Day 82 ~ Origami Butterfly Mobile

Here it is all put together! I used chopsticks for the wood. The chopstick wrapper had the words for happiness, health, longevity and peace, so I cut out the words and strung them down the center. I love the way it turned out.

Day 81 ~ Origami Awesomeness!

This is the last origami piece before I put them all together into a mobile tomorrow. This one was even more complicated. Making these really did a lot for my creative confidence! Once you learn how, it's almost meditative. I can see why they teach this to kids in Japan, because it's very calming and soothing, as well as satisfying when you do one correctly.

Day 80 ~ Origami Four

For this one I was searching through my supplies for paper that had that Oriental look to it. The only thing I could find was card stock. I decided to try and see if I could still make origami with it, or if the paper would be too thick. It was a little harder to fold, but still turned out fine. I like doing little creative experiments like this.

Day 79 ~ Origami Three

This origami butterfly is slightly more difficult. That is what I love about learning something that I thought I couldn't learn. Soon I am looking for more challenging variations. That is one of the places where the seeds of ideas begin to sprout.
The paper I used is made from a cool camouflage creation by my friend Goody. Check it out:

Day 78 ~ Origami Two

For this origami butterfly, I used a copy of an abstract painting that my friend Kimmie created. The copy turned out pixelated because I was running out of ink. I thought I would try using it for origami, and I think it turned out pretty cool looking! I love it when you can take a mistake and turn it into a work-of-art. Don't you?
This is Kimmie's painting. Don't you just love it?

Day 77 ~ Origami One

I know I haven't posted a butterfly in several days. I've been in a funk and haven't felt inspired. It's been a productive funk though, because I am thrilled to say that I finally learned to do some origami! Many people have tried to teach it to me over the years, but like the rules of chess and euchre, it just never stuck in my brain. I got to a point where I thought I couldn't do it! I thought my brain wasn't wired to understand origami or something... So I decided I was not going to let origami get the best of me, and I sifted through many frustrating Youtube videos to learn how. Believe it or not, it ended up being a Japanese video that taught me! He made it so easy that I was able to make one after watching it once! So here is my first attempt. And here is the video that taught me how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRAKSE7sJw0
My intention is to catch up today by making a bunch of origami butterflies, and then turn them into a mobile tomorrow!

Day 76 ~ Sweet Kimmie Blue Eyes

Today's butterfly was inspired by a small piece of blue velvet that I found in my sewing basket. It reminded me of my friend Kimmie, who has the prettiest blue eyes. When I held the velvet up to her photo, it matched perfectly. (see what I mean?)
Kimmie loves abstract art. Last year she sent me a beautiful abstract painting that she created. So I studied it and put on some jazz and made one of my own. (One of my favorite things to do) Then I used my painting to make her wings. I called the painting "Everything is Coming up Rosy."
I hope she likes it!