Ready or Not....

Christmas is coming....ready or not!
Cards to write and presents to wrap. It's all good, if a little crazy busy.
I made this pocket folder to hold my Xmas cards and postcards.

I really do enjoy wrapping gifts (all year round). And, I love a neutral palette....
I really like using books pages as wrapping. And after they are unwrapped, the recipient can use the papers for collage.
We're all for creative re-use.

I also love brown kraft paper. I wish I knew where I found this one with the white dots because I want more of it....

Sometimes I do like more traditional Xmas wrap -- especially if it has airmail stripes and a postal theme!

I even broke out the vintage tags this year instead of hoarding....er....saving them....

A little Cavallini paper slipped in there too....

I also love buying various sizes of these clear bags at Diaso and making little packs of cool things....doesn't that look nice?

When I'm traveling I always notice how beautifully things are wrapped in places like France and Italy....every day is a holiday.

So, what are you using to wrap? 
Hope you get a little inspiration from my ideas. Now put on that holiday music and sip a little eggnog and get to work!
Santa needs all the help he can get spreading happiness.
I'm off to the SF Correspondence Co-Op Holiday party tonight!

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Catch Me If You Can

Ooh! Things are busy around here -- and I am guessing it is a busy time for all of you.
Making, cooking, holidays, friends, family, wrapping, eating......
standing in lines?

Yup, I did it again -- stood in line at the wonderful Cavallini Sale.
I got up at
5AM
Can you believe it? At least this year it wasn't raining. My pals and I got there at about 6:45AM and the doors opened at 8AM and the wild stampede began.
Cavallini is really a wonderful local business. They supply PEETS coffee (the best!) and boxes of fresh donuts and the employees working the sale say
"thank you for coming"
(as if wild horses could keep me away).

My two bags filled with treasures. I wish I could show you what's in the bags but Santa would be mad at me if I did....
Let's just say I got a lot of Xmas shopping done and some things for myself as well.
Who needs Black Friday when you have Cavallini??

I am also picking up bits of fabric and lace for my slow stitching projects...In the meantime the little fabric piles look so pretty. And that flower needlepoint -- I got it all finished for $5!
It is so pretty...I want to cut it up and use pieces in my creations but I am still working on the concept.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the studio too......I usually refuse to do anything before Thanksgiving but since Thanksgiving is so late this year I realized I better get this party started!

I love those Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes and Padded Mailing Envelopes.
Thanks USPS! 

I picked up the art studio for my special Thanksgiving guests (you know who you are). Hung some things on the wall.....

....and yes, there will be wine and cheese......
You all are welcome to come over for a little party!

The town square near my house has a little light show going on...such a pretty spot.

UPDATE on the POCKET BOOKS
Thank you to all of you who bought books! They are all sold out except for two and I really appreciate your suppose and interest in the books. And for your patience!
I've been told people had trouble commenting and the Contact Me Form wasn't working. This was not Bloggers finest moment. I'd like to switch my blog to a better platform but right now the thought is daunting. I may sell on Instagram. Loads of people do it and it seems easier, so stayed tuned.

So, now our thoughts turn to food -- and family and friends -- here in the USA.
I am thankful for all the lovely comments and support I get from the art community on social media. And I am also thankful for all the inspiration.
I hope you all enjoy the holiday.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

A Public Service

Maybe you need a little bit of inspiration to feel some holiday cheer. I know I do. I am kind of a scrooge anyway and this year is leaving a lot to be desired.
California is burning. Again. And I won't even mention politics.
But, in spite of it all, I still like to look at pretty things -- and I am hoping you do too.

My friend -- who threatened me not to identify her or else -- is a fantastic and creative gift wrapper.
She wrapped ALL these beauties as a fund raiser for my mail art group's holiday party.
They sold for $5 each -- yes, there are surprises inside -- and people were grabbing them up for the beauty of the wrappings.

Who needs Martha Stewart?

My friend's wrapping?.......

Or, Martha's?

Hands down these win.....

Grouchy Cat

My friend should be in a magazine......don't you think?

Who would think to put a blinking, battery operated Xmas light on a gift?

How fun is this one? I think the box was stamped this way but you could get some plain boxes and do the same thing for a mail art lover. I am -- and I am going to add more postage and cancellations because that's just the way I roll.

I bought this one -- and, ahem, a few more....
And, I haven't even opened them yet but they have been shaken and poked.

These are some of mine.....wrapped before I saw all that eye candy....but I kind of like this theme too...I used old book pages.

I just happen to have lots of old book pages to use and that is creative reuse for sure. And once opened, my friends can use the papers for collages.
Want a couple of ideas of things to put inside the beautifully wrapped boxes?

How about a fabulous custom rubber stamp?

2ImpressShop has some fabulous rubber stamps for mail artists. I have three and I want more (hint, hint) Tell Bo I sent you, ok?

I am in love with sari ribbon

Holly is delightful to order from and the sari ribbon is beautiful for wrapping around altered books, adding to altered tags or vintage clips. Tell her I sent you.
I am getting nothing from this -- not selling -- just want to help you out with ideas and promote these two very delightful small businesses...

All packed up and already gone.....a holiday box for my sister....who has ZERO willpower and I have to put THREATS on her gifts and tell her not to open them till Xmas or else.
Santa WILL know.

Another tip -- that I am sure you all must know -- in the US, Flat Rate Priority envelopes come in three sizes and are free at the PO. No matter what you stuff inside and how heavy they are, the rate is fixed and they come with $50 insurance and tracking.
Such a deal.
That's why I could send a friend CANS of Los Palmas enchilada and chili sauce...she is in Virginia and they do not have the fabulous Mexican food we have here.
But they do have grits. And a ribs. I digress...

OK, so I hope this post inspires you to feel FESTIVE. 
I will feel a lot more festive when the fires in CA go out but I am trying....
Send California good thoughts.

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It's Beginning to Look A Little Bit Like You Know What

How about a nice hot cup of relaxing tea in a pretty red cup and saucer?

I had a visit the other day to the queen of wrapping gifts, miss ju. She makes Santa's workshop look like amateur hour.
I left inspired...

She's wrapping Xmas gifts for our mail art group's Xmas party fund raiser and I am going to be sure to get over to the party early to get my hands on one of these....

The gifts JU wraps are almost too pretty to unwrap.....operative word being "almost"...

So, I went home and got busy....I like to try to use somewhat unusual things in my gift presentation...it is just more fun that way...
I painted these matchbooks in gold paint...

....and I covered the tops and sides with decorative paper and put some decorations on the tops and tucked in some tiny surprises.
You can use matchbooks for earrings or stamps or milogros or charms or....well....I bet you gys can think some something little to put inside.

I have boxes and boxes like this with old Xmas balls inside...and I took out the balls and put in twelve small gifts for someone special.
Quite clever I think, don't you?
You can usually find these at thrift shops and they have a great vintage look.

And how about going to the Dollar Sore and getting some cookie tins? Sure, you can fill them with cookies but they make great little tins for mailing. This one went out already to the wonderful Dori Singh and it was filled with some PRE-Xmas cheer.

I made a little folder with pockets, filled it with some vintage Xmas tags and stuck a vintage Santa on it. Ad, that is a French muslin tea bag from Mariage Frere tucked in there too...

I am filling up those flat rate boxes! 

Now that the day is gone and I've got a good start on my holiday projects, it's time for a nice Campari -- it is certainly a lovely red color that goes with the season.
Ever since a long ago trip to Italy, Campari is my go-to cocktail. I like it with ice and a splash of white wine or in hot weather with some sparkling water -- or in a Negroni!

I'm playing along with 
Bleubeard and Elizabeth
again this week, incorporating some drinks into a post. And now I better go knock out some of the stuff on my to-do list. Things are getting awfully busy around here.
Hope you got an idea for wrapping or a little inspiration or just some eye-candy.
I have a Christmas party to go to on Friday night and a line to stand in at the post office and Xmas cookies to bake and presents to wrap....well...you know the drill.

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