Stories

We've just moved to a new area. In a happy twist of fate the twins' birthday is early in the term and provided a perfect opportunity to both celebrate and meet some local families.  The girls hadn't had a proper birthday party for 2 years (thank you Covid) so we...

Furoshiki, or Japanese Wrapping Cloths are most commonly used for wrapping gifts, carrying one's lunch (bento) or tied into a bag to carry groceries.  Furoshiki, which means Japanese bath spread, derives from the traditional practice of using them to bundle clothes while at the sento or public baths. Arguably, the tradition dates back to the...

Furoshiki is a word that comes from the combination of Furo 'bath' and Shiki 'to spread' referencing its origins to wrap clothing when one went to a public bath house. Traditionally they have been made from silk or cotton and the best traditional makers (many in Kyoto) still make from...

We love to give. As part of celebrating all things giving we're sharing stories of unforgettable moments when someone received or gave a gift that they'll always remember. It doesn't have to be big. Just thoughtfully perfect.This story is mine.My dear friend Karen's life is entwined with ours. We've lived, eaten and...

At the moment, I'm finding comfort in being the tortoise. Like any small business we have limited time and resources. And man, I spend so much time worrying - am I using my time on the best possible thing I can? Worrying that I am not moving as fast as I should. ...

When you have twins you have a particular need to label gifts well. Imagine ending up with an uneven number of gifts? Cue the tears.  We've been thinking about the best tags for fabric wrapped gifts. Here's some of the best ways we have found. Some require store-bought tags and some are...

  This Christmas we kicked off a campaign to increase awareness about the amount of waste generated. Our aim was to encourage to be more thoughtful about how they give. Giving is, after all, an act of love.  In particular we wanted to increase awareness of the amount of waste...

This festive season we spoke to inspiring people who all help others wrap with care - be it giving beautifully, ethically or in this case quite literally - in a cosy (Colsie) Tartan Blanket.  First I need to say that every single person I have dealt with within the company...

We've launched a campaign! It's all about encouraging people to give with more care, less waste this Christmas. It's called Wrap with Care. For everyone who joins us and pledges to Wrap with Care we will plant a tree with the fabulous Mossy Earth. This year has been tough, strange and...

We sometimes get asked when our Christmas prints are coming. I'm afraid they're not. We don't do Christmas prints for two reasons. Firstly, we're not really chintzy people. We love giving presents - it's why we started this - and love Christmas time, but not the tackiness. Having said that, there are...

Eco-friendly fabric. Nowadays there is eco-friendly everything, so it shouldn't be a problem right? Well, yes and no. We are always looking for the best fabrics to use for our wraps. Meanwhile we do the best we can, but we know it's not perfect. (See more about our materials and making...

We're all about giving here, so here are seven plastic free gift ideas that you can start to use today, and throughout the rest of the year.  First up, a reminder to make sure that whatever you give, please do so using wrap that doesn't contain glitter or foil which...

Our wraps build on traditional Japanese methods of cloth wrapping which started as both art and necessity. It is interesting to note that the tradition of using fabric to wrap started in a similar period but in different parts of the world. Furoshiki, JapanFuroshiki, which means Japanese bath spread, derives from the traditional...

Note, this is a re-post of an article we wrote for The Vendeur in 2019, a site for the seriously stylish with a social conscience. Wrapping. Unless you are a serious ‘uber-wrapper’ (you know who you are), our research shows that wrapping tends to be the last thing we think about when it...

Have you ever panic bought a last-minute gift before arriving at a birthday party, dinner party, Secret Santa day at work? Our bet is you’re not alone. Picture the mad dash to the nearest shop to grab a bottle, some chocolates and a gift bag to make it look like...

 Covid. It's sweeping tragedy affecting so many people in many ways. We came across this brilliant method to make your own face mask using a scarf or furoshiki and wanted to share it. It is very easy and there is no sewing required. You need a square scarf (ideally cotton) or even...

Contract not renewed. Covid, not a fit, not quite the experience needed. All good reasons. But still, a brutal moment in one's life. Particularly when it's not the first time. I cried. I soul-searched. Chatted with Margot :)And finally admitted that what I really want to do is this. For real. Real real. Doing something...

There are traditionally 10 different sizes of Furoshiki wrapping cloth. The most useful all-rounders are 50cm (19 inches) and 70cm (27 inches). These hard-working Furoshiki can be used to create a carry bag, wrap gifts or used as a bento wrap for your lunch. Each of the 10 different traditional...

Not all wrapping paper is created equal. Equally recyclable that is, according to the BBC. Although recycling does vary by borough, here are some top tips from the Recycling Association. 1. Say no to glitter. Yes, we too love shiny, but not at this price. 2. Wrapping paper with shiny silver or gold foil fails...