recyclable, reusable, beautiful wrapping......

I am getting into wrapping presents in fabrics. I have long hated the huge waste of paper at the end of Christmas and Birthday unwrapping sessions. Totally environmentally deranged! But wrapping papers are gorgeous, I wasn't going to just hand things over in the bags they came in or heaven forbid completely unwrapped with no sense of occasion or surprise.

Then I found Bev of Flyingbags in Christchurch. She is big into Japanese wrapping styles and reducing waste.......

"In the tradition of Japanese furoshiki, Korean Bojagi and Chinese Baofu fabric wrapping is a wonderful and surprisingly easy way to dress a simple gift."

" 'Mottainai' is a Japanese word based on the idea of recognising the intrinsic value of something. Another way of understanding 'Mottainai' is to think about using something without waste."

 I have bought wraps from her through Trade-Me, which got me started and now I am choosing gorgeous fabrics and cutting them to size for presents. I am like a kid in a candy store when visiting fabric on-line shops, my eyes become organ stops and I can feel myself salivating! Ridiculous I know....

These wraps were from Bev. The small parcel is a flat book and I have pretty much followed a technique provide by Bev on her help sheets. The large box is a momma special for her wee one who is quite taken with wrapped sweets....she doesn't get any to eat so I thought I would give her one as a birthday present, her toy inside is so much more healthy than any sweetie !

But the recipients of these wrapped presents are loving them - it becomes a second present as the fabrics can be re-worked into something else or simply kept for it's loveliness (some wrapping turns into a mini fabric bag and so is easily used for other things like a pack bag for smalls or storing dry items). For those that don't want to hang on to them I get them back and reuse them. The ones within our own house get reused time and time again, and I know that eventually they may start to wear but they can be cut up and used in sewing and quilting projects, fabric labels........

In my opinion, one of the nice things about this craft is that you can make it up as you go along - if you get in touch with Bev she will be able to provide you with a myriad of techniques for wrapping particular items and I have found these fantastic, however.............you can play a little too:)

Like the bags I have made for the chalk mats I have sewn up for my nephews. Rather than wrapping their birthday presents in paper I have made long bags with fabulous 'boys toys' pictures, which is great to keep the present a surprise but then also becomes a way of carrying the mat and chalk bag around

Add a 'handmade' tag and it becomes a personal present made with love.