Well hello, friend. Come on in and pull up a chair — I've been hoping you'd stop by.
I'm Denise. I'm a Navy veteran — I spent my service years turning wrenches on helicopters — a mama of two, a LaLa to three grandbabies who have my whole heart, and a woman blessed to share this life with my fiancé, Justin, who believes in every dream I chase. These days I design wrapping paper and gifts in Germantown, Tennessee, and State of Awe is my little corner of the internet where all of that comes together.
Here's the thing I believe down to my bones: the wrapping is part of the gift. Long before anybody sees what's inside the box, the paper has already spoken. It says I thought about you. I slowed down for you. You were worth the pretty paper. In a world that rushes everything, that pause — that moment of wonder before the ribbon comes off — is worth protecting.
Some of my designs carry whole stories. My childhood teddy bear was named Russ, a gift from my daddy, and nearly forty years later his little feet still smell faintly of Daddy's cologne. He became a whole Christmas paper, because some love you just never outgrow. My small-town collections come from the squares and gazebos and depots of the places that raised us. Every design here started as something real.
So what will you find on this blog? The stories behind the paper. Wrapping ideas that make ordinary Tuesdays feel like occasions. Hometown Christmases, front-porch gratitude, and a few collaborations I'm just itching to tell you about when the time is right. Think of it as my kitchen table — there's always room for one more.
If you're new, welcome aboard — I'm so glad you're here. Browse the shop when you're ready (three or more rolls always take 15% off and ship free, because stocking up should feel good too), and come back here whenever you need a deep breath and something beautiful.
Live beautifully, wonder often,
Denise
Founder & Creative Heart, State of Awe LLC
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