Secure A Copy Gift Wrapping With Textiles: Stylish Ideas From Japan Originated By Chizuko Morita Released As Hardcover

I was a youngmotherathome I used to do all sorts of nice and creative things for gifts and giftwrapping, but I have to admit that it's years since I did anything other than wrap presents in shopbought and usually gaudy paper.
This book, while nicely set out and with lovely photographs, has not, however, inspired me to begin wrapping gifts in textiles.
Sadly, that's because I don't expect any recipients to truly appreciate it,

and why gift something beautiful if the receivingeye doesn't behold it.


Nevertheless, this book will undoubtedly be of use to those who want to follow this very stylist custom.
It has lovely pictures, and excellent stepbystep instructions, The author demonstrates wrapping a wide variety of objects using fabric squares, Although the fancier folds are probably beyond me I can barely handle a stickon bow, the simpler styles are both attractive and "green".
It could be fun to try to match the fabric to the gift, Although I have yet to try wrapping any packages, I have it on good authority that the instructions are easy to follow.


Not quite what I was expecting,

Firstly, the only fabrics used in the book are special ones that they use specifically for giftwrapping in Japan, called furoshiki.
These fabrics already have prints or designs that complement the items they are meant to cover hence if you used a printed scarf, for example, the endresult would look quite different.
Also, the wrapping techniques shown in the book are only applicable to the type of material the furoshiki is made of rayon crepe.
If you were thinking of gleaning ideas for giftwrap using other textiles such as denim, "normal" cotton, etc, then the techniques in this book would probably not apply to you, simply because the fabric wouldn't "fall" in the same way as rayon crepe would.


Secondly, I actually didn't like many of the designs shown, I found them to be quite dated, cheesylooking e, g. there are some "animal face" designs where you have to attach googly eyes and just not aestheticallypleasing in general.
A lot of the designs simply involve tying knots here and there, and then pretending that the final shape looks like a "goldfish" or "rabbit" and so on.
Read: They don't,

Also, some of the instructions were unclear, The book shows you pictures coupled with a short text description for each step, but the pictures are tiny and in black amp white, so it isn't always clear what's being done, and the text is sometimes inadequate or vague.


The only part of the book I liked was the back, where the author shows how to make a "rucksack for a chair" it's a bag you can hang onto the back of a chair for additional storage, a handbag, and a tissue box cover, using justorfor the rucksack squares of fabric.
Unfortunately, while these were good ideas, they have nothing to do with giftwrap, In Japanese culture, it is customary to put as much care into the wrapping of a gift as into choosing the gift itself.
The way a gift is wrapped and the material in which it is presented are considered expressions of the giver's feeling toward the recipient.
Now, using techniques that have been part of Japanese tradition for generations, Chizuko Morita offers readers innovative and unique ideas for using the Japanese art of wrapping with cloth in very contemporary ways.
In a matter of minutes, a swatch of cloth known as a furoshiki can be fashioned into an elegant wrapping for a CD, a book, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, even a soccer ball.
And unlike paper gift wrap, if you get it wrong the first time, you can just undo the knots and start again.

Not only are the wraps foolproof, they rely on only three basic knots,

INCLUDES:
Stunningly original wrapping ideas
Giftwraps for wine, books, CDs, pictures, posters, balls, and boxed items of all sizes
Based on techniques that have their roots in centuriesold Japanese traditions of wrapping for giftgiving

also

Additional ideas to freshen up everyday items such as pillows, baskets, and more
New thoughts for decorating the breakfast and dinner table
Add an elegant touch to flowerpots, planters, or a bouquet of flowers
Make an instant magazine "rack" or knapsack.