Beauty, elegance and imagination are embodied in L’Objet‘s unique style, and their stunning and sensuous Turtle Candle is no exception. But what makes this candle so different?  We asked Eve to tell us after she received hers:

What were your first impressions when you received the package?

The presentation was beautiful. It was wrapped in a black box with gold trim, in L’Objet‘s signature packaging.

What did you think of the Limoges porcelain exterior?

I was so impressed by the canister. It has the real shape, color, and texture of a turtle shell! Moving your hand across the top, it feels like it really could be one. The intricately painted details and 14k gold edges really make it unlike any other candle.

How did it smell?

The Pink Champagne scent truly is intoxicating. The candle is very richly saturated, but the fragrance is light and sweet. While slightly floral, the smell was very fresh and crisp, like rain.

Did you light the candle right away?

Of course! I like candles because they make my home feel warm and relaxed, so I lit this one as soon as I got home from work. The scent is very clean and soothing, and within only a minute of lighting the candle, it filled the whole room with fragrance. It was the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day.

Would you recommend this candle to others?

Absolutely; I say buy two! It is so beautiful and unique that it makes a perfect gift, and it already comes so nicely packaged. But the minute you see or smell it, you will be glad you got one for yourself, too. The best part is, while it will burn up to 50 hours, the gorgeous box will last years after the candle is gone.

For more from L’Objet, click here.

Planning a wedding is a wonderfully joyous process, but one that can seem overwhelming at times. Luckily, the registry can be one of the most enjoyable parts of starting your lives together.  If you’ve never thought about registering, or are nervous you’ve committed a registry faux pas, read below for some insight.

Why Register

Some couples shy away from registries. However, guests generally want to celebrate special 0ccasions with a  gift, so the registry is a really helpful tool. Also, registries are organized so that gifts are not duplicated and they allow the registrants to keep track of all the items coming their way. If you would prefer to not receive any presents, many couples now register for events on their honeymoon, or even a charity to donate to.

Registry Do’s & Don’ts 

Do register ahead of time.  Complete your registry at least six months ahead of the event.  This will give guests plenty of time to select a gift for the wedding, as well as engagement parties and showers.

Do mix it up. While registering for formal items is a special tradition, there are so many unconventional items that can be fun to request. This makes the registry much more accessible for guests with a range of budgets and interests.

Do register for enough gifts. Register for more gifts than you have guests, so there will be plenty of items to choose from.

Do think about your future needs. For example, registering for a serving platter for your first Thanksgiving as a married couple is a wonderful way to include loved ones in special occasions.

Do write thank-you notes right away. In the best-case scenario, thank-you notes are sent promptly after receiving a gift. Aim to have all of your thank-you notes sent within one month of returning from your honeymoon.  Thank-you notes don’t have to be very long, but they should identify the gift, explain why you appreciate it, and how you plan to use it.

Don’t have too many registries.  While it’s okay to have more than one registry, draw the line at three. You want to be helpful by offering your guests variety, but you shouldn’t come across as self-indulgent.  Also, it is thoughtful to register at a national store so guests who don’t live nearby can easily find your registry.

Don’t advertise your registry. Registry information should never be included with wedding invitations.  Let your family and wedding party know where you are registered, and let them spread the word.

Don’t forget about your fiancé.  Be sure to include your future spouse when you are registering for gifts. You two will both be enjoying these items, so be sure to make selections that will work for you as a couple.

Don’t ask for money.

And most importantly, have fun!

New babies are a cause for celebration! Baby showers are a wonderful occasion for the mommy-to-be to stock up on all the essentials but what if you want to get a special off-registry gift?  An unexpected token could be one of the most memorable gifts a new mommy will receive. We’ve put together a five gift ideas for that baby who already has the essentials covered.

Receiving Blankets:
Blankets are a great gift for a new baby! They can be used to swaddle the baby to sleep, as a soft and clean surface for baby to play on, and to cover a nursing mother.   Click here to see more baby bedding ideas.

Floor Pillows:
It won’t be long before baby is crawling around! Pine Cone Hill makes durable, patterned pillows meant to be used on the floor and are safe for babies and pets alike! These pillows make for a perfect gift for that baby with a four-legged “sibling”.  Click here to see more floor pillows.

Herend Figurines:
These classic, hand painted figurines are a fun way to begin a lifetime of cherishing a timeless collectible. Herend has a figurine to fit practically any themed nursery.  Click here to see more Herend figurines.

Tableware:
The best kind of gifts are ones that we can grow to enjoy, and tableware is no exception. We offer a variety of brands and items that are sure to match or compliment the style of your friend’s already existing flatware collection. We think the only thing better than a set of sterling silver flatware is a baby set of sterling silver flatware. So adorable!  Click here to see more baby tableware.

Just for Mommy:
We can’t forget about the mommy to be! Sure, the spotlight is on the new bundle of joy but Mommy needs to be taken care of too! Items like a luxurious robe, a picture frame to commemorate her growing family or a traveling nap kit (because sleep will be a precious commodity soon!) are perfect, unexpected gifts for your friend, family member or loved one during this milestone.

Like this?  We’ve got many more baby gifts here, including baby bath items and rugs that are perfect for every nursery.

With Father’s Day right around the corner, Gracious Style is here to help you select that thoughtful, unique gift that tells him “I love you”. From grilling gear to abstract art, we have something for every kind of dad.

Combining the art of photography with the sophistication of modern machines, Natural Curiosities makes an industrial-chic statement with their Bugatti Collection.

With the perfect balance of whimsy and masculinity, Vagabond House‘s Bull BBQ Set is a great way to kick-start his summer.

This elegant ashtray is the ultimate companion for his favorite cigar: an item that exudes luxury and refinement.

An aptly named set for a man who once famously remarked: “Port is for gentlemen; brandy is for heroes.” Moser‘s Churchill Brandy Set is a timeless gift that he will treasure forever.

In sleek stainless steel and warm-hued wood, Nambe’s Scoop Ice Bucket fuses natural and modern materials in perfect harmony.

Beauty and simplicity define this Christofle Silver clock, with clean, modern lines and a geometric roman numeral face.

A playfully intellectual gift, Herend’s Chess Figurines are clever addition to any desktop or mantle.

For more great gift ideas, visit our Father’s Day Shop.

Both fearsome and fascinating, wolves have a long and complicated history with humans. While they have been the subject of debate for thousands of years, wolves have managed to avoid total extinction, even when their population number dropped to 300 in the 1960’s. In honor of the wolf’s perseverance and prowess, Herend created the Lone Wolf as part of their limited-edition Reserve Collection.

Herend’s Wolf is the definitive lone wolf, being the first and only Herend figurine to wear a coat of alternating gray and platinum fishnet. This unique color mix captures the essence of a Gray Wolf, the most prevalent variety in the U.S. The eerily realistic-looking eyes add the finishing touch to enhance the drama of this Herend treasure.

Wolves are the descendants of prehistoric Dire Wolves, powerful creatures which roamed North America approximately two million years ago. Now extinct, these predators hunted prey as large as wooly mammoths. Even with such capabilities, as wolves evolved, humans never became a desired target. Contrarily, the hunter became the hunted. The Aztecs, for example, killed wolves for their livers, which were believed to possess healing powers. In Ireland, wolves were exterminated until the last animal was killed in the late 1700’s. In the U.S., a war was waged against the wolf in the 1900’s, as wolves were perceived as pests who threatened the American people’s safety and prosperity. 

Thankfully, measures were taken in the U.S. to protect the wolf’s dwindling populations, which plummeted to the brink of extinction. In 1974, the Endangered Species Act was enacted, and the wolf was among the first animals to be put on the protected list. Today, around 5,000 wolves inhabit North America, mostly in Yellowstone National Park and the Rocky Mountains. Conservationists are hopeful that wolf populations will remain stable.

Wolves are intelligent and gregarious animals. They form close relationships and strong social bonds with members of their packs. Even alphas are known to express deep affection for their families, going to great lengths to protect their pups. Herend’s Wolf is a symbol of strength and loyalty, making it the perfect gift for a member of your own pack.

To see more Herend figurines and collectibles, please click here.

This Mother’s Day, give Mom the gift of wrapping up in comfort in any of Yves Delorme’s sumptuous bath robes and towels. Gracious Style is celebrating the occasion with a special Mother’s Day sale, coming soon! From April 26 – May 11, enjoy a 20% discount on all Yves Delorme towels and robes.

Show Mom how much you care with the Je T’Aime collection, French for “I love you.” For an extra special treat, consider the Beaucoup (French for “a lot”) collection.  Together, these are the perfect way to say , ‘I love you a lot.’

No matter which collection you choose, a gift from Yves Delorme is a thoughtful gesture that is sure to warm Mom’s heart.

To see the complete collection of Yves Delorme at Gracious Style, please click here.

Baby Showers can be so much fun – ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the adorable gifts presented to the mommy-to-be. If you’re looking for a baby shower gift that’s a little more inspired than yet another onesie, try some of these unique options:

Bambini is a smaller sized version of our best-selling Aladdin flatware – just right for children’s little hands. Brilliant lattice detail holds clear acrylic handles in happy colors for the perfect gift for the mother-to-be or baby.

Bundle your baby up in the softest cashmere blanket from Rani Arabella. The candy-colored stripes on the Fuchsia blanket would add a charming pop of color to a girl’s nursery. The Yoyo baby blanket is also available in Blue for little boys.

A perfect treasure to celebrate the new arrival, this Baby Love Cup will make young memories last with its tarnish-resistant Alloy material and beautiful silver-like luster.

With its timeless design, Christofle’s picture frame is the perfect way to highlight baby’s first moments.

A perfect keepsake to grow up with, Herend‘s Teddy Bear Figurine will be a gift to treasure for all the years to come.

A delight for both boy or girl, Kassatex‘s Zoo Friends Collection makes bath time a treat, not a chore.

Soft as a cloud and cute as a button, this adorable blanket is just the right size for a new-born.

Babies have sensitive skin, so pamper them with Children’s Linen Wash. This gentle detergent is specially formulated for fine baby bed and bath linens, and is fragrance and allergen free.

For more great Baby Gifts, please click here.

With Easter coming up, we thought we’d share this story we read in the Herend Insider …

Rabbits have distinctive personalities and can be as playful as puppies, as independent and fascinating as cats, or as loyal and affectionate as dogs. Long-time rabbit owners claim that domestic rabbits are every bit as smart as cats and dogs.  In New Jersey, a woman with a rabbit named Patrick trained him to return to his cage every time she rang a toy bell and followed this with a treat. But within a short period of time Patrick began ringing the bell himself and waiting for a treat.  And if his owner didn’t respond quickly enough?  He rang the bell again until he got his goodie.  Well done, Patrick. Pavlov would be proud.

Herend’s rabbits are the most popular animals in the company’s large collection of patchwork creatures.   “Mother and Bunny,” a limited edition of bunnies introduced in 2013, is one of our favorites, so we wanted to share their transformation with you.

Here they are before they are fired:

Clay rabbits before firing

And this is what they look like after they are fired, painted, and detailed with 24 kt gold:

Talk about not having a hair out of place!  To see all of Herend’s rabbits, click here.  Which one is your favorite?

Easter is a time to celebrate and refresh. It is a special holiday for expressing gratitude and love to friends and family. Whether you are filling your family’s Easter baskets or thanking a generous hostess, these gifts are sure to spread joy.

To see more Easter gift ideas, click here. 

Every now and then, a collection comes along that is so exquisite, it’s impossible not to fall in love at first sight. A spring daydream comes alive in Christofle’s newest additions to their fine flatware collection, Jardin d’Eden. A collaboration with Marcel Wanders, one of the world’s most distinguished designers, delicately engraved floral swirls span the entirety of each piece, turning this collection into sumptuous poetry made real.

Dubbed one of Business Week’s “25 Leaders of Change in Europe,” and “the Lady Gaga of Design” by The New York Times, designer Marcel Wanders is renowned for replacing the coldness of industrial design with beauty, romance and fantasy. The Jardin d’Eden (or Garden of Eden) collection is the perfect expression of this vision.

Precision craftsmanship reigns supreme in these finely engraved lines, inspired by the interlaced leaves, flowers and curls of lush garden greenery.

The Jardin d’Eden collection is available in both sterling silver and silverplated settings.

Fine accessories and gifts are also included in this stunning collection.  Notice the apple in the center of the charger (see below):

Let us know if you’re as inspired as we are by Christofle’s incredible creations by sharing your comments below.

To see the entire Jardin d’Eden collection, please click here.

To view our entire selection of Christofle items, please click here.