One of my favorite shop windows in Katonah is the display at Fine Lines, a very elegant, yet user friendly, stationery shop. It makes me wish that all I had to do in my life was to think up divine parties and dream about the theme and the invitations.

As a young girl I remember my very first box of “good” stationery. It was a gift set box of a bottle of Faberge “Straw Hat” with lightly scented stationery. My passion for letter writing and fine writing papers was encouraged by my Mother when my childhood friends moved to Munich, Germany. I spent many hours letter writing adding such American treats as a Tootsie Roll, a pack of Sweet Tarts or a piece of Bazooka Bubble Gum in the envelope! The local Tarrytown Stationery Store was Murray Frank’s and the big time designer selection was always found at the Saks Fifth Avenue in White Plains. Some saved for the latest 45’s - I saved for boxes of note cards (and the 45’s!)!

To have a shop on Katonah Avenue, such as Fine Lines, with rooms of stationery and fine gifts is like putting a child in a candy shop! There I find my old friends Crane’s, Caspari and G. Lalo Borghese.

Laura & Barry Marks have had Fine Lines for 15 years. When you enter the store, you will see racks of beautiful greeting cards, both seasonal and traditional, that are a cut above the rest. These cards are very unique and many boast hand made papers and trims. There are also stunning wrapping papers and ribbons.

The center of the shop has a row of tables and chairs on which to sit, plan and peruse the full line of books from the top stationery companies. It is a great workspace on which to lay out your photo for the planning of the family Christmas and Holiday card! The perimeter of the room is filled with seemingly hundreds of boxes of note cards and a display of Vera Bradley accesories, the Filofax line, and some whimsical items such as a Pet Sitter note pad! Spied along the wall, I noticed that Vera Wang now has a line of stationery and another new favorite, William Arthur, has a good selection. There are fine pens available from Recife, Retro, and Padrino.

If all of this seems to fly in the face of evites and emails they have risen to the occasion. There is a room full of “imprintables” that your home computer can handle! The line of imprintables is as exciting and unique as any of the selections from the books that are sent out to be professionally printed.

To capture and savor the memories of life’s events there are beautiful leather photo albums.

As Laura Marks told me, good business is built on relationships. Fine Lines has a base of loyal clients that come from our area, Scarsdale, Greenwich and New York City. They have shipped to faithful clients in Florida, London and even Hong Kong.

I have enjoyed many purchases there including the custom printed Notepad for School which has check off points to explain an early dismissal for a Doctor’s appt., a playdate, or an absence from school or a sick day! Check, check, and sign! Teachers loved it since it was so easy to read.

For wonderful service and a fantastic selection for any of your stationery needs visit Fine Lines, 141 Katonah Avenue, Katonah N.Y. 914-232-4856

Their website is www.finelineskatonah.com, and you can email them by .

Posted by:  Karen Benvin Ransom