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How to elevate even the most common gift to the realm of fine art

TO THE JAPANESE, GIFT wrapping, or origata, embodies the art of gentle concealment. The wrapping is almost as important as the gift itself, not a last-minute, slap-dash job with an odd end of commercial wrapping paper that's an inch shy of meeting in the back. And forget about the tired trick of curling the ribbon with the edge of a scissors blade. In Japan, to give a gift is to wrap one's heart.

The Japanese prize intricate wrappings, complex folded papers, and ornately knotted cording. The techniques that are used to produce these decorative results are grounded in ancient beliefs. For example, mizuhiki (dyed paper cords) are more than a device to hold paper together. Their symbolic function is to prevent any impurities from entering the package.

While many Japanese wrapping techniques are as intricate as origami (and require similarly complicated diagrams to puzzle through), others can be managed easily.

ORIGATA FOR BEGINNERS

Wrapping with cloth (furoshiki). With furoshiki, you can wrap almost anything--from a box to a ball. All you need is a piece of fabric and a refresher on how to tie a good Girl Scout knot: right over left, left over right.

It need not be expensive, either. Use a $2 bandanna (it costs the same as a sheet of fancy wrapping paper) or a silky scarf. The secret: the wrap must be square; a rectangle won't work. Handkerchiefs, table napkins, scarves, and even small tablecloths make great wraps. Practice on scrap paper the approximate size of the real cloth you'll be using. After a while, you'll get a better sense of size and where to fold.

To wrap, place the gift on the wrong side of the fabric, centered between east and west corners and slightly toward the south. Flip the southern flap over the object, tucking it under the object if necessary. Bring the north corner over the top so that it hangs loose over the side of the object (the most decorative or presentable corner should be used as the north comer). Then bring the east and west comers over the top of the object and knot.

Wrapping a bottle. Another popular wrapping method is to use several layers of tissue paper at once. The tissue is folded back on a diagonal to reveal the layers inside, an effect that is meant to be reminiscent of a furtive peek at the lining of a woman's kimono.

To wrap a bottle this way, stack four or five sheets of tissue paper, each one a different color, on a table. Choose the bottom sheet carefully because it will dominate the presentation. Slide the right edge of each sheet approximately 1/4 inch to the left of the one below it to reveal parallel bands of colored tissue paper on the right. Then cut a 2-inch square out of the bottom right corner of the tissue paper (one of your cuts should be across the colored bands).

Place the bottle on the bottom left side of the paper 2 inches in from both the side and the bottom, and roll to the right. Make sure the paper is large enough at the top to hide the bottle completely. Fold what's left of the paper's bottom edge flat against the bottom of the bottle and tape it down. Tie a knot or half-bow at the bottle's neck. Then fold all layers in one sharp diagonal crease from the bottle's bottom, tapering up to its shoulder (this, you now see, is why you cut the 2-inch square).

Wrapping a plant. Standard wrapping paper, no matter how gorgeous the design, is printed only on one side, leaving the back side plain. The Japanese solution is to glue the wrong sides of pretty papers together. One piece can be cut slightly smaller than the other to create a border all around, or two papers of the same size can be glued edge to edge.

To wrap a container plant, cut two sheets of paper square, about 3 1/2 times the diameter of the container. Place wrong sides together and glue with rubber cement. Smooth out wrinkles and trim if necessary. Fold one-third of the glued sheet on the diagonal; unfold. Center the object on the bigger side. Fold up the shorter front side of the wrap so that it comes to a point just above the rim of the container. Do the same in the back--it should provide a nice background for the plant. Secure with ribbon.

For more intricate Japanese wrapping techniques, consult Gift Wrapping: Creative Ideas from Japan, by Kunio Ekiguchi (Kodansha International, Tokyo, 1985; $19.95 hardbound, $15 paperback).

Source: www.findarticles.com