The art of gift - wrapping

So, my friend's little son had his birthday, and he was opening gifts. He struggled a bit to get the paper off one of them. - Oooh, a car! We applauded encouragingly when a green truck revealed itself from within the shiny red gift-paper. The boy gave the car a rather uninterested glance - and turned his attention back to the paper. Red and bright, with some glittery spots. He giggled and waived it triumphantly in the air, carefully inspecting it, making a ball of it - which he lost on the floor. Crisis! His mum picked it up, and tried to sneak it out to the garbage. NOT a popular decision with Birthday Boy whose face turned completely red, and I swear that his furious screams could have waken up a sleeping giant! The mum hurried back - with The Paper! Oh joy! He laughed and hugged it dearly - like he was welcoming a long lost friend.

And I don't think he is the only one who has fallen in love with the shiny wrapping paper rather than with the gift inside? But maybe usually kids? Well not anymore! Because, my dear reader, let me say one thing: if you ever get a present wrapped up in gift paper from India, - well, then my guess is that you might act just like that little boy! Oh yes! I am not joking. You will admire it, caress it, and maybe even make it into a ball and throw it in the air while you scream with joy?! Who knows?!

And if you have one of these relatives- I think we all do - you know, the ones who walk silently around picking up the used gift wrapping paper, smoothing it out, while mumbling: it-is-a-shame-to-throw-away-something-so-beautiful. Well, I am pretty sure that they will go bananas by the sight of the gift paper from India, and don't be surprised if you yourself start to act that way too! You might feel a sudden urge not to let that paper get away..

So, envelopes, paper, small cards, big cards, gift tags, wrapping paper, small boxes, big boxes, stars, small bags, big bags, frames - all with patterns and colors and decorations which are simply amazing. Small pieces of art, really. Invaluable tools for taking the art of gift-wrapping to a new level.. Just have a look:

Frames; perfect for the annual pictures of your kids, - to their grandparents:-) Bags, paper and boxes in all sizes and colors you can imagine. Everything you need to wrap up your gifts!

Colorful envelopes with small glass pearls, and gorgeous patterns. A gift in itself:-) 

Wrapping paper, cards and bags. And my favorite: elephant envelopes:  perfect gift-bags for shawls, books and cd's!

You may find envelopes, paper and gift bags in most book stores in India. I found some beautiful gift bags and cards in a shop at Hasnabad Lane in Santacruz. I got totally lost (in a positive way) in Chimanlals at Fort. The problem there is to be able to decide what to get. When a friend and I just went there - we spent hours. Really, hours. So, know this, dear family and friends - your Christmas gifts will have a captivating look this year. Be prepared to hang on to your paper and to guard it from lurking relatives:-)

Beautifully decorated small paper stars:-) They have them in Chimanlals - in lots of different colors.
You build them (read: open them) - but very easy- peasy! ( IKEA-style) Perfect for upcoming Christmas:-)  

Have a wonderful day, dear reader, and thanks for following! Bye bye from Mumbai!