With a combination of inventive wrapping designs, inspiring personal essays, and step-by-step techniques, Megumi Inouye invites readers to transform the act of wrapping into a gratitude practice. Drawing on the gift-giving traditions of her Japanese heritage, Inouye explores how the act of giving a thoughtfully wrapped gift can be a creative, caring act for both the giver and the receiver. Using recycled and repurposed materials, Inouye’s approach inspires readers to think intentionally about the presentation of every gift, whether it's a tip for an unseen hotel housekeeper, a simple gift of fresh fruit for a neighbor, or a special birthday gift for a beloved family member. Detailed step-by-step photos teach Inouye's artful approach to every aspect of wrapping—including tape-free folding, paper and fabric bows, clever message tags, and one-of-a-kind approaches for odd-shaped items—and guide readers in creating their own unique gift presentations.

About the author: The presentation of a gift - and the wrapping it comes in as part of that presentation - is an integral part of the gift according to Megumi Inouye. Done right, it amplifies the gift within, tells rich stories, and deepens the connection between the giver and recipient.

The Japanese of course, are the masters of the thoughtful package, inspired by the culture of gift-giving. Megumi, born in LA, but whose parents hailed from Japan, knows all about that. Her packaging which often incorporates recycled and found materials is 3D, ingenious, modern, and sculptural. And as any good design should be, it’s often highly functional, practical and sustainable. In her words “there is beauty and transformational power in giving a second life to things that otherwise might be overlooked or discarded.”

For Megumi, though, gift wrapping is a profoundly creative and personal act. “I put my heart and soul into packaging – it’s my vehicle for expressing my thoughts, intentions, wishes.”

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