pretty notecards.................to say more

Birthday ~ Friendship ~ Thank You

If I hadn't had my iphone with me today at the POP Up shop, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. In between customers at the POP Up shop I generally re-stock and I happened to open a box of notecards, the type with a variety of photographic images . Then I started opening all the boxed notecards to see all the gorgeous images I may have missed in each set which got me to thinking..................which got me to snapping photos to illustrate their variety. Each of my photos shows a card found in my shop, this one behind a yellow friendship rose crystal paperweight.  I love that iphone, it gave me the whole evening off. 

Birthday ~ Congratulations ~ Thank You ~ Friendship

Hallmark isn't going to love what I am going to say but I am not too crazy about standard greeting cards. They make me lazy. They make me get away with just signing my name and I really like sitting down and writing something more meaningful, more personal. On any occasion, whether it be a birthday, an anniversary, a sympathy card, get well, thank you, or just plain hello, it seems to me to be infinitely more elegant, more civilized to write a lovely message. Blank cards make me think through my message more, think about how to convey my thoughts. Shown with scented lavender wands from Provence.

Housewarming ~ Thank You ~ Friendship

To me the point of any card is a greeting of some sort but I do like to make it more than that. To find some way to make the recipient feel special. Sometime this really is a humorous card via the funny people at Hallmark, but most of the time with friends it is speaking from the heart. When I have a blank card page it seems to work better. Almost like a short letter, something that sticks with that person all day long. Shown with bronze organza bows for gift wrapping.

Housewarming ~ Thank You ~

I like to think it is possible to keep the written word alive. I recently read that many kids under 20 had never received a written letter via postal mail. This struck me as incredibly sad. What I like about blank cards beside their message room and blank format is that they make me feel like I don't have to have a reason to send it. Have a good thought? Something wonderful to tell that person? Pop it in the mail and send it along. Shown with ribbon wreath wreaths.

Get Well ~ Sympathy ~ Thinking of You ~ Friendship

Practise does make perfect but perfect isn't the point. Write sincerely and it will be read as a gift of words. Some lovely quote ( keep a list) or book quote added to your message can go a long way in personalizing your message if words fail you at times. Sometimes the images are so beautiful, I use them to embellish a gift. All you need is a hole punch and narrow ribbon. Using a fabulous image in a larger dimension (instead of a small gift card) can elevate simple wrapping and make a stylish statement by being visually over sized. Shown with Green Tea Boxed Soaps and Tea Forte.

Friendship ~ Birthday ~ Just Because

The best cards are the one you don't expect. A handwritten card with words of support and caring can be uplifting when someone is ill, suffering,or bereaved, changing jobs or careers, going through a break up, or the opposite.................reached a personal or professional goal, met the guy, going on a wonderful trip, launching a business. Anything and everything. Shown with Shelley Kyle messenger sachets.

 

Get Well ~ Sympathy ~ Housewarming ~ Friendship

Now go find a pen and send someone a lovely card.
 Shown with lavender Linen Travel Candle.


Something gifted to do with blank cards, go here and here.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Janet Hill Studios

I met artist Janet Hill via a favorite blog called Beautiful Things To Share where I head for daily doses of all things gorgeous, go visit Charmaine {click here} she has a remarkable beauty-radar and colour sense to her blog posts. To my surprise, Janet Hill is located in Stratford, Ontario, a few hours drive from me. In blogger world that's like being right next door and I'm delighted to tell you about my talented new Canadian neighbor. For Janet Hill who was told by one of her professors where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts that "it is almost impossible to be a full-time artist unless you were prepared for a lot of rejection and a lot of hardship", she has discovered that the world of technology and art can successfully merge. "For a while I struggled with the idea of selling online because it didn't seem serious enough" says this artist but "I figured that if the Impressionists could pull away from Realism, I could embrace modern technology". Thank heavens for us that she re-thought that prof's advice.

Irises - original oil painting. Sold

Janet Hill is entering her second year of full-time painting, before that she owned a gift store in Stratford, Ontario for six years which was located in a historic building with great wall space. "I started hanging my paintings in the shop, mostly to create atmosphere, but people started to buy them, then coming in to just look at the paintings". The decision to paint full-time coincided with the popularity of Etsy, the popular global marketplace where the creative crowd can individually sell their artistic wares. Janet Hill Studio started small on her now-popular Etsy shop, offering 3" x 5" paintings and "they slowly started to get bigger as they sold". And yes, though located in Canada, she does ship to the United States and elswhere.

The Seduction Print- available on Etsy

Her original oil paintings go fast. She posts her canvases on her blog where they are often sold before they hit her Etsy shop. It's best to follow her blog and act quickly or contact her if you have a favorite image. She paints quite quickly it appears and many of her popular images are available as prints, the Seduction Print above sells for $10.00 and fits a 8" x 10" frame. I think a cross section of her gorgeous interior images would make for a gorgeous wall collection. Not all images are available in print format, she says some just don't convert as well as you would guess, so again, act fast if there's an original oil canvas you just love.

Janet is just starting to offer her work in the form of single notecards. I'm hoping she offers more soon. Real soon.

Two Red Sofas - 16" x 20" Original Oil.

An recent and original oil painting posted last week on her blog and now for sale for $280.oo US in her Etsy shop. Get moving, it's still for sale I think.

Perfume - Original Oil Painting. Sold

I found this little favorite of mine in her blog {click here} archives from 2008. Spend some time to go through her blog archives for a look on her creative progression and view "I call these painting my oil sketches because they are quick impressions of people, interiors, table settings and other household objects". She blames the Canadian winters for her "strong interest in the beauty of interiors", I think her fabulous talent would show up in any climate.

All images from Janet Hill Studio.