The Art of Wrapping Gifts!

These last two weeks have been filled with lots of wrapping of presents.  While, I loath this part of Christmas, it did bring up some very interesting questions for me.  What exactly is the art of wrapping paper and who started this?  

I read on the do-it-yourself website that "...according to the Japanese, who are masters at gift wrapping, it is a ritual with great meaning."  Really, what is the meaning?  I guess I will have to go look this up, as it has peaked my interest.

Japanese gift wrapping is called tsutsumi.  They use both paper and cloth for creating these simple and elegant wrapped gifts. The large piece of cloth that is used is referred to as Furoshiki.  This type of gift wrapping is used by the Japanese for birthday, holiday, and wedding gifts.  They even use this type of wrapping when shopping.    You can even support and promote recycling by using this specific type of wrapping technique.  So, all you conservationists looking for a new idea for wrapping presents this year should definitely look into this.


Read more about Japanese Gift Wrapping here.

Also, don't forget to always have at your side the relevant tools necessary to wrap a present including scissors, one-sided and double-sided tape, paper cutter, wrapping paper, ribbon, and bows. 

Here is an awesome article on the history of wrapping gifts. 

Off to read the article and maybe get enlightened on this strange tradition!

Done with the Freaky Deaky New Year's Art Dolls!

Whew, I am finally done with the other two art dolls for the Freaky Deaky 2012 New Year's Swap.  I love making art dolls, but I need to get back to making ATC's for fear I may lose my muse for doing them.  Anyways, here is Zombie Girl Avery and Lady Lydia.

This is Avery, who is now a zombie. She got off the school bus, on her way back from an away game, to go to the bathroom. No one on the bus bothered to count the girls to make sure they were all aboard before taking off and she was left behind. The gas station was owned by zombies and when she came out of the bathroom, they gave her the deadly zombie bite and made her a part of their family. She misses basketball and all of her friends. She realizes now the importance of telling someone where you're going and accepts her fate.

Lady Lydia is ready to party and is looking for someone to be her escort!

Getting Down with the Freaky!

This is Toby the wanna-be house elf. Please do not mistake him for his "perfect" brother Doby the house elf. Toby was born with one side longer than the other and his eyesight wasn't perfect either. Toby loves to party and is really looking forward to turning over some new leaves with this upcoming 2012 year. He loves walks in the bog and absolutely hates house work. Aside from the rather severe tooth malformations he really is a handsome guy. Toby is not sure yet what is wearing for the upcoming New Year's Eve party, but he is considering a couple of different options.

I totally don't have the gory, gruesome, or grotesque kind of mind, but I do like the weird and wacky when it comes to creatures.  So, I signed up for the the Dolls: Freaky Deaky New Year's Swap and this is my second doll I have made so far.

Next is Alexander the poison dart frog.   Alexander kills an average of 10 people a year. He never gets invited to parties and when he finally does, he brings his own darts. If you decide to chance playing a game with him beware; very few have lived to tell anyone about it and if you miss his dart board that has been painted on his stomach; he gets a free throw at you!

As soon as I get the other two done I will share those with you all as well!