SWEET INTENTIONS

Photo courtesy of Mark and Graham

With Mark and Graham's glass domed cake stand the medium is the message. Heading into wedding season, the hunt for the perfect gift stops here. Baked goods can now take a starring role on the counter top when placed under the monogrammed cloche and curved pedestal stand. Engrave the lid with a special date, house or last name in a host of monogram choices for a meaningful and thoughtful gift.

TRAY CHIC: WATERCOLOR ARTIST CAILTIN MCGAULEY'S PORCELAIN TRAYS

Illustrator and artist Caitlin McGauley creates watercolors that exude charm. The specific details, colors and mood she captures make her distinctive work instantly recognizable.  Her darling creations have donned the pages of Lonny and the Tory Burch blog, exuding a whimsy and flair for the details. This winter she launched a capsule product collection of porcelain catch-all trays depicting her designs, and there is something for everyone. From a modern graphic chevron pattern in pale hues to a fuchsia backed- Indian ceremonial elephant, her feminine designs make great gifts. Used as a bedside jewelry holder or a place to keep your keys by the front door, her small trays, like a miniature painting, have a variety of uses, and their knock out colors make them hard to resist.

Photos courtesy of Caitlin McGauley

Te Elephant tray

A sharp citrus orange background makes the orchid blooms on The Orchid Tray come alive.

A zig and a zag in her loose, artist's hand-painted style reinterprets the chevron pattern.

Need a spot to hold earrings and assorted baubles? The mint colored tromp L'oeil tray with chunky stone earrings is  a girls best friend.

PRESENT TENSE: HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP GETS FESTIVE

One of my favorite aspects of gift giving is wrapping the presents. I love to make a pretty package. I am pretty sure I got this from my amazing Mom, who has great tips and tricks to wrap the ribbon so there is no bump on the underside where the ribbons cross, and so each folded corner is even. 

Too add to the gift, I like to stick a fresh sprig of holly, shiny red berries or some bells in with the bow and tag. It just makes the presentation more interesting, and memorable. Here are some favorite patterned papers and tags I have come across this season, both traditional and fun. Enjoy the last few days of frenetic shopping for last-minute gifts and wrap em up with your own individual flair.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Paper

State the obvious with vivid red script dons letterpress tags from LA-based Sugar Paper.

Photo courtesy of Mara Mi

Say thank you with sweet little gift labels from Mara Mi featuring winter themes.

Photo courtesy of CB2

Put your own stamp on it with Yellow Owl Workshop's Label Stamp Kit from CB2. It doesn't read holiday so you can use it beyond Christmas.

Photo courtesy of Lobird

This one is to give to all your friends that gallivant all over the global. From Lobird. Each of this company's designs are cuter than the next.

 Photo courtesy of Anthropologie

Against a pale green sky, reindeer and pine trees in a winter scene on hang tags from Anthropologie.

 Photo courtesy of Connor

When only the best will do, Connor New York has hang tags with red grosgrain ribbon and hand-engraved motifs.

 Photo courtesy of Target

A cheery Santa and scallop-edge Do Not Open set of tags from Target are just adorable.

Photo courtesy of Target

Wow, these colorful cuties are from Target- love. Zesty colors and modern motifs for the un-holiday color scheme.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Boddington

Mr. Boddington always gets it right, they make some of the best preppy meets quirky papers. Rudolf heads in a playful hand-drawn repeat float across the surface of It's Raining Reindeer paper.

 Photo courtesy of Container Store

My favorite wrap is from the Container Store, with geometric Santa's all in a row.

Photo courtesy of Paper Source

The animals go marching on in Holiday Animals Wrapping Paper available through Paper Source. Too cute for the little one's.

Photo courtesy of Paper Source

White berries with silver leaves against a red ground make this red Paper Source paper an elegant option.

Photo courtesy of Kate's Paperie

Modern and graphic, the wrapping paper of master printmaker Charles Lahti from Kate's Paperie pairs kraft paper brown and poppy red.

Photo courtesy of Container Store

In a multitude of hues, Christmas trees line the surface area of kraft paper from the Container Store.

 Photo courtesy of Container Store

For all of you with dogs, the Container Store has recycled paper with Chilly Dogs as reindeer waiting in line to step up to the hydrant.

Kari Herer and Anthology Magazine..

 

I love her photography and I was so excited to see that she had collaborated with Anthology Magazine to offer some holiday printables.   Check out their 2012 Holiday issue to learn more about Kari and to see the tags and cards that she made with them.  

 

images by Kari Herer for Anthology

 

Besotted Brand {giveaway}

For our third giveaway in the Holiday Giving Series here on greige we have an amazing gift set from Besotted Brand.  They are offering one of their Ultimate Stationary Gift Sets, which is full of beautiful things!  It satisfies the stationary and stamp lover alike! 

 

When we say ultimate we mean ultimate! This is our largest most luxe stationery gift set and is sure to delight any paper lover. The gift set is a virtual treasure trove of Besotted Brand goodies all housed in a large natural wood box with individual compartments.

 

The Ultimate Stationery Gift Set includes:
1-Large hinged wood box with nine individual compartments (approx 12" x12")
1-Full mini alphabet set (26 letters) crimson rubber cling back stamps with a lucite base in round mini hat box
1-'Kindly deliver to' crimson rubber cling back stamp, attached to lucite base
1-16th century 'fig.1' crimson rubber cling back stamp, attached to lucite base
1-calligraphy 'hello' crimson rubber cling back stamp, attached to lucite base
1-calligraphy 'thank you' crimson rubber cling back stamp, attached to lucite base
9-Archive labels
9-small shipping tags
-3 small ink pads (black, white, platinum).
-10 4 bar imported deckled edged fold-over cards w/matching envelope
1-organic cotton drawstring bag

 

 

For your chance to win The Ultimate Stationary Gift Set please visit Besotted Brand and leave a comment below telling us about your favorite item or items, for an additional chances to win you can tweet (easy to tweet just hit retweet at the bottom of the post), follow us here on the blog or on twitter or blog about our giveaway.  The winner will be chosen at random on December 7th, 2012 .  

 

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

  **Don't forget I have to be able to contact you...  Please leave your name and some type of contact information if you are not able to be contacted with your profile**

 

Rocq Macarons {giveaway}

 

Our second gift in our Holiday Giving Series is from Rocq Macarons!  As you know Macarons are one of my favorite things in the world.  Rocq Macarons are the best and make wonderful gifts, I sent them to all of my clients last year as a Thank you gift during the holidays.  They are generously offering two of our readers each a box of these amazing goodies.

For your chance to win a box of the gluten free little lovelies please visit Rocq Macarons and leave a comment below telling us about your favorites, for an additional chances to win you can tweet (easy to tweet just hit retweet at the bottom of the post), follow us here on the blog or on twitter or blog about our giveaway.  The winner will be chosen at random on December 3rd, 2012 .  

 

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

  **Don't forget I have to be able to contact you...  Please leave your name and some type of contact information if you are not able to be contacted with your profile** 

 

 

 

greige 2012 gift guide {blues}

 In celebration of the upcoming holidays we have put together a few gift ideas for you and yours and we will be hosting several giveaways here on greige.

I hope you enjoy!

no.1/no.2/no.3/no.4/no.5

no.6/no.7/no.8/no.9/no.10

 

MAKE YOUR MARK: MEET MARK AND GRAHAM

Monogram madness has taken hold. After seeing a return to all things initialed and personalized over the past several years, the smart people behind Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn have just launched a new sister brand, Mark and Graham. Good design is at the core of the new brand, where a simple, clean, pared-down aesthetic rules. The make -it-your-own craze, combined with the plethora of great fonts, pretty packaging and an easy to use website will make holiday gift buying snappy.  Just think, you can check the wedding/shower/hostess gifts off your running list. Covering the gamut with staple entertaining items like elegant glassware and zippy napkins to cozy throws and log holders, most items can be monogrammed with an array of font and monogram styles. On your mark, get set shop, and get a head start on that list. Here are some stylish items that caught my eye:

 With easy to carry loop handles, a monogrammed glass Ice Bucket is a a go-to wedding gift.

Pretty script initials on a Mouth blown Classic Tall Glass Pitcher makes mixing a house drink that much more special.

Stock up for your Derby Juleps now with nickel-plated brass Hexagonal Mint Julep Cups that come in a set of 2. Or, use them to store makeup brushes in style.

Trays make the best gifts, especially this acrylic monogrammed version with cut out handles. For acrylic, the price is great.

In either silver or gold plate, everyone needs a  Classic Oval Signet Ring with their initial on it.

Feeling like getting gifty in advance? A peppy preppy Striped Domed Paperweight in glass is sharp choice for stockings, work friends and those that love their papers in order.

By far some of the cutest mats I have ever seen, scallop-edged Good Morning! Placemats are great to wake up to. They give a reason to rise and shine and sit at the table. Available in a set of 4.

Festive and fun, candy colored ribbon edged Typographer's Cotton Napkins in sateen are available in sets of 4 or 8.

With lime green, magenta and orange borders, natural linen Cocktail Napkins with monograms will get the party started.

A double band of colored grosgrain ribbon makes the edge of monogrammed Guest Towels stylish.

Get and give cozy. Monogrammed Cashmere Blanket with a contrast edge will be a staple this winter.

Their lined Everyday Leather Tote with monogram is generous size for toting stuff hither and yon. Choose from red, porcelain blue, white, brown and gray.

SPARKLE APLENTY: ASHA TRUNK SHOW AT TREILLAGE

Photo courtesy of Treillage

If you are on the Upper East Side this coming Thursday September 27th, pop into Bunny Williams' Treillage to shop from 2-6pm for shiny baubles by Asha New York. Supremely talented Ashley Dodgen-McCormick's beautiful jewelry incorporates well-cut gemstones as well as mother of pearl with lustrous metals.  Taking her design inspiration from travels to Florence to Paris, architecture, art and historical references, her line is striking and unusual.  Her signature quatrefoil pattern came from a detail in Sainte Chappelle Cathedral. Settings are highly detailed, cuts include cabochon, and 14 karat vermeil finishes mix well with your existing pieces. Lets just say I covet every item, and am itching for a great pair of every-day earrings cause they look like a million dollars.

Photos courtesy of Asha

Bamboo Hoops 

Cage tear earrings in cushion cut turquoise

Quatrefoil Chandelier are a good dangly option

Carlotta earrings look great with everything from tunics to shift dresses

 

Carlotta pendant and chain

 

Lily earrings with mother of pearl cut- outs have become a signature

 

Cage onyx earrings

 

Cage crystal earrings

Coco C carnelian earrings

 

Tamsin earrings in emerald cut topaz and rock crystal

I love a puffy gold bracelet with weight.  This Crawford bracelet takes time to make, so give it 6-8 weeks.

Serena moonstone hoops can go dressy and everyday

 

Katrina ring with tiger's eye set in black enamel

Weighty and substantial, the Mykonos cut-out pendant on slide

 

Mariska chain necklace has a nice heft and texture, a perfect every day piece

Elizabeth mother of pearl earrings are total stunners. They literally glow.

Need a little party glam? These Elizabeth cz babies debut in time for holiday soirees