An inauguration invitation grows in Brooklyn - it’s the real thing

I’ve been searching the web for images of the “actual” invitation to President Obama’s inauguration and guess what? It turns out that the invitation I received in the mail and turned into a Purple Raincoat sample inaugural keepsake is the “real” invitation, after all. One million of these invitations were printed in less than a month by Precise Continental, a small union shop in Brooklyn that worked overtime to meet the deadline. I learned a lot about this from the Red Stamp blog, which is dedicated to “stylish correspondence.” I can dig that.

Turns out that this inauguration invitation pretty much follows the traditional template that has been in place since Harry Truman was inaugurated. It is printed using a technique called “engraving”, which Red Stamp calls "the epitome of all things formal + tasteful”. But there are some 21st century updates - for example, the Obama people insisted that the invitation be printed on recycled paper. The Neenah “Classic Crest” Paper selected for the invitation has been called the “greenest premium paper in the world…completely FSC Certified, Green-e Certified as being made with 100 percent renewable energy, made 100 percent Carbon Neutral, and Processed Chlorine Free.”

Ironically, this invitation itself is less likely to be recycled than the invitations to previous presidential inaugurals. HOWDESIGN notes that “This invite, like others in history will likely become a collector’s item—perhaps treasured more than any other as America’s first black president” takes office. Of course, I hope many of them are "recycled" into Purple Raincoat keepsakes.

The fonts used for the invitation were designed in 1972 by Matthew Carter. Both of these fonts, Shelly Allegro and Kuentsler, are available through Fonts.com at 25 percent off through inaugural week. Here’s your chance to buy a piece of history and use these elegant fonts to create invitations for your own once-in-a-lifetime (well, maybe twice in Obama’s case – it’s possible) occasion. This is an interesting option for people who are making their own invitations.

I’m still waiting to get my hands on a “real” invitation to an inaugural ball or one of the infamous “purple” swearing-in tickets – come on, people, I’m counting on you! Give Purple Raincoat the opportunity to turn your once-in-a-lifetime experience into a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Senior Obama administration staff, I know you’re busy getting down to the business of remaking America, but don’t forget about your memories – put them in Purple Raincoat’s hands and prepare to be delighted.

Calling All Purple Ticket Holders!

What you can do with that purple ticket…

While glued to MSNBC yesterday watching the inauguration (along with the pre-game and post-game shows, so to speak), I heard some of the commentators mentioning that there were people who had tickets to the swearing-in ceremony but were unable to claim their rightful seats. I thought about how heartbreaking that would be – to be so close and to have a ticket but to be turned away.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the tickets were color-coded and that it was thousands of the people holding purple tickets who were denied access. You can read about them at the Huffington Post, and get a first-hand account from a holder of a “cursed purple ticket” at Barack Oblogger.

Being “purple” people, they weren’t about to take this injustice lying down – even though they were packed into an underground tunnel so tightly that they were unable to move. Already, more than 1,000 people have joined the “Purple Tunnel of Doom” Facebook group. And there are calls for President Obama to do something to compensate these ticket holders, many of whom had worked their hearts out to help him win the election.

Well, purple people, the President has a pretty full inbox, and helping you out may not be at the top of his list but it is at the top of mine. As you may have guessed, I have a special place in my heart for the color purple, so let’s turn that lemon into lemonade.

Here’s the deal: Purple Raincoat will turn your purple Obama inauguration ticket into a beautiful framed keepsake that will bring a smile to your face when you look at it. It’s a way to accentuate the positive, if you will, which feels appropriate given the tone of the new administration.

The Purple Ticket keepsake is going to be a special size and have a special price: $44 in honor of our 44th President (plus tax and shipping, as appropriate – hey, a girl has to make a living). This offer could be withdrawn at any time, but I will guarantee it for the next 44 days – that would be until March 6, 2009. Call or email us today so you can pick yourself up and dust yourself off…you get my drift.

Power to the Purple People! Purple Raincoat is here for you. See, don’t you feel better already?

Happy Inauguration Day!

Tips for an unforgettable inaugural experience

Were you lucky enough (or connected enough) to get a ticket for Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States? If so, you may feel as if you won the lottery – which, in a way, you have. You will be part of history whether you have a reserved seat at the swearing-in ceremony, a place along the inaugural parade route or an invitation to attend an inaugural ball. And you swear you will never forget it. But what is the best way to make sure you don’t forget it?

This inauguration will be unlike any other in our nation’s history, but it will go by in a flash, and you will want to do everything possible to hold onto your memories of this very special event. Any piece of paper that gets you in the door - no matter what the event - is your ticket to a lifetime of memories, but not when it is kept in a drawer or hidden in a shoebox.

You can think of the inauguration as a celebration similar to a personal milestone such as a wedding or special anniversary. And as we know, if the celebration involves any kind of invitation, that invitation can serve as a powerful tool to help you remember the emotion associated with a special event, such as the inaugural ceremonies and celebrations.

So the first step to making the inauguration unforgettable is for you to collect memorabilia associated with the event. This includes invitations, tickets, photographs, programs, place cards, flyers, buttons and other souvenirs. The next step is to select the pieces that are most meaningful and deciding how to showcase them in a way that will make the memories the most vivid for you.

To take these memories to the next level, let Purple Raincoat design a unique framed collage to showcase your memorabilia. The power to remember is multiplied when your memorabilia is incorporated into a creative piece of art that stirs the emotions. Purple Raincoat is ready, willing, and able to turn your inaugural memorabilia into a one-of-a-kind work of art. Our goal is to create keepsakes that celebrate life’s special occasions and serve as the perfect touchstones for remembering those special days. And there won’t be many days more special than the day of Barack Obama’s inauguration.



The inaugural "invitation" is layered on embossed copper-gold paper, textured black paper, flecked copper vellum and a ton-on-tone taupe floral printed paper.. The background is a shiny textured cream cardstock, topped by black-on-black striped cardstock accented by gold mesh. Stripes of black satin ribbon accent the design.

Remember: for an unforgettable inauguration experience, take the time to collect those pieces of paper and do something meaningful with them. You will never regret taking the time to preserve those memories in a creative, unique way, and your actions will be enormously helpful when you are asked by future generations to talk about your emotions on what is a momentous day in our nation’s history.

And here's a special offer: if you order an inaugural keepsake from Purple Raincoat by January 31 to be shipped anywhere in the United States, we will discount that order by 44 percent to honor our 44th president. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime offer, so don't miss out on this unique opportunity to have Purple Raincoat preserve your memories of this milestone moment for the United States of America.