Last night I watched Spice World on basic cable and made origami cranes. And glittered them. That’s how I roll. I’m not good at origami and half the stuff comes out wonky, but I like the way the wonky ones look best when they are displayed all in one big mass.
Like this.
This wreath is from the window of Black & Spiro, as in Anna Spiro of Absolutely Beautiful Things (not going to lie – I’m a little bit obsessed with her instagram feed). This woman is reason #77 why I think I was originally intended to be born in Australia, but I digress. Anyway. The wreath!
I was thinking I could show you a finished wreath today, but as you can see, that’s not happening. What is happening is a whole lot of paper cuts and some pretty business in a garbage bin. Did you ever have that when the mess in the garbage looks better than the mess on your desk? Yesterday the glitter mixed in all over the bitsy fabric scraps and then some fruity chunks were dropped on top and it all looked like one big sparkly Christmas pasta salad. Did you ever have that problem?
Okay. Stay tuned for further adventures in origami.
I don’t have a picture, but we (my kids and I – mostly me) made about 120 origami balloons and put them on a strand of Christmas lights. I think you would enjoy the effect if your cranes don’t work out.
I have seen pictures of something similar in Sweden. If I had any confidence in my origami skills, I would totally do it!
I resemble this process. I’ve posted about this process – not as eloquently as you have here, but, yes, what I try doesn’t always work. And the not always working seems to run in waves. For instance, I tried making clay wishbones for everyone to have one to break. They turned out rubbery and bendy and no breaking.I tried again – with the same result. Thank you for sharing that sometimes our artistic talent isn’t equal everywhere. I needed to know that everyone experiences failure once and a while in the blogosphere. Thank you!
Ha! You are most welcome. Glad my failures can serve a purpose!
I always go to origami when I am fresh out of ideas. This vase: http://www.origami-make.com/origami-vase-verdi.php looks really good done in parchment paper, and then poke a hole in the bottom to feed your Christmas light into. It’s an easier pattern than it actually looks. Also, modular origami is also really nice when finished. You just make the same piece over and over and then stick them together to make 3D projects. My favourite modular origami is called the Electra icosidodecahedron (which is a fancy name for *really cool and intricate star that can be used in a variety of ways*), in which you make (I think) 30 of the same piece (module) and then assemble them. Would make a good tree topper or smaller versions as balls for the tree. I always glue my modular origami modules together, because I dont know how to get them to stay together by working the folds. I guess it’s not true origami if glue is involved, but it’s still pretty cool looking :D. Love Rook xo
Ah, failures. Don’t we all have them, Auntie Peaches! Your honesty is refreshing.
The star pattern is gorgeous, Rook… but I’m starting with little gift boxes, detailed quite rationally in the vid at following link. Assembly is clearly demonstrated, too. They’ll be perfect vehicles for a couple of little gifts from Santa… ahem… if I’m successful. Wish me luck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3MEZunaypg
Let’s try again:
http://komsanmusic.com/watch.php?vid=4fba1f75e
Gosh…so many inspiring ideas. Some of the sidebar ideas on these websites are amazing. I can’t even imagine having the skills to be able to do that kind of origami (or the storage space, but that’s another story!)
Actually, Auntie, that modular stuff is really easier. Easier than the crane folding for sure! And it’s repetitive, so once you get the gist of doing them, you can do them without thinking. By the time you know it, you have stacks of modules made. Then you assemble them by sticking whatever piece into the other. Once you complete a whole modular, you can see how sturdy it is and how it goes together, so you can keep doing it.
Peaches, I love your blog and am always checking for updates. This has to be the best post yet entirely because you admitted to watching Spice World.
All successful origami projects require the participation of children to create the pieces. Origami is not for adults, in case no one told you that.