Happy holidays!

I know, it's early. But a recent trip to London has inspired me to get in the Christmas time mood. In particular, a visit to Fortnum & Mason got me really excited. F&M is easily the most gorgeous and elegant retail experience I've ever had. And a bit surreal, to be honest. You come up the centuries-old staircase to an inviting, but not overwhelming combination of cinnamon and pine fragrance. There's just enough room to walk around, and every square inch of merchandise space is used to the max. It was just captivating: sparkling ornaments arranged perfectly in glass pedestal bowls, artfully decorated trees, rolls of glittering gift wrapping paper. I wanted to buy one of everything; this is visual merchandising done right.

I was especially tempted to buy one of these (fuschia) beauties, but sadly, it was more than I could pay for something that might not make the trip home in my suitcase. The whole display was a feast for the eyes, and well, F&M does sell online, so there's still time if I change my mind.

And of course, I had to visit the gift wrapping department. I love the glamorous chandelier over the counter. Maybe I need one for my shop...

I could have stayed there all day. The papers in the shop weren't too different than what I find here in the states, but it was (naturally) the presentation that struck me! You could tell that the wooden display tables had been lovingly maintained, the employees were incredibly knowledgeable, and even the brass plates on the door hinges were polished regularly. All of this points to an immense pride in the work, which really appealed to me. Though I'm very happy with my dayjob, I had a little fantasy of donning the tidy F&M waistcoat and bowtie, and standing behind the gift wrap counter, wrapping exquisite treasures in gorgeous, fine paper and silk ribbon. Who wouldn't?!

That said, I'm brainstorming a Fortnum & Mason-inspired prezzie series. Stay tuned.

PS: In case you were wondering, the signature robin's egg blue of Fortnum & Mason came 130 years before Tiffany & Co.

Every artist needs a studio

Hi friends,
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. My dayjob has been pretty demanding. But I've still been a busy little bee making prezzies and doing other fun stuff. The most delightful of which is my new craft station, which is totally sweet! I got tired of hauling stuff up from the basement, to the dining room table, and back to the basement, so I cleared out a closet in our guest room and built this shop. Doesn't it make you want to roll up your sleeves and make something beautiful?

I had been wanting a gift wrap station for some time, and my research got me very inspired. Check these out:
At Home with Kim Vallee
Lowe's
And the mother of all awesome craftiness

There are some very beautiful pre-fab gift wrapping/craft stations out there, but I didn't want to shell out the cash for them, and frankly, I like the flexibility of a modular system. My favorite thing about my station is you just have to close the door to clean up!

All together, I paid $144 for this setup:
$20 for the table top at IKEA
$60 for the table legs at IKEA
$34 for the pegboard at Lowe's
$30 for the hooks at Lowe's

You could probably do it for less, especially if you choose a different table. I chose this one because the legs are adjustable, and I prefer to work standing up - it's much easier on your neck and back. Whether your station is splurge worthy or budget conscious, I recommend them highly. It makes working on your projects a real pleasure! Happy crafting!