Page 2 December 20, 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance It’s a Wrap! By TerriAnn Ferren the living room, and I would put Christmas of different styles, colors and textures of she told me, “Always it is the same thing. We Every Christmas, my sister Linda and I music on the CD and make spiced apple wrapping paper and ribbon of all colors have a silver box and a ribbon and we wrap would help my mom wrap presents for my cider. Then I would clear a large space on and sizes. She didn’t say a word, but kept everything for the customer. Our service is cousins and family. It was always a bit of a my dining room table for my wrapping paper, changing the paper and ribbon on the box completely for the customer.” I asked Ellie if stressful time for me. The cellophane tape ribbon, cellophane tape, tissue and any other to make different styles and designs for the she does a good job wrapping and she said, “I seemed to have a life of its own and the Christmas bits I had left over from the year package. We ooohed and aaahed and it was do a good job, I fold nicely and try my best.” very obvious that everyone had a different Well, it seems like this store has it covered, style and taste in wrapping. That was of so to speak. On the way out, I asked Diane course years ago because I don’t see anyone Kleen, who happened to be shopping in the in school now learning the fine art of gift store, if she had noticed a change in stores wrapping. providing boxes and wrapping services. She One year, I peeked at all my gifts. I would told me, “I have already been shopping for take scissors and cut carefully along the Christmas, especially for my daughter. The seam of the end of the package and slide wrapping has changed. It has gone to bags out the box to take a peek and then slide a lot and I usually like a nice foil-wrapped it back and re-tape very gently. I told my present with a bow on it in a box. So I am husband Dave what I had done and after not so wild about the bags with the paper at that he would always keep my Christmas all. And if the stores do offer it wrapping presents at work in his office! That was the service, it isn’t the quality as it was before, last year I did that. so I do it myself.” Bullock’s and The Broadway used to The hardest gifts for me to wrap are toys. grace the Del Amo Mall and it seemed as They seem to be boxed in the oddest way as if they were in competition on who would to show the toy, but still give you a place to provide the best boxes and ribbon. In fact, touch and see how it works. You can either I remember coming home with bags of use a mile of wrapping paper (which I have boxes and ribbon given to me by the stores done) or use the new bag system. Yes, it’s that equaled the bags containing the gifts. in the bag. At most stores, you can now buy Durdana Bashir. Now you are lucky if you get a gift box. anywhere from tiny to huge-sized bags to put wrapping paper was a bit hard to control before that I used to attach to the gifts. All Last evening, I decided to stop by a local your gifts in complete with a gift card. Or and it would tear when I was too rough in the training I had wrapping gifts with my department store and see if sales associates buy a bag and throw a bit of tissue and there folding. And I remember I wished we would mom when I was young really helped. But were wrapping gifts. Durdana Bashir, who you go. Bagged gifts are artful, beautiful and just buy those ready-made bows with the somehow I could never master the perfect bow. lives in the South Bay and has worked in lovely, and who knew such an easy way to sharp plastic points in the middle that I saw Then one year, a friend taught me how cosmetics at the local department store for wrap would be all the rage? at the drugstore. All you had to do was to to make the perfect bow. You take at least a five years, told me, “We still have boxes and However you wrap up your gifts, do it stick your bow on the box. Hard to imagine one-inch-wide ribbon and loop it around to if somebody wants it products wrapped, I with joy and love. Whether you are wrapping that wrapping gifts dates back to the invention make a circle. The size of the circle dictates definitely will wrap it for them. We always up Hanukkah gifts in bright blue paper or of paper in China about 105 A.D. My mom how big the bow will be. Then you loop provide wrapping.” That was great to hear. Christmas gifts in red, green or gold, it is is an expert wrapper with the patience of the ribbon 10 times around the circle so Taking the escalator upstairs I stopped in the gift of ourselves enclosed in the true gift a saint or an origami master. Maybe that’s you have a thickness of 10 layers of ribbon hosiery and spoke with Ellie Sadr, who has we give each other. Merry Christmas, Happy because when she 14 years old, she got a around the circle. Press the circle flat. Then been working at the store for 11 years and Hanukkah and happy wrapping! • take the two ends and fold them together to mark the center with a crease. Cut a “v” at the center crease on each end making sure not to cut through the ribbon! Then take a separate piece of ribbon and tie it tight in a knot at the middle where you cut the v. Let the ends hang because you will use those to attach the ribbon to the ribbon around the box. Then open up the petals of the ribbon and you will have a fluffy, beautiful bow. Circle the package with ribbon and tie a knot at the top or front and then tie your perfect bow on the ribbon around the package over the knot. After I learned this technique, my packages Ellie Sadr. always looked beautiful. Try it for yourself. job addressing labels and then wrapping gifts It is said that wrapping paper as we know (among many other things) in the will-call it became popular during the 1920s. It had department at Kay’s Department Store on 52nd Christmas scenes and came in many colors. and Broadway (across from the competitor Before that, most packages were covered with Globe Department Store in Southwest Los brown paper or tissue paper and packages were Angeles. tied up with a string. After all, the reason to When Christmastime rolled around, I would wrap a present is to hide its contents so the wait until I had all my gifts purchased and recipient is surprised by the gift. then take one or two evenings and wrap In my high school Home Economics class everything at once. The Christmas tree was sophomore year, Sr. Marian Joseph, C.S.J always decorated, twinkling in the corner of stood in the front of the room with dozens Diane Kleen. Photos by TerriAnn Ferren. Harry’s & Sales Associate Wanted McCoy’s Moving experienced Display Advertising Associate. anneeds:Herald Publications, Inc. Family Owned & Operated for 65 Years Territories include: El Segundo, Torrance, “Discount to All Torrance Residents” Inglewood, Hawthorne and Lawndale •Time Starts At Your Door • Full or part-time positions •Guaranteed Price/Single Item Moves • 20% commission on all sales •FREE Use of Boxes & Wardrobes Harry’s & • BonusesMccoy’s Moving (310) 329-3493 Operated for 65 Years If interested please email your resume toFamily Owned & Free Estimates management@heraldpublications.com Licensed & Insured – CAL-T-160-989 No phone calls please.
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