<DIV><DIV><I>Furoshiki</I> is a centuries-old Japanese tradition of wrapping objects in a square piece of cloth. Originally used by people to transport necessities to and from public baths, merchants adapted the practice to carry, protect, and gift-wrap their products. With the onset of plastic bags, however, this beautiful custom diminished. Luckily, today's eco-friendly movement has stirred interest in this lovely practice once again. This book will teach you the four basic knots and various folding methods used to create handbags, backpacks, shopping bags, and bottle bags for objects of varying shapes and sizes. Traditional embroidery designs are included so you can customize each of your furoshiki and bring beauty, style, and environmental consciousness to your life.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV><B>Kumiko Nakayama</B> graduated in sewing and drawing from the famous Bunka Fashion School in Tokyo. She settled in France in 1989 and now works in the field of home decoration and designs fabrics. Nakayama has published four books in Japan.<BR></DIV></DIV>