Journal

My mother taught me the importance of a great greeting card at a young age. She kept a drawer in her desk filled with “Happy Birthday” and “Congratulations” cards neatly stacked to the top. These cards were bright and beautiful, spilling out of the drawer and into the hands of our close friends and loved ones. I remember shuffling through the cards one day in my teenage years, wondering why she never bought cards with an inscription on the inside.

After the card, comes the message. Over the years of writing many cards of my own, I like to think I have created a foolproof algorithm for a great card. I have narrowed down the secret to greeting card success to three P’s.

 written by Regan Roberts for Heirloom Art Co.

The most memorable givers in my life have been masters of curation. Just like a remarkable chef, it's the combination of ingredients, along with the quality of each part, that brings together a delicious dish. A bouquet of flowers acts in the same way. One type of flower at its best can make a stunning arrangement alone, but a thoughtful combination of different blooms is worth turning into a dutch painting. The same goes with gifts. 

Remember, quality has more to do with how something is made, where it comes from, how it represents its true self, and less to do with cost. We have all had a waxy or grainy tomato kept for weeks in the fridge. It bears no resemblance to the big juicy heirloom version grown in the garden, sliced, and enjoyed still warm from the sun. Identifying a few quality ingredients is key to a good gift. 

About a year ago, Chelsey and I were strolling speedily through the many stories of the Las Vegas Gift Mart. We have a love/hate relationship with trade shows, and it shows in our methods. We only ever give ourselves a day and so we cruise stopping only to say hello to friends, we breeze through showrooms waiting for something to catch our eye. Never before have we been stopped in our tracks with as much force as the day we stumbled upon Michael Michaud’s orange blossom earrings. First one beautiful piece and then another, and another. It felt like a mystic transportation out of a windowless building and into a breezy orchard on a lazy afternoon. We both fell hard.

My love for this little snow droplet has grown exponentially, but I am not the first to find it a flower filled with hope and love. Its origin legends are varied and stunning. The snowdrop praises have been immortalized by countless poets. I would like to share a few of these with you and hope it sparks your own journey to love this tenacious little flower.