For A Good Time Call...

One of my daughters is working a part-time job that continues to be dragged out (happily) into what feels like a full-time job with no benefits.  Doesn't sound great I know but it's a job in a very sad market and it's with an art museum which is her heaven on Earth.  So, we raise our glass of pinot noir or cabernet nightly in honor of her having to catch the 36 bus come morning. Because of its somewhat tenuous nature, she has not been given the green light to get business cards printed.  Not that she really needs them but there are occasions when one needs to or wants to reconnect with someone at a later date (while raising a glass of pinot or cabernet at a bar perhaps) and having a printed card with coordinates is certainly an easy way to make sure that can happen.  

Enter, the calling card.  A blast from the Victorian past, calling cards are once again de riguer among young artsy folk, old artsy folk, individuals who work at home as well as a new population of individuals in the nether world of work/no work.  While social networking online is great and has replaced the need for actually leaving your couch to meet people (this is a sad thing) the current job market or lack of,  has created a resurgence in the art of getting ones name out there.  Say hello to the non-business business card.

Historically, calling cards were an essential accessory for a 19th century middle class lady or gentleman.  They served as evidence of social obligations and the pile of cards left in a hallway tray at the end of one's "at home" day determined who needed to be called upon.  For example, the card above represents the wife of Mr. Ingram Fletcher (her name is not used) as well as teenage daughters living at home.  Tuesday stands for the day that Mrs. Fletcher can be called upon at her home.  A slew of envelope versus no envelope nuances or what time of day the card was left and with whom had all sorts of social significance.  

 
In today's world cards can be as funky or subtle as the person who carries them.  Companies like moo.com  (above) have taken all the guesswork out by creating packs of pre-designed cards to which you simply add whatever message you want to leave behind.  At mrsstrong.com, bespoke elegance reigns supreme.  You can design a personalized logo or select from elegantly embossed cards that speak to a turn of the century elegance.
I could go either way.  Love all the fun, funkiness at Moo.  My heart of hearts as you know yearns for things from the past so Mrs. Strong has got that part of me covered.  But, in the end, I am pretty sure I would go against my better judgement and come home with one I found on my favorite website, Greer.  With my family rolling their eyes as they usually do with my choices I leave a clear message for one and all.....

Additional information:  The Gentleman's Page, Hitting the Social Circuit

Photo credit:  greer, moo.com, mrsstrong.com