In this exciting holiday newsletter, master leather artist Beatrice Amblard dedicates a custom bag to her daughter and talks to celebrated design writer Diane Dorrans Saek about her first home collection, Ma Maison! And, for those of you thinking of getting your loved ones something unique from April in Paris, we've put together a few suggestions. Enjoy!

Dear Amelie
> To create the Amelie bag, Beatrice used grain calf for the entire body and then utilized ostrich to bring in contrast for construction of the handles. The result is yet another distinctive design that is both practical and professional. The Amelie could be a fun alternative to the typical women's briefcase.
To view this new design and many more, visit our Private Section.

CD case and photo album in ONE
> Travelling during the holidays is not exactly fun but the process could be much more enjoyable when you open your custom-made CD bookcase to select your next favorite holiday tunes. This particular CD case was made from stingray calf and shaped to fit nicely into any small travel bag or purse. Versatile, compact and light, it can fill up to 50 CDs and when you no longer need a CD book case, the inserts can be changed into a photo album.
To view this new design and many more, visit our Private Section.

7x7 Magazine features the Bea bag
> Associate editor Chloe Harris took one look at the Bea bag and decided the whole of San Francisco needed to see it as well by including it in the October issue of 7x7! It's no surprise, the Bea bag continues to be well-received. The sophisticated and classic design makes it versatile for use from day to night and the flat back makes carrying easy on the shoulders and hip, just perfect! To read the article, click here.

CBS 5 Eye on the Bay films April in Paris
> Woohoo! New show Eye on the Bay which highlights interesting local bay area people and places will interview Beatrice on her custom-made ostrich accessories in a series about ostrich farms in California. Filming will take place on the second week of December and as for the run-date...let's just say you'll be the first to know when we get confirmation.

The generous and loving holiday spirit in you wants to surprise your loved ones with a gift that is truly one-of-a-kind. But you're nervous; after all, commissioning a custom-made piece for someone can be daunting. So many things could go wrong: colors, design, hide preferences. So, lucky for us, Beatrice suggests a few tips on making the process smooth and easy.

> Small leather accessories
Remind your loved ones how much you care EVERYDAY by giving them a checkbook cover or a business card case as their holiday gift! Credit cards, sunglasses, cellphones and PDAs are just a few of the things that we use everyday, yet most of us would never consider having a case custom-made for these everyday neccessities.That's why your gift will be extra special and practical.

>Unique decorative pieces
Design enthusiasts will appreciate something unusual like a custom-made leather vase cover or custom table-runner. Made from stingray calf and finished with the traditional saddle stitch, these gifts will stand out and turn into "the" conversation piece season after season.

> Good old-fashioned gift certificates
Unlike other gift certificates that might suggest a last minute purchasel, one from April in Paris makes perfect sense! It gives your loved ones a chance to bring his or her vision to life with the help of master leather artist Beatrice Amblard.

If you have questions for Beatrice, please feel free to contact her at 415.750.9910.

Happy Holidays from April in Paris!