05/08/2026
“Isn’t it just paper?”
Someone recently asked how much one of my cranes cost, then followed it with: “But it’s just paper.”
And yes — it starts as paper.
But there’s a lot more folded into it than that.
Most of my work begins with reclaimed materials: packing paper, newspaper, scraps that would otherwise be thrown away. Every sheet is cut by hand, smoothed, and painted layer by layer until the colors blend into something that feels alive. Sometimes the pieces I’m least sure about become the most beautiful once folded.
Before a single crease is made, each sheet is then sealed (at least twice), finished, and filled with a hidden wish word tucked inside. Only then does the folding begin.
Some cranes become framed art. Some become jewelry, magnets, or sculptural pieces. Many go through multiple rounds of resin work, curing, trimming, and finishing before they reach their final form- a messy and time consuming process.
So yes — it’s paper. Or at least it starts as that.
But it’s also hours of work, experimentation, mistakes, patience, and joy. It’s reuse and transformation. It’s art made by hand, one fold at a time.
And honestly, I think there’s something kind of magical about turning something ordinary into something people want to treasure.
