Neha Leela

Talk about a calling card.

Courtesy of  the fabulous folk at Mr. Boddington’s Studio .

Its commonplace to offer a small token of gratitude when invited to someone’s home.  Historically around the holidays, as these occasions become even more frequent, I’ll keep on hand an assortment of sweetly packaged tealight candles, wine or chocolates with a stack of Snow & Graham cards to personalize with a note of thanks.  Everytime these small gifts exchange hands, I ponder if they will find themselves in the depths of cabinets or drawers.   Though there’s no real science behind hostess gifting, I’d confidently claim that 80% of it is packaging and less thought is attributed to function or use.  Ultimately, as long as its swathed in tissue and tied with a bow, these items are warmly appreciated as a customary show of etiquette.

When these gifts are supposed to be an expression of our personal thanks, I feel compelled from now on to offer something that is distinct and unique enough to avoid getting lost.  Here are a few that can be put to use immediately and are pretty enough that they won’t be tucked away anytime soon.

Though some may be spectical of gifting spirits, the attractive labels and festive name for LoveJoy vodka make this social and socially appropriate.

For any lively party, there will be multiple bottles of wines opened.  Though there might be winestoppers on hand, none will be as striking as these vintage pieces from Knobstoppers.

And though chocolates are overdone, these advent calendars stocked with sweet treats from Hotel Chocolat (which I posted about in October) will keep your gift top of mind for at least, 24 days.

The art of handwritten correspondence is one I will hold onto for as long as I can. I could take this high virtuous standing or admit that this most likely stems from a need to defend excessive stationary purchases.

Though I have no dearth for notecards between home and work, I fell for these tiny motif letterpress folded cards over the weekend. I got a box of mixed messages, with different motifs for getwells, thanks yous, I forgots, birthdays and blanks. Each with a different clean image against the cream colored stock: a simple symbol for expression. And after looking them up, extra excitement ensued because each design from B Designs is letterpress printed on recycled stock, locally in a studio in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Visiting their site, I learned a little bit about the design duo behind these (Karen & James) and the art of letterpress (which I’m compelled to take a class or two in) and their new online store proved to be not surprisingly addictive.

Hope your week is also starting on a sweet note!

I admittedly wrestled with what to put as that first bold statement that is undeniably supposed to set some sort of a precedent as to how mindless these musings will be, serve as an indicator as to who I am or provide hopefully a reason to come back and visit.  So after fervent self-debate over sharing fuzzy photos of the very tasty (am I allowed to say that?) pasta with brown butter & sage that I made for myself or swatches of the osborne & little wallpaper that Ive chosen for my foyer and am absolutely giddy over – I looked up.

Tucked in my desk, both at work and at home, are my words to live by – courtesy of the lady that makes me wish I’d lived in a different era to know: elsie de wolfe. 

“Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you.”  Yes.  Its that simple.