Today I took photos of some of the pretty little gifts I brought home from Alt Summit. Would you like to see?
This is leather notebook from Susan of Freshly Picked. Sometimes the simplest things are the most gorgeous. This notebook is made of cut leather (not hemmed), and a small stack a paper, with one line of stitching up the spine. Just beautiful. I’m saving it to give Ralph for a travel journal.
This is a handsome iPhone case made by Byrd & Belle. At one of the lunches, Cargoh had special gifts waiting at everybody’s seats. All sorts of gifts! It was fun to open up the boxes and see what each person at the table received. Confession: I am one of those people who prefer no case on my phone. So I brought this home for Olive who was in need of an iPod case.
This is desk calendar designed by Melanie of Fifth & Hazel. Charming as all get out! I gave this to Mimi. It looks perfect on her little desk.
This was a gift from Stephanie Smirnov — who wasn’t even at the conference! She knew the hotel I staying at, and thoughtfully had this delivered to me there. It’s a vintage book about entertaining by Dorothy Draper. So cool! (I am especially digging the polka-dot end papers). Stephanie included a note that explained her new year resolution is to give gifts just because. And I am one of her lucky recipients — yay for resolutions!
Tell me, Friends. Have you received any gifts lately that made you smile? Are you like Stephanie — do you give gifts just because?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I love little gifts and I love to give them….great ideas here. Thanks for sharing your treasures…..the best gifts are the unexpected.
Happy Day
Love Dorothy Draper. Have you visited the Greenbrier? I’ve stayed, but last time we just walked around. They very generously allow total access and photos.
Dug around a bit to find a blogger who’d posted recent photos. If you don’t publish URL’s, google “elements of style preppy interiors through the years.” or, the URL is:
http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2010/08/preppy-interiors-through-the-years.html
All the best…
Enjoy.
ooh…i love to give little gifts. i try to remember all of my friends b-days and get them a little something. it is so fun to wrap them up and even sometimes drop them off.
What an adorable resolution! The world could use a little more giving ;)
I have that Entertaining is Fun! book too. I really enjoyed reading it. A lot of it is still so relevant, except maybe the suggestion to always have a lot of ashtrays around for a party!
these are all such sweet gifts.
what gift recently made me smile? well, my husband bought me a dress! a NICE dress too. it was so chivalrous and totally made me blush.
Little gifts are wonderful. Our beloved golden retriever passed away recently and in the midst of our grief, our vet (who knows us well) asked if we’d be willing to take in a black lab who’d been abandoned. Long story short, we did and she’s been amazing.
The sweetest thing, though, has been the little gifts that have found their way to Leila. A rawhide bone tied up with a pink ribbon from a friend, a scarf finger-knit especially for her from a little boy in Lily’s first-grade classroom. I love how these gifts hold so much meaning and heart, and it makes me want to be better about the little things!
I love giving little gifts. I pick up something small for my husband at least once a month! And I try to do little gifts for everyone else too, but sometimes my husband complains that I give too many things away. ;)
Thanks Gabrielle for the lovely write up on Byrd and Belle and Cargoh. We hope that Olive is rocking out in style :)
I’m a big gift giver. I actually have a closet full of gifts ready to be given.
I’m also big on baking something, wrapping it up prettily and hanging it on friend’s doorknobs or putting it in their mailboxes. They always love receiving a little surprise gift.
Little gifts just because? Yes, most definitely and absolutely! In fact, I’m much more likely to buy a gift for someone else than I am to buy something for myself. Oh, unless I’m at a book store or a stationary store. In which case, I’ll probably buy one for you and two for me. Because that’s just the way these things are supposed to work, right? Right.
I love to send random presents to pen pals too. There’s just something about preparing and shipping a pretty package that is a real joy. And imagining the fun on the other end just makes it even better! :)
My son’s going for two years to Brazil!
Unexpected gifts are the best. Their little surprises that brighten the day and make you feel loved and appreciated. This discussion reminds me of that quote from Finding Forester where William Forrester (Sean Connery) tells Jamal Wallace “The key to a woman’s heart is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time.”
You will love Decorating is Fun! It’s a hoot–dated in places but shockingly modern in others. Try to check out the companion, Entertaining is Fun!, too. Hysterical. (They’ve reissued them recently.)
Oops, switched the titles on the Draper books. Ahem.