Alexander Girard

I have been sitting at the kitchen table today, cutting out images from some wrapping paper designed by Alexander Girard back in the '60s. I have re-arranged some of these images and made some cards out of them.....what do you think?

I really like the subtle gray-blue-charcoal in this one....

...and then, some Christmas cards:

I get a little chill when I see how extraordinary his designs are.

They can be mix-matched over and over and still come out so "right"

I remember visiting the World's Fair in San Antonio, Texas in 1968.

it was Hemisfair and, for me, MAGICAL....

one of my favorite exhibits was a building that housed

an incredible collection by a man with named Girard.

......wow.....

Since San Antonio was only an hour away, my family visited often.

My mom and I loved the Girard Collection so much.

In 1973, I left on a jet plane to fly to Switzerland to live.

I will never forget the plane - a "pickle" green Braniff jet.

I could not have been happier.

-it was a good omen.

Alexander Girard designed the Braniff logo and all that went with it!

When I came to Santa Fe the very first time in 1985,

my friend Nora and I went to

the Museum of International Folk Art.

well, first of all - WHAT A MUSEUM!

But, the wing we fell in love with - was the Girard Wing.

Alexander Girard lived in Santa Fe, NM and donated his collection -

(the one I had seen so many years before at Hemisfair)

to this museum in the very place I had chosen to live as an adult.

When I worked at Doodlet's, a wonderful store in Santa Fe,

I delivered Mrs Girard's purchases to their home one Christmas.

It was definitely a highlight of my life.

They lived with some of the most incredible things that I

have ever seen, displayed in the same way as the museum.

(he had designed that, too, complete with lighting)

took my breath away..

And now, I get to work with people who make sure that

the Girard design

is out there in the world on beautiful products for all to enjoy.