A Guide to the Best of Southern California : DESIGN : Reviving a Lost Art

HOPING THAT PEOPLE will once again appreciate letter writing, invitation designer Marc Friedland has created a stunning incentive: handcrafted personalized stationery. “What I’m trying to do is bring back the art and romance of letter writing--making personal correspondence reflect a person’s communication style,” says Friedland, who designs one-of-a-kind party invitations for his L.A.-based company, Artafax.

Among the papers Friedland uses are thick, 100% cotton; French paper pressed with wildflowers; and dyed, handpainted and marbleized papers. Names or initials are done in blind embossed calligraphic lettering or covered with gold leaf. The hand-cut envelopes feature unusual architectural shapes and closures, including wood-mounted seals and sealing wax. The stationery requires six to eight weeks to be designed and assembled.

Friedland’s handcrafted stationery can be pricey. Non-personalized stationery that comes in a portfolio runs about $75 for 15 cards and envelopes. His personalized notes, assembled in a basswood chest, start at $200 for 25 cards and envelopes.

“The stationery becomes an art object that’s also utilitarian,” Friedland says. “But what I’ve found is the people who have it say they’re very selective about who they’ll write to. They think, ‘Does this person really deserve a note on this?’ ”

Friedland’s stationery is available by appointment only; call (213) 936-9009.