Fanciful Fleur-ish~~~Giveaway

*white*
*elegance*

*paper art*
*magical*

*French-inspired*
Noel Solomon's art embraces by these fanciful characteristics.

For over two years, I have followed Noel's beautiful artistic journey. From paper flowers to paper-covered albums to recreated European-inspired church wings, Noel's creations
are consistantly the epitome of fine elegance. Even Dior's artistic director was impressed by her work as she was commissioned to send paper fleur samples to them in 2010!

_{The paper magnolia~one of my favorites}

To celebrate the grand opening of her new online shop {FancifulShop.com}, Noel is offering a giveaway on her blog for a $75.00 gift certificate.

_{customized petit éléphant art-I can just imagine Amelia's sweet little name embroidered below}

Noel's pristine online store offers fanciful paper rose adornments and bouquets for weddings, sweet gifts for children, and fine paper extras including photo albums and paper rose napkin rings .
To enter here giveaway and to congratulate here on her new online shop, simply visit here and leave a comment.
Noel, your online shop and art is absolutely exquisite. I think your mom says describes it best:

"Your shop floats...{with} a delicate essence... Your art has soul."

We are so proud of you!

_{all images via Fanciful}

_{BLOGGER ISSUES-If you are one of the many having problems leaving comments on blogs, here's a little tip Fiona & Twig shared: On the Blogger home page under the login boxes, uncheck the box that says "Stay logged in." So far, this has worked for me}

An Insight to à la parisienne's Wishful Thinking

Take a little peek inside my heart by visiting Melissa's blog, Reverie, where I participated as a guest blogger for her Wishful Thinking series. Click here to read my article.

Thank you, Mel, for this exploratory theme and delightful opportunity. We all need to stop and take time to gather our wishes and desires, write them down, share them, and commit to making them happen!

_{images by à la parisienne}

Parisienne Petal Winner....

This giveaway has been an absolute pleasure to host. I want to thank all of you-old and new friends-for your encouraging words and for visting my Etsy shop. Many of you shared with me your favorite brooch and listening to your favorites is so very helpful.

After assigning each of the participants a number (some participants were assigned multiple numbers), I used a random number picker (much quicker than writing, cutting, and placing names in a hat) to randomly select a number. After the number was selected, I looked on my sheet of paper to find the corresponding participant and the winner of one of my hand-made brooches is....

Stephanie at Bonjour Madame!

Stephanie, a long-time blog friend of mine, has been such a loyal friend to me and to many of you as well. The image above came from her lovely blog. Be sure to pay her a visit!

I hope you all have a great Monday!

A la prochaine!

_{image -Country Living via Bonjourmadamestephanie.blogspot.com}

A Gift Wrapped Life-Enter the World of Beautiful Gift Giving

Sande works her magic on a Hermes box by adorning it with tangerine and expresso brown ribbons

It's true-the world has become smaller thanks to the blogosphere. How else would I have possibly ever met Sande at A Gift Wrapped Life? How else would I have been able to become an apprentice of her trade? How else would such a talented decorator and business owner from another country ever find a connection with me, a former high school teacher?

Yes, blogging has opened the door to many friendships that otherwise would have never been created or even conceived.

Although Sande and I have never met in person, I call her a friend.

We keep up with each other through our blogs and email-She asks about Amelia;

I ask her about her website. We share each other's images on our posts. We even post over similar things without even realizing it from time to time.

Sande, I wish you all of the best in your newest business venture!

A Gift Wrapped Life rejuvenates two Kate Spade boxes

In a matter of days, Sande will be launching a new line of goodies- Gift wrap!!!

This new line of merchandise in her online boutique will be notably called the

Wrap Room.

For all of you paper collectors, ribbon lovers, and gift wrap amateurs,

Sande's new Wrap Room is sure to make you giddy!

Here are some of my favorite papers that she will be offering:

By following Sande's gift wrap tips and by using some of her top of the line gift wrap accessories, perhaps we too can give our loved ones some of the most beautifully packaged gifts as those pictured below.

I just love the simplicity and classic style of these two gifts. These are two samples of gift wrap for the special men in our lives.

Gray, pink, and white....
I would decorate a room by this box...or even use this box as a decoration...Seriously.



What a romantic package- Aqua and champagne ribbon topped with cream paper roses.
So perfectly beautiful.




Sande is doing a marvelous giveaway as the launching of her new website approaches.
Click here to enter!



If you have never visited A Gift Wrapped Life, then you must take the first flight there!

Je rêve en francais: French Blue is a Dream

"Je rêve en français" That's what the tiny red and white label said on the package that was nestled at my front door yesterday. What started as a "Guess the Goddess" riddle hosted by Janet at French Blue, ended in a stay at home mom's day filled with excitement and joy.

Here's a peek at the prize- The Chanel ribbon was a great foretelling of the lovely gift Janet sent!

Of course, I had to document the entire process of opening up this package by taking pictures. I knew that this gift would be special because the two lovely ladies, Janet and daughter, Noel, put this gift together are extrordinarly talented and creative women.

Leave it up to Janet to protect this lovely gift with pale pink packing peanuts- such a sweet touch!

And the perfect topper for this surprise- a handmade WHITE paper rose by Noel at Fanciful Designs.

The lovely Janet sent a bottle of Chanel fingernail polish in the color of Ballerina! If you go back to her post for the riddle, you can see that she thought of every last detail: the ballet slippers and the tutus! She really planned this give away well! And of course, she sent the sweetest little card with the most precious image of ballet dancers!

Look at this STUNNING handmade paper flower by Noel! I think that she could create some of the most beautiful, feminine displays for Chanel Inc. Hmmm...Does anyone out there know someone who knows someone that can get these two together???

Thank you, Janet and Noel, for such a lovely gift and for your friendship. I have enjoyed blogging so much because it connects me with some of the most thoughtful and creative women like you!

Last call for my GIVE AWAY!If you are interested in making your blog more Beautiful, I am doing a give away for 5 free custom-made side bar labels including installation! Please go to this post for entry details. Deadline to enter is Thursday, May 28th (PM). The winner will be announced Friday!

A la prochaine!