Two updates and a post

Update 1: I may change the name of this from the default “Annie’s Substack,” which I never updated. I’d like this collection of frivolous musings to be more anonymous, especially as I move into a career where online discretion is important. The current “Annie’s Substack” title is pretty vague, but I think it could be even more obscure and nameless. If you have any ideas on what this should be called, please do share…

Update 2: I’m turning thirty soon!

Post: So on the subjects of concealing an identity and birthdays, here is a post about gift wrapping.

I treasure any opportunity to wrap a gift and think of it (loosely and unseriously) as a creative practice. The simple and obvious principle that makes gift wrapping so pleasurable and satisfying is: always have an organized supply of nice gift wrapping materials at home. I dedicate a desk drawer to these materials, which include a roll of wrapping paper, some simple parchment paper, a bag of ribbons, a few decorative tapes, and various stickers.

If you’re low on any of these, please do yourself a favor and take a trip to City Papery. I experience ecstatic joy when in this store. They have a big selection of wrapping papers from basic to very special, and a solid ribbon assortment too. Most of the ribbons in my stash are from a now-defunct Etsy shop, but if you do a general “vintage ribbon” search on the site, you’ll be overwhelmed with good options. I like to keep a mix of satin, velvet, lace, thick, thin, shiny, flat, textured, smooth etc on hand.

By “decorative tape,” I of course mean washi tape, and I recently discovered that there are many cute options at Top Hat on the Lower East Side. I also keep a collection of assorted stickers, which I’ve either purchased sporadically or received as gifts. If I really want to personalize the gift, I will make custom labels on my Niimbot D11 label maker, which allows for image uploading, so the possibilities are endless…

As for the assembly of the present, I have very little advice. Inspiration will come from the wrapping materials.

Some presents for you: