Today, Lorelle on WordPress encouraged us to share a few of our favourite things:
“Tell us why these things are special to you. Did they influence or change your life? Do you have a story or experience with these favorite things? Share the story.
By sharing your favorite things you reveal a little more about yourself to your readers.”
I’d like to share one unique passion of mine — origami. Making things out of paper gives me pure joy. It calms me down completely. The excitement is that I now can fold many things from memory, such as cranes, lotus, lily, boxes, spinner. I can entertain or bore people with them.
If you’re interested, you can see a few more origami that I’ve shared on my Flickr page recently.
I’ve received beautiful origami papers for birthday and Christmas. You can never have too many pretty papers. They’re all different in texture and style. Each paper has its own character and the emotion each conveys is unique. There are various types of Japanese washi paper to enjoy. There’re danshi or ceremony paper, momigami, mingeishi, itajimezomeshi, and patterned papers such as Kyo karakami, Kyo chiyogami, Edo chiyogami and many more.
However, you don’t need fancy paper to make origami. Origami should be the cheapest form of craft. Sometimes I just use normal plain paper, scraps, leaflets, or papers from any magazine to fold.
Origami is for sharing. I normally give them away for free. Once, I made a crane for a little girl on the train. I remembered her beaming from ear to ear.
While Prince Charles talks to plants, I talk to my paper. “I’ll use you, this beautiful paper with Pantone shades, for lily and butterfly. You, Kyo chiyogami decorative paper, on the other hand, is superb for my fancy boxes.”
I’m very lucky to have a lovely local friend, who supports and guides me. Whenever I’m stuck, Brenda would send me step-by-step instructions by post. Brenda is a member of British Origami Society, and she’s far more advanced than me. She would send me diagrams and models, and labelled her models in sequence. I could examine her models and work out my mistakes. In origami, I’m very lucky to have a supportive friend like Brenda. She is kind and gentle, and she would always go the extra mile to support me in practical ways. I’m very touched and humbled.
Another beautiful thing I love is simple sweet songs with beautiful lyrics, with harmonious melody and a pure beautiful voice — such as the song All Kinds of Everything by Dana, in the 1970 Eurovision song contest. I’m not used to pop, rock, and loud music, and I can’t relate to explosive western music. I love purity and simplicity.
You can find more Blog Exercises on Lorelle on WordPress. This is a year-long challenge to help you flex your blogging muscles.
My Related posts:
Borigami and Origami Daze
Origami joy: Pantone colours with Folded Square
Origami Challenge: modular origami cube
Origami for therapy
Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometrical origami
How to make a stunning origami modular star with 12 units?
How to make an elegant origami cube with 6 units?
Origami joy with William Morris prints
How to Make a Beautiful Origami Accordion Book (like a Very Hungry Caterpillar)?
How to Make a Beautiful Origami Accordion Book?
Janet's Notebook 
Your origami creations are beautiful.
Thank you Colline. I know you’ve been trying to teach school children with origami too. Good luck and hope you find a few origami that inspire you.
I have wanted to learn origami for years. I have a ton of paper and not the dexterity to manage it – nor time. Too many crafts on my place, not enough time to get to them all. I should send you all my pretty papers, papers I buy inspired by the idea of learning, then never getting around to it…sigh. It’s a favorite art form of mine, so I will just have to be content to call my favorite things regarding origami as those pieces made by others and cherish other things made by my own hands.
Thanks!
Like any craft, origami is a highly addictive hobby. You can enjoy it and make it at different levels. As you have the dexterity for tatting, sewing, doll-making and even in calligraphy, you definitely have the skill for origami. One day, you may even add origami to your list of attainment. I learnt origami from memory as a child, and it was what I did when it rained and our house was flooded. I would make sampans (my favourite) and all sorts of boats for the stream to carry them. It was our kind of ‘pooh’s stick’ game when the old days were just so boring.
Great post, Janet! Very interesting to know about all the different types of paper, and I love your work. I think I’ll look into the Origami Society too.
Thank you 🙂
Good luck. The Origami Society has a convention this summer in Edinburgh. Last year it was in Winchester and I attended the convention. If you’re really interested, don’t miss this great opportunity.
I was so impressed by your ability when you were here! I love your origami creations.
I don’t think I ‘created’ any, I only follow instructions and make them. I hope you manage to use those paper that I gave you last time. It’s fun. Your dogs love them. They’ll love you more if you give them your home-made origami.
That’s all they’re fit for 🙂
Fraser and Adam were so impressed by your origami, that they have brought all the things you made back to Munich with them – even the three little balls that Adam squashed. He has been desperatly trying to blow them back up again and when I tried, and failed, he looked at me as if to say, “You’re rubbish…bring back Auntie Janet!”
Fraser and Adam can have some of my origami books when they’re a bit older. My own son doesn’t seem to appreciate my passion. I’m pleased that Adam enjoyed squashing the ball — origami is for fun and the process of making. I squashed a lot of my origami out of frustration sometimes. I enjoy making and sharing, especially for kids.
I have dabbled in origami and have “inherited” some of my kid’s unused origami paper. I will need to get back to it! I love little boxes.
Origami can be very addictive! My suggestion is that first try out models that you like, and simple enough that you can manage. After gaining confidence, then move on to more challenging ones. Good luck!
I have already done some like lilies, cranes and flying saucers, but that was about 10 years ago – I need a refresher!
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