700/1000

One of my favorite memories together was our trip to "The Butterfly Place". It had just opened, and I remember when we arrived the parking lot and land around it was still just dirt, no pavement or grass, and seemed like it was out in the middle of nowhere. Inside however, was lush and full of plants that stretched towards the high ceiling.

We very carefully walked down the path, observing all the different types of butterflies. Some of them I recognized, but a large number of species I had never seen before, or only knew existed from photos. I remember the luna moth was probably the most extravagant of all we saw that day. I have seen it only once in the wild my entire life, and was completely awed by its presence.

There were lots of butterflies in the museum that day, and their bright colors and patterns inspired this next series of cranes. I added the design of butterflies we know and saw that day on some of the cranes. Eastern tiger swallowtail, red admiral, mourning cloak, monarch and luna moth among the chosen few. I hope they remind you of this happy time we shared.

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.

Bouquet

After a brief discussion about a wonderful little memory, I have decided to forego my previous plans and fold the next set of cranes with whimsical patterns and bright colors to imitate the look of Easter Eggs.

Been quite delayed this week by Halloween projects, but here's a quick preview of a small sample folded so far. I adore the colors.

How to fold your own cranes

A lot of people have been interested in my cranes project, even wanting me to teach them how to fold one. I spontaneously taught a couple of Marines at the post office just yesterday.

I decided last night to make an instructional video on how I fold the cranes. Just a humble, low quality vid, with a nice, slow pace so you can fold along with me.

If you'd like to give it a try, go grab yourself a square piece of paper (most any type/size of paper, as long as it's square), and press play..

I'm also including an instruction sheet to look at while you fold along, in case you get lost.

If anyone out there follows along, please feel free to share photos of your own cranes.

500/1000

  It's the halfway mark now. Five-hundred origami cranes. Depending on the paper and how quickly I fold them, each crane takes me about 4-5 minutes. Factoring in the time I spend selecting and cutting paper, I have spent around 40 hours on this project so far, give or take a few. This is certainly a dedicated task, and will be rivaling some of my most time consuming artwork to date upon its completion.

  Crane series 500 is dedicated to all the times we spent looking out your window into the backyard where your feeders and bird bath were. While we ate a meal at the table, played a game together, or just sat and talked, we always gazed out the windows at the wildlife. Past the curtains and stained glass decor, we saw cardinals, blue jays, crows, juncos, chickadees, sparrows, finches, mourning doves, grackles, starlings, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, robins, goldfinches and orioles. There was also the occasional acrobatic squirrel raiding the feeder, and sometimes the chipmunks would pop their heads out of the ivy and marigolds.

  Part of the reason why I love birds and animals so much is because of the physical closeness that you were able to expose me to as a child, and appreciation for nature has been strong with me ever since. I hope you'll enjoy picking out my drawings of the species detailed on select cranes from this flock.

Leading the flock

A sample of birds from the next flock before they migrate 1,000 miles north.

400/1000

I know this is one of your favorite memories we share. That hot, summer day we spent in Boston, and the "frog pond" on the Common. You tell the story so amusingly, describing me not caring a bit that the other kids were in their bathing suits. I just ran right into that water and splashed around with the others, fully clothed and everything. There's a time and place for responsible adults to have their limits, and you let me run free and have fun - just be a kid. I had a really great time that day, even if I was perhaps too young to remember it all.

I made this set of cranes to reflect, like water, the summer sun at the Boston Commons pool that day.