Useful Festive Things

A beautifully wrapped present is something of a delight, both to wrap and to receive. What isn’t so delightful is the mass of crumpled reindeer and sad metallic bows amassed at Christmas, stuffed into bin bags and unceremoniously disposed of. The more discerning wrappers amongst you may have heard of Wrag Wrap – fabric ‘gift wrap’ that looks (and even sounds with it’s special ‘crackle’ inner layer) like gift wrap but with none of the waste.

What’s new this year is the ‘festi-wrap’ – cleverly constructed from tents left behind after 2013’s festivals. A little reminder of the summer’s happenings reinvented as a rather useful festive trick. Each ‘wrap’ comes in a variety of sizes and with cords to attach it in place.

Speaking of useful festive things, you may remember back in September we covered The Poundshop at Selfridges? I was mourning its disappearance just at prime gift-buying time when I heard it is re-opening from 5 to 20 December at KK Outlet in Hoxton. Such joy! So I shall certainly be heading there to pick up some cheap and wonderful gifts for a joyful pound.

Another whimsical (and inexpensive to the extreme) gift idea is the ‘Sorry, I Spent It On Myself’ range at Harvey Nichols. Rather hilarious miniature packs of Harvey Nichols gravel, elastic bands, sink plugs or toothpicks from just 47p, all boasting the ‘Sorry, I Spent It On Myself’ line. There’s a funny viral film on the whole affair here. Mean but very amusing and a perfect little side gift.

So there we go. Gravel wrapped in an old tent. So very festive.