"Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve.” French proverb

When I was a child, I dreamed my arms and hands were cut off in 4 pieces and served on a platter to Henry VIII - hands and arms are such potent symbols and portents I wondered, does this mean I cannot grab for the things I want? That I cannot use my hands to write? That I cannot touch? Like childhood dreams of being eaten by bears, this has not happened, and so I celebrate the arm and the finger as pieces worthy of the finest adornment...such as these below.

Study of Arms and Hands by DaVinci.
Pisces bracelet from Vivre; Rough diamond rings by Kate Zabone; Rose Princess ring by Sea Babe Jewelry; Bird ring by Beyond the Rocks; Sealing wax rings by One Garnet Girl; Flower bracelet by Janet Deleuse; Petal and python ring by Kara Ross; Nest bracelet, Hummingbird ring by Moss Mills; Mourning ring from Erie Basin; Wrist cuff and Wrist cuff by Water Rose; Branch bracelet by Studio Rona; Pearl and leather bracelet by Nicholas Landon; Resin cuff by Sisicata; Stitches bracelet by Tiana Rutledge; Platonic bracelet, Poison ring, Gold Bombe ring, Days of Week ring by Solange Azagury-Partridge.

Hop on Pop-up!

Everyone loves the mysterious world of pop-up. As a kid you remember being shocked that paper could do something so remarkable, since all you had to associate with paper at that point was homework. It also meant only YOU got that pop-up, it was entirely crafted for you (in your imagination) and you actually saved the card, unlike your crazy Aunt Ginny's recycled holy card with her name crossed out and yours inserted. So here's to feeling the wonder of kid-hood again!

French Hens by Popupcardmaking; Stairs by Grip and Word; Nursery by Cornerstone LAE; Baby Carriage by Molly Lee; Hummingbird by Popupcardmaking; Sakura by Interwingle; Landscape by Bennett Morris; Butterflies by Popupcardmaking; Bunny by Interwingle; Night City, Halloween, Aeroplane by Galin Black; Do-it-yourself bat by Robert Sabuda; Nepalese cards by way of Fashiontribes; Heart by Tracy Chong.

You Shouldn't Have!

For me, half the fun of getting a gift is how it's wrapped. Nothing is more exciting than wanting to keep the paper and tags year after year (my mother has this trait - she's still recycling paper I used in 1990!) It's a sign of creativity and caring, and even if it's a cube of sugar in the box, if it's wrapped well, sugar is your new favorite thing.

Poison and Skeleton labels by Digital Antiques; Old tags by The Garbage Goose; Musical tags by 7e9ah; Isolde tags by Field and Sea; Chocolate Swirl tags by Maria Soleil; Rat tags by Bamboo Village Press; Girl and Boy tags by Hang Out a Shingle; Boardwalk tags by Sara Norris; Bride tags by Brooklit; Bird tags by Petite Paperie Shoppe; Cricket tags by Bamboo Village Press; Bee tags by Bluebird Lane; Boo Crew tags by French Country; Peacock tags by Creative Visions; Witch tags by Bunko Betty's; Girls with Dogs tags by Greenalacards; Crows by Bunko Betty's; Butterflies by Paper and Roses; Pick-Up lines tags by Farouche; Blossom tags by Ruby Press; Birdcage tags by Seasonal Delights; Spiderweb tags by Krave Natural; Crown tags by Bluebird Lane; Thankful tags , Alice tags, by Pink Cerry Mama; Pheasant tags by Creative Visions; French Woman tags by Petite Paperie Shoppe; Yee Haw tags by Farouche; Pulp Fiction tags by Farouche; Face mini tags by French Country; Stag , Greyhound and collection tags by Happy Hound; Bunny tag by Delphine Studio; Button tags by Apples & Chalk Dust; London Bridge tag by Lady Fran's Library; Pear tags by Antoinette Paperie; Gossiping Mice, Greek Statue tags, Egg, Alice and Tabby tags by Petite Paperie; Hand-painted bunny tags by Whimsy45.