Well, the week threw a curve ball at me yesterday and the hours ran out before the work did so I didn't get to post the 7th in the advent calender. Guess what that means? You get two today! So, here's yesterday's idea and in a couple hours you'll find a second post for today. Two in one day? Don't want miss that!
In my family, it is not uncommon to find gift packages under the tree tie up in fabric and bows either from my mother and my's [vast] collection or from my father's samples and leftovers from his interior design work. In fact, it wasn't until college that I realized that not every family had some spare rolls of linen and chintz hanging out in the corner of their living room. (Oh the dollhouse interiors I schemed up with those beautiful designer wallpaper samples, too)
So, when I stumbled across the Japanese tradition of furoshiki I already loved the idea. Not only is using a fabric wrapping infinitely adaptable, it also eliminates those extra-large yard bag size trash bags of wrapping paper that appear on the 26th (you know what I'm talking about!).
You can buy a pre-made furoshiki but, really, why not DIY it? You could simply hem or fray a square of pretty fabric you've had just sitting around waiting for a perfect project, or get the family in on it!
I took a leftover piece of linen and stamped it with a carved wooden block that Lindsey brought me from India, but what about trying out this easy idea too? To make a regular pattern on my fabric, I figured out a super quick little cheat: when ironing the fabric I ironed in a line with the fabric folded in half, then folded in half again, and one last time before turning it (while still folded) 90° and doing the same series of folds in the opposite direction. Then, I just printed with the block on every other intersection. Done.
And here's the thing, wouldn't it be amazing to get the giftee into reusing their furoshiki ? Include the direction for the wrap you did with your gift and tell them where they can find more wrapping ideas. Here are a few that I've found inspiring:
- an exhibit of artist designed furoshiki
- wrapping directions from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment
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Don't forget, more goodness later today :)
xo,
a.
