Origami Reduced To Size
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I am working on decor for our school auction and as you can see, it will involve many cranes (more than a thousand!).
I will not openly admit to exactly how long it finally took for the folds of that first crane to click for me (let’s just say mine looked more like an inchworm and I was truly worried I’d bitten off more than I could chew), but I’m happy to say I finally got it and have been buzzing along. Emma decided she wanted to try. I said “of course”, but made the whole idea sound challenging enough to be discouraging for an 11 year old, hoping she would anticipate the frustration she might feel with that first one. Explaining she just may struggle with it, but don’t give up.
But, really, I forget who I’m dealing with here. This girl has always had amazing fine motor skills. (And an added benefit, she gives better back rubs than just about anyone I know.) By the time I’d given her the “don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t click right away” talk, she was folding her 3rd crane and reading a book at the same time. I was eating crow crane.
OK then? Fine. But! Can you fold tiny ones? Super tiny? Like the ones we saw from Japan? The ones you could barely even see?
This girl doesn’t pass up a challenge-
I introduce to you- the tiniest origami cranes ever folded in the wise craft house. Done with a needle.
And kept in a origami box.
With origami dividers.
I feel these are the hands of possibly a future surgeon, or maybe a fine jeweler. I know I will be putting any surgeon I’m checking out through the ol’ fold an origami crane with a needle technique.
Yep.
Heather
March 2, 2010 at 6:31 amThose are adorable! I’m all thumbs with origami myself, and can’t imagine doing it on such a small scale. Way to go, Emma!
Allison
March 2, 2010 at 6:59 amHow stunningly intricate and small! I fear I could never attempt such a nimble endeavor. Beautiful job, Emma.
Annie
March 2, 2010 at 7:08 amMy life would certainly be much, much easier if I had fine motor skills like your girl. Ahem.
Do you know of a good online tutorial for folding cranes? I kind of love them but have never really tried to learn how to make them myself.
Making it Lovely
March 2, 2010 at 7:11 amWhat a wonderful project to undertake. I just wrote a list of things I’d like to do, and learning to make a paper crane is one of them.
blair/wisecraft
March 2, 2010 at 7:20 amTry this one- http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-crane.html
Erin | house on hill road
March 2, 2010 at 7:42 amwith a needle? wow!
nice work, emma.
fidget
March 2, 2010 at 7:44 amAMAZING!!! That is just made of pure awesome. Folded with a pin? Craziness!
Cat
March 2, 2010 at 7:45 amThey look so great in those colours!
Lizette
March 2, 2010 at 7:49 amThis is awesome. Sophia and Emma could have a mini exchange. My girl has so much patience for making miniature fimo artifacts, mini letters (and writing), etc. I admire that ability in anyone 🙂
Cele
March 2, 2010 at 8:11 amSo tiny , Emma has amazingly nibble fingers.
tracy
March 2, 2010 at 8:12 amholy moly. that’s one talented gal you’ve got.
Annemarie
March 2, 2010 at 8:16 amI love those! I wish I could do things so intricate.
Lovely World
March 2, 2010 at 8:21 amMy girl and your girl would get along grandly. Miriam takes on any challenge that involves fussy, detailed work. I guess I’m like that with my sewing, and her dad is like that in the operating room. Maybe it is genetic.
Adriana
March 2, 2010 at 9:28 amIsn’t it wonderful when the little ones surprise us in ways like that? How cool of Emma to enjoy sitting down to crafting with you and what a lovely thought of you to think of what those skills hands will do in the future.
Lovely post, Blair 🙂
Vintage Chica
March 2, 2010 at 10:33 amOh Blair, they are beautiful! Your girl there loves a challenge just like her sweet mama. And I thought I had my hands full making origami yodas for valentine’s day…happy folding!
Lise
March 2, 2010 at 10:56 amWOW. That’s amazing!
Lasso the Moon
March 2, 2010 at 11:08 amOh my. What a talent. Those are beautiful and inspiring. Can’t wait to see what you do with them for the auction.
Anna
Tiff@Dogwood Lane
March 2, 2010 at 11:27 amWow I’m amazed at your daughter! How cool are those tiny cranes.
annri
March 2, 2010 at 12:37 pmin Japanese: sugoi! = great! (strong)
in Japanese: chisai = small (tiny)
in Japanese: kiioh = master (of a craft)
That’s a girl after my own the-smaller-the-better heart!
Annie
March 2, 2010 at 1:54 pmI will- thanks!
Sarah
March 2, 2010 at 2:59 pmGreat work!
And so colorful with spring on the way!
kelly@the blue muse
March 2, 2010 at 7:15 pmthose are incredible, in any size! the tiny ones are so cute…now you need a tiny tree to hang them from…
blair/wisecraft
March 2, 2010 at 8:14 pmGreat idea Kelly! I'll see if Emma is up for the job of finding the perfect little tree.
Lynn in Tucson
March 3, 2010 at 9:13 amOh! I must introduce _miniature_ origami at our house. My daughter got an origami-a-day calendar for Christmas and, well, it’s taken over the house. Origami that would fit in its own box would be sheer genius.
BTW, I’ve often laquered cranes and then strung them with bead to make ornaments or earrings.
Drew
March 3, 2010 at 11:00 amThe tiny ones are SO CUTE! I need to make some! congrats on getting the hang of it. It took me a while, but finally on cranes 20 or so something click! Now I must go fold tiny origami!
Soap Making Fun
March 3, 2010 at 6:35 pmThose are so cool=) I don’t think I have the patience to do that. Are the multi-colored ones made with one piece of paper or several?
gifts Philippines
March 4, 2010 at 11:46 pmOh! I like those little stuff. Wish I can also learn how to do it. Anyway, thanks for sharing this post. Keep posting!
-pia-
molly
March 5, 2010 at 5:54 amoh my goodness. those tiny cranes are amazing. amazing!
Bele
March 25, 2010 at 12:00 pmThey are lovely! And besides the surgeon she might consider becoming a textile conservator. She certainly seems to have the skills and patience for that.
Emma, we need you!
MUS
April 7, 2010 at 12:13 pmLovely post