Behind the Brand ·

Behind the Brand: WH Hostess Social Stationery

I am delighted to introduce my dear friend Kelly Lyden, the visionary founder of  WH Hostess Social Stationery.  Her beautiful and whimsical designs have become a cornerstone of our seasonal collections at Cailíní Coastal. Kelly and I formed an instant connection when we met four years ago, and it has been a joy to see our partnership evolve into a collection of WH designs exclusive to Cailíní Coastal.

I am excited to share Kelly's inspiring journey—from her beginnings as a blogger to establishing one of the most beloved stationery brands today. Her story is a beautiful testament to the power of following one’s passion and the significance of supportive collaborations. Join us as we delve into the creativity and determination behind WH Hostess, celebrating the exquisite designs that enrich our offerings each season.

Enjoy!
xx Meg

 

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: We are such fans of your brand and incredible work. For readers who are just learning about your brand, can you tell us about the inspiration behind starting WH Hostess? What was the turning point that made you shift from blogging to creating your own stationery?

 

WH: Thank you so much! I think the shift really started due to blog readers asking for my help in planning their party, putting together a tablesetting look, or a hostess gift. I couldn’t always find the paper goods I was looking for, and decided to pull out my computer and create them myself! I really started with birthday party invitations for kids. The goal was to create designs for a child-like theme, but with the parents’ design aesthetic in mind.

Here’s a quick history of how I got started: Kelly studied both graphic design and fashion business in college, before launching a career as a clothing buyer who specialized in product development. After almost a decade of experience, she left the fashion industry to start her next creative role: blogging. She ran the popular entertaining blog, The Party Dress - Inspirations from the Well-Heeled Hostess, from 2009 to 2020. In 2010, she started WH Hostess as a complement to the blog. Designing mainly party invitations and accessories, it became an instant hit and in the years following has morphed into the collection you see today. 

 

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)
CC: Your designs are known for being classic with a modern twist. How do you stay current with trends while maintaining that timeless feel?

 

WH: I truly design what I like. And that certainly shifts with trends, of course. But I find a lot of inspiration in home decor textiles and colors. We design products that go in peoples’ homes - we need to fit in nicely! My personal style is pretty classic and I try to stay true to that!

 

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: We’ve had the pleasure of carrying your beautiful wrapping paper, gift tags and tea towels for a few years now, and they’re always a holiday favorite. What’s your process like for creating these seasonal designs?

WH: Yes, you have! When it comes to holiday gift wrap and accessories, our main goal is to be a gift wrapping destination! We want you to have the prettiest gifts in town and are not only going to design the components that perfectly coordinate together for you, but we’re also going to show you how/give you tips on how to style your gifts via our instagram account. I typically start with a few key patterns and then we decide what needs a statement gift tag vs. a simple gift tag. Just like in your home or your wardrobe - you need hero items and background items.


(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: As Cailini Coastal followers will know, you were also the original designer behind the nutcrackers that inspired our Steinbach collection. What was it like seeing your design vision evolve into such a unique holiday piece? 

 

WH: What a FUN experience! Those little nutcrackers were so fun to reimagine with a nautical spin, and it was very rewarding to see you have success with the paper goods last season. When Meg approached me with the idea of partnering with Steinbach to create actual nutcrackers inspired by the designs, I was thrilled! She was so sweet to include me in small parts of the process. In fact, I’m pretty sure there is a video out there somewhere of the two of us going over the details with (lots of) wine during an Atlanta trip last year! The final product is heirloom-worthy. Steinbach is known for their impeccable quality and they executed them beautifully. Such a pinch me moment to open them up, and I know my family will cherish them for years to come.

 

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: Your background in graphic design and fashion business has played a big role in your career journey. How has that experience influenced the way you approach product development today? 

WH: Absolutely! I am so grateful for this full-circle place I have found myself in now and truly believe that I have brought valuable tools to the table from each step of my career. The graphic designer in me is the artist. When I am in full design mode, it’s really hard to pull my head and my heads out of it. However, once I have completed a drawing or pattern, I can actually turn off the “artist” and turn on the “buyer” - is this design saleable? What products will it do best on? The personal component leaves and the buyer takes over. My product development history in the fashion industry was focused on textiles - pairing patterns and textured fabrics together to create exclusive pieces for the specialty store chain I worked for. My love of fabrics absolutely plays into how I design patterns for our collections now.

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: Your brand offers a variety of personalized products perfect for gifting. In your opinion, what makes personalized stationery such a meaningful present for the holidays?

WH: I love ALL of our personalized products! True thoughtfulness shines in the details. A personalized gift is more than just a present—it's a reflection of the time, care, and consideration put into celebrating the uniqueness of the person receiving it.

 

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: Your personalized items make the perfect gift for the holiday season. Can you share which pieces you’d gift to the following recipients? Select from the pieces we’re offering for the personalization event.

 

WH:

  • A Beloved Teacher - I absolutely adore our apple fretwork personalized notepad for teachers.  It’s classically charming!
  • An Office White Elephant - The cabana stripes personalized notepad for sure!  It’s perfect for your desk at work or home!
  • A Stocking Stuffer - I always struggle with stocking stuffers for the men in my family (and there are a lot!). The golf notepad is perfect for this!
  • A Hostess Gift - For the holiday season, I like to gift a personalized Christmas notepad. This season, I will definitely be gifting our new Blue Santa design for all of my blue and white lovers.
  • The Newlyweds - If they have an East Coast connection, I love to gift the Nantucket Basket personalized notepad. You can put their initials or monogram on the basket to add a truly custom look.

 

(Photo Credit: WH Hostess Social Stationery)

CC: If you could only use one holiday wrapping paper for the rest of time, which of your designs would you pick?

WH: Oooh, that’s like asking me to pick my favorite son.  I’m a traditional girl at heart, so you will find a lot of tartan plaid under my tree.  However, this year, I think our new Blue Bows Christmas Trees gift wrap is my favorite. It’s pretty and soft, a touch of chinoiserie chic AND touches on the bow trend of 2024.

CC: Okay, our last question is what’s next for WH Hostess? Can you share any exciting plans or upcoming projects on the horizon?

WH: At WH Hostess, we're always looking ahead, bringing fresh inspiration to every season. Our team is dedicated to consistently creating new, on-trend designs across all categories, ensuring that our collections stay vibrant and relevant. In addition to our signature items, we're excited to be expanding our offerings with more home and tabletop products, providing our customers with even more beautiful options to elevate their everyday living and entertaining experiences. Stay tuned for innovative new pieces that blend style and function, perfect for entertaining and gifting in style.

 

Shop All WH Hostess Social Stationery

 

Coastal Nutcracker Personalized Notepad

 

Blue Santa Personalized Notepad

 

Nantucket Basket Personalized Notepad

 

Cabana Stripe Personalized Notepad

 

Hydrangea Stripe Personalized Notepad

 

Boxwood Wreath Personalized Notepad

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