This blog is dedicated to my grandmother, and to all those who have been touched in some way by the art of my origami cranes. I am paying it forward, one small piece of paper at a time.



Senbazuru is the Japanese art of folding one thousand origami cranes. There is a legend stating that whoever folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish by the ancient bird spirit, but traditionally the feat is performed to wish eternal good luck, benevolence, and one thousand years of prosperity. For these reasons, I felt in my heart that it would be the perfect expression of appreciation, gratitude and ultimately, respectful farewell.


From the moment the idea came to me, I knew I could mould and shape this project into my own expression of something we could share together - a labor of love that she would appreciate, even if no one else in my family could fully understand what it all meant.


Each set of one hundred cranes featured here represents a moment, a memory, a spark in my life that we shared together that helped influence the person who I have become today. I hope you enjoy reading my personal reflections, so that you may fully understand the empowerment this project has had on me, and the inspiring statement of sharing beauty and joy that I learned as a result of folding my 1,000th crane.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

600/1000

Of course I remember the fun times we spent at your house finding the Easter eggs. The four of us scrambling to get them all under the couch throw pillows, behind the furniture legs, on the fireplace mantle... and my eggs were always up higher and in trickier places. I remember one time finding a purple egg hidden gingerly among the african violets.

Being able to wear your fancy hats was an added fun bonus to the day as well. Tights and flowery dresses, walking along the stone retaining wall in the front yard, the soft textures of the couch fabrics, scent of your perfume... these are all things I remember from the day. It's interesting to remember through my senses like that.

This crane series was made from a great number of different papers and materials with plentiful colors, patterns and designs to represent the look and whimsy of Easter eggs. I hope you enjoy them and the memory they accompany.




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