‘A box without hinges, key or lid yet golden
treasure inside is hid’. (JRR Tolkien)
I
love the anticipation and excitement of an unopened gift and deliberating its
potential contents. Does the shape belie
its identity? The moment prior to revealing
the mystery is the most enticing and gives the biggest thrill of all.
Gift
giving can indeed be a tricky business. However,
effort, care and due consideration is often its own reward when the recipient
is clearly delighted.
I strive to give gifts that are unique,
interesting and where possible evokes a treasured memory the significance of
which lies within the carefully chosen fabrics.
I rarely choose a functional item, unless specifically requested, preferring
to create gifts from treasured, rare or vintage textiles. The snippets of silk, cotton and linen;
scraps of yarn, floss and of course a sprinkle of beads and sequins are used to
create my dolls, bears and fish to name but a few items in the ‘Raganory’ repertoire.
Once
complete, attention has to be focused on the way the gift is to be
received. The presentation deserves the
same consideration as the gift itself. The
wrapping of choice should enhance the overall receiving experience, adding to
the suspense and thrill, but not so much that it outshines the gift.
Unfortunately,
there are difficulties obtaining off-the-peg
wrappings, boxes, packets and bags that fit exacting requirements. I feel that bespoke gifts need bespoke
packaging. Therefore, in pursuit of an authentic
handmade finish I have, in the past, presented my gifts in a range of different
ways; using tissue, cellophane and specifically designed organza drawstring
bags. However, irrespective of the
materials used the result was the same ill-fitting finish that lacked the consistency
and style I longed for.
Preferring a clean,
uncomplicated style I have more recently decided to devise my own box pattern
that can be adjusted to fit any of my creations. Functionally they protect and conceal the
contents and provide a blank canvas to embellish as lavishly or elegantly as
appropriate for the intended recipient. This approach affords a flexibility with regards to tailoring the gift to a specific individual yet maintaining a consistent style that is easily reproduced.
'That's a wrap!'
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