Our Story
Written with love, carried forward.
Pearly May began long before it became a business. It began with my mother, Diane Kelly Mitchell.
My mother was full of life and deeply devoted to her family, her friends, and her faith in God. Her Southern upbringing shaped the way she raised her four children and the way she moved through the world—with poise, grace, warmth, and a little bit of pizzazz. She was always dressed for the occasion, and she had a beautiful way of making everyone feel welcomed, loved, and cared for.
Her handwriting was woven throughout our family’s everyday life. She filled journals, wrote recipes on cards, and left notes for us around the house. When her children moved away for college and adulthood, she tucked handwritten notes and letters into our care packages. Her words reminded us that no matter how far we traveled, someone at home was thinking of us.
“Pearly May” was the name my mother called me when I was growing up. She passed away shortly before my daughter was born, and my husband and I named her Ellison Pearl. Pearly May became a way to honor the love my mother gave so freely and to carry a part of her forward.
After having my first child, I began to understand just how meaningful a handwritten note could be. When I could not find personalized stationery that felt beautiful, thoughtful, and truly personal, I began creating my own. What started as something I needed for myself slowly became something I wanted to share with others.
To me, being Southern is about more than a place. It is the big love you have for your family. It is minding your manners, respecting others, and carrying yourself with poise and grace. It is Sunday dinner around the table, church on Sunday morning, and making time for faith, family, and friends. Most of all, it is making people feel remembered and cared for.
That spirit is at the heart of every Pearly May design. I want our customers to feel excited to give our stationery as a gift and proud to send a note that was made especially for them. From the personalized design to the beautiful, clean, and simple packaging, every detail is meant to show the time and care placed into each order.
For my daughter, Ellison Pearl, and my sons, Easton and Rivers, I hope Pearly May preserves a lesson that has shaped our family: Southern hospitality goes a long way. A simple handwritten “thank you” or “thinking of you” can brighten someone’s day. The smallest gestures often leave the greatest impression.
Pearly May is a celebration of those little things—of family traditions, meaningful words, beautiful paper, and the lasting mark we leave on the people we love.
Written with love, carried forward.