11.11.08
At work, when you talk on the phone every day to a person you’ve never met, you tend to get curious about what that person is like in real life. Well, maybe you don’t, but we here at Luscious Verde are a specific breed of character. Perhaps it’s the drinking water from the pristine Cuyahoga River. Perhaps it’s the fact that we’re obsessed with Project Runway. Or, probably, it’s because we’re all a little bit weird. Not in a bad way, mind you, but it takes a specific kind of person to deal with the highs and lows of custom stationery.
And we realized, hey, we talk to people every day who we’ve never met, and who are fans of our work. But just talking to them isn’t enough. We’re curious about their trials and tribulations, their outlook on life, and their favorite alcoholic beverage. So we’ve decided to feature, every few weeks or so, a retailer of our products that we want to get to know a little better. Behold the third entry into our illustrious Retailer Spotlight: Lee from A.K.A. Invites in Potomac, Maryland.
Name: Lee Ellyn Altobello (nee Eichberg)
Born and raised: Rockville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC by the best parents one could wish for, with my identical twin sister and older brother.
When did you start custom stationery? 10 years ago, together with my business partner and close friend, Melissa.
Why? I knew that event planning had a spot in my future with my sales and catering careers for the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton Hotel companies. But since hotels never close, I knew that wouldn't fit into my lifestyle as a wife and mom. With invitations, I don't actually have to participate in the many details of an event, I only set the stage for it. And besides, people only bring to me their happiness (like a new baby or wedding) - what's not to love! It's very empowering to have the perfect balance of family and business.
Family: My incredible husband, David. Our three boys, Derek and Michael (twins, age 11) and Brady (age 9). We used to have hermit crabs named Lucy and Ethel, but sadly they are "no longer with us."
Guilty pleasures: Chocolate covered pretzels, definitely.
Favorite font: I adore Pinafore - it's delightful and sweet. And I like the classic style of Imprint Shadow, too. My boys crack up at Girls are Weird.
Favorite LV design/catalog: Nope - I won't! One is more exquisite than the next and it wouldn't be fair to leave any out...though I do love the laser-cut letters!
Hidden talent/creativity: If I wasn't a stationer, I would love to be a decorator. I really enjoy working with fabrics, textures and colors. I always say to my clients that looking through the LV color wheel is like picking paint colors for a favorite room. I think that's why I am so successful with your collection - when the colors work together, the whole room sings!
(Thanks, Lee!)
