Scribe Stationer

02/25/2024

.
The most heartbreaking news…
The world lost an earthly angel this week.
Mary Kay McGrath.

I can’t even begin to express how much love and admiration I have for this woman.
How do you sum up the life of someone who gave SO MUCH to the community, who had a vision and worked tirelessly to bring that vision to life?
Her vision was the purest of missions;
improve her childhood neighborhood and make Cedar Rapids a better place to live, work and play.

MK approached me a few times over the past few years and asked if I wanted to bring something to Czech Village. With one shop already consuming a lot of my time, I was a bit hesitant.

But it was Mary Kay.

We walked the Village and looked at spots and I was SO INSPIRED by her, so in love with her mission to DO GOOD in this community, that I started to consider it.
Soon after that Village tour, my mother died unexpectedly. This obviously changed things for me and MK was so gracious and kind when I shared that I couldn’t move forward at that time.

Fast forward a couple years and I got a call from MK again. She had another space she wanted me to look at. I was shoulder deep in some major projects and was honest about being hesitant to take on more.

But it was Mary Kay.

Once again, her passion and persistence knocked me off my feet. I was so in awe of her and every single thing she was doing. She had been buying buildings that needed love and working tirelessly to rehab them and fill them with businesses that would attract folks of all ages, local and visiting.

We wouldn’t be here if it were not for
Mary Kay McGrath.

In my generation, there are few that will leave the kind of legacy that she has left in this community.
It was never about recognition; she was doing all of this for all the RIGHT reasons.
She wanted to make Cedar Rapids a better place.
She MADE Cedar Rapids a better place.

Our deepest condolences to the McGrath family.

RIP MK.

📸: Cedar Rapids Gazette

02/23/2024

.
it’s almost as if Mother Nature herself dropped off these flower pens
(alongside some pretty darn fabulous February weather!)

let’s face it:
there’s nothing like a wiggly flower pen to add a little sunshine to your desk and to your day.

boring conference call?
wiggly flower pen!
deadline in 30 minutes?
wiggly flower pen!
toxic workplace?
wiggly flower pen!
(Ok, we sincerely hope that no one is experiencing the last one listed!)

you get the idea…
instant smile on a stick.

recommended for ages 3-100+
(never grow up!)

01/31/2024

.
What is the non-holiday version of the term “Stocking Stuffers”?

You know, sweet little things to give and get, that surprise and delight, all year long?

Little Lovelies?
Sweet Nothings?
Tiny Treats?

I don’t know, but sometimes the littlest, sweetest of useful objects can brighten a moment, a day, a mood for any of us.
And who doesn’t need that these days?

So, let’s not just focus on Stocking Stuffer options in December...
let’s keep the little thing, surprise, and delight movement alive and well the other 364 days of the year!

(And to be honest...Stocking Stuffers are the best part of holiday gifting and getting ! 🙂

Love all of these colorful sticky notes, notepads, little notes, little notes pouches, stationery, env

01/27/2024

What the world needs now…
is Love…
sweet Love.

(Isn’t that the truth?!!)

Open Saturday 10-5
Open Sunday 12-4

A little bit ‘o holiday merch remains and is now 75% off.

01/24/2024

.
The sweetest way to show love for your kids (or anyone!) each day, prior to Valentine’s Day.

Each card in this set of 14 Love prompt cards from .m.a.c.k.packs (out of Cedar Falls!) is the perfect surprise to slip into a lunch tote, tape to a bedroom door, slip in a book…
wherever they’ll be lovingly discovered daily, from February 1st until February 14th.

We have just a few in stock…swing by or call to reserve…
And Annie will be at the shop today from 11-5
❤️💌❤️🐈

01/20/2024

Before we start seeing red (as in, Valentines)…

Let’s give a round of applause for green!

Open Saturday from 10-5!
Open Sunday from 12-4!

01/14/2024

will it ever end?
this cold and bitter chapter?
let’s hope for more WARM.

Please, please check in with your friends, neighbors, and outdoor pets/furry creatures.

so many of you have reached out about Norman…

he’s all warm and snuggly with food and water, inside the firehouse.
we’re visiting him daily and he’ll be hanging inside until the temps are back to normal January temps.
❤️❤️
we hope to see you soon…

01/12/2024

😞
The good news?
Norman is on a warm staycation, all safe and snuggly inside.

The bad news?
We won’t see you today…

We’ll see what the rest of the weekend holds…
In the meantime, stay safe out there!!

01/11/2024

No functioning, vintage typewriters were harmed
in order to make this bracelet.
(I asked!)

We are open today (Thursday)!
11am-5pm

01/10/2024

Open 11-5 TODAY!
We missed you!

Oh, and let us know how many letters and cards you wrote yesterday!
😉😉😉

01/09/2024

2024.
Our first big snow of the year!
As beautiful as it is outside…
we’re thinking it might be a good idea for our Team and for all of you to…

stay in
stay warm
stay safe.

We’ll be closed today (Tuesday 1/9)…
but hope to see your smiling faces tomorrow!

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

12/30/2023

We are so honored to be in this beautiful building!

12/24/2023

Wow.
What a season!

Just in case you need ONE MORE GIFT…
(Or if you’re just starting your holiday shopping today…which we meet a few of you every year!)…

Both Scribe and .of.marion are open Christmas Eve!

Scribe: 10am-2pm
(and my two teenage daughters are running the show on their own today, so they may need to “phone a friend” (me, their mother) if you have questions they cannot answer! Thanks in advance for your patience and grace! 🙏🏻❤️)

Scout: 9am-2pm

This is it, folks!

12/17/2023

day 6 of little lovelies for the holiday…

you’re never too old for
sketch books,
colored pencils,
and
stickers!

did we mention that we have loads and loads of fabulous items that make great stocking stuffers?

open Sunday 11-5!

12/17/2023

day 5 of gift giving ideas.
but y’all know that this is an incredibly small sampling of all the delicious desktop items we offer….

weekend hours:
Saturday 10-5
Sunday 11-5

Andddddd……

We’ll be open this upcoming MONDAY for your last-minute gift-giving needs!
And we have extended hours all week, too!

Next week’s hours:

Monday 12/18: 10-6
Tuesday 12/19: 10-6
Wednesday 12/20: 10-6
Thursday 12/21: 10-7 !!!
Friday 12/22: 10-6
Saturday 12/23: 9-5
Christmas Eve: 10-2
Christmas CLOSED 🎄

12/15/2023

day 4 of some cool gifting options…
planners, journals and pens.

this is just a small sampling of the options we have…

dated and undated.
minimal and whimsical.
spiral or bound.
guided or plain.

how do YOU stay on task and mange your thoughts?

12/15/2023

A cheery little evening in New Bohemia.

12/14/2023

day 3 of gift-giving ideas…

sometimes, it’s hard to think of the perfect gift.
a good rule?
you can never go wrong with something CLASSIC.

there are a few things that have quickly become best sellers at the shop…items that have been purchased as gifts AND for personal use, time and time again.

these classic items include anything leather: journals, laptop cases, Passport covers, planners and pocket size note holders.
the beauty of these leather goods is that they only get better with use.

what are some of the other top sellers in the shop (that happen to fit nicely with a leather accessory?)???
cool pens and pencils.
everyone has their favorite.
it’s true.
pens, ballpoint pens, fountain pens, rollerball pens, mechanical pencils, felt markers, gel pens…you name it.

and we just unpacked a couple big orders from and .germany, including this cool brass option in the photo.

and don’t forget some desktop accessories like the elephant stapler that’s back by popular demand.
or the classic helix keyring pictured here, from

these are just a FEW of the great gift items available at the shop!

we’re open until 8pm tonight for the HoHoHo in NewBo event (see our stories).
we hoho-hope to see you!

12/14/2023

Tonight!!!

Join us (and 14 of our lovely neighbors!) from 5-8 tonight for the HoHoHo in NewBo Holiday event!

Special events include:
* Iowa Running Company Jingle Carol Runners
* Jefferson High School trombone quartet
* Roasters/Goldfinch Mobile Hot Chocolate Stand

Plus, enjoy drink specials at participating restaurants…

Chrome Horse
Crosby’s
Lacayo
NewBo City Beer & Wine
Parlor City

And play WHITEOUT for a chance to win prizes!
Come down to New Bohemia tonight for some good, old-fashioned Holiday Cheer.

AND pop over to Czech Village for their Jingle & Mingle Event, too!!!

We'll be open til 8 pm on Thursday the 14th, for Ho Ho Ho in Newbo!
Come sip and shop and visit all the businesses in Newbo.
And if you haven't already, get a gander at the new tree in the market yard!

12/13/2023

day 2 of some spectacular gift ideas for everyone on your list…

today’s ensemble includes journals and pens in the colors of the season (the dark journal is a beautiful, deep forest green).

perfect for the creative in your life, or for the co-worker who loves simple, modern journals. or anyone.

explore.
create.
think.

sounds like a potential 2024 mantra 😉

12/12/2023

who’s ready for a daily dose of gifts galore?

starting with Taylor.

the world can’t get enough of her.
the economic impact from her Eras Tour is staggering.
she is authentic.

grab a few Swiftie items for her Biggest Fan.

11/27/2023

Thank you. ❤️
For the Birthday wishes and the kindness.
For a great small biz weekend and kickoff to the Holiday!
For bringing joy to our tiny shop!

11/25/2023

It’s Our Birthday!!
(we kind of have two birthdays).
Black Friday is Scribe’s Birthday.
And so is November 26th (that was the day Black Friday fell on in 2021)

TWO YEARS!

How on earth can that be? We were just in a pandemic, a derecho…and then we open a stationery shop…
in a world that relies on texts and electronic communication.
on a day that is the busiest shopping day of the year – BLACK FRIDAY?

What on earth was I thinking?

Good question.
But I have a good answer.

It worked.
In some crazy, chaotic way…it worked.
And that is because of my TEAM (Annie, Heather and Katie!), the gift of being able to be in this cool old firehouse from and , and because of YOU!

You believed, like we did, that personal correspondence is
NOT DEAD.
That now, more than ever, handwritten notes and communication matters.
It’s AUTHENTIC.
And in today’s world (don’t even get me started on ChatGPT) – it certainly feels like authenticity is a dying concept (and don’t get me started on politics either!).

It’s kind of crazy to think about celebrating our birthday in a big way, when today (Plaid Friday) is really about your love and support for ALL SMALL BUSINESSES.
So we’ll still celebrate in a small way today and maybe commit to throwing a big HALF Birthday on May 26th?
And guess what May 26th is?
It’s National Paper Airplane Day. So that’s even paper-related, right?

In the meantime, Thanks for making these first two years an absolute joy.
Your support has far exceeded my expectations.
Your love of fountain pens, paper, stationery, journals, desktop accessories, notebooks, planners…is REAL.

But most importantly, Scribe wouldn’t be here for you without ANNIE (Shop Manager, Paper Diva) and the TEAM (Katie &. Heather, and our Summer-Intern-that-stayed, Ann).
You’ll see more of them in the upcoming weeks as they reveal all their favorite things in the shop.
They are AMAZING and when I grow up, I want to be JUST LIKE THEM.

Happy Birthday, Scribe.
And get those paper airplanes ready.

11/23/2023

.Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.

And here’s to ignoring the obscene (OBSCENE!) amount of Black Friday emails in your in-box and
BEING PRESENT
today (and every day).

We are SO incredibly thankful for your support this past year and for your support of small, local businesses, artisans, and non-profits.

Without it, this community would be rather dull and exist as Anywhere, USA.
You know what we mean…
Lots of chains and a lack of uniqueness…(and lots of your hard earned dollars leaving the community.)
We know you have a choice and we cannot thank you enough for choosing a small business (retail, restaurants and services!) this weekend, and year round.

So thankful, so grateful.❤️

~your SCROUT (Scout + Scribe) Team

11/22/2023

This morning!!
With Annie Wiesner-Schaub
So fun with the awesome Everyday Iowa crew at KCRG-TV9

11/18/2023

looking up to the beautiful tin ceiling and I see……
that it’s ALMOST a peace sign.

could this be a sign of the season?

hope so…

with so much going on in this world, a little reminder of peace can go a long way…

as we head into the week of thanksgiving, here’s wishing you some sweet moments of peace and love during this most busy season.

shop hours next week:

11/20 Monday: closed
11/21 Tuesday: 11a-5p
11/22 Wednesday: 11a-5p
11/23 Thanksgiving: closed
11/24 Plaid Friday: 9a-6p
11/25 Shop Small Saturday: 9a-6p
11/26 Still Shopping Small Sunday: 12p-4p