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

The Messy Bed Shoot

Our cat Shadow died when she was 18. She died the year before Katrina. I always said that if we were to get another cat, it would find us.

Meet Kitty Kitty Bang Bang.

Kitty Kitty Bang Bang

We were at the vet with Cholo (routine stuff). They have a section with rescue cats for adoption. While I was paying the bill, Alberto was cruising the kitty cats, and he was very impressed with the one and only cat left. She was very social, flirting her way into his heart.

Home made cat toy for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang

The manager came over and opened the cage, and said she didn't know if the little black and white kitty with white socks and a bob tail was dog friendly. She said she loved kids. Well it was love at first sight for Kitty and Cholo.

Cholo loves her

We hesitated, saying we would think abut it. But Cholo would not leave the glass partition where Kitty Kitty Bang continued to play with him. We had never seen Cholo so engaged with anything.

So daddy got Cholo the best plaything he has ever had.


We all feel so young and happy thanks to Kitty Kitty Bang Bang.

Here are my models for the messy bed photo shoot. I asked your advice HERE


Don't you think The Selby will surely eat his heart out?

Messy bed photo shoot

Who's Dog Is This?

Who's dog is this?


It's Martha's doggie Sharkey!

Her house looks amazing for Christmas, and she shares "a peek" with 25 photos of it on The Martha Blog.

The photos are of course amazing and homey at the same time. Martha's gift is that whatever she does she leaves you with the feeling that it's possible for you to do some of it too.

She has a new line of ornaments out that she mixes in with her beautiful vintage collection of things. It's wonderful how she spreads Christmas decorations all over her house, and it doesn't look junky.


Do take a look at the photos of her home, and if you have time go to her shadow blog The Daily Wag, and see another couple of dozen photos of the decorations with her pets.


Martha is a true animal lover, and shares all her perfection with the dogs and cats.


Cholo is not very curious about Christmas decorations. I think I move things around so much that the hustle and bustle of Christmas decorating is just another day in his life with a serial decorator ha ha.

Cholo could care less about Christmas decorations

What about your pets? Are they curious about Christmas decorations?

Too Cute

Cholo wants to play! He hates when mom has to go to work.

Every morning when I leave for work, I hate to leave my two boys. I love my job, but the moment I have to walk out the door and up the street it tugs at my heart. Can you see why?

Thank you to everyone voting for me in the Modern Thanksgiving table setting contest.

There was a major glitch with the link yesterday, and the sweet folks at Dwell phoned me early this morning to say they fixed it.

So if you were frustrated, please try again. You have until midnight tonight.

Thanks to My Favorite and My Best for posting about it yesterday. It was too funny!

So go to vote again please HERE

If I win, place, or show I plan to donate the prize.