I was thinking a lot lately about my love of home décor, shoes and fashion and how

that also mirrors in my gift presentations.

This year, animal print is back and all the rage. Add a splash of animal print

(or polka dot or wild colour) to your gifts to add that extra wow!

Nine West	Pier 1 Imports	Mango	Peir 1 Imports

There are so many ways to dress up a gift with a splash of colour or print. Use tissue paper, bows, ornaments, gift wrap, seals, feathers…be creative! Below is an example of making a plain object have that bit of detail by simply adding an animal print scarf as part of the gift while acting as the “tissue” and print detail!

My Top 11 for the Holidays 2011

It’s very hard to come up with a Top 11 when there are so many amazing gift ideas!!  The perfect gift is all about adding thought and personal touches.

• Duvet slippers will always be on my list! They are warm and cozy and perfect to hug your feet after a long day at the office (or shopping!).
• Owls, owls, owls….they are everywhere! The latest trend in design, you can find them on stationary to sculptures to jewellery!
• Initials – everyone since childhood loves to have items personalized. Anthropologie has updated their initial mugs.  They are amazing and colourful and a great addition to many gifts!  For children, Pottery Barn has some great personalized items.  My favourite are the personalized jewellery boxes.
• I absolutely love the One of a Kind Show and finding unique and incredible, thoughtful gifts!  One of my favourite artisans is Kul Werks Candle Art.  These reusable candle bases are gorgeously hand-crafted with beautiful stained glass like designs.  Each year there are some new designs for many people on your list!
• My other favourite artisan at the One of a Kind Show is Hilborn Pottery.  Pottery is so unique and a special gift. Hilborn has beautiful curved designs and stunning workmanship.
• Twisted Sister Pretzels – last year I received a box as a thank you gift. Not being a fan of pretzels, I didn’t think much of it until I tasted one! WOW! They are so good…blanketed in chocolate and caramel (many flavour options)..the perfect mix of salt and sweet and soooooo yummy!! A perfect hostess gift.
• Books books books…. Books are always perfect gifts.  If you take the time to find out what the recipient really likes, there are some incredible finds!  Coffee table books are great and the subjects are limitless.
• It has been said that this winter may be a very cold one.  GAP (and many other shops) have some great infinity scarves.  These are great gifts as they come in many colours and designs and great for the season.
• Stationary… in this world of texting and email, there is something extra special about receiving a hand written note.  There are some gorgeous stationary lines out now (Vera Wang).  Again, you can get personalized or in a design that means something to the recipient.
• My daughter received some great “do-it -yourself” gifts this year. www.alextoys.com... This line is fun for kids.  They have products like “make your own bag / sew, stitch & know”…many creative, useful crafts for all ages.
• David’s Tea…. I  had seen David’s but really discovered their products when I went to an event they held this year.  I loved how they compared tea to wine and showed a more complex learning to the flavours and experiences.  The teas are made at different temperatures and the menu has flavours for everyone.  I love the assorted tea boxes for a great gift (like a chocolate box with a map!)

Restoration Hardware	Chapters	Anthropologie	Pottery Barn Kids
Hilborn Pottery	Twisted Sisters Pretzels	Chapters Indigo	Gap (Infinity Scarf)
Alex Toys- Crafts	David's Tea	Kul Werks	Vera Wang Stationary