The Art Of The Hostess Gift

Michael Pelkey is a master at gift wrapping!
These gorgeous packages arrived wrapped in the color of the year!

A huge box was delivered to the front door, and I recognize the calligraphy hand writing of Michael Pelkey! Go HERE to read about Michael.

Michael and I have been friends for many years, and though we don't live near one another anymore, we phone and write and send each other gifts.

Michael shops for interior design clients, and he has been an avid collector of antiques since he was 15 years old. When he sees some little trinket that reminds him of me, he gets it and stock piles it until he has an impressive collection of "hostess gifts" to send me.

The latest collection of hostess gifts unwrapped
I couldn't stop smiling!

The green cashmere throw is so soft!
The portrait is of Michael

Michael writes little notes with each gift. For a vintage style piece of subway sign art he wrote, "Celeste, I like to keep current on my blogs". He read about my wanting a subway sign HERE!
(Michael and I call each other "Celeste").

How cute is this subway sign from Michael Pelkey?

A Tiffany box filled with one dozen intaglios
Maybe I'll frame them

There was a box with a dozen of these mid century modern chandelier drops
I'll add them to my dining room chandelier

We gave each other the same book!
And I love the vintage ribbon - Michael writes on it: "So French!"

This bracelet is hand made by a woman in Africa
It is so elegant and feels great on the skin

This grouping includes a DVD of my fave movie, a goldstone brooch,
a tortoise shell pill box, two strands of amethysts - I die!

Michael and I haven't been able to visit each other for three years. He has a home in Key West that has been in tons of design books and magazines. He also has home in North Carolina that he is renovating.

It is an old stone house, and Michael is painstakingly designing every nook and cranny, retro fitting antique windows and doors, building a cupola, exposing the stone walls in the interior, installing an antique mantle, and so much more. I can hardly wait to see it!

Michael wants to do a book about the stone house, and we are also going to do a book together.

Michael is not a run-of-the-mill designer chasing trends. He is firmly rooted in using antiques, and one of kind architectural details. Comparable designers who come to mind to describe Michael's style are Bunny Williams, John Saladino, and Rose Tarlow.

You can contact Michael at michaelpelkey@windstream.net