Warm Weather Favorites

Finally the sun has started to return and the temperatures feel downright summery! After such a dark, wet and chilly winter and spring, an early summer is extremely welcome. Some random favorites at the moment: A fedora hat, Isuga scarf and a waxed cotton Trina Turk bag.



For a couple years now Spa Ritual vegan polishes have been some of my favorite thanks to how easy they are to get off and change. Treasure, Revere and Delight are the perfect spring / summer colors to give. Striped clutch by IMochion.



Polka dot skirt and Derek Lam cat eye sunglasses (the Ray Ban's are jealous and pouting right now).



Steeping fresh honeysuckle tea and Elizabeth Arden Green Tea perfume. One of the few perfumes from the 90's that gets consistently reached for once the mercury rises and, is seemingly, really underrated as well.

Recently a new Lavender version was released giving the Green Tea a very soapy, squeaky clean scent but the original remains my favorite. Green, lightly minty, a little hint of lemon this reminds me of southern sweet tea mixed with my Belgium mint. Lingering underneath is this pervasive warmth that is somewhere between brown sugar and raisins. This is most likely the Caraway seed. The notes are actually rather unique (Caraway with the celery, fennel, peppermint, rhubarb and oak moss) and typically masculine yet the scent is so delicate and cool.

Image: mam for Gave That

Cross with Me

Some of my most treasured gifts have been pens (see a bit of evidence here). Probably because of all the books filled with scribbles that I've amassed, people feel it would be used and loved, which they have been very right to assume. With this in mind, I knew it would be especially rewarding to be able to test out one of Cross' new pens from their Edge collection, in of all things, Octane Green. You can see the results above. Another surprise was the way it telescopes upwards to open and the brown box with the little slide out drawer.

Not certain for how long, but surely in time for graduation and father's day, use the code "SHOPCROSS" for 20% off your order at their website along with free shipping. You might want to give their Gift Finder a whirl as well while you're there.

Edge Collection pen courtesy of Cross via BzzAgent #imabzzagent, thank you guys!

Image: mam for Gave That

Pearls of Wisdom

During graduation pearls come to mind. They were once the traditional gift presented to young ladies leaving collage and later, to brides on their big day. Outside of New England, who knows how much of this still goes on (it's alive and well here!) but these are a few treasured images collected over the years.

Cobbled pearls create a delicate set of lapels by Ranjana Khan.


Martin Berstein weaves tangled chains and south sea pearls together into webs.


Found jewelry intermingling in a Subversive piece by Justin Giunta.


Image: BHLDN | Martin Bernstein | Subversive

Talking Posey

Looking through antique pictures, especially of recent grads, I kept noticing petite bundles of flowers proudly displayed with other gifts such as huge encyclopedia sets. I'm pretty sure these little bouquets were Nosegay's or Talking Posy's (also known as a tussie-mussie). I've always been intrigued by these. Poking around outside I managed to find a few flowers here and there and since Posy's talk through the secret language of flowers, I had to look up what mine said. I have a feeling it should have been done the other way around but... you know, this is me doing this.

The first one has Star of Bethlehem, Periwinkle and ferns. The meanings would convey purity and a wish for reconciliation, sweet memories and sincerity. The other is pink roses and ferns which has the meaning of joy, appreciation and sincerity. They all smell deliciously sweet too!

Corsages persist in our era but it would be lovely to see these return as little heartfelt gifts as well.

Image: mam for Gave That

Keep The Faith

Necklace: Disney Couture

Image: mam for Gave That

Books as Clutch Purses

This was pilfered borrowed from a huge Nancy Drew devote and collector... a reproduction of a Nancy Drew book turned into a clutch bag. Originally it was a genius gift set that came with the bag and two books tucked inside (The Secret of the Old Clock and The Hidden Staircase). Sadly it looks as if it has been discontinued by Grosset & Dunlap and this is a real shame because it was such a sweet way to get your hands on one of these highly coveted sort of purses.

Still it gives lots of inspiration and a peek into how it's done which could mean a little DIY, if only I could find a suitable tome with the right cover art.

Image: mam for Gave That

Six Sake Candles

Burning through a favorite candle usually causes a tinge of sadness but I've recently found an antidote to all that. Behold, Market Street's set of six that, once burned, have a 2nd life as Sake cups. When I first saw them last year I immediately fantasized of miniature versions of Toshiko Takaezu's raku pots cut in half. My fantasy was not too far off! Each has a different glazed finish and smell very lightly of clean white tea and ginger.


Image: mam for Gave That | Market Street Candles

Handkerchiefs & Flowers

A simple white handkerchief and a few dried flowers to wrap a gift. For how to do this see my previous furoshiki post here or watch the below video:



For more DIY gift wrap looks see my gift wrap inspiration area of the blog here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Calypso St. Barth

These votive holders by Calypso St. Barth's capsule collection are mesmerizing (had to nab some!)... and give such an aura of Moroccan tea glasses for a fraction of the price. These road all the way home on a bike so they're decently sturdy too.

Image: mam for Gave That

Project Isuga

Discovering new ways to give twice with gifts is something that remains a deep passion which is why I was absolutely thrilled to hear from Project Isuga, an initiative to support, educate, and bring happiness to children in South Africa whose parents have died from AIDS. This is brought about through Isuga's beautiful handmade organic cotton scarves.

I was fortunate enough to receive one in Ballito blue (thank you Sean!) and it's hard to capture through pictures how gorgeous it is in person, light, airy, a staple for spring and summer. Ballito is named after the beach town north of Durban and that's exactly what this scarf reminds me of, beachy surf and cool waves! These scarves come in numerous hues and I'm sure you'll find the perfect one to give.

Image: mam for Gave That

Sea Shells & Waves

Collected sea shells and wavy strips of colored paper.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Fascinator

Whenever fascinator hats are mentioned my mind immediately thinks about Philip Treacy and the late Isabella Blow. Stephen Jones too. Granted there is little I can do to compare to those geniuses (not having a millinery probably also puts me at a slight disadvantage) but it seems like something inspired can always be done and boy what inspiration fasinators can provide! Actually, buying one or two real ones and attaching them to a very special gift would without a doubt be absolutely stunning.

Along with Tracy and Blow fasinators always seem to conjure a combination of netted veils, flowers and feathers. Lot's and lot's of feathers. Here, what was the most assessable, were loops of wired ribbon which could be manipulated skyward. Then fluffy flowers and vintage jewelry. Using a miniature black hat box replicated the typical black circle (beanie) that forms the base of many fasinators. Some veiled versions will be coming up next!

Used: Vintage jewelry, feathers, wired Arabesque ribbons & large flower pin by H&M.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Baggu x No. 6

I've been eyeing Jil Sander's market tote, which is sold out everywhere, but then I saw this collaboration between Baggu and NYC's No. 6. The shape is so similar but the color on the Baggu's is insane. I've been slipping them into everything, pockets, handbags, other totes as they fold into perfect little pillows when not in use. Slip one under mums pillow!

Image: Magda & mam for Gave That