Not your average Happy Hour
Posted by Vanessa
April 2, 2008
Permalink
I like sitting in beer gardens and just drinking cider, but this Friday I spent a good hour or two learning how to make origami birds and stars, as taught by my friend Otska. I’ve never bothered with origami before even though I love the way it looks because I get very frustrated trying to follow the instructions in books, but Otska was a very patient teacher and very encouraging. This is my very first origami bird – I’m going to post instructions soon on how to fold one (even though my lines are still not as crisp as they should be!). Otska also told me that in Japan, lots of origami birds stacked together bring good luck or good wishes. For instance, if someone is ill you make lots of birds and think positively about the person while crafting. It sounds nicer than flowers to me!
6 comments Categories: about us
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Japanese crafts are huge at the moment, which I find fantastic as I find them elegantly simple (not easy, but unfussy). I’m about to post about my new amigurumi book and the elephant I made for my friend’s baby.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 am
Ah how lovely!
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
I love origami!! Ever since a japanese woman came into our school and taught us some I have loved it :)
Hmm, in fact, there is a technmique called tea bag folding you may like – I will post about it on my blog for you!
I once made many many birds for a girl who was trying to collect 1000 birds… it was symbolic in some way but I can’t remember why it was 1000 now.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Emily – it was a survivor from the Hiroshima atomic blast – she was trying to cure herself of the cancer caused by radiation and promote peace. If you go to the Peace Pavilion in Hiroshima you can see them all…
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Oooh, I want to go to Japan!
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Kirsty, I agree, I would love to go to Japan, I’ve wanted to go there for years (and Lost in Translation made me want to visit even more!). It is just so culturally different, I think it would be a fabulous place to visit.