900/1000

Christmas comes a little early this year, but it's never too soon to think about all the good times we've shared together during the holidays. A warm and cozy home full of family and friends, christmas music playing in the background, the tree and festive decorations keeping up the holiday spirit, delicious food and traditional confectionaries, and all the stories we'd tell - old and new. It was always such a colorful time and a great gathering for our family.

I really enjoyed all those special times with you, and am happy to provide these hundred cranes towards revitalizing our fond memories together.

After each set of cranes, I ship them, 100 at a time, to my grandmother in a sturdy mailing tube. This is a small, festive drawing I did on the address label for this set.

Tis the season

Just a twinkle of the next set...

800/1000

This set of cranes is not my own memory, but one of my daughter's. I asked if she'd like to help fold some cranes, and if there were any special moments that she enjoyed spending with you. Lindsay told me about the card games you would play together on her visits to the apartment, and how much fun she had. She was especially fond of the automatic shuffler.

There are 52 white cranes all representing an individual card from a standard playing deck, plus one joker. I drew each suit and number on them in black and red ink, including the illustrations for the face cards. Lindsay helped fold a number of them. We hope you enjoy the memory.

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.