"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will."
- Charlotte Bronte
Integrity asks for alignment between what I intend and what I actually do.
On paper, each fold shows immediately whether I was paying attention or not.
Today I'm practicing integrity by matching my care to my intention.
Bird card by Jeremy Shafer
"Gratitude turns what we have into enough."
- Melody Beattie
Gratitude isn't something I summon to put myself in a better mood - it arrives spontaneously when I see what's supporting me - the chair, the roof over my head, my family, the luxury of time and good health.
I thank my lucky stars for so much in life.
Even on a "bad" day, tea with a friend or a cuddle with the cat, or a strip of paper twisted around my fingers and tucked into shape can evoke that feeling and transform my perception.
Today I'm practicing gratitude by noticing and naming what's holding me up.
" Awe produces a state of reverence, a feeling of respect and gratitude for the things that are given."
- Dacher Keltner
Reverence doesn't necessarily require ceremony in the traditional sense.
It's about seeing the sacred, yes - and also about recognizing the sacred in the ordinary.
This eight-piece modular form feels to me like part flower, part compass, part mandala. I am awed by the beauty of geometry, folded and fit together in such a pretty - but modest - medium.
Today I'm practicing reverence by noticing symmetry, layers, and the depth of detail I only truly appreciate when I pause.
"Humility is openness to new learning combined with a balanced and accurate assessment of our contributions, including our strengths, imperfections, and opportunities for growth."
- Brene Brown
Humility reminds me that my work belongs within a larger conversation.
This elegant pleated form has been folded by many hands before mine, and it will surely be folded many times again.
Today I'm practicing humility by seeing myself as a link in the chain - neither first nor last; present, learning, and connecting.
"The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt."
- Sylvia Plath
Creativity isn't always about inventing something brand new. Sometimes it's the thrill of noticing patterns - like constellations in the night sky - and exploring the spaces between them.
I love repeating favorite folds. Each one lets my ideas orbit, spin, and collide, letting sparks of inspiration light up in unexpected ways.
Today I'm practicing creativity by following curiosity, intuition, and emotion, trusting that even the smallest spark can become a guiding star.
"Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to over time, without break, and with earnestness."
- Patanjali, Yoga Sutra 1.14
Groundedness is stability and presence made steadfast through consistent attention.
This Sonobe Cube requires six identical modules that fit together precisely - without glue - to form a sturdy, three-dimensional platonic solid.
Any small imbalance in folding or misdirection in the creases can compromise the whole structure.
Today, through this modular design I've folded many, many times before, I am practicing groundedness: cultivating geometric harmony and connection through a habit of precision, and attentive presence.
"There is no way to peace, peace is the way."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Contemplation is not an escape from the world; it is a way of cleaning the lens of the heart. It transforms nonviolence from a tactic into a way of life. It fosters the emotional and spiritual resilience needed to resist injustice without resorting to violence.
Contemplative practices like meditation help activists cope with stress and prevent burnout, turn anger into "creative fire" that can be used for constructive, nonviolent change, and keep methods consistent with goals - ensuring peaceful goals are not pursued through violent means.
Folding gives my hands something to do while my mind settles. Folding cranes, a symbol of peace, is a creative meditation that lets my intention find form through breath, paper, and focused attention.
Today I'm practicing contemplation by folding peace cranes.
"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark."
- Rabindranath Tagore
For me, faith isn't blind certainty. It's moving forward with trust - rooted in experience, yet without guarantees.
Today I'm practicing faith by trusting the process of folding a new origami model by an artist whose designs I've succeeded with before. Each crease, each careful fold, reminds me that even when the outcome is uncertain, the act of showing up matters.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
- John Lennon
Dreaming isn't always reaching for something far away. Sometimes it's simply listening for what wants to emerge.
This little kitty, in his galaxy window, feels to me like the threshold between waking and dreaming - a liminal space where imagination, hope and possibility live.
Today I'm practicing dreaming by reminding myself that there is more out there than what I can see right now.
Frame designed and taught by Chisshy Origami on YouTube.
Healing isn't something I can force. It seems to happen when there is enough space, safety and support for things to settle.
This layered pin speaks to me of a history. It reminds me that healing doesn't hide the scars or the story, more often it is a matter of incremental integration.
Today I'm practicing healing by seeing it as the bridge between harm and hope, rupture and repair. I recognize that it takes time and is still tender in me, but is growing stronger.
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
- John Dewey
Education isn't only something we receive - it's something we participate in.
Every fold teaches me what works and what doesn't.
This dictionary owl is a friendly figure who sits on my desk. He reminds me that the purpose of lifelong learning is not self-judgement, which makes me stop asking questions.
Rather, when knowledge is my companion, something gentler happens. Education becomes an invitation to develop understanding through experience.
Today I'm practicing education by staying curious, letting both mistakes and joy inform my origami choices.
"Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify."
- Henry David Thoreau
Simplicity asks me to remove what isn't needed. To proceed one sheet, one module, one fold at a time.
Today I'm practicing simplicity by letting this be enough.
Rectangular Frame designed by Kamikey, Hearts by Origami Club
"Despite everything, I believe people are really good at heart."
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
Believing doesn't always mean certainty.
Sometimes it's a choice to continue even when you don't know for sure and the outcome isn't clear.
Today I'm practicing believing in myself and the power of community by sticking with this Season for Nonviolence project.
"It is the time you have wasted on your rose that makes your rose so important."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
Caring shows up in how I handle things, not only how I feel about them. This crisp origami paper from Japan holds and shows every crease I make, carefully or carelessly.
Today I'm practicing caring by cherishing and being gentle with what's in my hands.
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."
- Voltaire
Appreciation begins with recognizing the goodness, beauty or efforts of others and then offering respect by acknowledging it.
I don't design origami (yet). I appreciate the designs of others and using the paper I have available, I create my unique versions of them.
Today I'm practicing appreciation by crediting those designers and sincerely saying thank you. Without your hard work and heartfelt efforts to share, I wouldn't have so many lovely choices of models to fold and express myself with.
I appreciate you!
Special thanks also to the creators of and on Pinterest, YouTube, and other social media platforms. Without those technologies my repertoire would be so much smaller.
"Peace begins with a smile."
- Mother Teresa
Smiling is easy to dismiss as superficial, but today I'm paying attention to how profound it really is. When my face softens, something deeper seems to soften too.
This little vignette reminds me that small shifts can change both the expression and the impression, and they can be contagious.
Today I'm seeing what happens when I let that softness show more freely.
"Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen."
- Brene Brown
Courage doesn't always look dramatic.
Today, it is simply beginning. Knowing I won't do this perfectly and starting anyway.
Sometimes that's enough.
"Only when it's dark enough, can you see the stars."
Martin Luther King Jr.
Tomorrow, January 30th, marks the beginning of the Season for Nonviolence, a 64-day practice observed internationally between the anniversaries of the deaths of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This year, I'm choosing to enter this season through a personal daily practice: folding paper, paying attention, and spending a few minutes each day with one of the values connected to nonviolence.
This isn’t a teaching series or a set of instructions. It’s simply a record of practice, what I’m noticing, what I’m trying, what feels possible on a given day.
Origami slows me down. It asks for care, patience, and a willingness to begin again. That feels like a useful place to stand right now.
If this practice offers something to you, a pause, a thought, a moment of steadiness, you’re welcome to take what you find useful and leave the rest.
Click the links below if you'd like to explore this more deeply in your own way.
Specifically, I’ll be following the Season for Nonviolence values as outlined by the Gandhi Foundation, alongside reflection prompts developed by the Gandhi Institute.
Mostly, though, I’ll just be folding one day at a time.
The term comes from the Bible and emphasises that the pursuit of worldly possessions is futile compared the goal of heavenly salvation. It encourages the audience to reflect and repent.
I hope this fly pin makes a softer statement - Less warning, more witness.
As origami ages, creases soften and colors fade.
I could seal my works with some kind of resin or shellac but I don't - not to neglect preservation, but as a practice of appreciation and attention.
In my mind, sealing paper feels false. I would rather let it age with me. I know what will remain is not the object, but a memory and the invitation to fold again.
Unlike an oil painting, this pin doesn't aspire to a museum. It aspires to be brought to life on a jacket or a bag, touched by sunlight and hands and one day, become compost, fertile material for growth.
It is an art, this presence and release. As you can see from the irony of my archived photos and words, it's one I'm still practicing.
Old books, maps and discarded pages invite us to create art thoughtfully with the well-being of the earth and it's inhabitants in mind, remembering that art paper doesn't have to be new to be beautiful.
I love to work with reclaimed and upcycled papers because:
You can try folding your own rectangular box by following this short video on YouTube.
This blog, One Love Origami, is a quiet archive of my long relationship with paper - folding, teaching, experimenting, and exploring origami as both a creative practice and a mindful one.
You’ll find photographs of past work, reflections on process, and examples of how simple materials - paper, time and attention, can become tools for learning, connection, and care.
About the work
My approach to origami is not about perfection or complexity.
It is about:
* presence over performance
* curiosity over mastery
* process over product
I am especially interested in how origami can support:
* community learning spaces such as libraries and classrooms
* inter-generational creativity
* mindfulness, emotional regulation, and gentle focus
* storytelling through making
Much of the work shared here has been created for workshops, public programs, quiet personal practice, or collaborative community settings. It has been shared in libraries, classrooms, and community spaces as a way to invite mindful making and shared creativity.
This blog functions as an archive and visual reference rather than a frequently updated journal.
Some posts are recent; others reach back many years. Together, they reflect an evolving practice rooted in care, slowness, and accessibility.
You might enjoy browsing posts by image, or starting with earlier entries to see how ideas and forms evolve over time.
If you are here following a library presentation or community event, you are warmly invited to browse at your own pace. There is no particular order — follow images, titles, or your curiosity.
Using this work
Unless otherwise noted, images and ideas here are shared for inspiration and educational purposes.
If you are a librarian, educator, or program coordinator interested in adapting similar activities for your own space, please feel welcome to do so with credit.
If you would like to discuss workshops, talks, or collaborative programs, this blog offers a sense of the tone and approach I bring to those spaces.
Origami asks very little of us:
one square of paper,
two hands,
and a willingness to begin imperfectly.
May you find something here that encourages curiosity, calm, or quiet joy.
- Tara
Full disclosure - Chat GPT helped me with this "product photo". In real life, the frame is flatter but the roses really are that dimensional and pretty!
I have several, and Spirited Away is definitely in my top 5.
This No Face model was really fun to fold.
I don't usually like having to draw on a face because I always "ruin it" but this one was actually really easy.
And turning it into a pin was a no brainer. This guy deserves to be seen!
I folded this sunny origami pin back in the fall when the weather was still warm and the flowers were nodding sleepily in the fields.
The softly cloudy hexagon background is folded from a quarter sheet of copy paper.
The rest is made with origami paper. I can't remember where the sunflower pattern came from, I will update this post when I do.
The double leaf is a clever design from Japanese artist Nanahoshi. I absolutely love her wreaths and floral swags. Check them out!
It's transformative - like alchemy, it changes basic materials into something amazing!
I folded these models from 3" papers, combined them and added a pin to the back.
I don't seal my creations. I embrace the surprisingly sturdy, yet ephemeral qualities of paper, and avoid toxic chemicals like the plague.
This pin usually lives on my jean jacket around Halloween, but I figured, we could all use a little magic right about now.
I've been playing with origami versions for years now, so I thought I'd share a couple with you.
Do you wear brooches?
What's your favorite way to style them?
Would you wear an origami brooch?
Let's wean ourselves off of our phones by loading up baskets and bags to reach for between tasks.
Stash craft supplies, notebooks, puzzles and pens to support your well-being and reduce screen time.
I know what's in my bag - a good book, a healthy snack, a commonplace book and origami paper!
What's in yours?
Let me be clear - there is absolutely nothing wrong with those goals but they are, by no stretch, the limits of what you can do with a humble sheet of paper and your own two hands.
brattyxbre agrees. In fact, she's begging you to make zines!
So are the folks at migrawhistle. They're sharing vital information about community safety. Here's how.
If you're asking, "What's a zine?" please check out these links and see for yourself. If you already know, what are you waiting for?
"Paper to Pin - Folding Words into Wearable Inspiration"
January 22, 2026 from 7-8:30 pm
Transform a beloved word, quote or story into a wearable origami pin. Beginner-friendly folds to carry inspiration closer to the heart.
Four simple origami models will help us honor the words we choose, carry and share. Paper becomes our co-creator, holding what matters so we can linger with words we love.
I folded this origami ornament inspired by traditional Nazar amulets with a prayer for the new year: May all evil turn away from you, may your sight and attention be protected from negative influences.
If you are inspired to fold your own, Isa Klein on YouTube will show you how. It's an enjoyable, meditative model to fold. A single ornament can carry powerful intentions but be sure to check out Isa's beautiful mobiles for even more impactful displays!
