. Ships in 24 hours.

Spring is here, and it’s time to add some soft pastels to your table for the new season. Maybe you are planning an Easter luncheon with family. A baby shower for your favorite sister-in-law. Or a birthday party for your son. Personalized spring party napkins help announce the theme and tie your table decor together. We have a pleasing palette of paper and foil colors that will brighten any party.

Our Favorite Napkins for Spring

Joyous Napkin. Tell everyone why you’re celebrating at your spring party with four lines of personalization in the font of your choice. These napkins come in a large array of colors and vivid foil hues to match your spring theme. Select a white or ivory napkin with a pastel foil color, like pink, teal or mint green. Or, choose a coral or classic pink colored napkin with black or white foil lettering.High quality, three-ply construction. Square orientation. Bordered edge.

Delavan Monogram Napkin. One of our best-selling napkins. Choose from a variety of monogram designs, as well as either diamond or square napkin orientation. Embossed. Offered in a variety of colors, including white, ivory, coral, pink and purple.

Serenity Foil Pressed Napkin. Sophisticated and refined, the Serenity Napkin features two lines of personalization. Choose a lettering style for the text. A single script initial highlights the design. Precision crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail, these napkins come in a large array of colors and vivid foil colors. Bordered edge. Diamond orientation.

Explore our entire collection of napkins and guest towels.

Classic Monogram features script letters that overlap.

In the previous three blog posts, we’ve explored many aspects of the Monogram, including its ancient history, its Victorian popularity and its definition. Today, we talk about the modern monogram, its meaning and uses. What does the monogram say about ourselves and our culture? Why do we use it?

Monogram as brand

In modern American culture, one of the most prominent uses of the monogram is to mark the corporate brand. Companies spend millions of dollars designing and promoting their company names. They often reach for the monogram to create a compelling identity marker in the public sphere. Think: Louis Vuitton (LV) and Coco Chanel (CC), General Electric (GE), CNN, HP, NBA, and on and on. Many of these brands are household names. We consumers instantly identify companies by two or three letters and their unique typographical or design treatments. That’s a monogram at its most powerful. Corporations wield monograms like royalty of yore, using it as a mark of trust, authenticity and quality.

Monogram as indulgence

One of the most powerful historical meanings of the monogram that still persists today is a mark of royalty and celebrity. When we monogram our sheets or a wine glass, we think of ourselves as indulging in a taste of luxury. Monograms are a treat, especially when they are embossed in beautiful paper or engraved into a beautiful wood picture frame or embroidered on a gorgeous piece of linen. When we can afford to, we reach for this small sign of sophistication and good taste. When we decide to purchase personalized stationery rather than plain, we are taking that step to rise out of the mundane. We want to feel special and unique.

Modern monogram as touchstone

Lovely monograms engraved on glass coasters.

Finally, in our modern day culture that is digitized, easily duplicated, complicated and busy, we crave touchstones to simpler times. In this way, monograms have a conversation with the past, as well as the present. Social media reproduces a million copies in an instant. But a monogram is a mark of hand-crafted tradition. Typographical experts create a monogram. And craftspeople apply it. We emboss and embroider it. We engrave it.

In defiance of email or texting, we send a monogrammed note to thank our friends and family. We beat back the impersonal forces in our lives when we lay our heads on the embroidered pillow cases our Great Aunt Margie made for her wedding trousseau. We replicate that hand-made, bespoke quality when we give a new bride and groom a monogrammed, engraved set of wine glasses.

With so many lovely designs and practical uses, the modern monogram is here to stay.

Explore our monogrammed products.

In two previous blogs, we talked about the ancient history of monograms that traces all the way back to the Greeks, as well as the Victorian mania for monograms that had people putting their monograms on everything from their tablecloths to their bloomers. Today, we’ll be taking a step back and asking: what is a monogram? Be prepared to learn some things to pull out at your next cocktail party conversation.

If you ask your friends what a monogram is, they might say that it’s a series of three letters representing your name.

That’s all well and good, but, actually, the common dictionary definition of a monogram does not include a specific number of letters. Merriam-Webster Dictionary says a monogram is “a sign of identity usually formed of the combined initials of a name.”

The word “monogram” derives from two Greek words: mono, meaning single, and gram, meaning letter. It means that letters were combined into one sign or symbol.

So in contemporary, popular culture, the idea of a monogram is actually not well-defined. Can it have two letters? Five letters? Do the letters connect or can they float freely? How are they arranged: sideways or up-and-down? Are letters block or script? In today’s world, we don’t seem to sweat the details; all seem acceptable.

In the Victorian Age (1837-1901), people thought that sometimes the letters of a monogram should connect and intertwine, even if that meant you couldn’t actually read the letters. At other times, legibility was important.

The Sienna Monogram Note features a flowing, elegant monogram where letters overlap and interlace, and are almost difficult to read.

Here’s J.O. Kane, the editor of An Encyclopedia of Monograms, writing in 1884: “For some uses, the intention of the device should be conspicuous and obvious, and its component letters readily distinguishable at first sight. In other cases, it is more tasteful and appropriate, by superimposing or interlacing the letters, or other means, to slightly veil, as it were, the meaning of the composition, and to aim at a certain ornamental construction whose component parts shall be less distinct and obvious to the eye.”

Cipher Vs. Monogram?

If you are the type of person who likes rules, a modern monogram scholar, Nancy Sharon Collins, author of The Complete Engraver, introduces the term “cipher” to help to clarify the situation – perhaps.

Cipher?

Monogram?

“A cipher,” she writes, “is any arrangement of two or more initials. The letters do not have to connect.”

“The letters of a monogram on the other hand,” writes Collins, “share essential strokes and curves. Monograms do not have to be legible, whereas ciphers typically are.”

Let’s note that we usually associate the word “cipher” with the idea of a code or something you have to interpret. For this reason, we aren’t sure that the term cipher helps clear things up. The meaning fights its colloquial use and may muddy the waters more: Ciphers – free-standing letters – are actually easier to read than monograms – highly interconnected letters that can be hard to read.

Types of Monograms

If we look at the designs offered here at giftsin24.com, we see a variety of styles, both “ciphers” and “monograms.” We label all these marks “monograms” on our website.

We have block letters that don’t touch. These, Collins would say, are ciphers.

Circle Monogram features block letters that don’t touch. It’s a more modern look and feel.

We have two-letter monograms, such as Dorset. The strokes overlap. It’s hard to tell one letter from another. For these reasons, Dorset might fall into the category of a true monogram, even though it’s only two letters.

Dorset two-letter monogram includes letters that overlap and are more difficult to read. Here is a T and an H.

And, giftsin24 also features three-letter monograms where letters thread through one another.

Classic Monogram features script letters that overlap in a more traditional feel.

So there, you have it…some food for thought about the exciting world of monograms. Are you ready for your next cocktail party? Tune in next time when we explore the modern uses and meanings of monograms.

Sources:

Nancy Sharon Collins. The Complete Engraver: Monograms, Crests, Ciphers, Seals, and the Etiquette of Social Stationery. Princeton Architectural Press, 2012. 

J. O’Kane. An Encyclopedia of Monograms. Originally published in 1884. Reprinted by Dover Publishing in 2003.

In our previous blog, we explored the ancient history of the monogram. We saw that for centuries, people used monograms widely – on everything from coins to letters to homes and pottery. But people really went crazy for the monogram during the Victorian Era (1837-1901). In fact, one writer of the day called the art of collecting monograms an “epidemic” and named the monogram’s most ardent fans “monogramaniacs.”

Our Whitlock Monogram is based on a popular Victorian motif.

What was going on? The Industrial Revolution ushered in a new middle class of factory owners, bankers, railroad managers, insurance agents, merchants and all the salaried professionals who helped run these businesses, as well as new ranks of civil servants, teachers, doctors and lawyers, according to Donna Loftus, author of “The Rise of the Victorian Middle Class.” Millions of people now had disposable income, and they desired some of the comforts of the upper classes. They began purchasing household goods as well as clothing, watches and jewelry, which the new economy had made more plentiful and affordable than ever before.

Celebrity and the Monogram

At the same time, the idea of celebrity took on power in popular culture. People began collecting crests and monograms of the rich and famous, according to Nancy Sharon Collins, author of The Complete Engraver. 

Queen Victoria’s Monogram went through many iterations. Here is a simple one.

Enthusiasts created albums of their most prized monograms, marks and seals. In this age of avid letter writing, “coats of arms or monograms from famous families, politicians, opera stars, or members of the theater were particularly coveted and displayed,” writes Collins.

Whole books explored and documented monogram design, such as An Encyclopedia of Monograms, published in 1884. The book included 5,000 decorative monograms to inspire artists and craftspeople.

Popular women’s magazines of the time, such as Godeys Lady’s Book and Peterson’s Magazine, regularly included alphabets, initials, names and monograms. Middle class readers copied them to embroider nearly every scrap of cloth – tablecloths, sheets, towels, pillowcases and clothing. “Hardly an item in her home escaped from being monogrammed,” writes Rita Weiss, editor of Victorian Alphabets, Monograms and Names. “Young girls learned how to embroider simple alphabets on the linens for her trousseau,” Weiss continues. “By the time she got married, her skills improved and she was ready for more expert work.”

Louis Vuitton company developed its monogram in 1896.

Monogrammed Needlework Attains Art Status

The expert needlework skills attained by women – at all levels of society – and the invention of the Jacquard loom, which spurred faster and cheaper textile manufacturing, coincided to create the perfect circumstances for a boom in monogrammed linens like we’ve never seen before or since, according to Robin Molbert in Monograms and Antique Linens. “Bold and artful monogramming burst into vogue, serving as a kind of democratizing factor in the personalization of one’s linens,” writes Molbert. In England, France and the U.S., women formed sewing and embroidery circles to enjoy and support one another in their endeavors. They shared ideas and perfected their art, incorporating many other aspects including lacework, cut-outs, florals, animal figures and much more.

To this day, many people still cherish, value and collect antique linens from the Victorian Age. A rather funny example: In December 2016, a pair of Queen Victoria’s monogrammed bloomers went on auction, expected to be sold for £6,000. Some famous monograms developed by the Victorians continue to be in vogue. The world of consumer goods offers a perfect example: The interlocking L and V on Louis Vuitton’s bags and luggage. His son Georges designed the iconic image in 1896 to increase sales.

And the practice of monogramming continues to be popular. Whether it’s stationery or wine glasses, ornaments or napkins, personalizing one’s possessions conveys tradition and a sense of pride.

Our story about the monogram isn’t over. Next we ask: what exactly is a monogram?

Explore our lines of monogrammed Cards, Notes, Notepads, Napkins & Guest Towels, and all Monogrammed Items.

Sources:

Nancy Sharon Collins. The Complete Engraver: Monograms, Crests, Ciphers, Seals, and the Etiquette of Social Stationery. Princeton Architectural Press, 2012. 

Donna Loftus. “The Rise of the Victorian Middle Class.”   BBC History. Website.

Robin Molbert. “The Royal Lineage of Table Linens.” Monograms and Antique Linens. HM Books, 2016.

J. O’Kane. An Encyclopedia of Monograms. Originally published in 1884. Reprinted by Dover Publishing in 2003.

Rita Weiss, editor.Victorian Alphabets, Monograms and Names. Dover Publishing, 1974.

You love your monogrammed stationery…it expresses your identity, connects you to tradition, and symbolizes your enjoyment of the good things in life. For all of these reasons, monogramming is undergoing a renaissance. But did you know how the monogram came to be “a thing”? In these next four posts, we look into the history of the monogram, its heyday in the Victorian era, as well as its meanings and contemporary uses.

Charlemagne’s monogram

In fact, the origins of the monogram go way back. Not on paper or even cloth: those are relatively recent applications. The first monograms were stamped on coins in ancient Greece. Along the way, monograms have bridged the gap between word and image to create potent symbols of identity and authenticity.

In Western culture, the earliest known monograms popped up on ancient Greek coins in around 300 B.C.  (In Asian cultures, since their written characters do not stand for letter sounds, the monogram evolved a little differently.) The initials belonged to the private bankers, city-states or rulers that made the currencies, according to the online Handbook of Greek Coinage. In these early days of money, when issuers wanted people to trust using it, the monograms lent authenticity.

Constantine the Great’s monogram

This practice of stamping coins with monograms continued for centuries, according to A Study of the Development of Monograms. For example, Constantine the Great, who founded Constantinople in 324 A.D. created one of the most famous monograms, a large P with an x through the stem. Another famous coin monogram belonged to the emperor Charlemagne.  He liked it so much, he decided to use his monogram instead of his face on his coins.

Signatures, Buildings, Homes and Art

The history of the monogram continued as other uses developed. Does your Grandmother have a signet ring? It derives from the fancy signet rings rulers wore that allowed them to quickly sign documents using a blop of wax. Later, masons proudly carved their monograms or stone masons’ signs into new cathedrals.

Albrecht Durer’s monogram

Around this time, people like farmers and prominent citizens began  monogramming their walls, prized equipment and even gravestones. These were called house marks.

Later in the 15th century, artists used monograms to sign their works. Italian potters created quite intricate and sometimes beautiful monograms on the bottoms of fine majolica vessels, according to Marks and Monograms on European and Oriental Pottery and Porcelain. And Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer developed one of the more famous monograms, an attractive D under an A.

But the Victorians took monogramming to a whole new level. Tune in to the next post, where we explore “monogramania” in the 1800s.

Explore our lines of monogrammed Cards, Notes, Notepads, Napkins & Guest Towels, and all Monogrammed Items.

Sources:

The Handbook of Greek Coinage

A Study of the Development of Monograms: From Ancient Greek Coins to Contemporary Logos

Marks and Monograms on European and Oriental Pottery and Porcelain. William Chaffers. 14th edition. Borden Publishing Company, Los Angeles, CA.