Look how lovely!

I wanted to show you these gorgeous boxes. Some of them were given to me as gifts, but I have also started giving them to myself, because I love them so. They are the creations of my friend, Christie Allen, a gifted artist who designs each unique box. Every detail is so delicate and precise -- she even hand-tints some of the papers she uses.

Look at these lovelies more closely:

If you think the exterior is beautiful --

-- just look inside! Did you ever see anything so dainty and fine?!

This beauty shows off the meticulous hand-tinted papers that make each of these boxes one-of-a-kind pieces of art.

Fabulous! Wouldn't this be a perfect gift for a bridesmaid?

I claimed this box early one summer afternoon -- and then I guarded it jealously as friends admired it throughout dinner.

I didn't quite say, "Back off, bitch! It's mine!" But I came close.

This tiny thing is such a pretty little Christmas trinket -- I hate to put it away when the season is over!

And this one will definitely live on my desk year-round; it reminds me of a Renaissance tapestry.

Christie's new website is up and running, and she is adding additional photos of her lovely creations every day. Check her out here!