Saturday, March 17, 2012

Blue Ridge Origami, peace cranes for Zambia, and a giveaway too!

Last year, I met an origami artist who was looking for marbled paper to use for her origami cranes. The paper that I normally marble is meant for bookbinding, and would be too thick. So I marbled a special batch of lighter-weight papers for Jeanne, of Blue Ridge Origami. Jeanne started making origami cranes as an inexpensive giveaway for a trade show event, but afterwards took the extra cranes to the hospice where she works. There, the cranes were given to patients and families where they became very popular and much appreciated. Jeanne also told me that several years ago, her hospice "adopted" the country of Zambia. She said, "we have been working hard since then, fundraising, educating, etc. The first trip to Zambia was made by my boss, our Chief Medical Officer, and our VP of Clinical Ops, an RN. With them went over 50 cranes, which flatten nicely and don't take up much room or weight in a suitcase. Today many of those cranes hang in a children's play room at the main hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Many made out of Rhonda's beautiful marbled paper." She has also refined her skills to make tiny cranes, as small as 1 inch! These tiny cranes are perfect for earrings and she's also started making other tiny origami figures like stars and flutes. Now she makes origami earrings to sell at craft fairs and on Etsy, donating some of the proceeds to the Zambia fund raising efforts. I am really impressed with these tiny origami figures she's making. I've done some folding, but I know my fingers cannot manipulate paper so small! Also, learning about her efforts to support medical assistance in Zambia makes her peace cranes even more special. I'm glad I was able to contribute a few unique sheets of marbled paper for her to use.

A Giveaway!

When I asked Jeanne if I could feature her origami work on my blog, she graciously agreed, and generously offered to giveaway two pairs of earrings to my blog readers! There will be two winners, selected randomly. The first winner can pick a pair of earrings from Jeanne's shop (up to $18 value). The second winner can pick a pair of earrings from her shop (up to $15 value). Shipping will be free to USA and Canada. There are two ways to get your name into the draw. If you do both, your name will go into the draw twice. First, you can visit her Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRidgeOrigami) and decide which pair of earrings you would pick if you win. Come back here and leave a comment, including a link to the earrings you like. Second, you can visit Jeanne on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeOrigami). "Like" her page, then have a look at her wall posts where she shows some of her earrings, and "like" your favorite. Then come back here to my blog and leave me a comment to tell me about it. When you leave your comment(s) here on my blog, be sure there is a way for me to contact you if you win. Enter before March 24th (midnight) to get your name in the draw. Winners will be posted here on Sunday, March 25th.

37 comments:

Judy said...

What an absolutely cool way to use your beautiful paper! She does some lovely things. I really like Origami Crane Earrings - Purple, White, Red Hand Marbled Paper Cranes but there are several othert gorgeous ones too.

Ellen said...

I like the pale green bird origami earrings. Lots of wonderful earrings - hard to decide on my favorite.

Sarah MomE25 said...

These are so gorgeous and creative. My favorite pairs are
http://www.etsy.com/listing/91748356/origami-crane-earrings-pale-green-paper

and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95494578/origami-crane-earrings-upcycled-cracker

sarahacarroll22@gmail.com

Berendina Dykema said...

My favorite is the Origami Crane Earrings - Purple, White, Red Hand Marbled Paper Cranes.They are beautiful earrings and great detail.I especially like the heart embellishment.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91191198/origami-crane-earrings-purple-white-red

bd_657(at)hotmail(dot)com

Berendina Dykema said...

Liked her facebook page under Berendina Dykema and I liked the origami cranes for February 26th post.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=250273288390037&set=a.250273285056704.62559.250110471739652&type=1&theater

Maegan Morin said...

I really like these ones: http://www.etsy.com/listing/92794659/origami-star-earrings-red-and-black-tie

megnate at telus dot net

Maegan Morin said...

I like her on facebook and I liked my favorite earring!

megnate at telus dot net

whirlofwings said...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94971817/square-millefiori-beads-dark-green-blue

I loved the color of these beads.

Wehaf said...

These are so awesome! I love these vibrant blue and white ones best: http://www.etsy.com/listing/89995332/origami-crane-earrings-tiny-cranes-made

urchiken at gmail dot com

jhitomi said...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94351816/origami-crane-earrings-upcycled-red
Love these pretty earrings.
jhbalvin at gmail dot com

KarenZ said...

I like the Origami Star Earrings - Red and Gold Origami Stars with Gold Star Dangles
niuniuzheng at gmail dot com

Megan C said...

I like the Pale Green Paper Crane Earrings

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91748356/origami-crane-earrings-pale-green-paper

Allison said...

I like the pale green crane earrings.

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I want to say thanks to Rhonda for featuring me on her blog, and for making paper especially for me :)

And thank you to those who have posted kind comments.

Wishing you all good luck with the contest!

Jeanne Bailey
Blue Ridge Origami

NGS said...

What an absolutely fun idea! The purple cranes are beautiful.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94428490/origami-crane-earrings-purple-white

Jennifer Hine said...

These are so fun!
I love this pair:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/91748356/origami-crane-earrings-pale-green-paper

So pretty! :)

elegantquirk@gmail.com
www.elegantquirk.com

Jennifer Hine said...

I liked the facebook page and I liked a pretty pair of red crane earrings.

elegantquirk@gmail.com
www.elegantquirk.com

Sarah said...

I would choose the Origami Crane Earrings - Salmon Marbled Paper Cranes with Glass Beads.


sparmeland(at)optonline(dot)net

plastic cards said...

This very creative and beautiful!

Elizabeth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Elizabeth said...

I really adore the Blue and White Fluted Dangles

eabra003(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Gosh.. they're all so gorgeous. But my pick is the Origami Crane Earrings -- Tiny Cranes Made From Upcycled Money Bands.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89995332/origami-crane-earrings-tiny-cranes-made

ninajoleisa at gmail dot com

mountainjenni said...

It is so hard to pick a favorite. Jeanne is so talented. I can't imagine folding paper so small.

After much debate I had to go with the green star earrings.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/93961754/origami-star-earrings-green-alligator

mountainjenni@gmail.com

BlackAsphodel said...

I'd pick these: http://www.etsy.com/listing/95033836/origami-crane-earrings-dark-purple-paper

My e-mail: blackasphodel(at)yahoo(dot)com

BlackAsphodel said...

I liked Blue Ridge Origami on Facebook as Black Asphodel

I liked all her posts with photos! :p

My e-mail: blackasphodel(at)yahoo(dot)com

xielithium27 said...

krisj_27@hotmail.com

on Fb I liked Origami Star Earrings Dark Blue Stained Glass by BlueRidgeOrigami as Kristie J

xielithium27 said...

krisj_27@hotmail.com

If I won I would LOVE to have http://www.etsy.com/listing/95495891/origami-earrings-dark-pink-marbled-paper

Dolores said...

The are beautiful. Although I normally choose anything blue, I love these brown ones.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/95023966/origami-earrings-brown-hand-marbled

Dolores said...

Just popped into FB and liked her and also liked my favourite earrings.

BreiaB said...

On her FB page I liked the Origami Star Earrings Dark Blue Stained Glass and from the etsy site- it was so hard,everything looked so nice but it was a tie-http://www.etsy.com/listing/94204554/origami-crane-earrings-blue-and-white

and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/93360519/origami-star-earrings-red-and-gold


bbricke at yahoo dot com

BreiaB said...

I liked her blog under Breia D. Brickey

Judy H said...

I am impressed. I have folded cranes before and to fold them this small...I love the cranes in the alligator green paper.

Judy H said...

I liked her FB page and really love the salmon paper crane earrings.

Cathy said...

All of your work is inspiring! Books, papers, earrings...I am interested in your tutorials as well.

These are my favorite:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95494578/origami-crane-earrings-upcycled-cracker

cabwade@comcast.net

Mincka said...

They all are so unique! Like the purple-white-red one!

warm greetings, Mincka

justthecook said...

wealo ctrachthese are beautiful! i liked them all, but think the pale green were beautiful! http://www.etsy.com/listing/91748356/origami-crane-earrings-pale-green-paper

Blue Ridge Origami said...

Thanks to everyone who posted and participated in the giveaway!

For those who don't win (and those who did), I am offering a 10% discount on purchases in my shop until April 15.

Use coupon code MARBLED10 at checkout. Shipping is just $1.00 and all my earrings are shipped in a box suitable for gift giving.