the art of gift wrapping - Japanese style

[John Headstrong]

the art of gift wrapping - Japanese style

http://www.wrap.org.uk/recyclenow_08/wh ... ese_w.html

[Rosendula]

WOW!
And the wrapping's re-usable, too.
Thanks, John.

[Silver Ether]

I often use fabric for wrapping but thats really neat ... I liked the books and the bag... the bottle one is great as they are always awkward to wrap and I hate those bottle bags ...

[Graye]

The bag is fantastic! Pity we rarely get that lovely Oriental patterned material. I suppose you could make one with a square scarf though?

[Sally Jane]

This is amazing - everyone can make use a of metre or two of fabric for something after Christmas, whether it's making children's clothes for the summer (it would take me from Boxing Day until the clocks forward to complete a garment! - sewing was never my forte!) or draught excluders, or pegbags to sell on eBay to make a couple of bob.
Apart from the sheer practicality, this is such a graceful process to watch. Zen gift-wrapping.I love it - thank you so much for sharing it!

[Rod in Japan]

Seeing that, you wouldn't believe how hard you have to fight a Japanese till lady not to put your purchases in plastic bag. And if you happen to have your brought your own, you need the reflexes of a ninja to catch her before she slaps some plastic tape on your wine.

Tip:
If you tie your furoshiki somewhat ineptly, your bottles tend to slip out and smash on the pavement. This is neither economical nor especially eco-friendly.

[Shirley]

Tip:
If you tie your furoshiki somewhat ineptly, your bottles tend to slip out and smash on the pavement. This is neither economical nor especially eco-friendly.

Is that the voice of experience?

Has anyone else given it a shot?

[StripyPixieSocks]

I'd be heartbroken if someone wrapped something like that, I am a crafter and use all the paper and bits and bobs for my projects

That and the material probably costs a hundred times more than the paper which is biodegradable anyway...

... my crafter self is going to go into hiding now

[Thomzo]

I'd be heartbroken if someone wrapped something like that, I am a crafter and use all the paper and bits and bobs for my projects

That and the material probably costs a hundred times more than the paper which is biodegradable anyway...

... my crafter self is going to go into hiding now

Me too - and all the scrappy, unusable bits, go on the fire.

Zoe

[invisiblepiper]

Seeing that, you wouldn't believe how hard you have to fight a Japanese till lady not to put your purchases in plastic bag. And if you happen to have your brought your own, you need the reflexes of a ninja to catch her before she slaps some plastic tape on your wine.

You made me laugh out loud at the visual image of you doing this!
Now the kids really think I'm nuts!
Brilliant video John.

[snapdragon]

oooooo I so hate when that happens

no not the bags - gave em up a couple of years back and generally get no grief - but the video!! once finished I shut the page and everything goes off grrrrrr

I've wrapped all presents in fabric a couple of years running - but the little monkeys don't bring me my fabric back - next time I see it it's a new table cloth or cushion cover. - re-cycling rooools

[Rod in Japan]

You made me laugh out loud at the visual image of you doing this!

We seek to please.

If I may get on my 'I know all about Japan cos I live here' nerd box again, it should be pointed out that furoshiki in't reely about gift wrapping at all. It used to be the way that everybody carried their stuff before plastic made it's appearance. Japanese gift wrapping is another rather large cultural artefact all of its own.