Wrapped with love

'Gift wrapping is an expression of how you feels towards a person,' says Dubai-based giveaway designer

Beauty is appreciated by everyone in all forms. When Priti Lalwani began presenting her friends and family with gifts wrapped attractively the presentation was highly appreciated and she was encouraged to pursue this hobby more seriously.

Soon, she was designing giveaways and presents for occasions, ranging from weddings, birthdays, Valentine parties and baby announcements. "Gift wrapping is an expression of how you feel towards a person," believes Priti. "So, a little extra effort in decorating a present can make a difference in conveying positive feelings without verbalising."

Laces, nets, ribbons, buttons, trimmings, flowers, crystals, paper and polyresin figures are only some of the materials she uses in wrapping gifts.

Depending on the occasion and personal preferences, she can conceive a design for giveaways for anyone interested. While Priti has not had any formal training in art, she has the talent to create artistic objects.

Apart from embellishing gifts, she also has a flair for oil painting. Her tryst with painting began when her husband, Manoj, surprised her with art material he bought while in India. Completely self-taught, she paints faces, figures and landscapes with skilful ease.

"The only difficulty I had as someone with no art training is figuring out the interplay of colours on the canvas," she says. "However, I have learned by reading and experimenting." Priti has held several workshops for children, teaching them various crafts, including henna designing, pottery, mosaic, and finger-painting.

"Experience has taught me that creativity is about discovering and developing your latent talent," says Priti. "With a little bit of guidance, we can cultivate artistic skills." Her future plans involve conducting a workshop for ladies and sharing creative ideas.