The romantic and artistic story of Missed Connections

When I ran across this story this morning, I just knew I had to share the clever inspiration behind the work of Etsy artist Sophie Blackall. Watching the charming video and following her artistic story and where it has lead kind of gives you that warm and cosy feeling...............sort of like what Valentines Day does for the hopeful and unattached. That something wonderful can happen if you just look up and make a connection. Anyways, I am telling you too much and I will send you over to the blog Miss Moss to watch the video and read the post about artist Sophie Blackall and all those Missed Connections. Simply charming.............and romantic I think. 








Photos via Sophie Blackall-Etsy

Glass Votives.............a paintery project

Now that I know you clever girls love glass, I am on the outlook for creative glass projects. I adore these votives created by the popular wedding blog Once Wed which was inspired by the beautiful talent of Atlanta artist Michelle Armnis. See the instructions here.

Her colorful canvases which you can see here inspired Once Wed to create a paintery tableau that I thought was too gorgeous for words. So did everyone else as it is easily the most popular photo on Pinterest these days. See how it inspiration spread from painting, to flowers, to table setting here (just in case you missed it). Love it when that happens. 

Fifi.................strikes my fancy

~ Holly Golightly Breakfast II ~

~ Reading Fashionable Friday In Paris ~ 

~ Paris Hotel Chair ~ 

~ Holly Golightly Breakfast I ~

You can't have a blog and not know Fifi Flowers. It just isn't possible, her whimsical drawings are as colourful as they are frequent and that is the part that strikes my fancy. What Fifi sees is what Fifi draws, whether it be a Paris balcony, a stylish fashion photo or my blog header (click here to see 2010 post) and I got to thinking that it must be so much fun to have a direct line and immediate line between seeing and creating. She often does a drawing a day, maybe more, and you can't help but think that if you are an artist what a wonderful dose of inspiration to introduce to each and every day. You can see Fifi's drawings at her Etsy shop here and though I am personally drawn to her stylish drawings that use black (my favorites being the Holly Golightly I and II), Fifi is best known for her Parisian subject matter, a love of fashion and her use of exuberant colour. Most of her drawings are 5" x 7", perfect for framing with extended matt sizes and her reasonable prices mean you could consider building a collection of Fifi drawings to group in a fabulously fun arrangement. Fifi recently introduced a series of handpainted bookmarks to go along with some of her favorite reads, a thoughtful and colourful addition to any book gift. She truly sees inspiration everywhere, and I mean everywhere..........really, how much fun is that?

All Copyright Images via Fifi Flowers

Happy Hunting

~ by Russian artist Igor Oleynikov ~

Today is the day to paint eggs...............isn't that the sweetest tradition? Wishing you a lovely weekend with your family 

and the Easter Bunny. Happy Hunting. Happy Easter.

Girl Power............in ribbon

Isn't it gorgeous?

18" x 36" Oil on Canvas.

Girl Power by Karen Appleton

You can read her blog post about it here.

Really Sweet Things this week

I can never resist showing you any painting by Karen Appleton. Remember how excited I was the first time I ran across her gift wrapped creations painted with such passion and talent, how happy to find someone else who loves bows and ribbons? Doesn't this painting make you want to indulge in chocolate? Sweet Tooth is Karen's recent creation and her luscious chocolate bow isn't helping the sweet tooth that I re-developed over this past holiday. This chocolate "thing" has to end, specifically those Hello Dollies I make for my niece and brother each year (obviously some stayed here). Over the past 6 months I have lost 32 lbs. and the minute that scale moved up a few lbs. today I immediately did two things. Threw out those tasty temptations, then got my bike set up on blocks for indoor cycling. Which reminds me, I just happen to have some really sweet things to show you this week, a most extraordinary cake designer, and the sweetest little puppy ever. Miss Daisy is almost ready for her close-up. 






Photo of painting from Karen Appleton

Look At Me.........another brilliant gift by Karen Appleton

Something fabulous, a brilliant blue gift to brighten up your weekend. If you have been reading this blog for a long while you might remember the post I wrote about finding Karen Appleton, the artist who loves to paint gift wrapped packages? Someone who shares my gift wrap passion. I am still so amazed by her subject matter and incredible technique, it makes me shake my head that an artist could be so talented. Karen posted this week about her latest painting titled Look At Me which was selected for a Chicago area art gallery show and competition in November. Maybe if you live in the Chicago area you could go take a peek that evening. And if you didn't read my first post, you really do have to click here to see her oil paintings in all their gift wrapped glory.




Image from Karen Appleton

Fifi does........... A Gift Wrapped life

I hope Fifi Flowers isn't too upset that I waited so long to post her artful gift (forgive me!). When I ran across one she did for Vicki Archer a few weeks ago, I realised I had missed a draft of this post from months ago. You aren't a real blogger until you have had Fifi Flowers draw something she likes in your post, or in this case my blog header . It certainly is a badge of honour and a wonderful gesture, after all it's nice to know something had inspired the fabulous FiFi. Oops........I see something she missed or maybe left it out on purpose. Care to guess? It is easy to miss but is my favorite part.

Thank You Fifi ~ I adore my drawing!

And your artistic generosity.

Original artwork by Fifi Flowers

I am so jealous of your turkey....

Mr. Poultry ~ Dutch Touch Art

I am actually quite envious of my American readers and friends this week. I much prefer the date of your Thanksgiving. Our low-key Canadian Thanksgiving is a much earlier (October) and much more sedate. Yes, the turkey dinner, but really that's about it, one big meal. Your timing is better, having it a month before Christmas is much more exciting, sort of a prep for the biggest holiday coming up as it opens the Christmas season. You get the added benefit of Christmas decorations in stores and streets which makes your celebration all the more festive. And you keep all the men out of the way with all those football games....genius! Even though our family lived on the Canadian side of a border town, my Dad worked in Michigan. We always celebrated American Thanksgiving so it was a day off school for us as we headed over to see the Thanksgiving parade, then headed home back across the bridge for turkey and pumpkin pie. For one day a year we pretended to be Americans (actually half of my siblings are) and we were always awed by the American way. You just seem to know how to have a party! You know, I can be ready at a moment's notice.

Mr. Wild Turkey ~ Dutch Touch Art

To all my American readers and friends, have a safe, warm, and wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.

I shall be thinking of you all.

Gobble....gobble

Both hand-painted oils from Dutch Touch Art

Interiors Series- Library

As soon as the leaves turn autumn coloured, my thoughts turn to creating a library space. I don't have a library but I do have a beautiful living room with the perfect space that is being underused at this time in our lives. This has been on my mind for a few years as I love the imposed learning suggested by a library setting. I see it in my head. Looking out to a snowstorm, bathed in the warm glow of a beautiful lamp and surrounded by piles of reference books, stationery, maybe a jigsaw puzzle (I don't know where that is coming from lately) and the whole weekend stretched out ahead of me. So the hunt is on for a large and slightly-distressed library table, a fabulous and huge lamp, a great chair and it (almost) makes me want the snow to start falling. It is all about that hibernating mode I feel coming up.

Look closely at this vivid original artwork used in a House Beautiful show house. The image of Andy Warhol by artist Robert Moody was created using Koi fish? I have always favored black cabinets and love how designer Filicia paired it with the yummy butterscotch leather and book jackets in vivid colours. Leaning artwork on bookcases is easy and so effective.

My brother who is a commercial pilot would love this painting and setting. A small bar cart and the attendant accouterments can instantly add a civilized, Mad Men element to any library. It almost goes hand-in-hand don't you think? I can totally see Don Draper in this restrained room.

Lighting, the moody yet practical kind is hugely important in libraries. Not only do you need good lighting for reading all day long (and who is going to move once settled in?), but multiple types work best in a room full of books. Picture lights, wall sconces, and lamps, the more the better.

When Canadian (now international) superstar designer Brian Gluckstein first showed his brilliant version of a library-bathroom years ago with that curved bookcase, everyone went crazy and then anyone who reads wanted one. He is a master at architectural detailing. I bet there is more than one Toronto home with a variation of this design. It is the best of both worlds and really, does it get any more civilized than this?

My perfect library table setting.

Photos 1 and 2 by Filicia via House Beautiful/Photo 3,via HB/Photo 4 -designer Alessandra Branca via HB/Photo 5 by Gluckstein Design/photo 6 by designer Myra Hoefer via HB

Some Serious blog Style ~ Dust Jacket Attic

One of the things I missed the most this past summer was visiting new blogs, commenting, and the pure energy I absorb from seeing and reading such creative blogs. I don't know how to tell you this but as much as I love gift wrapping, I need to mix up the posting subjects a bit coming up. The slant of this blog will always be the pleasure and beauty of gifting, but I really do miss my Glamour post days so they will definitely be back on the fall post schedule. I was an interior designer for 20 years (and still am) so you might see a bit more on that subject too. I love anything lovely, beautiful, stylish, original, colourful, creative, fashionable,or artistic, so if I see anything that captures any of those elements, I will be sharing it. Gift Wrap lessons and inspiration will be ongoing. So let's get this pretty mix going..........aren't these illustrations that I borrowed from the very clever and stylish blog Dust Jacket Attic simply stunning?

I love this blog, the layout, her keen design eye, her play list, and why she used the blog name of Dust Jacket Attic . She is a collector of 1st Edition Books with their original artwork......what a great connection. Dust Jacket Attic is one of my summer blog finds and she recently featured these fashion illustrations by artist Alena Lavdovskaya that were done for the Russian department store TSUM. I knew you would enjoy them as much as I did and I know you will love her blog. That's the other thing I missed in my self-absorbed summer of only blogging about gift wrapping..............telling you about the talent that is out there in this blogging world of style. I have a whole list of blogger women I want to share, so add that to the fall post list too.

I don't know what the Australian blogger girls are drinking in their water over there, but it sure gives them some serious style. Every blog has a unique style and I was trying to define what it was that I enjoyed about Dust Jacket Attic whenever I visited. Oops................maybe it's her Man of the Week feature? Nope, she replaced Clive Owen weeks ago, so that can't be it, though I admit that I had more fun commenting with him looking at me on the sidebar. But that's just a personal preference. I think it's the feeling I am wandering around a beautiful department store. I put it together today when I borrowed these gorgeous illustrations.

Go visit and tell her to bring Clive back.

She'll know who is sending you and make sure your speaker is on too.

All illustrations from ~ blog Dust Jacket Attic

My Very Own .....PVE

Cottage with Potager Garden by Patricia van Essche.

It's mine!

Don't you just love the portrait of this talented artist? The former design director for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Liz Claiborne has her own unique and personal style.

It was my turn to receive a gift! And what a beautifully wrapped gift it was! It's fabulous to be on the receiving end! I was the winner of the PVE giveaway a few weeks back, so I knew something special was coming this week and the timing was perfect. If you don't know PVE artist Patricia van Essche by now, and I think everyone in the blogger world does (she is one of our most social, supportive, and well-connected bloggers) you really must take the time to visit her blog and website. Not only is she an incredibly talented artist, she really is one of the most lovely bloggers . Another thing you should know about Patricia is that we share a passion..........she absolutely loves to gift wrap. I loved all the green wrapping theme, a colour I associate most often with her work. The artichoke gift wrap, the green iridescent ribbon, the green organza bag, the green PVE logo ribbon..........I was expecting the framed watercolour, but then she had all these extra treasures that came tumbling out. A gorgeous set of watercolour note cards & envelopes, a wood bamboo pen (how did she know I love those?) and a green organza bag with flower seeds. Why the seeds? This thoughtful lady remembered I was without my garden this year due to major road construction.......I know she is giving these to me for next year when I plan to make up for lost planting time. It is this type of thoughtfulness that makes someone feel so special.

My own potager garden drawn by Patricia van Essche.
She sent it framed (how gracious!) and I am deciding

where this lovely reminder should hang. Somewhere very special.

Don't you just love her calling card? It was tucked into the seed packets.



I have found a new favorite set of note cards. Patricia's fountain illustration is simply exquisite and printed on a gorgeous quality of card stock. I hope she sells more of these, I will run out quickly.



Here is another of PVE's drawings. She has immense talent

and a very big heart.



Thank you Patricia! I will treasure my garden. XO

Speaking of giveaways..........I am busy entering all the giveaway entries for A Gift Wrapped Life. There is quite a few of you so stayed tuned, my next post is to announce the winners!

First, second and last photo from PVE. Remaining photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life.

A Talent you won't believe.........Karen Appleton

"Five" by Karen Appleton

Last week I had one of those days where I berated myself for my late-life passion for gift wrapping. Everyone is sick to death of listening to me talk about this website, this new gift wrap concept that may or may not work, may or may not put me totally over the edge and I found myself feeling quite alone and asking myself " who else on earth cares this much about how to wrap a gift?" I really did question myself as I wrapped up one more gift wrapping ensemble for one more photo for one more website addition. That evening I received an email from fellow blogger and artist Lara Harris from the blog Painting a Pup a day blog who passed on a blog link that she thought might interest me and she wrote " I was looking through some blogs today and discovered this new artist who is doing a whole series on beautifully wrapped packages and of course I thought of you". What a serendipitous find on that particular day.

Crush by Karen Appleton

Shame on me for thinking I was alone in my gift obsession, there had to be one more at least! And shame on me for not knowing that fellow bloggers with their remarkable ways always seem to know just when you need to hear or see something to put you back on track ( thanks Lara). But really, who would ever guess that someone could not only be ribbon obsessed, but do it so exquisitely and in such a talented fashion that it took my breath away? And it does...... the subject matter, the technique, the colours, the pure beauty of her talent literally has me holding my breath. I know this ribbon. It falls and ties exactly like this painting shows. Artist Karen Appleton has rendered this ribbon so realistically that I would bet my life that it is particular hand-dyed silk, that one I bring out for special gifts. Look at her technique.........

"Crush" in it's beginning stages and it's painting-in-progress.

Dark Comedy by Karen Appleton

Anyone who reads this blog will know there is few things I find more meaningful than a beautifully wrapped gift. Obviously Karen Appleton shares the same passion, the Chicago-based artist has been painting her series of beautiful gift packages for the past four years. The more I browsed through her website, the more I was intrigued. Why would an artist chose to paint gifts? What is it about this subject matter that has captured her focus? I think you will agree that her reply is as thoughtful and beautiful as her work.

Flame by Karen Appleton

"For me the presents have literal and symbolic meaning. We all immediately identify with feelings associated with a gift - gratitude, love, hope, appreciation, expectation, excitement, and the list goes on. But the symbolic meaning is what keeps me attached to the presents year after year, and this is harder for me to put into words. A present is of course more than just surface, we know there is something beyond what we see and this idea is intriguing to me. This makes the image of the present more of a question instead of a statement. I'm not just showing the viewer a beautiful surface, although I definitely hope to achieve that, but the question of what's inside - inside the box, inside our lives, inside ourselves, is the bigger question I hope to explore." ~ Karen Appleton

Morning Glory by Karen Appleton

You will find Karen's inspiration for these paintings as interesting as her subject matter. The colours of seasonal nature find their way into her paintings as you will read on her blog (click here). Wrapped in a gorgeous velvet plum ribbon "Morning Glory was inspired by the rich color combination found in a Morning Glory flower. Many artists would just paint the flower wouldn't they? It's fascinating to me that Karen Appleton has mentally leaped over the standard and artistically interpreted it into these unique visions. Her paintings are quite simply the gift. She is absolutely right when she says a gift extends feelings of "gratitude, love, hope, appreciation, expectation, and excitement", gifting in any form isn't such a trivial gesture. What I understood that serendipitous day was this.......when you give a beautifully wrapped gift you are saying many things but you are also saying " I want to give you beauty". That is good enough for me.

All photos from Karen Appleton ~ Artist.

A Continuous Talent

Though I consider myself low-maintenance at this point in my life ( can hear hysterical laughing from the males around here, but don't listen to them) when you purchase as many anti-aging skin products as I do at our local Shoppers Drug store, they give you a copy of their in-house fashion magazine called Glow. Truthfully, the only fashion magazine I read is Vogue and that's for the articles, so these glossy giveaways usually end up in the recycle bin. But for some reason that day I did flip through quickly and just happened to notice the article titled "How Busy are You?" and then really noticed these fabulous ink drawings by Toronto-based artist Rachel Ann Lindsay. Forget trying to understand my tendency to procrastinate ..... who is this artist? I loved this drawing message so aptly drawn and thought it summed up the feeling most of us have these days, those lists never go away. I don't care how you juggle it, though the article did have some good points, but I will think about those later...... What makes this fresh talent truly remarkable is her technique......... these are drawn in ink in one continuous line! Simply put....she does not lift her superfine pen at any time until the illustration is complete. The young Sheridan College grad explains this ability "on my confident days it's like meditation. Drawing in ink limits you in some ways as there is no going back....no revising. Once a line is drawn, there it is. I throw out a lot of drawings. It's important to try and stay unattached".

"The lines that are disappointments to me at first, then seem perfect when I look at them later, that becomes a source of joy to me. I love to draw people, there is so much beauty in a person's face and gestures."


Rachel's website { click here} has a cool feature, it opens with one of her illustrations being drawn in this continuous line technique. Her portfolio, which includes magazine illustration work for corporate clients across North America and portrait drawings (contact Rachel for more information on this service) is worth the website visit. I love the chandelier, the retro hair dryer ladies, the staircase (all on her website), they make you realize how unique this line talent ability is and invites the viewer's scrutiny.....where does that line begin and end? A young lady of continuous talent.



Illustration image use courtesy of Rachel Ann Lindsay