A Small Contribution

I received my contributors copy of the winter Somerset Life issue. It's so very kind of them to send me one, saves me a mad dash trip to Barnes & Noble. This issue is packed full of inspiring ideas to embellish your everyday life and there are so many amazing and talented contributors. I love the paper they use for this magazine, it has such a nice weight and heft which sets it apart from other magazines. It's more like a quarterly book than a magazine, trust me...you'll love it!

  Here's a peek at the article that features one of my designs. I created a photo album on my sidebar if you'd like to get more information on how I made the gift box for the hostess soap.

Here's a few of my other ideas on wrapping gift soaps in a creative way that aren't in the issue. This is a perfect little gift for a garden loving friend. I just can't wait for Spring!

Just sew a small burlap bag with coordinating thread and fray the edges to create a rustic ruffle. I attached a very tiny vintage perfume bottle with a small broken bit of rhinestone jewelry and then filled the miniature vase with roses, lavender and a spring of ivy. The vase is attached with waxed twine and a small piece of crochet lace.

An even simpler idea is for kitchen soap. I used an antique ironstone plate and nestled the soap in excelsior, then tied it with several pieces of vintage lace ribbon and a few demitasse spoons. The finishing touch is a mother of pearl button in place of a bow.

Hope you remember these small hostess gifts when the snow has thawed and the Earth starts to warm, giving us one of our most beautiful seasons...Spring. I think it might be time to start thinking of a garden party myself or better yet, be invited to one!