.elegant and beautiful. January 21, 2010

The crane is such an elegant bird.  Due to its beauty and its apparently impressive mating dance, it is highly symbolic and well appreciated in many cultures.  It features often in artwork, and is the national bird of China, Nigeria and South Africa.  It also features very commonly in origami – perhaps it is the most well-known of all origami designs.  And who could forget that crane-kick beach training session which won the tournament in the final fight scene in Karate Kid?  (Or is that just me?!)

I made some paper cranes ages ago & have had them floating around my house for so long now that I almost don’t even notice them.  But every now & then, I’m reminded of the painstaking folding that brought them to life, and wish I had the patience to make many more.  I even hand-stamped my own paper in an oriental cherry blossom design to make them from.  Now that was a creative day!

Accrding to Wikipedia, cranes live on all continents except Antarctica and South America.  Call me ignorant, but I have never seen a crane in the flesh/feathers in Australia.  Then again, I haven’t been to all of Australia yet, so I guess I can’t really comment!  Just curious – apart from the paper versions, has anyone ever seen a crane in Oz??

.origami treasures. January 19, 2010

I love trying out new origami patterns, and this is one of my favourites.  This flower is probably one of the quicker and easier origami designs that I have attempted.  It consists of five identical petals joined together. 

I have seen a whole bunch of these flowers (usually 12 or more) made into 3D balls, which look amazing!  These flower balls are called a kusudama, (which means “medicine ball” in Japanese but usually refers to a spherical paper model of identical paper units attached to each other).  I haven’t tackled a kusudama yet!

I used the following instructions from the www.kaisercraft.net website: http://www.kaisercraft.net/pdfs/paper-craft/origami-flower.pdf to make my flower.  It also shows a kusudama example.  If you ever decide to make one, I’d love to know, and would happily post pictures of it on my blog!

View from the back

View from the side

I have a few more origami installments coming in the next week or so, but in the next day or two, I hope to share with you some wonderful interior styling that is sure to get your creative adrenalin moving!

Thanks for looking!

Love Ruth xx

.the perfect shoe. January 8, 2010

I’ve decided this is the perfect shoe.  Now the only issue I have is that it is made of origami paper and I can’t seem to squeeze into them.  They are bordering on a size “tinsy”.  But oh, how I love them.  I was inspired by a book called Girligami, {www.girligami.com/} which has the most amazing origami patterns, and used gorgeous paper that my friend Jodie brought back from her USA trip in ’09.  Added an embellishment and now I forever have the perfect shoe in my possession.  *Sigh*   

Had to make some more to keep company with Estella (is it wierd to name your shoes?  I am thinking yes, especially when they are made of paper).

Not so sure that my husband appreciates them adorning our {thing over stove}.  Sorry, explanation needed -  it is late & I simply cannot think of the word that I need here.  Oh, just got it now – rangehood.  However, I can’t really think of a better kitchen decor item than paper shoes.  So this is where they currently reside.  I think you’ll agree it does a shoe-loving paperaholic good to cook under such loveliness. {o: