Wrap It Up!

So like I said before the way you wrap a gift is CRUCIAL! It is a physical representation of yourself. It can be simple to elaborate but however you complete the wrapping part it MUST be well crafted and must be clean.

 

Some helpful tips for wrapping the best gift ever!

1. If you have an awkward shaped gift such as a pair of headphones in those annoying plastic packages. You have one really really skinny side and a really really fat side. PUT IT IN A BOX! You can go to The Container Store and buy, for relatively cheap, a great box. Make sure that it's the right size too.

2. Don't over do it on the wrapping paper. If you use too much then you use too much tape which makes the gift look messy and rushed. Cut just enough wrapping paper to cover the gift. 

3. Don't use too much tape. When you first stretch that bit of paper over just ONE piece of tape will do. 

4. Work on a hard surface. Don't wrap on the bed or carpet. It just doesn't work.

5. Use quality wrapping paper. Cheap wrapping paper tears easier and makes it harder to make clean lines. The Paper Source (one of my absolute favorite store) has gorgeous paper as well as, sometimes Target has good stuff but be careful their paper is kinda thin and flimsy, Martha Stewart! (one of my idols),  The Container Store.

6. Make sure that the cut edges of the wrapping paper is straight. You can line up the box with the edge. Once you have cut the paper fold over the edge so that you have clean lines. Do this with all the edges.

7. Elaborate with some gorgeous ribbon, raffia, or interesting fabric or lace. If you don't want to use ribbon, it better be some damn good looking wrapping paper with a hugely bold pint. Be creative when choosing ribbon. Having a stash of assorted colors and sizes of ribbon, especially the staple, grosgrain ribbon is an absolute essential. For god sakes...don't use cheapo christmas ribbon! (The kind you can curl unless you have taken that ribbon to a whole new level)

This is a serious NO NO! (unless stated above)

 8. Your gift tag is just as important as the ribbon and paper you use. This should match the entirety of the gift and not overwhelm the gift. Again, I love these tags from Paper Source!

I will post a video on How to Wrap the Perfect Gift very soon. This should be a good one.

A Very Merry Un-birthday to You!!!!!

This week is everything about gifts!!!!

A gift you give is a direct reflection of yourself. If you give a tacky gift or give everyone for every occasion (especially women) a basket full of bath/spa stuff that's been pre-shrink wrapped it's not creative. It shows that you have no thought for the person and it's very uninventive. You don't have to go totally elaborate and you don't just have to give a gift on birthdays and during the holiday season. It can be small and meaningful.

DON'T GIVE THIS GIFT UNLESS THE RECIPIENT SAYS "HEY I SAW THIS SPA GIFT BASKET AT WALMART (or wherever) AND I REALLY WANT IT!"

THIS IS UNORIGINAL!!!!!! I FORBID IT!!!!!

There are many reasons to give a gift: 

Here are my top 10 reasons! ( I might think of more later)

1. Birthday (of course)

2. Anniversary (no brainer and this doesn't have to be yours...maybe your parents, best friend, co-worker, marriage, so many years with a company...)

3. Thank you (for something nice someone did for you, helping you move, dinner, doing a great job...this can be for virtually anyone)

4. Hostess gift (bring a great bottle of wine, truffles, dessert such as a pie, fresh cut flowers, home grown vegetables or fruit)

5. Promotion (a bottle of liquor, flowers, a well written note...more to come on that)

6. Thinking of you/ appreciation (my personal favorite...this can anything and or anyone)

7. Good Luck ( this is a little tricky and it depends on why you're saying "good luck")

8. Going away (a funny picture of yourself :-) hee hee,  a city/state/country guide, a disposable camera)

9. Graduation (something inspiring like a book...not a 'survival guide on how to avoid your naked roommate' book, unless they really truly do need a book like that)

10. I'm sorry (if you must give an "I'm sorry" gift...it better be pretty damn good!)

Think of the person you're giving the gift to:

The obvious question....What is the recipient's likes and interests? You wouldn't give a die hard Steelers fan a Cowboys jersey. Think about the person. Are they going on vacation soon? You can NEVER GO WRONG WITH A BOOK!!!!!! or fresh cut flowers from the farmer's market. Get them a city guide and map to wherever they are going. The gift is much more appreciated when you put thought into it. The person can tell.

Next post...How to write the perfect handwritten note to go with your well thought out gift.

Anyone can make art....kids too.

For three weeks now I have been teaching art, with a group of other Art Ed majors, to kids who are a part of Path Ventures. It's been quite an experience. There were times where I wanted to rip my hair out by the roots and other times where I truly enjoyed myself and the company of kids from a whole other culture. 

They were great kids to work with and I definitely learned a lot from this. These pictures are from the final event that we put together for the community. We made a garden for the families to appreciate and keep for at least a few weeks but the kids wanted to take their flags home and stepping stones. It looked fantastic for about 30 minutes....oh well. 

It felt really good to make sure that these kids were introduced to art and see how art can affect their lives. Most of these kids have no idea what good art is and what they are truly capable of. It was a powerful experience for me and I hope that it was for the students as well.

The FABULOUS group of ladies I taught with. I think we did pretty damn good for I first real experience of teaching. Taken on our first day of class.... we had NO IDEA what we were in for. 

Me, teaching.

Some of work that the kids completed. 

Circle Painting.

One of our students diligently working on his pillow case of dreams...he's thankful for pizza

Murals painted by the kids. Each group of 3-5 students chose a theme such as Freedom from gun violence, basic human rights such as eating healthy, shelter, education, and transportation.

Part of our Garden. The kids made flags that represent themselves through symbols and they also made stepping stones to build better self esteem.

Teachers at the Dedication of the garden.

Gettin' Good

So my sister, Michelle, found this awesome top at Anthropolgie, which you can see here. We decided to try and recreate this with a grey, stretchy, knit fabric from JoAnn's. It's super simple to make. Everything is very geometric which makes pattern making easy and non-stressful. So, here it is. It's still in progress...I have to serger the edges. Then....PRESTO!

She's pretty goofy.

---BCD

I Bleed Sequins!

 I said that I would post some of my own art work so, here it is! 

A very neutral interpretation of an abalone shell.

My colorful interpretation of an abalone shell. Like I said before this does not even compare to the brilliant work of Amy Gross. Her art is spectacular!

---BCD

Amy Gross

So, I recently found this artist, Amy Gross. Her work is absolutely beautiful. Much more beautiful than anything that I have ever done.  I discovered her work in the current issue of Fiber Arts Magazine.

 

I really love the idea of a micro/macro set up. A lot of my personal artwork has to do with the concept of finer detail such a stitching, beading, and paper foldings that make up something that is much larger in scale. The concept of micro/macro...is it large scale? Small scale? I love fine fine detail that makes up something much larger. I find it quite fascinating.

I did two pieces of artwork that looks similar to hers. I took an abalone shell and interpreted it in my own creative way.

I also have a few pieces that have a similar theme where there are hundreds of smaller individual pieces that make up a larger whole. 

I'll post those later. Maybe at the end of the week.

Happy Hump Day

---BCD

Pretty Kitty

She's my baby, Atwood.

I named after the costume designer, Colleen Atwood. Her work is absolutely beautiful and amazing.

 Everything she designs is gorgeous!

"Costumes are the first impression that you have of the character before they open their mouth-it really does establish who they are."

--Colleen Atwood

Nominated: Best Costume Design, Little Women, 1994

(one of my all time favorites...$5 buck-a-roos on DVD at Target)

Nominated: Best Costume Design, Beloved (1998)...eh

Nominated: Best Costume Design, Sleepy Hollow (1999)

(again...a favorite. FABULOUS costumes. As far as fashion and costume designing goes this is genius!)

Won: Best Costume Design, Chicago (2002)

Nominated: Best Costume Design, Lemony Snicket's A Series of

 Unfortunate Events (2004)

(I LOVE THESE COSTUMES! enough said...)

Won: Best Costume Design, Memoirs of a Geisha (2006)

Nominated: Best Costume Design, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

.... just to name a few.

---BCD