About Dear & Always

Some stories find you because you were always meant to carry them forward.

If you've ever wandered through an antique store wondering who owned that old trunk...or opened your grandmother's recipe box just to see her handwriting again...or tucked away a birthday card because you couldn't bear to throw it out...

Well, you're my kind of people.

I've always loved the stories hidden inside ordinary things. A stack of old letters tied with ribbon. A faded photograph. A recipe card splattered with flour. The note my mom tucked into my lunchbox. The birthday card signed by everyone at the party. Those little pieces of paper somehow become priceless.

I've also always had a bit of a weakness for beautiful stationery. (Let's just say my paper collection has grown into something my family politely calls "a situation.")

Somewhere along the way, those two loves, family heirlooms and beautiful correspondence, found each other.

And Dear & Always was born.

I created Dear & Always because I believe our biggest celebrations deserve more than decorations and photographs. Weddings. New babies. Graduations. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Retirements. Even the quiet moments when someone simply needs to hear, "I'm proud of you."

The flowers are beautiful.

The cake disappears.

The gifts are eventually tucked away.

But the words?

Those stay.

Our Keepsake Letter Collections are designed to preserve those words—the blessings, the stories, the family memories, the encouragement, and the love that deserve to be read again years from now.

And when I'm not dreaming up new collections, you'll often find me packing up The Stationer's Trunk and heading off to help families, friends, churches, libraries, boutiques, and celebrations gather around a table to write letters together. It may sound delightfully old-fashioned...because it is.

I think we could all use a little more old-fashioned.

A little more slowing down.

A little more ink on paper.

A few more reasons to tell the people we love exactly how much they matter.

My hope is that every Dear & Always collection becomes part of someone's family story—not because it's beautiful (although I certainly hope it is!), but because of the words tucked inside.

Those are the real heirlooms.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you'll stay awhile.

I'm so glad you're here.

— Shannon Howard

Founder, Dear & Always