Gift presentation important

Forget the ubiquitous gift bag and tissue paper. If you want to wow the recipient of your gift, look for inspiration in “Presentations: A Passion for Gift Wrapping,” by Carolyne Roehm.

The first thing you notice about the book is the beautifully wrapped gift on the front. A spray of violets rests on a bow of grosgrain ribbon. In this case, you can judge a book by its cover. Inside is just as pretty.

Carolyn Roehm was trained as a fashion designer by Oscar de la Renta, and her sense of style carries over to packaging ordinary objects elegantly.

The book is arranged seasonally, with tips for wrapping packages with natural trimmings such as fresh flowers, raffia and pinecones. Roehm gives special hints for creating eye-catching presents for children and she goes into detail about choosing the right paper, ribbons and embellishments in the “how-to” section. A two-page photo spread gives step-by-step instructions for wrapping the perfect gift.

It’s the thought that counts, right? Roehm shows us that the thought behind the presentation of the gift is just as important.