My Story of The Card Catalog
I grew up in a small New England town where the town hall housed the offices and records, a clock and bell in the tower and the library that had been installed in a meeting room on the first floor. The rows of oak card-catalog drawers with metal pulls are a vivid part of my memory. Each labeled drawer inviting me to explore its contents of 3 by 5 cards. I can still imagine whispered voices, the muffled footsteps, the faint scent of polished wood and cleaning materials and of being enveloped by towering shelves of books. For a young person, it felt like stepping into another world, vast and full of the wonders of other places.
Today I hardly ever step inside the local city library but access its wonders through the internet. It is still a treat to go to the little library here in Annisquam where there are wooden bookcases filled with tomes of yesteryear and the latest releases, plus a wonderful staff who know just the right books to recommend, gathering with other book lovers, catching up on the latest community stories and sampling a homemade treat or two before heading home, books in hand.
This is a Card Catalog of a different type but created from a similar foundation. For years I have been unable to find cards that express the messages I wish to send. If you have had the same experience I hope you find a few cards here to fill that void.
This card collection is a deeply personal project, crafted to fill that elusive gap many of us feel when searching for just the right words or sentiments. A card catalog built from my own inspirations and experiences carrying an authenticity and intention that store-bought cards often lack. My collection is a continuation of my love for libraries—a means to express and share pieces of myself in a meaningful way.
Finding a card that truly resonates can feel like discovering a hidden book on a library shelf: rare and delightful. This catalog is a gift to you and to anyone who receives a card from it, each one a thoughtful message that connects and communicates in a way that only something handmade and carefully selected can.
Thank you for joining me on this journey,
Suzanne A. Brown, Creative at Annisquam Creations
