During our visit to the Tomodachi store in Roseville yesterday, we picked up some origami paper so we could give the traditional Japanese art form a try. Origami (from oru meaning “to fold” and kami meaning “paper”) has been a celebrated art form in Japan for hundreds of years. To create origami sculptures, you fold small, flat sheets of paper this way and that until you end up with everything from a boat to a polar bear. (The whale I made involved some cuts, so I think that makes it kirigami instead of origami.) 

Every year, the first graders at our school learn about Japan. Lily’s teacher taught her students how to make origami cats, and the cool thing is that Lily was able to remember how to make them! (They’re in the lower left-hand corner.)

Lexie made the red samurai helmet, Will made the boat, I made the whale, and Lily and I worked on the polar bear together. Origami-Instructions is a great website with tons of patterns, from very simple to incredibly complicated.

Why are activities like this so relaxing? Maybe it’s because when we’re focused so intently on folding the paper or counting the stitches or measuring the flour, our busy brains can’t be so…busy.

Nisa the Cat channeling her inner Godzilla.