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It's nearly here!
My favorite time of year. The family, the food, the gifts, the parties - and most importantly the celebration of Christ's Birth. I am definitely a lover of all things Christmas. The music and seasonal decorations are two of my favorites. I remember back in Australia, every year we'd go to the park and sing Christmas Carols by candlelight. It was a yearly tradition.
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Growing up, my parents always made Christmas an elaborate affair for us. Every year they woke up early and ate some of the cookies that we'd left for Santa, and drank the milk... but on top of that, one year they scraped the freezer and put the frost outside in the shape of sled tracks and footprints leading up to the door. Growing up in Australia, snow was something we never saw, so it was such an exciting surprise for us to see Santa's tracks on Christmas morning.
Then after opening all the gifts, we'd have an open house, and people would stop by all day for food and laughter. My parents still do this at their home in California. Every year, they open their house to anyone without a place to go for Christmas. Some years there has been as many as 60 people come throughout the day. It's always a full house, and people leave with full hearts - exactly what Christmas is about.
What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?
(PS - the winner of the Koo & Poppet Giveaway is Lily. Hooray!)
(PPS - Have a Merry Christmas everyone! I will be back to Blogland January 5th).
How are you all doing with your Christmas To-Do Lists?
I am sure by now you've gotten your tree, written out some cards, started buying Christmas Gifts...
I love finding the perfect gift for the people I love. Whether it be something I buy, or something I make - both are giving of my money or talent. This weekend, Brian and I really wanted to do something special for Christmas, and be giving of our time.
As a lot of you know, Brian and I volunteer with the Downs Syndrome Association of Houston. I love people with Downs Syndrome, they are so loving and affectionate, and tender-hearted. This weekend we volunteered at their annual Christmas Party. This was our second year at this party and we loved it.
Time is so precious and is something that we give that can't be replaced. We can always earn more money, but we can never earn more time, so to me - the giving of time is the most important gift you can give. This Christmas, I challenge you to find a cause or charity that is important to you, and give them some of your time.
I promise you that it will be a rewarding experience and that you will actually get more out of it than you invest!
What are some ways that you've given of your time in the past? Or what are some ways you plan to this Christmas Season?
How do you like to sleep?
Are you one of those people who like the bed to be completely free of extra pillows? Or do you like to have lots of pillows or stuffed toys all around you? When I was little, I didn't like all the fuss and fluff of extra pillows or stuffed toys in my bed - in fact, I didn't like stuffed toys at all!
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But now I LOVE them! I love the quirky, adorable handmade type. I LOVE the adorable cuties in the Etsy store Koo And Poppet. The critters in Sarah's shop are just as cute as the name of her store!
Sarah had always wanted to start her own line of children's products, and had planned out to call it Koo. Then after her daughter was born, the father of one of her friends would affectionately call her daughter "Poppet" - and from there the name Koo And Poppet was born. This lovely little store is filled with handmade little friends with all sorts of character and quirk. Sarah creates everything from bunnies to bears, and also sews lovely personalized pillows and scarves.
Inspired by unique fabric, unconventionality and subtleties of character, Sarah meticulously creates each of her "misfit creatures" with great attention to detail. She is fascinated by the imagination of children, and tries to create characters that delve into that world of wonder and joy. Her favorite colors are yellow, pink and beige - and gets to see those colors in their prettiest forms from her lovely home city of Victoria, Canada - when the Cherry Blossom trees bloom in March. She also loves watching the seasons change, and the great sense of community in her town.
While I adore Sarah's favorite colors, the thing that I agree with her most on is her favorite dessert - Creme Brulee! Yummy! You can also find Sarah at her blog here.
Sarah is generously giving away the adorable Avril Bunny to one lucky reader. To enter, please leave a comment here telling me one word that you would use to describe Koo And Poppet, and also answer my question at the start of this post - how do you like to sleep (lots of pillows and fluffies, or none)? I will announce the winner on Sunday
(PS. Last call for Southern California Bloggers. If you are interested in attending the Blogger's Brunch January 3rd and haven't given me your email address yet, please leave it for me here).
Two words: High Tea.
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Now that my Birthday Giveaway Week is over, I want to tell you all about the lovely High Tea we had for my birthday.
Myself and five lovely friends (including one of my amazing dear friends who flew out from California) got all dressed up and went to the St. Regis Hotel for their High Tea Service. It was an entourage of flowers, tea, sugar, and yumminess.
The first course was a series of tea sandwiches, along with a choice of lovely teas. The sandwiches were almost too pretty to eat - but I have never let a pretty meal stop me in the past, so I went for it! The butler then brought us scones with jams, and clotted cream that had been flown in from England. He explained to us that most people get rather full after the sandwiches and scones, and barely have room for dessert. That sounded like a challenge to me.
Then it was time to tackle the desserts. There were cream puffs, key lime tarts, fruit tarts, pastries galore. I had definitely met my match. I only had room for one little pastry, because then he brought out a Birthday Cake. Too much! But soooo good! Luckily, he boxed up our leftover desserts. There was so much left that each of us left with 3 desserts each! It was a lovely way to celebrate my birthday!
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLOGGERS: I am putting the final details together for the Blogger's Get Together coming up on January 3rd. I have decided that it will be a brunch, so if you haven't given me your email address and want more details, please leave your email address for me here in the comments.
PS. Check out the fab giveaway over at Sepia Smiles!
I have been thinking a lot about how my time gets munched up lately.
Time slips by, and before I know it - the whole week has gone. It's gone, and I can never get it back.
A lot of people like to plan out the grandiose adventures they want to go on when they have more time, and how to make each hour something huge and monumental. And don't get me wrong when I say this (I do love big adventures) - but I love finding sublime moments in simplicity.
An example would be this weekend. Brian and I stayed in one night (which is by no means grand and glamorous) and watched Up for the first time. Brian got teary-eyed in the movie, which was such a lovely moment. He doesn't cry in movies often - the only other one was PS I Love You - because both these movies made him think about the fact that our lovely life together won't last forever - everything has a time limit. But Up showed that you don't need to go on gigantic adventures to be happy - everyday life has amazing, wonderful moments.
That is why I love the Etsy store One Late Night. Kyla's store takes everyday things and shows us how they can be sublime. She transforms the things we see or do every day and puts a whole new spin on them.
Look at this Tic Tac Sew Set. I used to love playing Tic Tac Toe growing up, and I love that Kyla has put this fun, sewing-theme spin on it. Isn't is adorable? I love it!
I especially love this Camera Plushie. Every day I use cameras to capture beautiful moments, and now Kyla has made the camera itself become a lovely object.
In addition to these lovely goodies, Kyla has lovely vintage finds, artwork, and other curiosities that you will just love. She is inspired by photography and music, and even the lyrics of particular songs get her cogs turning. Kyla also loves the colors Olive Green, Raspberry and Robins Egg Blue (isn't that a lovely combo?), and also dreams of having an Avocado Green and Eggplant Kitchen some day.
Kyla lives in Calgary, and has discovered a secret little cove of art there - the thrift stores, the art, even the graffiti inspires her! And like a true artist, Kyla loves pretty desserts - which hands down has to be the cupcake!
Kyla is a total sweetheart and is giving away an item to one lucky reader! To enter, please leave a comment here telling me if you'd rather win a Custom Camera Plushie, a Custom Tic Tac Sew Kit, or the Pack of Ten Postcards pictured in this post. Also let me know in your comment what is your favorite Simple Pleasure in life.
As you know last week I turned the dreaded 29.
I did a lot of fun and special things that week to celebrate (including having a week of Birthday giveaways for you guys!), but the first thing that kicked off my birthday week was the arrival of my custom arrangement from Flores Del Sol.
Isn't it absolutely magnificent?! Christina's lovely floral design store is the latest buzz all over Etsy. This professional Floral Designer is also a full time mum, and her arrangements include preserved flowers, moss, and other gorgeous nature-inspired pieces. I caught her store on the Gift Guides and Front Page and fell in love with her gorgeous designs. Everything she creates is so unique and whimsical, and after going through her perfect customer feedback, I knew I wanted something from Flores Del Sol to be part of my home.
Back in June I had blogged about a stunning print that I had gotten from Cathy Nichols Art. Since hanging up that print, I have rearranged my decor to fit within that color scheme, and thought that it would be lovely to commission the amazing Christina from Flores Del Sol to create something for me within that color scheme. And boy did she deliver!!!!! I couldn't imagine a more perfect floral arrangement, or a more perfect match to my Beach Day print. It was like she climbed into my head, took a photo of what I was hoping for, and made it ten times better. One of my best Etsy experiences ever! I can't talk highly enough of Christina, and I hope that you all pop in and visit her lovely store. You WILL NOT be disappointed!
Christina and Cathy both blogged about this lovely arrangement, so be sure to check out their lovely blogs here and here! (and psssttt.. Christina is having a giveaway on her blog - you could win one of her lovely designs. So go enter!)
Don't you agree that this was a lovely way to kick off my birthday week?
(PS. The winner of the D'Lischka Giveaway is Meghan, and the winner of the Cocoa Chu Chu Giveaway is Hilary Leister - congrats!)
When I was 8, I snuck around in my Dad's desk and found some old love letters he'd written to my Mum.
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I quietly called my younger sister over and read them to her, and we giggled over all the soppy, romantic words. Then I quietly folded them and tucked them away where I had found them, seemingly unruffled and untouched.
Perhaps about 16 years later, I was in a lovely little Antique shop and was browsing through a drawer of old photographs, when a love letter popped out from between them. It reminded me about the notes I had found when I was little, and reminded me that Love is something that never really changes. It also gave me a greater appreciation for Vintage things - because they are all pieces that have been loved by someone somewhere.
Much like the lovely Etsy store De Epoca. Genesis has a beautiful collection of pre-loved prettiness that not only would look lovely in any home, but evoke that warm, nostalgic feeling that reminds me of old friends and far off relatives. Genesis carries items from dinnerware to slide projectors, and each item is every bit as lovely as the next. She has great taste, and you will definitely find something for everyone in this darling little store.
Genesis, just like the sellers in my last giveaway post, appreciates handmade gifts - she loves the thought that someone had an idea and went to the time and effort to create something unique. To me, vintage treasures fall along similar lines. Each piece has had a story, has traveled to different places, and contributed to someone's happiness. Receiving a thoughtful vintage gift adds another name to the list of people who have loved the item, and makes the world a smaller community - not some big, vast unknown place. I love that idea so much!
Genesis is generously giving away a $25 gift certificate to her store to one lucky reader. To enter, please leave a comment here telling me what you'd buy from De Epoca with this gift certificate. I will announce the winner next Sunday.
(PS. My latest article at Meylah is up - it's a Product Tag tutorial. Stop by and leave some comment love!)
This post title is a bit of a mouthful, isn't it?
It's that time of year already - when we're on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift (except for you smarties who bought all your gifts earlier this year). I find great satisfaction in tracking down a gift that I know someone will love, and I love it even more when it's a gift that they don't see all the time in their local mall. That's why I love the idea of Etsy, and how each item is made with love from a person just like me across the web world. I love how when I buy something from Etsy, I am supporting a family, and not a gigantic corporation with executives that zip around on limousines to go to lunch. For those of you with Christmas gifts still to buy, I really encourage you to check out Etsy - there really something for everyone. Here's a little highlight of some of the great stores you can find in Etsyland.
Meet Nicole from Bird In Flight Boutique and Ting from Tinglow. Both of these talented ladies have gorgeous jewelry shops. Bird In Flight Boutique contains lovely vintage treasures that Nicole has transformed into gorgeous wearable art. Nicole also believes that a handmade gift is the most thoughtful gesture one could ever make, because it shows effort, time and energy - and this is obviously reflected in her stunning creations. Ting's store Tinglow is also a handmade haven of prettiness. Her store is full of pretty handmade adornments, and Ting follows the philosophy that her customers are like friends to her. She loves talking with her customers online, it makes the whole experience more meaningful to her.
These two artists really catch my breath. Heather Johnston (from her store of the same name) and Lindsay from Sugar And Fig are truly gifted women. Heather's store is a virtual art gallery of beautiful, poignant canvas prints - she captures flowers and food so creatively, each piece is so soft and delicate. When browsing her store, food and flowers are transformed into the prettiness of ruffles and lace. Heather's inventory are all images captured from the heart, and mimic her appreciation of giving from the heart. Likewise, Lindsay's Sugar And Fig store is a dreamland of lovely art printed on various textiles. From pillows to napkins, each design is so intricate and pretty - Linsday definitely has an eye for details. She also treasures the thought that when giving handmade gifts, she is raising awareness and inspiring others to support individual crafters.
The above Lovelies are from Sweet and Sassy Studio and Pelpa. Sweet and Sassy Studio is a brand new Etsy store owned by Chantelle. Chantelle makes each piece of jewelry in her store, and her spunky personality is mirrored in her work. I love all the color and the meaningful words she stamps into her pendants. They would make such a lovely gift for a dear friend. Chantelle loves treasured memories and items that connect her closer to those memories, and I think her jewelry mirrors that perfectly! Pelpa is a whimsical Etsy store owned by Flor. Her shop is filled with enchanting characters in the form of puppets and dolls, each with a personality of their own. Seeing these characters makes me think of the circus, or a fairytale, anything that takes me away from the mundane routines that clog everyday life. Flor likes that you can easily regcognize the "human trace" in handmade items, and observes that the act of giving is transformed into an act of communication when giving handmade. Like her dolls, handmade objects can speak to us.
Care to escape to a time when people were proper and polite, and left heartfelt sentiments for each other as part of everyday life? Look no further than Brookish and A New Perspective. The lovely Brooke is the face behind Brookish, and her love for Jane Austen and the 1800s is quite clear when perusing her goods. She sells a variety of prettiness from Bangles, to Stationery to Mugs, all featuring the romantic notions of a Jane Austen novel. Brooke's beautiful pieces are definitely display-worthy, and just how anyone receiving something from Brookish would treasure their gift, Brooke treasures a special ceramic man that her brother had made for her when she was eleven. The love and the care captured in that little ceramic man stays with her, even though sadly, her brother has since passed away with cancer. The other lovely store that takes us back to another time is A New Perspective. Kelsey McCracken is the artist behind this gorgeous store, showcasing her masterful illustrative talent in the form of lovely prints. Each print features lovely depictions of 1800's women, on a rich backdrop of vintage book text to complete the vintage theme. These would look so lovely framed by a desk or in a sitting room. Like Brooke, Kelsey also treasures a handmade gift she received as a young girl. One Christmas her father gave her a lovely white doll house that he had built with great care and detail. What a great surprise to wake up to on Christmas Morning!
Here are two Etsy Sellers that know how to make a girl feel pretty: Jody from JKiyomi and Natalie from Latish Angeline. Jody's jewelry has a sophisticated elegance to it, with beautiful stones, unique metalwork and dainty embellishments. Her love for creating also extends to her gift-purchasing preferences - she enjoys buying handmade because she wants to support people in their passions. People are the happiest when creating things that they love, and Jody enjoys being part of that. Natalie from Latish Angeline also enjoys buying handmade gifts - she loves the personalized, non-commercial statement that a handmade gift proclaims. Her store, Latish Angeline is the perfect example of handmade goodness, as each of her hair pieces are one-of-a-kind, so you know that if you purchase one of her amazing hair clips, no one else in the world will have the same one. I am in love with the romantic featherwork on each of her creations.
These two stores are blissfully beautiful: Awkward and Zarou. Awkward is a store full of wispy, soft hand-knitted beauty. Owner Bran knits scarves, gloves, even doilies in her wonderful Etsy corner, and her delicate style defies the clunky winter accessory heaviness, and replaces it with a romantic daintiness that you can't find in your everyday mall. Bran admires the craftsmanship of handmade gifts, and appreciates the care that individual artisans put into their work. While Awkward accessorizes you for winter, Zarou accessorizes your refrigerator. Sabine, the owner of Zarou, sells lovely, chic magnets that really are miniature artworks. Her magnets feature detailed illustrations that would make any drab refrigerator look beautiful in seconds. One of Sabine's favorite parts about handmade gifts is that in creating them, there is usually less wastage then in a big factory, and for the most part - handmade items can be more environmentally friendly. So remember that when buying handmade!
Take a peek into these stores if you are looking for something on the artistic side. While LouLou Loves Books and Maleficent are both very different from each other, they both sell art, but from opposite sides of the spectrum. In Louise's store LouLou Loves Books, you can find a beautiful selection of paper art - from books to prints to stationery. Her enchanting paperie will take you on a breathtaking journey through France, the sea, and even to inner space. Louise enjoys purchasing from Etsy because most of the sellers really like to make the recipient feel special. She notes that the packaging is often amazing because the seller is proud of their product, and puts a lot of thought and care into their store. Now let me introduce you to Bri from Maleficent. She calls herself the Beanie Baby Hunter, and sells amusing but cute mounted beanie baby heads, reminiscent of trophies or wall-mounted taxidermy. She even goes further to include a hilarious "scientific" name to each creature. Her shop cracks me up while tickling me with cuteness all at the same time - not an easy task! I would mention here Bri's thoughts on handmade items, but instead I will send you to her blog, which sums it all up quite nicely.
Here we have two different Etsy stores that sell lovely illustrations and designs: Three By Sea and Primoriginals. Nicole's store Three By Sea is like a wonderful Summertime Beach Postcard, with pretty stationery, towels and journals featuring sand dollars, and seashells, and other whimsical beach icons. Her clean design and soft color palette is so refreshing, and would make the perfect winter-time break! In addition to all this sea-life in her store, Nicole nurses her favorite gift ever received - an orchid plant that she received from her husband when they first began dating. Five years later, and it's still blooming strong! Primoriginals owner Liz also recalls her favorite gift from a loved one. Her mother gave her some lovely handmade soaps that Liz kept holding and smelling over and over - it actually inspired her to start making her own handmade soaps. While Primoriginals doesn't sell soaps, it does feature extraordinary illustrations by Liz on jewelry, postcards and dolls. Her whimsical world of characters are so charming and bright, you can't help but fall in love with each little piece.
Two shops that deserve to take a bow are Freshy Fig and Masselyn. Both of these stores captured my attention immediately with their beautiful details and fanciful charm. Freshy Fig is Amanda's store, bursting with unique jewelry that mixes vintage themes with contemporary flair. She incorporates vintage findings into her work whenever she can, each little item really does seem to tell a story. She prides in the fact that her products are made with love and aren't produced on a conveyor belt - she enjoys giving handmade gifts for this very reason. Tiffany from Masselyn also aknowledges the significance of a handmade gift. She loves working with her hands, and supports the handmade community because she sees the great value in bringing business back to home. Tiffany's darling jewelry and accessories are so pretty and delicate, they remind me of eating warm scones with cream on a bright Sunday morning.
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These two Etsy stores really speak for themself: XOXO Cupcake and My Savior Photography. I like these stores for completely different reasons. Cindy's store XOXO Cupcake is all about sugar. Just like the sweetness of a cupcake, her store is full or sweet pastel trinkets - from jewelry to headbands - when I am looking through her shop, I am like a little kid in a candy store all over again. Cindy also contributes to the etsy store Periwinkle on Bloor, which is a Toronto artists' collaboration. I just love seeing the creative community work together! And just like her store name, Cindy's favorite gifts to receive are those made from scratch - sweets! While Cindy's store takes me to a candyland, Sue from My Savior Photography's store reminds me that everyday life can be beautiful. All of her photography are slices of real life. No props or excess lighting - just all naked truth. In all her work Sue strives to remind us that God created this world and that there's lots of beauty in it if only we'd open our eyes.
Next up I would like to introduce you to Glitzer and Ruby Blackbird. I've had my eyes on these stores for a while now, and am excited to share them with you! Glitzer is owned by Charmaine, who is seriously dedicated to creating unique, high-quality jewelry. She incorporates unexpected materials in her work, and her designs are modern and cutting edge. Charmaine enjoys the exclusivity of a handmade gift, and that it's not something you see in every other store. Rachel from Ruby Blackbird's accessories have more of an old-world feel to them. She hand-embroiders brooches and pins, and I am blown away by the intricacy of each creation. Each pin seems like a treasured heirloom, definitely something to hand down to your grandchildren. Not only is her art heirloom quality, but her embroidery skills are also 'inherited'. Her favorite gift ever received was an embroidered patch made by her mother that she cherishes to this day.
Carola from Aylla and Amber from Bambu Earth both know that a woman likes to be pampered. Carola sells lovely pouches and bags in her store, perfect for a trip to the salon, or a fun shopping date with friends. She designs and stitches each bag with care, and savors the thought that her creations make others happy. And I know that a new bag can make any woman happy! Amber from Bambu Earth sells luxurious natural soaps, so after that shopping date with friends you can come home to some tub-time with soaps from Bambu Earth. Amber uses unique scent blends and natural ingredients that are great for youy skin, so not only is her soap indulgent - but it's healthy (i only wish we could say the same about chocolate!). Amber likes to buy handmade because she knows that the person making it is receiving a fair wage and that she can ask the seller directly exactly what ingredients and materials are being used, so she knows exactly what has been used to create her purchase.
If you are like me and love sewn gifts, you will LOVE Bumblebeet and Loddelina. Sister team Sarah and Brenda are the creatives behind Bumblebeet and have a truly gorgeous collection of aprons and purses and other sewn goodies. Their clean lines and pretty fabric selections work together so nicely, and I must say that their aprons are among the prettiest I have ever seen. These sisters like that when giving handmade they are reminded of a time we never knew - before machines and converyor belts were filling factories, and that it's a simple way to show that their thoughts were on the recipient. Loddelina owner Damjana has a delightful Etsy shop with beautiful textile home decor and pretty bags. Her creations suit my taste to a "t", with her soft color palettes and whimsical shapes. I absolutely adore all of her heart ornaments! Damjana's favorite gift received was from her mother - a retyped, printed and bound collection of notes that she'd written during Damjana's childhood, complete with stories and anecdotes from all stages of their lives. What a precious gift indeed!
Last, but not least, I would like to tell you about Stacey Winters and Shabby N Chic. Stacey Winters' store is absolutely beautiful. She carries all my favorite things - photography, pendants, cards, notebooks.... she is a multi-talented Etsian! Her nostalgic style captures my heart and reminds me of all the things that are important in life - my family, childhood memories, friends, simple joys. Visiting her store is like opening up a present - you'll gasp with joy, I know it! Stacey loves the journey behind giving a handmade gift. From it's beginning as a creative idea, right through to seeing that vision come to life. It's that personal experience that she treasures the most. Jody from Shabby N Chic also pulls at my heartstrings with her collection of upcycled home decor. I am reminded of the simple things in life when I browse through her pretty vintage finds and lovely crafting supplies. Her store is full of inspiration and delight.
So there you have it, folks. This sums up my Holiday Gift Guide. There are lots of great sellers here, so please stop by all of their shops and support our neighbors all over the world! And now for what you've all been waiting for.... THE GIVEAWAY!!!
ALL of these goodies are up for grabs! ALL of them! The prizes will be split between 3 winners, and I will be announcing the winners and prize groupings on Tuesday, January 6th. So you have a month to enter, and make sure to spread the word! To enter, leave a comment here telling me about one handmade gift that you are giving to someone this year. It doesn't need to be handmade by you, but handmade by someone, not a big company.
Yay for giving Handmade!
Thank you so much for all your sweet birthday comments. 29 is seeming a little more acceptable now :)
I had a WONDERFUL day, and have been celebrating since Sunday. This birthday has really been full of my favorite things, and it just reminded me how much God has blessed my life.
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I am going to fill you in on more details about my birthday fun later, but right now I wanted to let you know that since it's my birthday week, I thought it would be fun if I could have a week of giveaways - so in addition to yesterday, there is a giveaway today, and another one tomorrow. And today's giveaway is from a truly lovely store called Cocoa Chu Chu.
Fai owns her own little corner of what seems like Alice's Wonderland. Her store is like a magical little getaway to another time and place. The perfect place to celebrate birthdays and tea parties. Cocoa Chu Chu is the home of fanciful jewelry and marvelous trinkets, shiny baubles and lovely adornments. I could browse her store for hours!
Fai's jewelry is inspired by a myriad of things, like flowers, pretty frills, ruffles, vintage toys, photography and lovely Europe. Pastel shades are her colors of choice, especially when represented in purple, peach a blue. And there is no shortage of inspiration in her city of Toronto. She loves that it has real seasons, with noticeable changes - so she gets a new shot of inspiration every three months just by looking out her window.
Since this is my birthday week, I asked Fai what is her favorite Birthday Present she has ever received. She told me that her sister who is an illustrator gave her a handmade card. Fai loved that it was one-of-a-kind, and that so much thought, time and effort had gone into it. Fai definitley appreciates details and things of the heart - much like her jewelry.
Fai is giving one lucky reader their choice of these three necklaces from her store: 1, 2 or 3. To enter, please leave a comment letting me know which you would prefer to receive if you won, and also let me know what do you appreciate in a gift received. I will announce the winner on Sunday.
