Origami Bunnies - A Tutorial

When I was a kid, my parents were always creative.

From macrame to marble mice, my mom and dad spent a lot of time making things.

My dad was always taking arts-and-craft type things apart to find out how they were made...this apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

My dad was also a public educator for 30 years. He taught 4th grade for most of those years but also spent several years as the art teacher. He continues to teach my kids with occasional impromtu art lessons when we are visiting. Mostly he makes fun things for my kids.

The favorite craft of my kiddos? Rings made from real dollars. When we were in Arizona last Christmas they were asking if he knew how to fold rings from a twenty.  Those kids think they're so smart. (Trust me, I already tried that one.)

One of the many things my dad taught me a bagillion-years ago was how to make origami bunnies. And I have been making them every spring, ever since.

So today I pass on the tradition....

What do you need?

Paper (square) - it doesn't matter what size, as long as its square.

Tape or glue.

Optional: decorations - google eyes, cotton for tail, whatever your decorative heart desires!

Here we go:

(My paper has two different sides so you can see better.)

 1. Take your square paper and.....

 2. Fold one corner to the opposite corner, so you have a triangle.

 3. Do the same thing with the other two corners and open it all up again.

Now, in the pic above you can see my highly effective pink sticky notes...they are pointing to the side of the square that are our next bit of business....

 4. Fold sides in together and crease the middle fold so they lay flat.  You should now have something that looks like this:

 5. Take the right-top corner and fold it up to the top corner of the triangle....

 Press the crease. You now have another little triangle you made that sits on its side.

6. Fold the right sided point toward the middle.

 Just like that....

 7. Next, take the top corner and fold it flush over the side of the little triangle you just made, like this:

 8. Then you take the little wing and fold it in half....

 When you fold that little "wing" into a "flap"; the crease on your flap should be flush with the crease of the bottom fold (done on Step 6.)

 10. This step is the wonkiest part, because you have to take that "wing" you just folded and put it into the "envelope" made by step number 6.

 It was a little difficult to take pictures and fold at the same time! But eventually.....

 Your tucked in flap should fit snug into the envelope and you are ready to do steps 1-10 again only.....

 ...this time you'll start with the left!

 When you have finished the left side your bunny is starting to take shape. This is his underneath side.

 Flip your "half-bunny" over, point side down (or pointing toward you.)

11. Again, starting on the right, take top point of your triangle an fold it toward the middle of the top.

....like so.

 12. Then take that top-most point and fold it down so you have a little triangular flap (this will be an ear!)

 Now do 11-12 on the left side!

 Hooray! You're nearly there!

The next part is a little odd, and it was hard to write out directions so I thought I little video would be better.

Fortunately, last week The Boy held the camera while I worked the last bit of bunny magic. Unfortunately, it was really dark in my office due to wicked weather we had last weekend.  

Here is the new video with my coughing-aching-sniffling-sneezing-making-origami-bunnies-so-i-can-rest self. Did you know the cure for the common cold is crafting?

Oh, that that were true.

Since I am a little under the weather in this video you may have to turn the volume up. My southern accent comes out, and my loud voice gets soft, when I'm feeling like decaf on a regular day.

Happy folding!

Sixteen

I don't normally post on Wednesdays (usually I'm cramming lesson plans for my afternoon history class at co-op) but since I have been MIA in the last five days, I thought I'd pop in.

In true CoffeeGal style, I got bit by a crafting bug last week and have had tunnel vision of epic proportions. Any free time has found me at my sewing machine.

In my last post I wrote about Log Cabin Squares for quilting. Well, that's what I've been doing: I made twenty Log Cabin quilt blocks....

Some of you may remember chuppah I made a couple years ago for a friend.

For eight months I put my heart-and-soul into that project, embroidering every monogram by hand. Quilting old family fabric into a quilt-of-sorts. A tapestry for a young couple to marry under.

I tried to explain how this project felt in this post, but here is a small glimpse of the work involved.

This project was challenging and brought great personal satisfaction, but when it was completed it wasn't mine. I handed it (and everything about it) over to its rightful owner.

One night last week I was talking to The Mister and showing him the sample quilt blocks I had sewn, and he said emphatically, "I love quilts!"

When my husband speaks emphatically, I listen. He tends to be a pretty even-keeled guy, reserving passionate verbiage for things he truly feels passionate.

And it got me thinking....

I often make things for the kids, or myself, or for friends. I almost always make things for those who ask me to, and every once in awhile someone will actually pay me.

Very rarely do I create things for my man.

And he deserves something.  Especially since one-month from today we will have been married 16 years.

As I have been sewing, I've been thinking about that chuppah, what it meant in the days of hard work, and the lessons I learned both during and after the project was complete. It made me want to make something like it to celebrate our marriage; The joy. The hard work. The crazy and the calm. I want to make something that shows the depths of beauty that comes from a relationship that isn't always easy, but is so worth the effort.

This is the beginnings of the quilting project I am calling Sixteen. It is to be a gift to The Mister. My hope is to hand-embroider some of my favorite things about our life together (thus far) and give it to him when we go away (to a log cabin in the NC mountains) sometime next month.

My plan is to use only fabric and thread I already own. And we won't be boxing this baby up - we'll sleep under it. Hopefully for many more years....

Quitter: This Time I REALLY Mean It - I Think

Sometime at the beginning of the year I cut out these fabric strips in hopes that I would make a table runner for my formal dining room.

I keep meaning to tell you that I finished it!

It had been on my queue for so long and truthfully, I was procrastinating.

I enjoy making the quilt tops but I have never had a quilt-binding process come out successfully. Or at least, I had never done binding without a great deal of cussing.

My friend (and talented quilter) came over for lunch and (wanting desperately to finish) I asked her to help me. So she WILLINGLY showed me how to do this process the right way. Which included learning how to pin things together correctly. This required being on the floor kneeling over all the fabric and batting.

Did I mention my friend was nine-months pregnant? I felt slightly guilty about that... obviously guilt is not a good motivator in my life for doing the right thing. Especially when it comes to completing sewing projects.

However, now when I look at this table-runner I have happy memories of our time together...so I guess it's a win-win situation - especially for me.

After this project I had decided that I wasn't gifted in the arena of quilt making and that I was officially going to be a quilt quitter. 

Actually I say that after all the quilts I make, and I've made a few wonky looking blankets that are kind of like ugly-ducklings: Loved for their charm and the work put into them, not so much for the outward appearance. 

But now that I know how to bind them correctly (and I have a new walking-foot for my machine) I'm gonna try again.

Exhibit A:

These are Log Cabin blocks.

I have a baggillion scraps from various projects so my hope is to make a scrap-quilt. These blocks are SUPER easy. Here is a great tutorial if you are interested.

I made a practice one (the pink), And then I made another one in browns/greens. I think I will dig through the stash boxes and see what I can come up with... Anyone interested in doing a Log Cabin Quilt over the summer? We could slowly and surely work on it and then have a day (in the fall) when we all reveal our new quilts?

All righty! I've GOT to hit the elliptical this morning. I have continued to eat like I am on vacation since my trip to NYC three weeks ago. If I don't stop I am going to have to quilt myself a new pair of jeans, because the ones I put on yesterday were so-very-tight that I ended up wearing lounge-pants all day.  

Eating sensibly'll have to wait until after lunch though... I've got company coming for lunch, and it is my duty as a hospitable southern woman to serve BALT's (bacon/avocado/lettuce/tomato/sandwiches) without worries of the waistline.

(Oh, and also, there will be homemade cookies. I am not sure which kind of homemade cookie - but I'm leaning toward these: Click here.)

....jeans shmeans.

Happiest of Fridays to you!

In Case You Need To Know

I had a post all typed out.

It took me several hours (written over a couple of afternoons) and somehow, with the click of a key and a push of a button - its gone.

Grrrr.

So instead I will leave you with this happy little thought:

This is the puffy Cardinal that has claimed the green bush in our front yard. He perches on that branch as if he hasn't a care in the world. He's just daring the other birds to come on over.

I love birds.

I have a collection of them:

Given to me by friends and family over the course of time.

I'm not sure why I love birds, but I do remember a time, many, many years ago, when I was struggling through some deep issues in my life. I felt like a little bird with broken wings, battling in a war of ambivalence: desperately wanting to fly away free, and too afraid to leave my cage.

In the midst of this epic skirmish-of-my-heart I read something that strengthened my soul and turned the war to my favor:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground

outside your Father's care...

So do not be afraid;

You are worth more than many sparrows.

~Matthew 10: 29, 31

This verse comes up over and over again in my life...often when I am not even struggling. 

One time, when in my office with a blank canvas and few hours on hand I made this: 

Another time while scribbling in church I drew this:

This weekend I found myself stitching that same little bird with blue embroidery floss onto a scrap of fabric.

And of course there was that short stint in jewelry making: 

At first, this bird fascination felt a little...strange. 

Now I look at these little times of spontaneous bird-focused creativity as little downy fluffs that have dropped in my nest. They're like soft, cozy notes inviting me to remain under His protective feathers. I do believe it is a reminder from the Lord; a small whisper into my soul that I am kept in shadow of His wing. 

No, this isn't the post I had intended to write today, but perhaps you've come here because you need to know: 

He will cover you with His feathers,

and under His wing you will find refuge;

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

~Psalm 91:4

with love,

kellie

Work In Progress: Creative Accouterment

If you sat in the chair that sits behind the work table in my office, this is what you'd see:

Yarn for my current (long-term) project on the ironing board, stacked on borrowed books (on crochet)...for the next project.

Google eyes - because a crafter's studio is never complete without them.

The brightly colored washcloths are for an Easter project. If you look carefully behind that coffee cup you can see it's dark pink ears poking through (tutorial to come.) Also for this project: rubber bands, plastic eggs and poof balls.

Speaking of bunnies....There is another bunny of the white-paper-kind hidden somewhere in the photo. Can you find him? (Origami tutorial also to come)

If you are expecting a package from me...its in the mail. Literally. Whew! I hope its everything you wanted and more, even if it wasn't when you wanted it.

Tucked between the table and the plastic eggs are the chenille stems in pastel colors...I bought them for no other reason than the fact that they were beautiful (and calling to me like a long-lost child). Also, I really enjoying saying the words: chenille stems. Love that.

The pink hat is a commissioned piece and I now I must do the hardest part of the whole project, deciding which flowers to adorn it with...really, its tough to decide.

So that is a snapshot of my early Wednesday morning. Must go wake up those kiddos and get todays party started. Which unfortunately has nothing to do with my office, or art supplies, or crafting of any kind...unless you happen to find some sort of creative inspiration from the Punic Wars and ancient Roman armor.

In that case, you'll need a lot more google eyes and chenille stems.

Happy day!

New York City Moment: Rodents

I like to pretend I'm tough.

I'm not a very high maintenance person.

OK, actually I am, but I'm pretty adept at pretending I'm not.

However, there are a few things that can show my true colors in nano-second:

-Mayonnaise

-Spiders, or any insect that isn't of the friendly sort.

-Rodents, or any dirty creature that crawls. (I had an incident with a very confrontational squirrel in the Grand Canyon a couple years ago, but that's for another post.)

When I took The Girl to NYC I spent the first two hours biting my lip in an attempt to keep my emotions under control. It was the city I had always dreamed of visiting and I couldn't believe I was there!

Here I was, in the busiest and most famous of cities - a city I had only ever seen on TV and movies. It was everything I imagined it to be: steam coming up from the  sewer vents. People in a hurry who don't make eye contact. Smells of roasted chestnuts and mystery meat cooking on street corners. Pigeons walking around in that funny headed-bobbing way. And the buildings, oh! the buildings!

I tried with a great deal of restraint to keep from looking like a tourist.

I walked up Fifth Avenue with three little girls (two blondes and my dark-headed Girl) I imagined someone might think I was a New Yorker walking my charges to some important place in the city.

I'm sure I looked like a native, with a camera around my neck and a smile on my face.

Silly girl.

Anyway, there was a moment that was so N-Y-C, that I giggled in spite of the fact that I was slightly alarmed.

These signs were posted all over the front of building that was directly attached to our hotel.

It was in this moment that I realized not all my New York imaginations were real, because all I could think about was Rizzo the Rat and his friendly mice family who worked in the cafe in the Muppets Take Manhattan.

Within a split second, I went from Rizzo to reality...my hotel bed was within 50 feet of these posted signs. I could feel that high-maintenance feeling crawling up from my toes...but then it passed.

I chalked it up to a New York experience...and I decided to let my imagination lead the way. A rat serving coffee? Now that would be cool.

Doopa--doodley-doop...doo-whaaa!

Spring Fever

I really should be teaching my kids grammar right now.

Obviously, this is not the case.

In my defense, its a beautiful, warm (nearly 83 degrees as I type) and the kids asked to out outside. Honestly, at this time of the year, its really hard for me to motivate them because I am not motivated to stay indoors either.

This afternoon I was in a dilemma. The kids were finished with all other subjects, and this last lesson was dependent on me.

I could make them come in to learn the *whole system and structure of a language, or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology (including inflections) and sometimes also phonology and semantics.


Or I could let them play (since tomorrow looks like rain) and hope that when they goes to college they're learned to speak good... in spite of their mom's spring fever.

I'll take my chances. Let 'em play.






*Thank you Google search on "what is grammar?".

The Remedy Was Fire

In six weeks I will be speaking at a retreat on the topic of prayer.

I don't mind telling you that I feel a little-bit overwhelmed by this topic, and A LOT-a-bit under-qualified.

Its not that I don't pray. I do.

Its just... well... prayer is such a huge topic and it often involves pain. Of course, pain is a problem I like to avoid.

And yet, I know that prayer is one of the ways I can communicate with my Creator. Its foundational in a dynamic relationship with God. I know that not all of my prayers will be answered the way I would like them to unfold - often providing hope and help from places I didn't even know existed. I know that my prayers have been unequivocally answered "Yes!", and some, "No!". But with 20/20 vision I can look back and see that God used all things for His glory and my good.

I know these things.

My problem is in the practical application. In convincing my heart of a Holy practice that my mind can't fully comprehend.

I find that I waiver between two courses when I pray: I pray that God would spare me (or others) from pain, or, in my pain I ask Him to take it away...and please, make the process as painless as possible.

I've been through just enough discomfort in this life to know it isn't all bad, and that pain is also purposeful - if we choose not to waste it. Still, as most people do, I often dance around it. It reminds me about a situation I was in about 8 years ago....

My daughter was about three-years old and woke up one bright Texas morning with a flat, light-brown spot on the left side of her face. I thought she was getting a freckle but a couple weeks later that little spot got bigger... and had babies.

Within a month that little spot was about the size of a grain of rice, and the other spots ranged from the size of a pin-point to large freckles.

I was concerned.

So I took her to the doctor who said it wasn't contagious, but she didn't know what it was.

I took her to a dermatologist who said he had never seen anything like it and perhaps it was a wart (although they didn't look like warts). He said removing it would cause scarring so to try some over-the-counter wart remover. He then sort of flippantly told us that there was an old wives-tale regarding warts: if you cut a potato and rub it on the wart, then bury the potato in you back yard, your warts would go away.

I tried it.

It didn't work.

I took her to a dear friend who is a medical professional but also knowledgeable in natural medicine. She told me to try Tea-tree oil. So I plunked down some hard cash and put nasty smelling oil on my baby's cheek for a couple of months.

Nothing. And it was getting worse.

As a last ditch effort, I took her to a family friend and well-known plastic surgeon in my hometown. He also wasn't sure what it was (he didn't think it was warts) and told me to wait it out. He asked me if it was causing her pain or if it bothered her in any way.

The answer was no.

He said that he could take it off, but that the in-office procedure would be tough on a three-year old. Not to mention the difficulties of keeping the post-surgery wound on a pre-schooler's face clean. He said to leave it alone and if, when she was 12 or 13, she didn't like the way it looked, he would take care of it.

All these appointments and ointments (and sadly, potatoes) took place over the course of a year. I'm not sure when it occurred to me that I should pray about these marks on her face, it was certainly after I had tried everything I knew to do...but then I prayed.

And then I asked my mom's group to pray.

And then I asked my small group at church to pray.

And then I asked the women's ministry team to pray.

And I prayed some more.

And then, The Girl got very sick.

She had a ridiculously high fever. She complained of nothing else. There were no ear infections, throat issues...nothing.  For two days she was poorly. It wasn't easy for her.

Life went on and she got better. About a week later, as we all sat around the table and I looked at her with unbelief. I don't know when it happened but, her spots were gone.

I'm talkin', completely, totally, absolutely, not there. There wasn't a scar or spot or any sort of sign. Just a pink, healthy looking face.


I spent over a year trying to get rid of a blemish that the Lord removed nearly overnight.

As The Mister and I talked about it we think The Girl did in fact have some sort of virus. A virus that only a fever could cure.

We prayed for restoration, the remedy was fire.

There is mercy in fire.

There is purpose in pain.

If we can hang on, until we can see the goodness that comes from the heat of life, we receive the privilege to see the hand of God in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

As Christians we practice prayer because its communion with our God and Father. It helps us to remember that He is in control. Prayer is a gift - sometimes a gift that is pleasurable, and yes, sometimes painful...but all for our good.

Plans Change

Beautiful day.

Worked hard.

Finished school.

Baked brownies.

Threw bikes

In car. 

Drove to

New sights.

Took kids. 

They rode.

I ran.

Set pace. 

Feeling good.

Five minutes.

Chain breaks.

Walk back.

Drive home.

Smell chocolate.

Finish run?

Uh, no.

Brew coffee.

Eat brownie.

Enjoy life.

Try again,

On morrow.

Plans change.

It's Over

I don't want to sound dramatic, but it's over. 

Here I am, on this cold, dark, dreary (possibly snowy) morning and I can't believe that Spring Break 2011 has come and gone.

It feels like I blinked my eyes, and it all went by. I let my guard down and it passed without a moments notice.

And yet...

So may things happened. I traveled. A baby was born. I made dinners and desserts. I planted seeds and crocheted, and finished projects that need to mailed. I've watched more basketball this week than I have since 1997. I hung out with good friends and watched movies with The Girl.

I slept in, I slept in, I slept in.

Six o'clock came early this morning.

There are a few things I managed to avoid this week that are first on my agenda today...folding piles of clean laundry (to empty baskets for laundry currently being washed), getting to the gym, and cleaning out the refrigerator (a chore that I do often but always seems to "grow".)

Its not a glamorous life, but its steady work. What more could I ask for?

Well, maybe longer vacations.

Happy Monday!

This Good Day - A Gift

I had every intention of getting out today and running all over town.

But with a text and phone call my plans changed, and I sighed with great relief. It feels good to have a day to just be at home without a full agenda.

So I've crafted and sewed and made homemade bread. I folded laundry and went for a run, while the kids rode their bikes.

And since I started this blog post, I've had two different friends stop-by for a quick chat.

All day long my windows have been open and the cool breeze has mingled through each room. I love it when the curtains blow gently in soft little waves.

This good day. It is a gift. One filled with friends, and work, and leisure and beautiful things to see....

And that this good day should happen in my favorite time of year... when the browns of winter give way to greens; and the promise of blossom is hanging on the vine.

It fills me with excitement for today and hope for tomorrow, when cool mornings will soon be warm and we'll eat popsicles at night while we watch the fireflies glow - when we have to wash the dirt off our bare-feet before bed.

Even if those warm-ish days are still far away, I'm content.

I am thankful for this good day.

Snapshots of the Week

I want with all my heart to sit down and tell you all about the events of the last several days but there are so many fun things to do today...and not much time to do it! So here are a few snapshots....

Last Friday I embarked on a trip to NYC. There were car rides, train rides, ferry rides, and strolling running through the city. We had adventure as we encountered loss of power on the Amtrak train, experienced the NYC subway system, and when my car wouldn't start on the way home and had to be jumped. Twice.

Those things added to the pleasure of touring lower Manhattan and fostering my ever-growing L-O-V-E for N-Y-C.

I love New York. I really do. I even bought the T-shirt so every one would know it.

And then I came home and had a baby.

Well, I didn't have a baby. But I was just as excited for this little one as I was my own (and I didn't have to go through labor.)

I was THRILLED that little Calvin didn't come while I was in NYC. He patiently waited and came right on time yesterday afternoon. Mom and babe are doing well.

When I left on Friday afternoon there were only a few small sign of spring. When I got home, it felt like all the world had exploded into blossom, ready and waiting for me.

Remember my little Amaryllis Bulb I planted 5 weeks ago?

Here she is in all her glory!

I managed to play a little in the garden this morning, but its time to clean up and go hug a baby. So I'll leave you with a few pictures and hope tomorrow finds me blogging properly!

Emmaus Eight

Sometimes I worry about the future. 

As a natural-born optimist and one who hangs her hat on the Hope that has overcome this world, I know worry isn't the answer... but occasionally I fret. 

Over the last few months I've heard stories of young people in this country who were stealing cars, bullying and abusing others, wielding weapons and generally being a menace to society. If that is our future, then we should all run and hide.

These cynical thoughts are strange for a girl whose glass is always half-full. 

It felt strange to carry a glass so heavy.

Then the Emmaus Eight walked through my door.

About a  month ago our church announced that the Emmaus Bible College Choir Ensemble would be giving a concert and would need a few host families for one night. 

I knew immediately that I would sign-up, and I figured I could take half-a-dozen girls, because it seems my motto these days is: go big or go home. 

All I needed was a place for them to sleep, and an egg casserole for breakfast.

Amazingly, I put out an APB on Facebook for air mattresses (and sheets) and within a week I had more than I needed. 

The concert was amazing, and as I bobbed my head to the music I was thrown back to my college choir days... the black dresses, the heavy choir folders, the wonderful SATB harmonies. 

I was a little challenged by the math when I was computing the dates of my college years: 1990-1994. 

Um, that would be two decades ago. Let's not go there.

I was quickly brought to my senses when they sang my favorite hymn, Before the Throne.

Fave-o-rit.

At the end of the evening I didn't bring home six singers, I brought home eight. 

And it was wonderful. 

We stayed up eating popcorn and drinking hot cocoa until after midnight. I was so keyed up I laid in bed until 2:30am feeling happy and content with my house full of people. 

I learned that these young women are articulate, passionate, caring, smart, talented and amazing beautiful. Every last one of them.

They are the epitome of 'all things new'...some just starting out in college, in marriage, in ministry, in romance, in life. They love their families; they work hard. Some were the first in their families to get through college, and some were walking in the shadows of siblings that had gone before them. Some were quiet. Some were outgoing. All of them were so much fun.

I am pretty sure that not every one had a pillow, nor a hot shower. But no one complained or was ungracious. They were kind to me, my kids and even my crazy dog. 

As I tried to ask questions that would give me insight to each young gal, I was given a glimpse into the hope of the future, and it erased those terribly cynical thoughts and ideas; my worries for the future melted away. 

I think about the Titus 2 admonition that speaks of the older woman teaching the younger and I realized something very important....

I am convinced that the older woman needs the younger equally so. We need the younger to keep our hearts from becoming hardened with the injustices of the world, and instead maintain a healthy, soft and supple heart that is focused on the Hope set before us.

The excitement and energy and enthusiasm of the Emmaus Eight filled my cup and reminded me of the words and promise of Psalm 103.

What else did I learn through this experience?

Becky (an Emmaus alum) and Courtney came for breakfast.
We are trying to keep her from remembering that she is 6 days overdue.

Well, I learned that when eight very attractive college girls come to stay with you, the thirteen-year-old Boy who was a little apprehensive about going to college in five years, will suddenly realize that college might not be too bad. (Look at the grin on that Boy's face.)

I learned that when I had my first baby, several of these girls were preschoolers.

I learned that when people say I have a tendency to talk with my hands, they might be right.

I learned that above all things using my home to lift up others isn't just something I like to do, its a gift I've been given to give to others...and it fills me with a joy that lends to weepiness and laughter, all at the same time.

To my Emmaus Gals, 

Thank you for the opportunity to spend a few hours with you. You were a blessing to me...and I meant what I said: You always have a home in North Carolina.