Customer Reviews

The Shabby Chic Gift of Giving

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Rachel Ashwell makes incredibly beautiful fabrics and needs to stick to what she knows best. She offers some good ideas in this book, but not enough - some of her ideas are downright tacky. I'm a big fan of Shabby Chic and was disappointed with this book. If you've seen some of her shows on the Style Channel, then you've seen enough.

I am enchanted by this book! I have a minor obsession with all things crafty, and when I bought "The Gift of Giving" I expected a how-to. I was pleasantly surprised to find, however, that the editorial content in this book is far more inspirational. Basically, Rachel gives you great ideas without the step-by-step uniformity that saps gifts of their personal creativity. In short, gift-giving should be highly personal, and this book gave me great ideas that will let my own creativity breathe free.

What a charming book. It's about time there was a Shabby Chic book that contained ideas other than home decorating. This book inspired me to see the possibility of a gift in every item.

The good ideas in this book would have made a great magazine article, but that's about it. I have all of the other Shabby Chic books and I love them, but this one was a big letdown. I couldn't believe there was a chapter on how to decorate your kid's lunch! Another thing--the publisher calls this a hardcover, but it's not.

This book was an extreme let down. I even showed my sister in law just to make sure I was not judging it too harshly, and she agreed that the ideas inside were not very great at all. If you are looking for a truly original book on parties and gift giving with lots of ideas, beautiful photographs and drawings, I would recommend Tracy Porter's Inspired Gatherings.

Being a faithful follower of the Shabby Chic style, I was disappointed to see that most of the material in this book (pictures also) were pulled out of her TV show.If you have seen her shows then you don't need this book.I was expecting new pictures, new material, new ideas.Her last book was a constant inspiration for me when decorating my home.

Rachel Ashwell is just brilliant at coming up with new ways of seeing objects. Her books have changed my life and the way I decorate. THE GIFT OF GIVING has so many wonderful ideas for gifts, I am looking forward to having a weekend to hunt around my house for fabulous bits that could become--anything!

What a disappointment! There are no projects with directions, and what the author deems inspirational ideas consist of such things as SEVERAL PAGES describing why it is nice to stick a loving note in your kids' lunchboxes. Mind you, I would have been delighted with a book of inspirational ideas -- but this sure wasn't it. I'd be ashamed to give 99% of the items as gifts; they're both tacky and yucky. The few decent ideas (gifts of herbs or flowers, citing the meaning of each) are old hat if you read any books, magazines, or online crafts lists. This was a huge disappointment and a colossal waste of money; what could have been wonderful instead seemed heavily padded to use up space, rather than providing viable/innovative ideas (or even good ideas, never mind original). I returned mine to Amazon.

I really like this book and it has inspired me to create some beautifully themed and wrapped gifts. The ideas I got were not copied directly from her book, but the ideas in her book were sort of a jumping point to get me thinking about themed gifts, specially thought out wrapping, and "gift giving" even on the small occasions when a friend is sick, or just because. I always get great comments on my gifts and how they are presented and I have this book to thank :) Maybe if you are ultra creative on your own, you won't need this book, I personally enjoy the eye candy and it really gets me thinking creatively and outside the box.

I have a HUGE obsession with Shabby Chic & anything Rachel Ashwell, so I have to admit at FIRST I was abit dissapointed with the Gift of Giving. It was described as Hard Cover. It is NOT a hard cover. It is also not really paperback, I call it soft cover. I REALLY want a hard cover with a dust jacket when I buy a nice book.
At first glance I was a little dissapointed with the context of the book. It's not the usual Shabby Chic book (and in the authors defence...it was NOT mean to be) But when I sat down & read the book cover to cover I really enjoyed the book. It is all about making your gift to someone extra special. Many people buy a gift without giving it much thought. You know you have to buy your "best friend a birhtday gift" so you think "Well she likes candles- I will get her one" Rachel shows you ways to make it even more special. That even wrapping the gift is special & can be part of the gift giving experience. Rachel discusses that there is a process to gift giving. You can start finding things for the gift long before you actually give to gift to the recipient. Perhaps your friends b-day is in a winter month & she loves the outdoors, or she grew up living in the Mts. You could wrap her gift in a pretty box with a beautiful ribbon & if it needs to be mailed you could surround the wrapped gift box by scented pinecones to keep the gift from shifting in the box that is mailed. (this is NOT one of her ideas)...but it is an example of how to personalize your gift to someone special. The Gift of Giving really inspired me to have fun with gift giving & the whole process. I enjoyed using her thoughts as I was sending off gifts this yr to friends & family. I have had several people thank me not only for the gift itself but for the packaging that it came in! And I had FUN doing it!
Rachel also talks about making the little things special......like fixing a lunch for a child. Children LOVE presentation & it shows them at some level that you are thinking of them when they are not there. By adding a special note to their lunch or adding something special or even "cutting fruit roll" into the shape of a heart or a smiley face can really make someone smile. After reading the book through........ I LOVE it more & more. The ideas are endless & personal. It doesn't have to be costly. Start saving the little things, they could be the "finishing touch" to the perfect gift!