My Fanciful Designs Rose of French Paper

A set of four Fanciful Designs napkin rings at disegno Karina Gentinetta, about $70.

Photo: Jacqueline deMontravel, ‘Romantic Homes’ October 2010

Photo: Jacqueline deMontravel, ‘Romantic Homes’ October 2010

My giveaway prize front & center on my mantel.

In December, I won a giveaway at the celestial Fanciful Designs studio of artist Noel Solomon.  Sound familiar?   You may have heard of her from her feature in Romantic Homes, or from her mother’s sophisticated French Blue blog.

She fashions tea roses out of a stiff, heavy French paper.  They’re light and heavy at once.  The edges are torn, like fine stationery, adding a stylized feel while remaining acquiescent to the natural shape of a rose.    They don’t look crafted.  They look like art--technically perfect, arresting.

My friend Karina sells Noel’s napkin rings ($70 for 4) at her stunning New Orleans store disegno Karina Gentinetta.   I’m hard pressed to find a shot from my shoot at her store without Noel’s paper roses gracing a vignette.   I found myself using them more than real roses.

Everything about Noel is elegant; from the font addressed on my package to the pretty note card with her sentiments penned inside.  I can’t wait to see what she does with her own wedding—congratulations to her and her fiancé who proposed over the holidays!

If I won a giveaway item from you, your time has at last come -- I spent a lot of time writing posts earlier in the month so you should read about it by spring!

Until next time, stay shabby!

I’m sharing this with Faded Charm’s White Wednesday, please come and see all the pretty entries!