Feb 032010

Everyone needs love and valentine is the best time to express this strong and important emotion.

Millions around the world celebrate Feb 14 through exchanging personalized gifts.

Some chose traditional presents such as fresh flowers, chocolate, cakes,candy and balloons.  Others go for unusual presents such as personalized gift baskets which may include anything ranging from  a simple silk scarf to roses or laptops and mobiles.

There are no hard and fast rules of what a valentine’s gift should be.  It is your own special way of expression your own feelings and no one dictates your heart.

A variety of gift ideas are available around the web and many of the mentioned items are even available online.  They can be delivered to your sweetheart in cheesy wrapping paper with personalized ‘I love you’ notes.

Many e-cards sites give you the option of sending free messages and love poems.

So imagination is the key and the expression is yours!

Nov 182009

Walking around malls I have always been attracted to accessory shops.  I’ve always enjoyed looking through racks of small everyday objects and thinking of how they can be brought to some other use other than the purpose they are made for.  For example I’ll pick up colorful finger rings and try to use them as napkin holders.

But most of all I’ve always been attracted to scarf shops and stalls and enjoy using them as gift wrappers.  Scarves are cost effective and eco friendly as compared to conventional paper wrapping as they can be reused.  They make amazing wrap sheets and can be used to pack gifts of all size and shapes.

I use all sorts of scarves and wraps including cotton, pashmina, wool, lace, fur, jute, linen, silks and chiffons for my wrappings depending on the object to be wrapped.

My generally preference is a plain color silk scarf for small and delicate objects as silk adds royalty even to the oddest of things.  For bigger presents I use larger wraps and shawls so they provide a good covering as well as stand the weight of the stuff inside.

Having a keen eye for scarves I always end up buying inexpensive yet interesting scarf colors and patterns.  For example a light blue flannel scarf with small white polka dots would be an ideal wrap for a baby boy’s birthday gift.  At times I just wrap my gifts in simple pieces of packing scarf and at times I ornate them with additional accessories like ribbons, lace and pins.  Another example would be wrapping  Christmas gifts in a Santa print scarf and adding small bells on it.

So next time you want to wrap a present try to pick the wrapper from your wardrobe and give your gift an additional value!