Nothing personalizes a gift, table or stationery like a monogram or personal logo. Traditional monograms -- created from fine engraving, embroidery, and etching -- have always been associated with a class of people who used talented artisans to create their mark. This symbol registered their ranking in the social hierarchy. Whether the monogram was heraldic, the emblem of royalty, the insignia of the titled, or the union of two families to identify a new dynasty, one’s rank and financial position were clearly established in the social pecking order.

In today’s world many of us still have engraved stationery and monogrammed linens -- lovely objects that endure in a throw-away world. These items are often time-consuming in the production process and can be quite expensive. For an affordable, chic, and instant way to add that element of traditional personalization, have your monogram made into a stamp. I did this many years ago and have used it for gift tags, notepaper, menu cards, scrapbooks, labels for jellies, preserves, and books, identifying my gift bags and for creating my own personalized wrapping and tissue paper. Back in the early eighties it was not as easy to do, but with the advent of the computer one can design one’s own monogram and then email a JPEG of it to a place like Impress Stamps in Seattle. In very short order you will be stamping away, creating your very own personalized look.