Slim Paley.......gift wrap all sparkly and vintage

Between the two of us, we almost didn't get this final Gift Wrapping Holiday 2010 post out. The stylish blogger Slim Paley was caught with a flu bug, then I was caught with a computer bug. But here it is in all it's gift wrapped beauty and I know you are going to love what Slim has to say about gorgeous gift wrapping. Like everything she does, the stylish blogger Slim Paley wraps the most beautiful presentations............I wasn't the least surprised. This girl can wrap! Enjoy. And I will see you next week with my gorgeous new puppy named Daisy who is wrapped and ready in pink ribbons to come home. Happy Holidays!

Slim Paley photo ~ Vintage ribbon and sparkly paper

Is presentation a big part of gift giving to you Slim?

Oh absolutely! Presentation has always played a large part in the pleasure of gift giving for me. I love that friends will usually know which is my gift by the way it is wrapped.

Slim Paley photo ~ vintage ribbons, many from Bell' Ochio San Francisco

If you were limited to one ribbon, would it be silk, satin, taffeta, grosgrain, or organza?

OMG Sande! What don't you just ask me to pick a favorite child?!!

Are you a tissue paper or gift wrap paper kind of gal?

I like both. I'm not too crazy about primary coloured tissue, but layering several layers of soft hues creates a very pretty effect. Black & Gold tissue is also very rich together and I like this script tissue paper I found recently. 

What is the best gift wrap paper you have ever used?

I'd have to say the paper I have brought back from Venice and Tokyo would be the best paper I have ever used. The Italians have such a rich history of paper-making and who does gift wrapping or presentation better than the Japanese? 

Slim Paley photo ~ Magazine photos I've saved throughout the year.

Any gift wrap tips you want to share Slim?

Keep your gift wrapping antenna up all year round and have a couple of boxes set aside to store gift embellishments as you find them. Whether you are on a hike, a walk on the beach or in a dinky little antique shop, you'll find things that will turn your gifts into something extra special. As the season draws closer, pull beautiful photos from magazines to use with your wrapping.

Slim Paley photo ~ Various vintage gift embellishments

If you are able to pop outside and add something from Mother Nature to your gift all the better. Keep in mind that even the lowliest leaf, stone or twig can become a thing of beauty if gathered in a charming or unusual way. Stock up on those tiny clear plastic test-tubes with rubber tops for adding fresh flowers.

Are you all wrapped and ready Slim? Or do you wrap last minute like many of us? 

NO!!! SO NOT READY!! I am forever wrapping at the very last second, forget minute! I'm a pathological procrastinator and this holiday season is no exception. Add coming down with the flu to the equation and I might even break my own record for last minute scrambling this year. I'm not proud of it by any means, but that's the truth. I've said this on my blog before - I so admire people who are well-prepared long before the holiday starts (notice how I didn't use "jealous" there?!). I think I just have to accept this is the way I roll and stop beating myself up over it!

Slim Paley photo

I'll share the craziest, most labour intensive wrapping I ever attempted. One year I decided to hand paint flowers, mistletoe and holly on to old sheet music for gift wrapping. Naturally I thought "Oh, how genius is this going to be?!! Unfortunately, I didn't realize until after I had painted it that the sheet music was so old it started to crack and break apart whenever I tried to fold it over the edges of the boxes. Yikes, it makes me want to have a glass of wine just reliving the memory...........although I still think sheet music is a charming idea for Christmas wrapping, just not vintage sheet music!

Your gift wrapped signature? The one thing that says this gift is from Slim Paley?

Definitely beautiful ribbon, often vintage, with something from my garden, usually roses, attached. 

All photos by Slim Paley