Bright Idea: Holiday Wrapping

Christmas is only a couple of days away, which means it's just about time to start placing presents under the tree! And I don't know about you, but we're of the firm belief that half the fun of giving of a gift is getting to wrap it up all nice & pretty! So today, we thought we'd take this opportunity to share some of our favorite wrapping ideas with you. Whether you want to keep things simple or go a little bit more extravagant, we've put together a few different options that will work for any style. And, keep in mind, before you go out & spend a ton of money on wrapping supplies, take a look at what you already have. From natural elements to sparkling ornaments to ribbon & string, we bet that you already have most (if not all) the ingredients you need to make your gift boxes really stand out this year. Happy wrapping! 

Get to Know: Strawberry Moth

The Paris Market kids' section just wouldn't be the same without the lovely creations of Jessica Duthu, or as she's better known, Strawberry Moth. Jessica has long since been a part of the Paris Market family; in fact, she used to make posts on this very blog! But we are so happy to now have her contributing in another way: with her wonderful handmade products for kids! From adorable t-shirts to delightful pennants, we can't get enough of her screen-printed designs! And we'd be remiss to remind you that any of her creations would make the perfect gift for all the little Paris Marketeers on your Christmas shopping list this year! ;) 

We recently had the chance to visit with Jessica in her amazing studio space & get a behind-the-scenes look at the production side of Strawberry Moth. We, of course, also used the opportunity to pick Jessica's brain about what it's like being a working artist & how she keeps herself inspired. Her answers certainly left us feeling inspired so you definitely want to keep reading to check them out for yourself!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Jessica Duthu. I am the Illustrator / Maker / Creative Mind behind Strawberry Moth, a brand specializing in Illustrated Goods for the Nest and Nursery. I currently live in sleepy Savannah, Georgia with my dashing husband, Terry, and my two dog children, Wicket and Moro.

You studied production design at SCAD. Was it a conscious decision to move away from that field to illustration & screen-printing? And how do you think having that background in production design influences your work?
I think when I first started at SCAD I had a different idea of who I wanted to be. Travel and the film industry seemed to appeal to my 18 year old self. It was only after actually working in the film industry after I graduated that I discovered that that kind of life style just wasn't what I wanted. Friendships, family and home life is where happiness lies for me and the 14 hour work day, on the road mentality is just not who I am. The beauty of studying at SCAD is that you have every form of art at your fingertips. Production design was just a section of my studies, I also took classes in animation, fashion design, drawing, painting, and photography. I believe learning what you don't want is just as valuable as learning what you do want, at the core I am a creative soul and I love making things.

Illustration has always been a part of my life in some way since I was really little. I used to illustrate along to songs on family car rides, every christmas / birthday / get well card was hand illustrated by me through the years. Illustration just comes naturally and it never occurred to me that it could be a career. 

What would you say is the most important lesson you’ve learned as an artist since being out of art school?
Don't be afraid to change up what you are doing. If a career or job isn't moving you in the direction you want to be in, leave it behind. Close doors and open new ones. Use your creativity and create the career you want.

Where did the name “Strawberry Moth” come from?
Strawberry Moth actually started out as a blog. It was a place for me to escape during a time where I felt somewhat lost. I had graduated from school, worked in the film industry and realized it wasn't for me, and I didn't know where to turn. At the time I was working a dead end retail job and Strawberry Moth was my creative outlet and source to connect with other artistic souls. Through it's creation and success, it opened a door to new possibilities. I Illustrated a lot of my graphics and fans started asking for personalized illustrations, so I opened an etsy shop to meet the demand. Personalized illustrations turned into cards, cards turned into notebooks, notebooks turned into children's tees and pennants. Through everything the name Strawberry Moth has stuck and continues to evolve with me. 

What is your favorite part about what you do?
The customer and fan base I have gained since opening my business is incredible. I love interacting with each person and over the past year I have brought Strawberry Moth to several craft fairs, traveling as far as Nashville, Tennessee. My products are now in over 10 stores worldwide and my stockist base is growing. Selling wholesale as well as retail enables me to bring Strawberry Moth to places I could not reach on my own (my products are even in a store in Australia!). My work is about sharing my joy with others, especially littles. Every illustration, hand-lettered design, wool-felt pennant flag, and kiddo tee is designed for the child and child at heart.

What do you see as the biggest challenge of being a working artist & what are some ways you try to overcome it?
The biggest challenge of being a working artist is definitely time management. When you own your own creative business you are not just the artist, you are the book keeper, marketing director, packaging specialist, supply manager, errand runner, product designer, studio cleaner, social media expert, customer service representative, and you have to fit lunch in there somewhere. The best way I tackle all the tasks of running my own business is to make a loose schedule and do my best to stick to it. I say loose because things always change, but setting Mondays as packaging/shipping day and Tuesday as design/production day (etc) helps to somewhat break up tasks so that they are more manageable. Knowing that I can accomplish so much is truly rewarding in the end and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What do you look to for inspiration when starting a new project?
Inspiration comes in many forms. It can be a place I've been, a book I've read, or a person I've met. I try to not look for inspiration but let it come naturally. Any creative endeavor seems to back fire when it is forced. I keep several notebooks full of ideas and the true challenge is streamlining them and choosing what to create next.

Our Customers Behind the Lens

There are few things we love more than seeing how our customers capture their time at The Paris Market so today we're featuring a few of our favorite customer captures right here on our blog! Maybe it has something to with the holidays being just around the corner, but there seems to be a whole lot of Paris Market inspired pretty on instagram lately! From beautiful shots of our holiday displays (& even a recreation of one!) to snapshots of all the warm & tasty treats in our café, we can't help but be inspired by all the beautiful ways in which our customers capture our store. Check out a few of our most recent favorites below & be sure to keep snappin' & always tag your photos with #theparismarket. Maybe you'll see your photo here next! :)

@yourewelcomesav: Always beautiful creative displays here. #yourewelcomesavannah #savannah #georgia #christmas #decor #beautiful #shop #local #christmastrees

@green_mana: #theparismarket #savannah #shop #vscocam

@coffeescout: After hearing all about @theparismarket through @melodyjoymunn, I cannot wait to visit one of these days! Have you been? 

@brittlouiseblog: French Christmas at @theparismarket has me swooning over everything in this store

@stefani_ashley: This coffee shop is the cherry on top of a delightful store! | @theparismarket #coffeeshop #savannah #south #parismarket #paris #espresso #downtown #eatlocal #visitsavannah #georgia #local

@torismolinski

@nessaliao: Paris Market #savnnah #downtown #nice #weather #GA

@samanthapetrea: a very dreamy setup

@florodora: macarons avec ma mere

@raychillo: Same, Susan

@threads: #butcoffeefirst

@o_oubon

@lakeweekendwear: "Tis the season!

@amandamiley: I am obsessed with these Mexican candles.

@yourewelcomesav: Hot Chocolate & Brownie! #yourewelcomesavannah #savannah #georgia #brownie #hotchocolate #flowers #cafe #parismarket #eat @theparismarket

@annettejosephstyle: This store is so gorgeous, a pleasure to spend the afternoon with such friendly folks #booksigning #pictureperfectparties #loveit

@melodyjoymun: Some days you just need to share a chocolate tart with your mom. | Downtown Savannah is blessed to have @theparismarket, as I am blessed to have quality time with my mother. | #vsco #vscocam #love #theparismarket #chocolate + #coffee #munnliving

@mleberly

@laurlovespink: han and I found a store in #savannah called @theparismarket and it was filled with perfectly wrapped pretty little things #theparismarket

@mafeslane: Loveliest shop/cafe

@jonchandler: #theparismarket takes elf on the shelf to a whole new level #visitsavannah

{From one of our own} @ktjmattern: Check out my skillz 

@taraolsonmedina: This window display was calling my name

@jenchandlerwashere: ...Stole the book village idea from a gorgeous shop downtown (thanks #parismarket)

@hanahyman: Breaks are terribly important. Cookies, too. #parismarket #fleurdelis

@amyspearinginteriors: Another beautiful table at Paris Market... This one with an oversized chandelier... Love the use of navy, gold, and white #savannah #parismarket #tablescape #diningtable

@ingridcarney: This shop! Just the cutest little coffee spot. Thanks for the recommendation @the2654project! #parismarket #parismarketcafe #savannah

@colourfulprivatelife: #parismarket #vscocam

@elissapyon: arrived in Savannah at dusk. magical way to set the tone for the holiday season.

Bright Idea: Holiday Party Decor

The holiday season is well underway & with that comes holiday parties! And while the holidays are a busy enough time without adding a party to the mix, we hope that our decor tips & tricks will help to show you that throwing a party really can be a cinch! And keep reading to the end to catch two wonderful holiday decor DIYs! 

1) Create an inviting entryway. The entryway is the first thing your guests will see upon their arrival, so make sure you make a good first impression. 

2) Create separate areas for your guests to enjoy. It's important to have separate areas to stimulate party flow. You don't want all of your guests crowded in one area. Keep the food table & the bar separate & have both formal & informal seating areas.  

3) Attract your guests to the food table by making it interesting. Don't just set out a boring, old table & place a few platters of food on it. Create visual appeal with different levels, layers, & textures. And don't forget about the space above the table! Utilize this space to hang decorations to link the food table to the rest of the party space.

4) Find your center. Centerpieces are key to create the focal point of a table & tie the overall theme of your party together. For the main food table, we used an arrangement of our bottle brush trees, cloches, moss, & glittery reindeer. For the dessert table, we filled jars with snow & created little wintery scenes inside, to mimic snow globes.    

5) And last but not least: details, details, details! This is something that can be easily forgotten, but details are so important to give your guests a complete party experience. Think of all the spaces throughout your house that your guests will be, from the hallway to the bathroom & everywhere in between! Don't forget to include decorations in these places as well. The littlest details often make the biggest impression!

Holiday Decor DIYs:

For our menu: we took an old frame & fitted it with a piece of board that we painted with chalkboard paint. We then used a chalk paint pen to handwrite the menu.   

This is a lovely & easy way to spruce up an otherwise boring arrangement. We took pheasant feathers (which you can get right here at The Paris Market) & covered the tips first with Glitter Blast spray paint & then a sprinkle of gold glitter to finish them off! They made for a striking addition to the mantle arrangement!