Celebrate this romantic occasion by presenting your loved one a gift made with 200-year-old traditions. Let it be a symbol of your love and promise to forever cherish your beautiful relationship in a "time-honored" manner.

Especially perfect for him
> Upgrade his usual gifts of ties, money-clips or cologne all the way to an alligator wallet. The style shown is rich with green on the outside and a beautiful contrast of yellow stingray calf on the inside, although any color combination of your liking is available. Every one of these little gems are finished with the traditional saddle stitch. As the years go by its lovely hide will ripen and reveal its very unique distinctiveness just like the beautiful relationship it symbolizes.
To view this new design and many more, visit our Private Section.

Overwhelmed...
> Thanks to a beautifully written piece by fashion editor Sylvia Rubin of The San Francisco Chronicle, the April in Paris name has reached audiences all over the Bay Area. The article featured Beatrice's encompassing skills and experience in the lost art of custom-made bags constructed the old-fashioned way. The article has indeed proven that there remains a hearty group of aficionados who appreciate this long-forgotten craft of traditional bag-making. The boutique is definitely enjoying all the attention it's receiving, and welcome more coming its way. To read it click here.

> 1 - Do your homework: Make sure to do your research on the artisan you'll be working with. Check out the master craftsperson's credentials and take the time to meet him or her in person if possible. If the meeting or phone conversation doesn't spark the proper chemistry, investigate another artisan. Remember, this is a very special project and you want to have a great relationship with the person who'll be creating your masterpiece. Also, and most importantly you want to make sure your time and money are well spent.

> 2 - Be involved: Once you and the master artisan have decided on a project, be sure to be involved at every progressing stage so you'll know what your craftsperson will be doing next. This way, any concerns or changes could be easily put right before the process has advanced into the final stages.

> 3 - Don't think you're being troublesome: Anytime you have mixed feelings or have a question, don't be afraid to contact your artisan. He or she should be able to guide you through any options or queries. And if you're still not sure about how your bag is going to turn out ask the artisan for a mockup, that way you'll be able to see how the bag will look in the exact scale and shape and make changes at that point. Keep in mind that it's a project for both you and the artisan. The more satisfied and excited you are about your project then the more happy the artisan will be making it. Although, be sure not to call in excess as you don't want to keep disrupting the artisan's concentration, especially when he or she is making your piece!