Florals in Gift Wrap..........my backwards approach

One day I tell you to wrap gifts in floral boxes and the next I tell you to wrap florals in gift wrap..............am I all backwards or what? My son always has me embellish cellophane wrapped floral bouquets, he thinks this extra level of presentation scores him thoughful guy points with the ladies and maybe it does.

I do think over wrapping the cellophane does bump up the wow factor a bit so I am happy to do my motherly duty, being that he is still single. I do what I can to help him along. This paper wrapped bouquet does work best with a thicker paper so it stays stiff when adding all the ribbons. This paper is one of those fiber papers that holds it rolled shape. I wanted to keep the ribbon selection simpler but my son wanted the wanted the full nine yards literally. 

Thank you to readers who left such lovely comments this week

and a gift wrapped thank you to new followers.

Photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Happy Bows............on Mother's Day

Paper flowers tied with ribbon, a novel rose and radish bouquet, a small gift tied with twine and love, a sweet card................any of it is wonderful, but mostly mothers are blissfully happy when their children are, that is the best Mother's Day gift of all. I am happy today. I hope you are too.

Photo 1 from BHLDN/Photo 2 via Pinterest/Photo 3 via tumblr

Cheating on Glam Monday

This is so not me.

Instead of working on a Glam Monday post, I am walking a golf course in King City outside of Toronto where my husband is representing our local golf course in a tournament. Both my husband and son are exceptional golfers and athletes, our son played professional golf for a few years until he decided it was a exceptionally lonely life and he is an exceptionally social person. I often tell my husband he should have married an athletic woman, I am hopelessly uncoordinated and is has come to pass that people even apologize when talking about sports around me. Sad to say, but it is that physically obvious that I cannot partake of any sports activity or conversation (except cycling, but that was very late in life). But it could be that for a sport-lovin guy I would be the perfect wife. I am really, really good at keeping myself busy with all sorts of creative pursuits. This means I never even notice that he has watched golf/hockey/football/ for hours on end. Clever guy .......I think he knew this from the get-go.

While I am walking the course on what is supposed to be Glam Monday, I thought I should at least leave you some pretty things to look at for the beginning of the week. Hey, one thing I do know is that you can't wear kitten heels on the course, give me some credit! If you go over to House Beautiful, there is a little series {photos and video}about using everyday containers for this year's bounty of fresh-cut flowers by HB floral designer Robert Rufino. I actually have a container just like the trumpet shaped tole vase above but not these gorgeous Sweet Peas which I will surely plant this week. It's just a seasonal reminder to look around and use what is available. Point well taken. No Sweet Peas, but I do have pink and white Peonies blooming all over the place right now. Every year I forget to buy peony cages so they are abundantly leaning to the ground once again. Rufino recommends putting these extravagant bloom in a smaller mug. All those colours and pattern do enhance the vivid pink much better than a clear vase. I don't have a Coronation Mug (even though we do have a Queen) as I always thought they were tourist-tacky. Guess I was wrong again.

Rufino uses only four Hydrangeas in this footed bowl. He recommends you place three stems standing straight (in different stem lengths), then the fourth stem on an angle for height and dimension. I think he is making it sound easier then it is, but I am willing to try his method and see if mine will look like this.

Here is a simpler Coronation mug with softly-tinted Bridal Blush roses.

Gorgeous sitting on a desk.

I have a friend who is mad for Magnolias and their sweet fragrance. She does exactly this, floats the delicate beauties in a clear bath. Nothing more is needed.

Top photo from Vogue Archives/remaining photos from House Beautiful.

Glam Monday ~ Juicy Cantaloupe & Sweet Peaches

I would consider this youthful glam, someone has a juicy vibe going on here in this little desk corner photo I found at Domino on Flickr. No source but whoever it is, they have a really good eye for combining vibrant and luscious colour. I think I adore this cosy spot. I must....... I keep staring at it.

Sweet peaches, is there anything more summertime juicy? As soon as peach season starts, I get out my mom's pie crust recipe. It was always one of the easiest pies to make. I used to sit in the driveway while my son was playing and peel quarts of peaches for pie-making while keeping an eye on his antics. My neighbor would come over and keep me company. Those were the good old days for a lot of reasons, mostly because I could bake a pie and actually enjoy a couple guilt-free slices. Slightly warm with vanilla ice cream.....OMG. Image from Foodland Ontario.

These Louboutoin Dillian Flower Pumps were what started me on this melon and peach colour post. Look at the colour of this leather with his signature red soles! Melon, what some would also call peach or apricot looks fabulous with touches of coral or red. It's not an easy colour to find in fashion or interiors. Why is that? It is certainly a most luscious colour. It should make a comeback. Photo by Daniel Farmer at Flickr.

Cantaloupe , also generally referred to as musk melon (not to go into the botany of it all) has only 53 calories per cup and your full daily requirement of vitamin C. It's also an excellent source of Vitamin A and beta carotene. I grew up eating musk melon every summer. Truthfully, I ignore the winter imports, bland and tasteless by the time they get here to us. But in the summer season, I love thick juicy slices wrapped in proscuitto, that delicious combination of musk and salt. Can't wait.

I found this melon coloured bedroom over at Style Redux where she always captures the best interiors. Note the coral accent (again), nature has a way of telling us what will work when it comes to design. The colbalt blue gives it a unexpected and sassy jolt.

A gorgeous petal image from Flickr

A pink or peach tint gives all women a lovely glow, it's an old designer trick. I always use pink lightbulbs in my vanity area, I like to think it makes me look younger, at least while I'm putting on my makeup. Some day soon I will tell you about Pink Glow, my pink lightbulb charity idea for Women's Mental Health that got stopped in it's well-intentioned tracks. It was a great idea until the Canadian goverment banned incandescent bulbs. I still have the pink light bulbs and their very pretty box covers I spent a fortune designing and printing. An idea just sitting there. And it's driving me crazy. Photo from My Vintage Paris via Paris Atelier.

Look how melon just makes this room so warm and inviting. Now, picture this room with ivory or white slouchy sofas. Which do you prefer? Sometimes a fabulous colour will make all the difference. Image from Domino Files on Flickr.

Doesn't this just take your breath away? This densely packed bouquet by Rosenow is one of the loveliest I have ever seen. Beautiful Things To Share opened my eyes to this talented floral designer and I can't get enough of her incredible style. Or Charamine's beautiful blog.

By now you know I always borrow a dress or two from Judith at Paris Atelier for Glam Mondays. It's a habit I just can't break. It's like having a hip sister with really good taste and the coolest clothes. And she lets me borrow them every weekend.

A Chevron gilded gift wrap paper in a gorgeous melon tone that I found over at Carolyne Roehm. One of the few papers left on her website. When I tried to order what was left, the shopping cart kept closing. I know she is gone on to bigger and better things and is closing her website, but boy will I miss her presentation style. She is the "wrap goddess" and the only reason I haven't posted about her in-depth is that I knew there was a transition going on and not sure where it was leading. I would like to find out what she is up to these days. That level of creativity just can't quit, so she must have something very clever up her stylish sleeve. I should call her and catch up. Dare me?

Remember this Carolyne Roehm giftwrap image? The first time I saw this years ago in her book Presentations, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. My heaven is obviously filled with ribbons, boxes, and bows. And couture, lots and lots of it, everywhere I look. I bet there is lots of gift-giving up there. Or at least I hope so.

If I was being really picky, I would call this gorgeous wall colour apricot.
The table and chairs aren't doing it for me, but look at that ceiling height and mouldings.

A table setting by Carolyn Roehme. No one does it better.

I think everyone should have an outdoor tent, especially when it has these melon coloured drapes blowing in the wind. I know everyone has already seen this Domino image, but it was too perfect not to include in this post about all things melon. Note those little touches of coral again. I really want this tent.

I would want to hang these Pom Pom somewhere in or around my outdoor tent.

They just make everybody party-mood happy, don't they?

Everyone is Pom Pom crazy these days, so pretty and fun.

~ Creamsicles made with Cantaloupe ~

I remembered "O' magazine had a melon feature a summer ago so I went online hunting. Not too often you find recipes with cantaloupe, why is that? Click here to see the recipe for these low-cal summer treats.

~ Linquine with Cantaloupe, Cherry tomatoes, and Mint ~

I really had to hunt online for a main course melon recipe, but look at the yummy dish I found for you. As soon as our local cantaloupe season starts, I will be in the kitchen making this. I have a feeling it will be an incredible taste combination.This looks so good, I might even have company over to share it. Click here for the creamy recipe.

~ Peach and Mascarpone Cheesecake with Balsamic Syrup ~

I think this might be a good one too. I found it at Bon Appetit.

Click here for the recipe and file it for peach season.

I think that Balsamic syrup will be heavenly with peaches.

All photo sources with images.

Glam Monday ~ Shades of Gray~Grey

One of a series by British fashion illustrator David Downton for Wyndham Grand Collection Hotels.

Now.....that's a rock. If I had a John Hardy Kaya White Topaz ring like this on my hand, I would never get anything done. I would be staring at it all day. $1,495.00 at Neiman Marcus.

Something about this shoe by Herve Lager that I just adore. It's not a dressy shoe, but I just love the combination and height. Something to wear with taupe linen perhaps? Available at Neiman Marcus.

Gray is a challenging colour scheme for interiors. Too much and it's a chilly and unwelcome environment. It takes a highly-skilled designer to successfully work with gray, but designer Amanda Nisbet gets it just right with warm stone and the dose of yellow silk. Photo from Southern Accents.

Unless you are looking to achieve an industrial interior, watch the tone of gray you use. Gray can be gorgeous and wonderfully neutral but there's a fine line between cool and warm in the colour gray. It works well with ivory tones, seems to soften it's cool tendencies. Photo by Claire Richardson.

I received an email from Beth at Style Redux who sent me this exquisite gray dress after she read my post this morning. I think that meant it was alright if I borrowed it for the day. She says this is her favorite gown, period.

The tulle tiered gown with 1,000 layers is by Versace Couture and was made for Carrie in Season Six ~ Sex and The City. I don't know how I missed this gown (in the DVD or blog), but thanks to Beth who passed this frothy creation along. She notes it is actually a celadon gray, close enough for me. I would take it in any colour. Beth also has a second blog Chinoiserie Chic which focuses on all things with the classic Chinoiserie pattern.

Earrings by Lanvin with grosgrain ribbon. You had to know I would love these.

Available at Neiman Marcus.

I went hunting for the black wedding dress I heard that Vera Wang introduced at her last show. I found it but I much prefer the gray one shown above. She has this whole colour thing going for bridal dresses.

Gray is at one of it's best with yellow. This gorgeous Aviary desk set from Elum Design includes all manner of correspondence. The fabric box with magnetic lid holds 315 well-organized pieces. Gift tags, foldovers. stationery sheets, flat cards, and enclosures, for $150.00. Graciously stocked for life with no excuses that you didn't have a card on hand. Nothing is better than having a lovely little note or letter come in the mail, it's just a more heartfelt and thoughtful manner in which to thank some one sincerely. Besides that, it's just good manners......still.

A Bow Pendant by Herve Leger. Remind me to show you my Herve Lager 6" wrist band one day. I thought it was the coolest thing ever until my son asked my if I had strained my wrist and embellished a tensor band. He just doesn't get it! I still wear it all the time and I still think it is the coolest thing ever. I do kind of look at it too much when I am wearing it. I must get easily distracted by anything I find glamorous.

Looking pretty glam for a gray palette isn't it? Who would have thought? That white painted trim and mouldings adds a crisp counterpoint to the silver and gray tones. Looks like even the rotary-style telephone is a platinum gray. Photo by Polly Wreford.

A portrait of Catherine Deneuve by British fashion illustrator David Downton.

I'm cheating just a tad as the room isn't totally gray, but enough to fit my gray criteria today. All I know is this luxurious bathroom is where I would love to start and end my day. Nothing more glam than mirrored cabinets or furniture, especially when they are slightly aged. Photography by Pieter Estersohn. No design source given. Photo from Southern Accents.

The softest shimmer of ice gray. Isn't this Nicole Miller Satin Bust Metal Gown simply gorgeous?

Leave it to Charlotte Moss to offer her trademark gray Pagoda pattern on travel and ziploc bags. She must have been packing one day and filling regular ziplocs with travel-sized cosmetics and knew that certainly wasn't a civilized way to travel. The set of white cotton bags are 4 for $40.00 and the set of zilplocs are 25 for $25.00. These would keep your travel friend packed in style and I would love to see the expression on the face of the customs inspector.

A simple little bouquet just for you.

Photo by Andrea McClain ~ Flickr

A illustration of celebrity strip tease artist Dita Von Teese by David Downton.

No blushing , we're all big girls here.

The lovely girls over at the blog Frou-Frou Fashionista would love this drawing.

The queens of intimate apparel have a website Faire Frou Frou to keep you stylishly covered (or uncovered).

Either way, they do it beautifully and elegantly. Come on ladies, don't be shy......go take a peek.

Linen On My Mind ..... again

When I buy roses, I head to Costgo where I can afford to buy masses of them if I have any kind of gathering.
I like to mass them, but also love it when they are used in a flat layered fashion. Just the heads, all lined up in a square flat container. There is a floral product that you add to water which turns to a gel, this is how the roses stand in position. I wanted to replicate that look with these paper roses (if you had them you would be using them alot too). They come in a package of 20 and literally come out of the bag this way. I slide them out and wire each row together and I have a square arrangement. I like the colour combination here with yellow striped cotton ribbon and these coral paper roses. I like it best on this taupe linen, but it would probably work on my matte black paper as well.



You can see the gel in the background holding the roses. I also used the same material and a low flat square container to do roses in a heart shape, but couldn't find the image. This was way before I knew how to store photos.


Give me a armful of roses and I will hunt down every container I have and fill them. This was for my neice's bridal shower a few years back and she loves pink and peach. It does make for a beautiful colour scheme. I must have used that criss-cross scotch tape method to hold this mass of roses. When it comes to roses, nothing is wasted, I also used all the excess petals across the table.

A simpler neutral version of the same idea.


There are the paper roses in green and some new organza roses I am trying out, they come in this green, a bronze, chocolate brown and black. They come with ribbon attached so you simply tie around a box. At $3.50 each they are certainly a more stylish gift wrap choice that a store-bought bow. But, that just seems too easy and I was inclined to try them in multiples and see if I liked them better that way.

I am not sure what I think about this, but I thought I would show you anyways. All you can do is think I have lost my gift-wrapping mind. I will keep experimenting. My issue is with the 6 ribbon tails, so I gathered and braided them so it would look like a bouquet stem and just let it trail down the front. Their assumption with these gift box toppers is that you will tie the ribbon to the bottom of the box. I never cared for a knot at the bottom of a box as it won't sit straight. Silly and overly-particular I know, but there must be a better way. This final presentation reminds me of something, but can't for the life of me find the words. Maybe it's just plain crazy?

All photos by Sande Chase ~ Oooh la la Cadeau