Wrapping Finale

Okay, so today was the last day of my wrapping class....and here are my beautiful creations.... ;)

We started with some origami practice. We were focusing on kimono today, so we had to get the basics down on paper first.

The green on can be used to write names on for place settings and the orange can be used as a chopstick/toothpick holder...really cute. I would have never thought to use them in that way. I will definitely say that this class got the creative juices flowing....

You may notice that I accidentally made the green one a bit on the wide side....the teacher said...oh that is the pregnant kimono like you and the orange is after labor...hehehe....ummm....yeah we aren't going to comment on that....but she had good intentions.

Next we learned how to wrap the wine bottle to resemble a woman wearing a kimono. This is actually really simple but does require a few cords and ribbons to hold it all together.

Finally, we practiced something called peacock wrapping.

Pretty creative, and you can tape the top of it together so it is shaped like one big bow. This is really easy to do. You just make the top side of the paper longer than needed and then fold it back and forth like a paper fan. You then tie a cord or ribbon around the center....super easy!

Anyway, I think I learned a lot of good basic things from this course, and I would like to continue. However, at the same time I'm glad to have it finished with...and it is kind of too cold to get out now anyway. So, I think I will focus on tying up some other loose ends before I commit to anything else.

Tapeless Wrapping....yes it is possible.

Today I learned the most amazing skill. I can now say that I can wrap gifts without having to use tape, and it looks even better than traditional wrapping. It is done through a series of folds and tucks and is amazing. Here is a little snippet of how its done.

And voila! You insert a card in the pocket. Really cute. Everyone said that this was the most difficult style, but I thought it was the easiest. I will never use tape again!! haha

I finished a little bit earlier, so here is a sneak peak of the classroom that we use.

Next we practiced using single sided ribbon to make bows. I have mad bow making skills now...well kind of.

Finally it was furoshiki time! I love, love, love this part of class. We learned how to make wine bottles more presentable for either dinner parties or for gift giving.

Wine bottle before:

Wine bottle after:

Rather elegant don't you think? Now I just need someone to invite me over so I can gift some beautiful wine.

Christmas Wrapping Fun!!

Today was a nice, calm day....but with a few surprises....For instance, when zipping up my pants I found out that they were...well..let's just say a bit more than snug...hahaha. Now usually this would make me crazy and head for the gym, but well it's all for a good cause.

Anyway, first order of business was shopping for laundry detergent. Usually I buy the same thing every time, but the marketing company got me.

Winter Edition...hahaha...cute box... so I got it.

After doing a bit of household shopping, I headed over to Omotesando for my gift wrapping class. It was pretty tiring, but so much fun. I learned a ton also!!

Now my pictures are really bad today...so sorry...but I was so tired when I got home...they look so much better in real life. This box is wrapped in green paper and I made the card on the front as well. You just insert the card into slits in the wrapping paper....really cute.

Next we practiced with two-sided crepe paper.  This was quite tough since the paper is sooo heavy, and I am quite terrible at making bows...but I will say the v shapes that I cut on the bottoms of the ribbon were really cute.

Finally we practiced with furoshiki which are Japanese wrapping cloths. This was by far my favorite part (because it was the easiest...haha). We learned three styles from most formal to least formal. The least formal is what I took a picture of above. Surprisingly, this was the most difficult style (though none were particularly difficult really). We also learned about the proper way to give them as well as the proper way to return furoshiki. She also told us the small details that help you to wrap them properly. She said that nowadays most Japanese women don't do it properly. They instead just kind of do the general process...which takes away from its beauty.... :)....But I definitely loved these!!

Now, I did keep in mind Ten at the end of the day. I mean the reason that I get to do all of this fun stuff is because he works really hard. So, I picked up a dessert that I know that he really likes....

Blueberry and custard...

Of course I got one for me too!! :)

Look what I made...

Today I headed over to the Tokyo Union Church for my obi covered picture frame making class....and here is my finished product...with the wheel of my bike and cell phone in the background....

We used the fabric of an obi (sash worn with kimono) and built the frame with a frame making kit. It took about an hour and a half to make it, but it was pretty fun. Also, it turned out a lot better than I thought it would.

I told the teacher that I liked pink and blue, and was totally disturbed when she pulled out all of these shocking pink and electrifying blue fabrics...yuck....so I dug around and found this one...The teacher said that she was surprised that I chose it since it is a more traditional pattern...Tradition beats ugly any day....hahaha... and when the light hits the gold...it is really pretty.

Anywho, I am looking forward to heading over to Asakusabashi to pick up more fabric and kits to make these as gifts...hint, hint to anyone who may want one....just leave me a message and I will see what I can do.... :)

The teacher also teaches doll making classes, and I absolutely fell in love with the ones that I saw in her catalogue....am so going to try to resist temptation and maybe take that course next time since I still have a wrapping course to start and finish....so tempting though....so, so tempting though.