A very stylish envelope for gifting

Tell me this colour combination doesn't make you feel all cheery and bright. Loving this striking green stationery and the yellow Cloth Envelope made from excess curtain material. How clever.

It makes me feel positively summery and made me think of this inviting setting where Vicki Archer ~ French Essence lounges during the languid summer months. Should we ask her if she leaves that animal print chair out all summer? And those gorgeous pillows? I bet she does. 

You can order these Cloth Envelopes here and the graphic stationery set (along with that cool ink stamp)but I also think these stylish envelopes would be perfect for gifting wedding cash, event tickets, travel vouchers, gift cards, or a spa certificate. Order a bundle, so clever for gift presentation.

1 and 3 via maemaepaperie/2 via French Essence

Gift Wrapping in Provence.......an interview with Vicki Archer

I am thrilled to start off my Gift Wrapping Holiday 2010 series with our most talented author and blogger Vicki Archer of French Essence. I always wondered how the most stylish people wrap their holiday gifts and as we know peeking into Vicki Archer's world is always a pleasure. Her new book French Essence has quickly become "the" book to give and receive this holiday season.

I know you are working with a fabulous new colour scheme this year of silver, white and green. Is it working it's way into your gift wrapping too?

I like to co-ordinate my gift-wrapping with the colours that I choose to decorate our home. I am for the first time trying a silver, white and emerald green scheme….I normally love the brighter reds, violets and oranges…but this year I want to try and create the same silvery ambiance inside the farmhouse as I see outside in the olive groves on frosty mornings.

Are your gifts under the tree wrapped to match the holiday decor or do you wrap to suit the personality of the recipient?

I wrap to suit my home decor, sometimes I might add a little whimsy for an individual personality but generally I match the paper and the ribbons to the colour scheme I have chosen. This year I am tying a decoration on each of my gifts, so this will be the way I personalize them but stay within my colour scheme.

You devote a whole gorgeous chapter to Christmas in your new book French Essence. What is different about your personal festivities in France? What has changed from the traditions you grew up with in Australia?

A French Christmas is a winter Christmas and that is the biggest change for me as an Australian. I love that Christmas in Europe now mirrors the Christmas of my childhood imagination. In Australia growing up we celebrated the holidays in a traditional way with all the trimmings, despite the heat, so as a family we have continued on in that way. Now I incorporate many of the French traditions into our celebrations….mostly these changes revolve around food…as they tend to in France…We now have added fois gras and oysters to our menu along with many of the sweet deserts that the French favour at Christmas time. The other novelty for me is mistletoe…I love to hang this over the door…The Australian in me finds this custom adorable.

Your favorite ribbon? Satin, silk, taffeta, or grosgrain? Narrow or wide widths?

I love taffeta and grosgrain ribbons as they make up so beautifully. But then I love silks and satins too….I just love ribbons and especially vintage ones….Both narrow and wide can work…it depends on the size of the package…but wider is generally my preference. 

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

I like simple, but striking wrapping so tissue is my first choice. I often use old movie posters or newspaper too…Sometimes the most simple ideas can look the most effective.

Do you have a favorite embellishment this year?

I have found some pretty decorative ‘birds’ and some silver flowers that I will add with the ribbons. I am also thinking that I might weave through some olive leaves at the last moment.

What is your perfect hostess gift this season?

In France I will be giving boxes of Charbonnel & Walker Rose and Violet creams or old-fashioned sweets from Fortnum & Mason. In London I will be taking a mixed selection of chocolates from Joel Durand from, our local chocolatier in St Remy. These gifts make for lots of carrying back and forth but I try and give something that my hostess could not otherwise have.

What do you think gift wrapping presentation says about a person?

Gift wrapping shows that you have taken time….and giving of your time is the most generous and thoughtful present of all. Taking time and making time is a true mark of friendship.

Do you have a signature wrap for your fabulous new book French Essence. 

I am waiting for you to come up with that Sande! 

What is the best part of gift wrapping beautifully?

The expression at the receiving end when you give the gift makes all the creative thought and energy worthwhile. I am still thrilled every time I receive something beautifully wrapped. It heightens the surprise of what is inside and to be given an exquisitely wrapped present is a real treat. We all need to be spoilt from time to time and that is what beautiful gift-wrapping does….it spoils us. 

Vicki Archer

December 2010

 Thank You Vicki! 

Top photo by Vicki Archer/Remaining photos by Carla Coulson

kiss, kiss from Paris

Bonjour........and my apologies for not posting as planned over the past few days. A laptop that is not cooperating, email server problems, a phone that won't charge, a fried hairdryer, a camera that is acting strange and the joke around here is that there is some tech-cloud hanging over my head here in Paris. Example: I finally get on the internet tonight at 12:45 and open a new post and where is the photo download on dashboard? But, boy have i some gorgeous pics for you to see from the show when this all sorted out. I will use Vicki's laptop tomorrow to post with photos. I refuse to let these pesky details stop me from having what is a most wonderful trip with the most gorgeous weather. And what a fabulous travel partner! I use her laptop to email home, her hairdryer to do my hair, she graciously takes photos for me (hers are stunning), and makes the best dinner reservations and even orders for me. The most pleasurable part of this trip has been to meet and spend time with Vicki Archer of French Essence. She is a stylish woman with an impeccable command of the french language, a generous spirit and is warm and wonderfully fabulous (she will be totally embarased when she reads this).You should buy her books........all of them and as fast as they come out. Her new book French Essence is going to make the best holiday book when released in North America late October. She is the real thing ladies and everything you would imagine if you read her mega-popular blog. Our late-to-bed-and early-to-rise schedule is now over and the next few days are going to be exploring Paris. In the meantime while I am posting with no photos (a first), please head over to to see Vicki's wonderful show photos (surprise, surprise, link also not working) so if you are not a follower then link through to French Essence my Blog Favorites sidebar. I have my own fun, fun show photos which I will post tomorrow or early Monday, on Vicki's laptop, yes again.
Thank you for your kind comments, see you tomorrow.

Bonne nuit ~
to my two guys JPC and APC.............miss you, miss you XOXO

Meeting a favorite blogger(s).............in Paris

Bloggers will at times ask themselves "why am I doing this?" Sometimes it seems there is no answer and it becomes even harder to answer when other people are asking the question. Why do I blog every day, every week  (I know I am a bit short on that schedule this summer), sometimes with few comments, and no pay? This is my answer. Because sometimes you will get the opportunity to do the coolest things and meet the most wonderful people. Next Tuesday I will be on an overnight flight to Paris, France and will be staying in this remarkably beautiful city for 2 whole weeks.............that is the coolest thing part of this story. And this is the best people part, I will finally meet and spend time with a wonderful blogger friend.  Actually, if all works out I may get to meet more than a few of you.

When non-bloggers hear you are heading across the ocean to meet another blogger they give you a incredulous look. As in "are you crazy?" It is hard for non-bloggers to understand you can know someone even when you haven't met them personally. What you do learn from blogging is that sometimes there are people on the other side of the world that you do want to know better. Vicki Archer of French Essence is one of those people and I think it is quite cool that I will get to meet her.  It is also quite cool that we will attend the Maison et Objet Paris show, something I have always wanted to do. Note to self: This is going to be so much fun. 

The Maison et Objet Paris show attracts buyers and exhibitors from all over the world. So we figured this might present another fun opportunity that can only come about because we blog.................to meet other bloggers or readers who may be in Paris that week as well. Is that you? We will be joined by the fascinating Claudia from The Paris Apartment who is also attending the show and staying nearby so  there will be at least three of us having a sparkly drink. All three of us are posting today about our informal Paris meet-and-greet so here are the links to French Essence and Paris Apartment. Do join us................. actually I have already received a few emails so there will definately be more than three of us. If you think you may join us then send me an email at sandechase@agiftwrappedlife.com or leave a comment so we have an idea of how many to expect at this lovely Parisian cafe on a cool September evening. Note to self: How cool is that?

Date: Sunday, September 5th at 7 pm

Place: Cafe des Deux Magots

6 Place des Saint Germain des Pres

75006 Paris

Since I am all the way over there and the first week is going to be a whirlwind of activity..................I figured I might as well stay a bit longer .You know, life is short and all that. For the second half of the trip I will be joined by my sisterly sister-in-law Louise who is going to join me in exploring Paris by foot and cycle. Yes, we're going to try those Paris rental bikes and see how we do, which explains my recent walking and cycling frenzy. I am almost ready. Note to self: remind very active sister-in-law that you are 10 yrs. older than her. 

All I want for Christmas is French Essence ...........and I can't have it!

It wasn't that I didn't try. All I wanted for Christmas for myself and my website was Vicki Archer's new book French Essence, all the way from Australia. I simply thought it would be the most fabulous book gift ever. But like the rest of us in North America, I will have to wait until the New Year to get this fabulous book back in hand. I repeat, it wasn't that I didn't try, in fact in talking to the Australian publisher I knew ahead that shipping might be a tad high. But a large heavy book shipment coming across the Atlantic? You can imagine........but the minute that book lands in North America in January you can be assured it will be on my website. But I do have plenty of readers outside of North America so let me just say that if you live on the other side of the pond this "this is the best book gift you can buy for any woman this Christmas". Now you are supposed to ask me "How do you know this"?

You can ask me a million times and I won't tell you how I came to have one copy of this magnificent book but I can tell you it is simply the best book a woman could ever want, maybe even need. We all need to be transported at times and Vicki Archer has the remarkable gift of graciously and beautifully transporting us to that exquisite and beautiful place we all want to go..............that la Mas Guest Room for Christmas. Just kidding, but that would be 2ND on my list if I still actually believed in Santa Claus and his sleigh (wink, wink).
~

I would like to say that I still have this exquisite book in my possession but I do not. I know, I know..........but it was the best gift for the best person and off it went in October though I did hold on to a few minutes longer than normal when handing over a gift. You are darn right I thought about keeping it for myself but I truly was trying to be a better and giving person that day while listening to myself think of other possible gift options. Anything but this one glorious copy of French Essence. But absolutely nothing was better than this and I knew it.

~

I did give it up so to speak and felt quite good about it in the end. It was the gracious thing to do. But not before I took a few photos of some inside pages and how it looked as a wrapped presentation. I have no doubt Vicki could do it better, in fact the gift wrapping in her 2ND book is as stylish as you would expect from our favorite author and blogger (you will adore her feather detail). All I am going to say is if you are lucky enough to be giving this book this Christmas I do think it should be gift wrapped in red. Don't ask me why, it just feels right.

If you or a friend doesn't have Vicki Archer's first book My French Life what on earth are you waiting for? Impress yourself with your own self-gifting ability and then your friends with your impeccable gift style, follow it up next spring with French Essence. They are equally captivating and inspiring. Once you have read the first one, the second will be irresistible. My French Life can be ordered online {click here} or bookstore-bought on both sides of the pond. And you may have just enough time.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Vicki Archer ~ Part Two

Sitting Room at Mas de Berard

Was the fact that you had this wonderful book in you a surprise or did you always want to write?
The publication of My French Life has been the biggest surprise of all - especially to me. I never imagined that I would or could write a book and especially a book about France. I still cannot believe I had so many words within fighting to get out!

The elegant subdued tones of Vicki Archer's vanity area.

Did the "house" lead you to the book or how did the idea evolve? What circumstances or people made this idea germinate? When did you know you were going to write about your French experience and the house you were renovating?
Finding and buying our property Mas de Berard has led to so many changes and writing My French Life is one of them. I found the house by chance and I rather like to think that my book happened by chance too. In 2005 I travelled to Florence with my daughter Emily to settle her into an Italian course as part of a gap year - at the same time I had arranged to meet up with an Australian friend, photographer Carla Coulson. Carla had been living in Florence for some years and during my stay Carla and I caught up on our girl chat. We had both moved to Europe in 2000 and started new lives - she in Italy, me in France - and over those few days I told her how I had fallen in love with France and how this had changed my life as I had known it. We talked, as old friends do, of the challenges and excitement of leaving home and starting afresh. The more we talked the more we felt there was an idea for a "french" collaboration between us and as a result she approached her publisher in Australia with the idea. The response was very positive: the proposal was accepted and My French Life was published in November 2006. It was true serendipity - extraordinary circumstances and timing brought about My French Life, but then that is how I came to fall in love with France in the first place.

The vibrant, youthful tones of her daughter Emily's vanity area.

You are almost finished your second book, do you stick to a strict writing schedule or when the mood (or words) hit?

I stick to a very strict timing schedule but I am much less rigid when it comes to ideas. I start with an overview and theme for the book and then I define these ideas by chapter. I never know exactly what detail I will write in each chapter until I sit down and start tapping away. I have a process that works for me: I like to think for some time about the beginning of each chapter - I will mull over thoughts and memories for as long as it takes until I find my first sentence. Once I have found that I am usually off and running. If the thoughts don't come, because sometimes they don't, then I concentrate on something else and hope I will be more creative the next day. The key to writing is to know that the words are always there and that they will eventually come.

Timing is different - once I start writing I don't stop and I can only concentrate on my work. Like all jobs there are deadlines, contracts and expectations so to be a writer requires self-discipline. Fortunately I love the writing process and find it very rewarding so I am happy to be locked away with my computer.

An image from French Essence ~ new book release in November 2009

Can you tell me about your new book subject? Release date?

My new book is about living life with ambience. I believe the French are true masters when it comes to ambience and I think that it is this "ambience" than has made me so enamoured with life in France. This book is about beauty and nature, interiors and landscapes in my Provencal world. French Essence (named after my blog) will be published in early November this year.

We can hardly wait!

All photo images courtesy of Vicki Archer - My French Life

The Fabulous Vicki Archer- Part One

Mas de Berard in Provence where the story began......................


The evocative photo image cover of A French Life
~ photography by Carla Coulson

When I first started blogging a few months back, I would see this evocative book image often. A high-profile circle of high-style bloggers love this book (released in 2007) and just adore the stylish author Vicki Archer. She did what most women dream about from time to time....took the leap, moving from Australia to France, and landed in a whole new life. Now, I don't miss too many books myself, at the trade shows or by way of my neighborhood bookstore, but for sure I never saw this one....if I had I would have bought it in 5 seconds flat. I love a great follow-your-passion story with gorgeous photography and this I could tell had both. So how did I miss this fabulous book? Author Vicki Archer thinks "the book was printed in Australia, then made it's way to the US by way of blogger support, but for some reason it never had a strong presence in Canada". Hmmmm..........who is this lady? And how can I get my hands on her book with that fabulous cover? .

The blog of Vicki Archer is called French Essence where she posts regular and welcome doses of her rural french life. Last week she sent us a series of blooming flower photos and their floral history. Both these photos are from her popular blog. It may sound like I'm getting ahead of myself here, but really I'm not....

While A French Life was waiting on my order list, I received a lovely comment on my new blog one day, then another, another, and soon there wasn't too many early blog days when my empty comment page didn't have a supportive little comment from, you guessed it....Vicki Archer. I am sure she was politely responding to a comment I had left, but from what I can tell she has this great little habit of commenting and supporting many blogs....a most gracious habit to share. I'm going to get to her stunning, yummy book in a minute, but you should know Vicki Archer has the most fabulous blog called FRENCH ESSENCE that gets many comments per post, so the fact that the France-based author and blogger takes the time to comment at all tells you .........this is one of those fabulously chic ladies everyone wants to know.

The Terrace at Mas de Berard

I did a little background research on ordering this book in Canada and received a response from her publisher Penquin that the Canadian rights to this book were never bought, which means Canadians can't walk into a bookstore and see or buy this book. If Canadian you have to be patient, but you can order it through Amazon.com {click here} just make sure you order a few, one for yourself and one to give away. It is quite simply a spectacular book to give or receive. If you do either, you will be in for a few delightful surprises. One the book is larger than you would expect (coffee table size) from it's website photo and it has this wonderfully unique padded cover under the jacket that my friend says "gives you such a comforting feel when reading it" , she was right, it does. There aren't too many books that I have read (and we are talking hundreds here) that so elegantly transported me to another world, the world every women wants to live and love in..... rural Provence, where she restored Mas de Berard a seventeenth-century property, and then on to Le Weekend in Paris where she regularly meets up with gal pals for shopping and macaroons. Her feminine and enticing style of writing and story of how this lifestyle came to pass will have you swooning, then you'll spend the rest of your day or week figuring out if there is anyway on earth you can just pack your bags, cash in your ailing retirement fund, move to France and do the same. Right next door........she sounds like she would be the most down-to-earth and stylish of neighbors.

Lavender in July

Vicki Archer graciously sent over some of the images from A French Life, more of which you will see tomorrow. In Part Two of this post, I will share some of her interior photos of a more feminine nature and her thoughtful answers to some questions I had after finishing this lavish book. In Part Three , I'll send you over to meet Vicki's gal-pal and Paris-based photographer Carla Coulson .

Fruit Blossoms in Spring

Hope to see you tomorrow for Vicki Archer ~ Part Two

All photograph's courtesy of Vicki Archer ~ A French Life and French Essence