Preparing the Space

Having a clear workspace is the most important, and often most difficult part of the process. It can take upwards of 270,000 hours, less if you allow the cat to knock everything on the floor for you.

The Right Tools

Before beginning a project, the right tools are vital. Here I have laid out paper, scissors, floral wire, glue, glue stick, bobble-head Nora Roberts, foam block, needle-nosed pliers, and paper shredders. My paper shredders are named Priscilla and Aquilla.

Good Help is Hard to Find

Paper shredders are not cheap these days. Priscilla required a hefty bribe.

A Blank Canvas

Last year's bouquet went into a water glass wrapped with gold-foil paper. (You will see its runner-up twin in subsequent pictures.) This year I got a great deal on this pot, which got the honor of becoming the blank canvas for my project.

Paper ribbons

It took about four tries to get the paper ribbon the way I wanted it for wrapping around the pot. It was a great way to not study for the MPRE.

Proto--Bow

It may not look like much now, but you know what they say about acorns.

Study Break

A brief pause to study law, as origami stubbornly refuses to pay the bills.

Finished Paper Ribbon

Bobble-head Nora Roberts, who got her feet glued more securely onto her base in the course of this project, approves.

Near-Bow

It's starting to look more like a bow now...

Take a Bow!

I was quite pleased with the way the bow turned out, I haven't done one quite like it before. The swirl in the middle is a bit of floral wire.

Drying in Shape

Bobble-Head Nora Roberts takes one for the team and holds the bow in shape while the glue dries. I know glue isn't proper origami form, but this is supposed to last awhile.

The Pot

With the decoration done, I whittled down the foam block over the garbage can and wedged it into the pot. It was now ready to sit and do nothing for five days while I worked on the flowers.

Research

When I am not doing commission work, I generally do modular geometric origami. Doing flowers requires a bit of research each time I go back. You will see on my computer last year's model, which turned out quite nicely. Note the aforementioned runner-up glass, which is serving as a weight to hold down the parts of the flower underneath it while the glue dries.

Epic Fail

The cardstock I picked up on my first craft store trip was extraordinarily disappointing. It was heavy, but not too heavy to fold. Unfortunately, as you can see, it started cracking and showing white when I tried to fold it.

The Shredder

The consequences of failure are dire indeed...

The Price of Failure

In the morning, it came back to the table, as a warning to the rest of the paper.