I’m alright at selecting gifts, but I fall short on the wrapping. I find it remarkable that someone would see a need for a ‘wrapping station’ (or an entire wrapping room!) in their home.

Perhaps I overlook the tied up with a bow bit because I grew up in a house where Santa  neatly displayed gifts beneath the tree, but, unless you consider an errant price tag decorative, rarely did shiny paper mask the contents. This never diminished the joy, and, as for the surprise, Santa probably knew that I had ferreted out nearly every hiding spot. So really, what was the point?

But, leave it to the Japanese to make me reconsider gift presentation. Furoshiki, the ancient art of wrapping parcels and gifts in decorative cloth, is so practical and thoughtful I couldn’t help but be wooed. Like the newborn present for Soren that arrived in a gift from a stork style bundle, or the stack of of birthday treasures that my sister-in-law nested within a robin’s egg blue scarf. So lovely.

And so easy too. Simply recycle a scarf or make use of scrap material and start wrapping:

1. Lay the cloth flat with the bottom corner pointing towards you (the opposite corner will be pointing away from you and two corners will be directed left and right).

2. Place the object at the bottom of cloth with the corner exposed. Pull the exposed bottom corner over the object.

3. Hold the partially wrapped object in the cloth securely and tightly roll the object in the cloth in an upward direction to reach the top corner.

4. Position the wrapped object so that the exposed top corner is underneath.

5. Pull the left and right corners to the center of the object and tie securely. If enough cloth is available, tie together in a bow knot.

For even fancier Furoshiki check out this step-by-step diagram.