If you’re a certain age and you grew up in the South, there were things you were expected to do, under the banner of “etiquette.”  After you went to someone’s house for dinner or a party, you wrote them a thank you note. On your personalized stationery. Today, you’re more likely to send an email. But, if you want it, you can still find personalized stationery. Nancy Sharon Collins still makes it.

As well as monograms, ciphers, and seals.

Domenic Giunta doesn’t make anything. But he has a maker-space – a high tech workshop – where you can go and make pretty much anything you can imagine. On equipment from drill presses to 3D printers. 

Domenic’s business, IDIYA, on South Broad Street, puts New Orleans on the frontline of what has been described as the new industrial revolution. Nancy Sharon Collins is preserving an ancient art form.

Nancy and Domenic join host Peter Ricchiuti at Commander’s Palace for a hands-on Out to Lunch. 

Photographs by Alison Moon.