"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!
