More than a few of you emailed after the post on using wrapping paper to gussy up a bouquet of flowers for my son in this Black Cloverleaf is a striking graphic and as luck and timing would have it, Midorithe trade ribbon source now has a retail website. Their gift wrap is sold in packages of ten so pick your favorite and stock up on that pattern.
Cloverleaf is handamde, more of a fiber paper so it does hold it's shape and can be ironed and reused. And you know how I feel about that..........bonus.
While I was there I noticed this new rose embellished gift wrap paper which might be a new stock item for me. Next week I will share a few of my favorite Midori ribbons............actually there is more than a few.
Happy Weekend and thank you to readers and
new followers that left such lovely comments this week.
Not only do I greatly admire the exquisitely-detailed design work of Britain's talented design star Nicky Haslam.................but he is also an incredibly good sport to say nothing about providing the most gorgeous gift wrapping backdrop. No wonder he gets invited to all the best parties (and is know to give smashing parties too), in my book he is a wonderfully gracious man. When his fabulous team suggested a gift wrapping video to go along with my Q & A interview for the Gift Wrapping Holiday 2010 series, I was honoured, thrilled, and intrigued to say the least. I would suggest you read the interview below before viewing both videos to see why Nicky wraps the way he does, a few tricks, a simple but exquisite signature touch, and Voilá..............his new book Redeeming Features stylishly wrapped up in Nicky Haslam style.
Nicky provides a surprise gift wrapped finale and wraps it up with a disarming smile. A personal request for my readers, please head over to his NH-Design blogand tell him what jolly good fun his gift wrapped video was to view, showing you how to do two things that will help you this season. How to do a quick ribbon measure and an proper technique for easily tying a simple bow. Multiple links for Nicky Haslam are listed at the bottom of this post so you can read more about the designer life of Nicky Haslam who really does do his own gift wrapping.
The Interview
Nicky, you are the rock star of the interior design world, you party with the who's who around the globe, design for the rock stars, pal around with Mick Jagger, and hang out with Kate Moss, so the big question would be "what will you give Kate Moss for Christmas this year?"
As well as a huge kiss, a jeweled frog as she admired one I have.
The Evening Standard recently named you as one of London's most influential people because "he gets invited everywhere because he's the best company". Besides your good company, what do you consider a fabulous hostess gift?
Well, you can't go wrong with "fois gras!
Your creative lifestyle is evident in everything you do, design, and wear. Does gifting and it's presentation demand the same attention to detail?
Yes! Either wrap up well (or warm) or not at all!
What would you consider to be the best gift wrap paper style? Are you big on ribbon and bows? Or do you have another way to add your own gift wrapped style?
I like gold or white paper and a simple ribbon, and I always use tissue paper before wrapping. It is very luxurious to add tissue paper.
You have to be the person to ask "What should someone give Prince William and Kate Middleton as a wedding gift?"
Even a princess can never have too many hurricane lamps and candles!
If Oprah called and had you on her show to plug your juicy new memoir Redeeming Features what would you send her as a thank you gift?
I'd send her the recording of my recent cabaret act at The Savoy (to help launch their new bar ~ The Beaufort Bar).
How would someone recognize a gift from Nicky Haslam? What is your gift wrapped signature?
Their initials on a white card which I tuck into the bow.
~
My many thanks to Nicky Haslam, creative director Colette Van Den Thillart and Susan Moolman - PR
When anyone finds a favorite chair and sits down to read my blog, I am grateful. When I noticed the other day that I have posted well over 200 posts I thought it high time to say........thank you. Thank you for the readers who do go back and read older posts, to readers who comment on each and every post (or pretty darn close), those readers who say hello from time to time, those who do read but chose to keep their comments to themselves, to subscribers who read me by email and find the time to email me their thoughts. Thank you.
Bienvenue ~ Welcome
A warm welcome to the new followers. I am always so happy to see you. I never imagined that a blog about gift wrapping with a bit of design, fashion, and occasional travel would capture your attention and time. I certainly never imagined that I would have readers and followers from 122 countries and meet the most incredible people.........I am most grateful. Thank you for joining me.
When I was wrapping up a trio of gifts yesterday which included this delicate rosebud frame I happened to notice these little birds sitting beside them in my inventory room. It seemed to me that I should try and work them into the gift wrapping as they matched the gift wrap and the frame finish. The photo I borrowed above is my parents on their wedding day and since so many of you have asked.............that handsome guy you see is doing very well, positively perky with all the attention he has been receiving from attentive nurses and family.
And I did work them in........I anchored their little feet into a voluminous nest of double face satin ribbon tied into multiple bows which was a gorgeous match to my aqua Bird Nest gift wrap. I have been on a marathon of gift wrapping this past week so orders have been flying out the door. I am dangerouslyy low on my ribbon supplies so need to spend some time at my desk instead of idle bird-watching this weekend.
Since I hear birds chirping around here all day long, I have become accustomed to thinking about them more.........no wonder they worked themselves into my gift wrapping. The subconscious mind is an interesting place. I have a few more "bird" ideas I want to try in upcoming posts. If I start putting rabbits on my gifts, you will know I have gone too far with this outdoor frame of mind. I see quite a few of them too.
A trio of Birds nested in Ribbon. And a few waiting.
I hope you have time this weekend to watch the birds, the sunset, or just enjoy the sunshine.
Thank you for your continued comments for my Dad and a wonderful Welcome to new followers.
I am so happy you have landed here at A Gift Wrapped Life.
This is way better than any Christmas gift. This is Christmas in April for me. While we were working on this new and shiny blog design, we were using this December photo as a work sample. The more I looked at it the more I thought "tomorrow when I wake up and open my computer, it really will be like Christmas morning". And it is and I have someone pretty incredible to thank.
I know you know DJ from Dust Jacket Attic. Her fashion blog and playlist is a daily dose of glamour for many of us and it is no secret that I love her style. What you may not know is how incredibly kind, helpful, talented, and spectacular this woman is inside. Even better, she has a fabulous sense of humour. I would say she is somewhat mysterious, her posts are about stylists and fashion photography, she is from Australia, she tells us very little about her personal life which I seemto find intriguing. A few days ago while she whipped through the changes and nailed my design faster than you can imagine, I said to her "you are holding out on us, you have some experience and some serious design talent". And she does, doesn't she?
I am convinced that the best people to design a new blog design are bloggers themselves. When I asked DJ for help, it became like it often does in the blog world, more than a helping hand.......it becomes a gift. A gift beautifully wrapped in enormous generousity. She made this change feel so effortless, so painless, so much fun, so suited to me, so exciting that I cannot possibly thank her properly. If I could I would fly to Australia today and give her the biggest possible hug and say thank you, thank you DJ.
You are simply the absolute best. I adore my new blog. And you.
Yes, I enjoyed my Laduree macaroons last week, well the few I got to enjoy before our son came home for Easter and finished them up. That's twice he has stolen my macaroon stash, he seems to like these delectable little treats. I shame all my friends who are going to Paris into bringing me back a petite box, I make them feel real sad for me that I am not going too and it seems to work every time. I am shameless, though I do have the best friends. XO
It just happened that this photo of a gift order was sitting right beside the macaroon photo and don't they look delectable together? Lavender, melon and orange makes for one fabulous colour scheme. The lavender ribbon is imprinted with Versailles and the wrapped soap in the upper left corner of the box is a gorgeous wrapped Lavender soap from Agraria. Tucked right beside it is a little chocolate Bonbon from Paris all gathered in orange silk and tied with lavender velvet ribbon.
The lavender portfolio box is one of my favorite box colours. As we all know I seem to have a present fascination with lavender..........it keeps catching my eye. I even noticed my lilacs were peeking out today and I can hardly wait. Isn't the spring season the best?
As I told someone the other day........I love blogging. When I hit Publish Post on my first post in February, I knew it was going to open up a new world. I looked at it as a way to share some information and inspiration (I had hoped) about a subject I have become passionate about........beautiful and special gifting for women. What I failed to know on that first day was that I would be the one receiving the gifts. For the past 99 posts you have given me the gift of immense support, you have read, listened, commented, called and emailed. You have become followers, friends, cheerleaders, customers, and the most incredible support system I have ever seen. I need to thank you for all your wonderful support over the past 99 posts and the most heartwarming comments to me and my family in my last post. It's the perfect time for a Gorgeous Giveaway.
A Gift Wrapped Life ~ Wrap Room Ensemble
A Thank You Giveaway! Three of you are going to receive a gorgeous Wrap Room gift from my new website A Gift Wrapped Life. A special preview just for my blog readers. I tried to time it so the website was live by the time I posted my 100th post, but we are still a week away from it's official launch and I don't want to wait any longer to thank you in the best way I know how.........by wrapping up and sending a box of gorgeous. I was actually guilty of stalling a bit, the reason you haven't seen a post the past 10 days.To enter all you have to do is comment on this Giveaway post. If you are a follower or subscriber tell me, you will get 2 entries (this includes new followers so sign up).Mention This Giveaway on your blog and I will give you 2 extra entries (just let me know). Now let me tell you what's in this box of Wrap Room gorgeous.
The Wrap room section of our new gift website will have 18 different styles of Gift Wrap ensembles, with new styles being added as we go. This one pictured is Paris Bird. They are shipped in the presentation boxes as seen in the top 2 photos. Each Wrap Room box is lined with pleated tissue and holds an array of gift wrap paper, ribbon, tissue paper, enough supplies to wrap 4-6 large gifts or up to 16 smaller gifts and range in price from $39.00 to $79.00. The little takeaway boxes are where we put the generous ribbon lengths that match your gift wrap paper. I've done all the ribbon and paper matching for each of the 18 styles so you can mix and match and always be prepared to stylishly wrap a lovely gift. Depending on the price, some of the ensembles include embellishments (the wired paper flowers, the Paris labels) or they can be added as an extra to the basic ensemble. If you love gift wrapping, this will be your own personal version of gift wrap heaven. I have designed this section so that anyone who can tie a bow (or even a knot) or use a piece of tape can wrap beautifully. Our embellished presentation box is lovely to open and perfect for storing your wrapping supplies. My intention was to give you the same feeling as opening a dozen roses.........something beautiful and special just for you. My hope is that you will enjoy the pleasure of wrapping beautifully and pass along the special feeling that comes with giving a beautifully wrapped gift.
Along with sending the Wrap Room Boxed Ensemble I will be adding in a few of our Small Gifts, some extra petite pleasures to the Giveaway winners. I will do the giveaway the same day the new website goes live and then you can go on the site and pick the Wrap Room style your prefer. That gives you about 7-10 days to do your comment or add yourself to the blog followers (remember to tell me in your comment if you are already a follower or a new one). In the week ahead I will tell you what you can expect on this blog in the upcoming months.............. lots of new ideas to share. In the meantime ~ Thank you again, you have truly made my life gift wrapped in the most beautiful way.
There must have been some girly-girl vibe in the air this week. I swear I am not influencing anybody when they call to place an order, but this has been an overwhelming week of orders where the request is "make it pretty" and "she loves pink". Girls love to gift their friends and when they do they don't want just a gift, they want a "gift". I love that about women, they understand that for the gentle gender the presentation is a good part of the gift, the admiring, the wait, the slow unwrapping, the multiple treasures just for her, and the re-wrapping so they can do it all again. The specialness of it all.
This portfolio presentation made it's beribboned way out the door in many variations this week. I love using these portfolio boxes. When they open the lid, all their gift items are sitting there in a layered fashion and the box becomes such practical and lovely storage. I try to vary the gift wrapping on each item so that there is a visual treat of patterns, ribbons, and colours. This engagement ensemble included some special glamour keepsakes, a collection of the Lady Primrose Bath Decanters, Crystal Tray, and Crystal Powder Puff Dish. The sparkly crystal band on the decanters gives these gorgeous products their keepsake status. One of the new Boxed ensembles on the website set to launch next week. And you are wondering what's taking so long? Me too......but I'm trying to be really sweet to my webmaster who is busy entering all this descriptive data. I am sure he is wishing this girly girl would stop sending more photos.
The same portfolio box but with white flowers. This ensemble included Paris Pink File Folders, Paris notebook, a good fiction read, a Paris bookmark, a luscious scented soap, some yummy Lip Silk, and more ribbon yardage than I care to know. Often my regular customers just tell me to wrap in any style I think best and I try to get feeling for the recipient. If they are more modern, I adjust with less ribbon and more layered ribbon applications.
This Lady Primrose pedestal candle with it's beautiful crystal band is one of my favorite gifts. It's a new petite boxed gift on the upcoming website shown with our Crystal key chain. Probably one of the most special candles and I like that it makes for a glamorous pencil holder when the candle is finished. I know because that's what I've been using it for and it looks fabulous. The crystal key chain is another affordable favorite around here and it will also be in our Small Gift section. It makes finding your purse keys easy and at $10.00 a little sparkly glitz is always a good thing. I send it with a length of gorgeous satin ribbon tied around it loop.
Our Bonjour in Celadon and Pink Paris Rubber Stamp Kit also had a popular week. In between doing orders I'm working with both sets to show a solid pastel-colored gift wrap done with these stamps. One of our new gift wrap ensembles that has plenty of creative possibilities. I always send a handful of matching solid card stock along with the stamp sets so they have something to fancy stamp right away. They make for lovely gift tags.
A girl has to do what she has to do and in this case it was re-gift a Burberry box to fit an array of gift items that wouldn't fit into my normal size boxes. My friend Stephanie brought this larger Burberry box over for me to blog re-gift, little did she know I would use it for that and then to wrap up the birthday gift she ordered for a 19 yr.old girl. She kind of enjoys this whole re-gifting phase I am in and won't mind this re-gift solution. She has been thinking through an upcoming guest post on re-gifting store bags. When she does join us you are in for a treat, this friend has taught me more than a thing or two about gift wrapping.
I was lucky (again) that the Burberry logo wasn't too big, out came the Paris stickers and the melon colour put me into a whole colourway that I thought would be fun, but sophisticated for a 19 yr.old girl.
My very stylish friend told me I was a bit of a snob about gift bags and she is right. I love a boxed gift, I think it is the most gracious way to present a gift. There I said it. If I use a bag for your gift, it means one of two things, actually it means all of the following. I am in a hurry or/and I am not crazy about the person I am gifting, the recipient is under 10 yrs. old, or the recipient won't appreciate the difference. I just happen to think a boxed gift is so much more elegant and civilized. But.........I know gift bags are a choice for many who don't gift wrap for a living so I told my friend she is more than welcome to tell you how to re-gift a store bag in all kinds of clever ways and she is very, very clever. She may even convert me! I do have to admit that I love folding and pleating tissue and the effect of opening a gift under folded layers of tissue. So maybe it isn't that I am a bag snob, I just love tissue really neat and crisp as shown above. And in all fairness, I do give you lots of ways to re-gift store boxes so it isn't as if I am not helping you be economical in your gift wrap endeavors. Perhaps I just need to figure out a new way to use bags with pleated tissue.......another little challenge.
I did a flat wrap on the larger box so it would fit into the limited box depth. The only way this was going to work was if I kept the bows to a minimum. I used another larger Paris label to jazz up the flat wrap on the Anna Griffin Social Stationery Set and I used grosgrain ribbon on the matching Mousepad, pencil case, and tube pencils as it is the least likely to crush and crease, good to know when shipping a tightly-packed gift by the way.
Everything neat and tidy and layered just perfectly.
The new A Gift Wrapped Life gift labels that go over my folded and pleated tissue. Now tell me that doesn't look better than crumpled tissue.
I have a new wired black & white striped ribbon that I just love using. I have never been much for wired ribbon but I sure seem to be changing my tune with this one (that happens alot around here). The gift could go out the door this simple, in fact I love the understatement........but this is me who's wrapping so let's keep going.
I added in a gorgeous melon coloured silk double face satin to go with the coral tissue and orange ribbon and then topped it off with another layer of the dramatic black & white stripe. I love this combination with the soft Burberry tan box. I had no idea where I was going with this when I started, but really wish I had a good supply of Burberry boxes, they are gorgeous and a wonderfully neutral tone. I do have some of their bags so maybe there's another bag re-gift challenge for my friend.
I could have used my white paper flowers but I kind of liked the twist that came from adding the unexpected celadon green. In fact, I liked this effect so much, I'm going to order a tan giftwrap right now.
Happy July 4th Holiday to all my American readers ~ Hope you are having a lovely day with family and friends and lots of fireworks......hundreds of them.
Here's another gift wrap ensemble prep that started one way and ended another. I was using the Vintage Pink Floral and I always suggest that a solid is added should you want to mix it up and make it more interesting. For the most part, the ensembles are being planned (planned being the operative word!) and then a little surprise sneaks in that captures my attention. I've already used the black polka dot and taffeta stripe, so that dramatic Zebra pattern seemed to add an interesting look, especially with the bright pink ribbon and that adorable Vintage Pink Floral. There's a few "pink products" ( this one from Cote Bastide in France) in this prep shot as we will be coordinating our small gifts to theme with the gift wrap ensemble. Then should you need a gift as well, you will have lots of options to add in to your order. We are keeping our fully-wrapped gift ensembles that can be shipped as gifts ( in fact it was a busy order week) but re-styling them as well. And some lovely new products.
The largest box in bottle middle is simply surrounded with a bold black with white polka dot ribbon. The effect of the soft floral with something more bold gives it a more fashionable look. It can be that simple. There's the 3 papers for this Vintage Pink Collection rolled and ready for their gorgeous presentation, which I am saving until the website reveal. You will have enough ribbon to change them all up into any variation of these samples. Feel free to tell me what you think of the Zebra addition?????
If you look in the top left you will see a close-up of one of the Ephemera decorative labels that you will be able to purchase separately. These come in so handy, I don't know how I lived without them! Not only are they fabulous on note cards, envelopes, they will be the staple in your gift wrapping corner. I had a very narrow strip of paper left so I did an open-ended wrap , folded the end into a envelope flap then sealed with a smaller Eiffel label. Good use for leftover paper strips (even the ones you think are so small they are useless).
I want to thank everyone who is offering comment support, you have no idea how it helps and keeps me going. It is a grueling (though creative) process with plenty of "Am I completely crazy" type moments. You do know I am 55 yr.old, don't you? And I miss my regular blogging and blogger ladies.
Also welcome, welcome to the followers who are joining in, rest assured it will be worth it soon when I get back to more regular posting(or I hope so!). And I will catch up to your blogs and comments as soon as possible. Back to work.......only 24 more collections to wrap and photograph, lots of web copy, ordering product, and ongoing website design.
