Sunday, November 14, 2010

Feature with Chyrls "The art of Origami" + Giveaway

I first met Chyrls about 2 years ago when I was shopping for a special card and was delighted when I came across her gorgeous shop where I purchased my first origami card and it was just beautiful, we have kept in touch and I am so excited to share her work with you. Chyrls has generously offered 2 prizes to the value of $25. So, one lucky person will be in for a real treat, that I can promise.


Chyrls love for paper folding started with folding a simple frog whilst reciting a poem to her students 'The little frog'. She works passionately as a full time language teacher for children. In her daily work, she does not allow her students to fold paper aeroplanes during lessons, however, they amaze her when no matter how many times she emphasises that paper folding is not allowed, they still do it quietly and hope that she won’t confiscate their piece of work!

From her lovely students, she learnt how paper models intrigue the children and the smiles on the little ones’ faces motivated her to learn how to fold different kinds of paper models. She started with folding animals (bunny, elephant, dinosaurs, flamingo, kangaroos, humming bird and terriers, etc). Ironically, she had never folded a crane (a kind of bird not a lifting device!) at all since she started origami, although it is the most common model that most people attempt and is recognised globally as a peace sign.

She taught herself to make little origami booklets and the children love them just as much as the adults do. Even though her little gifts to her students are 'just a piece of paper', it means more to them when she spends her most precious time to make something for them. It’s the little thought that means so much.



Chyrls and drawings:

She has always loved to draw and was never trained in fine arts during her academic years. She bought two watercolour pencils and self teach drawing books, some watercolour specific paper and Faber Castell 12 watercolour pencils and off she went on her first long trip to Taiwan in 2006.

The stormy weather during her Taiwan trip gave her the opportunity to sit down and read the two drawing books, and since has never stopped exploring art.


Chyrls and origami cards

People often asked her, "What are you going to do with this paper model?" Her answer was simple. She thought that if the paper model brings joy to the origami folder and the recipient, the purpose has been met, right? This question also gave her further inspiration on what she could achieve with origami. During her holiday, she decided to combine the art of origami with card making. Although this technique is not new, it is not commonly recognised either. The folding of one piece of paper in halves is in itself the simplest form of origami.

Chyrls joined Etsy in Dec 2008, and she makes about 5 cards a day. It may not seem many for some, but to come up with 5 different designs which require the combination of origami and greeting card is not easy for a non-art trained individual. For these cards she only uses watercolour pencil drawings, and has decided that it has to come with an origami envelope, which compliments the main theme of her work.



You can’t put a price on a piece of handmade artwork. However, in order to sustain this expensive hobby, she will continue to sell her favourite creations even if they are just one-off pieces. She insists on handwriting the fonts and self-drawing the pictures for her cards. Although many people have suggested that she uses a printer for this part, she prefers to jot down in her own style the few words her customers want to communicate, which a printer could never match.




The materials Chyrls uses for her cards are simple and carefully coordinated to bring out the beauty of different paper texture and colour contrasts. She uses a range of watercolour papers, polyester satin ribbons, gift-wrapping ribbons, and silver metallic cords to soften the look of the cards. These materials are similar to what the scrap booking hobbyists use. Her work is different from scrap booking in the way that she refuses to use commercially available toppers or scrap booking papers for her handmade cards. This allows the freedom to express her feelings of beauty with her own handmade toppers; she also adds little magnets to some of her cards so that you can display the card on fridge doors.


The pure joy of someone liking your work lasts a lifetime. For me her passion shines through and onto her finished pieces and that is truly precious.

She also manages to find time for her other hobbies which include, cycling, photography and aquascaping which is the craft of arranging aquatic plants as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water.

Aquascape designs include a number of distinct styles, including the garden-like Dutch style and the Japanese-inspired nature style. Typically, an aquascape houses fish as well as plants, although it is possible to create an aquascape with plants only, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants. You can see her artistic flare again!


Thank you so much Chyrls for such a fabulous insight into your work and hobbies and also for such a generous giveaway.



Giveaway 1

Set of 4 bookmarks – Which she will personalise with your name












Giveaway 2

Sample pack of 6 mini cards in a origami box

6 x blossoms Miniature Cards 1.75" x 2" (Approximately 4.5cm x 5.5cm)

Description of box:

1x Cupcake Series Square Origami Box 2.36" x 2.36" x 0.9"(Approximately 6cm x 6cm x 2.3cm deep)

This is one of Chyrls latest creations. She has named it the Cupcakes Series since they look so much like little freshly baked cupcakes decorated with beautiful toppings when she put them all together.

The origami gift box, and matching pearlescent miniature cards with blossoms, which feature the pattern from her Princess Rose series. The box is designed, hand signed and crafted with wonderful detail. It is finished with a beautiful Peach tint organza ribbon and matching organza deep cocoa ribbon. The inside of the box is also sealed to preserve its form and durability.

Simple Rules:

1)Please follow my blog yes you know it makes me smile:)

2)If you tweet about this giveaway, use the hashtag #Chyrls. Post in a separate comment, and get one additional entry each time you do this, up to ONCE a day.

3) Please visit Chyrls shop and pick your favourite and post here only take a minute http://www.etsy.com/shop/chyrls

4) Follow Chyrls on twitter, http://twitter.com/chyrls  and post in a separate comment below. If you are already following, post in a separate comment as well. One additional entry.

The more times you enter, the better your chances of winning!

This giveaway will begin Noveber 14, 2010 and end at 11:59 pm EST on November 29th 2010. It is open to anyone worldwide to enter so come in and have a go. Random.org will pick a winner!

Good luck and thanks for entering

48 comments:

Chyrls Origami said...

Hi Chrissie

Fabulous post accounting my 'handcrafting life'. Can't wait to see the new owners to my personalised bookmarks and Origami box.

Have fun reading, crafting and blogging.

Hugs from Singapore
Chyrl

Anonymous said...

I adore Pink and Black Princess Rose - Origami Gift Box with 6 Mini Cards Set!
madda_ilade@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I follow Chyrls on twitter.(purpleandspring)
madda_ilade at yahoo dot com

UNA shop said...

I won the previous giveaway, but i´m in again!
I follow Chryls on Twitter
i'm @unaencueros :)

UNA shop said...

and tweeted about this giveaway!

Claire Atoxim said...

Following this blog :)

Atoxim at gmail dot com

Claire Atoxim said...

My fave item from Chyrls Etsy is the Tiffany Blue on black - Mini Cards, I can't go past Tiffany!

Atoxim at gmail dot com

Mystica said...

I adore Pink and Black Princess Rose - Origami Gift Box with 6 Mini Cards Set!


Thanks for the giveaway.


mystica123athotmaildotcom

Mystica said...

I follow you on GFC



mystica123athotmaildotcom

jhitomi said...

I follow you on gfc as jhb. What a lovely giveaway,
jhbalvin at gmail dot com

Jasmine1485 said...

I'm following via GFC as Jasmine1485

Kate1485 at hotmail.com

Jasmine1485 said...

I'm following Chylrs Origami on Twitter (@NTFancy)

Kate1485 at hotmail.com

Jasmine1485 said...

My favourite item is the 'Natural - Handmade Birthday Card - Pastel Green, Pink, Yellow, Blue'

Kate1485 at hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Now following!

Unknown said...

i love the vibrant poppies card!

Krishenkas Treasures said...

So glad your like it Chyrls and the pleasure was mine. Una sooo pleased to see you back and hope you love your goodies! Thanks everyone for a great start to Chyrls giveaway.

back2ack123 said...

I love the Saver's Pack of boxes. I have already hearted your shop on etsy! My husband used to do origami with his grandmom and now my kids have pickedd up on the family fun!
Thanks
Tammy
back2ack88@yahoo.com

back2ack123 said...

I will look forward to your stories by following your blog!
Tammy
back2ack88@yahoo.com

Krishenkas Treasures said...

thank you Tammy, great that your kids have now picked origami as a hobby

Aloha Letterpress said...

Thank you for sharing Chyris' wonderful origami and background about her. It was an interesting feature to read!
Linda

eclairre said...

I like handmade card flora in peach - heart shape.

Aik said...

I'm a follower. Wonderful handcraft, Chyrls!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I tweeted:

http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/5160184200560641

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I love the Sampler Pack - Mini Cards Set of 9 - Blossom.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Follow Chyrls on twitter @aikchien

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Angel Jacklyn said...

FOLLOWING YOU ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT AS "kytah00" kytah00@yahoo.com

Angel Jacklyn said...

I LOVE HER WORK! I LIKE THE "Handmade Birthday Cards Set of 2 - Terriers and Paws Pastel " AMONG OTHER THINGS kytah00@yahoo.com

Angel Jacklyn said...

FOLLOWING HER ON TWITTER USER NAME "kytah00" kytah00@yahoo.com

Shelley said...

I follow via GFC

seashell210 at gmail dot com

Shelley said...

tweet for 10/19:
http://twitter.com/charmedlifeblog/status/5475437136314368

seashell210 at gmail dot com

Shelley said...

I love reading so I would have to say the pretty personalized bookmarks are my favorite item from her store!!!

seashell210 at gmail dot com

Shelley said...

I follow chyrls on twitter as charmedlifeblog

seashell20 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I already follow and tweet with you. :)

Unknown said...

And now follow Chyrls on both twitter and blogger as well.

Unknown said...

These are incredible: http://www.etsy.com/listing/29297111/tiffany-blue-on-black-mini-cards-set-of

liz said...

Gosh, lot of things i adore, but this one is the faviest http://www.etsy.com/listing/61783066/handmade-heart-shape-card-princess-roses

Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone :)

liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com

liz said...

I follow Chryls on twitter bird name doki doki co :)

Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone :)

liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com

Chyrls Origami said...

Dropping by to say Hello! Thank you so much for supporting this giveaway. I've followed back on twitter and thanks Moags and Smeet with the blog follow.

Good luck to everyone here and big hugs to Krishenka for all the feature on her beautiful blog once again.

Hugs from Singapore
Chyrl

Susan said...

I follow your blog via gfc, thanks for the chance to win suelee1998 @ gmail.com

Ingrid said...

Following your blog :)

so.kitsch at gmail dot com

Ingrid said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/my_wunderkammer/status/9184373081382912

so.kitsch at gmail dot com

Ingrid said...

My favorite item is the "Accordian Cards - Princess Roses Series individual card"

so.kitsch at gmail dot com

Ingrid said...

Following chyrls on twitter. My username is my_wunderkammer.

so.kitsch at gmail dot com

Krishenkas Treasures said...

Thank you for enterring asuka will be posting winner tomorrow morning. Good luck

Krishenkas Treasures said...

We have a winner and it is drum roll..........

LIZ

congrats Liz and many thanks for entering

Chyrls Origami said...

Yay! Congrats Liz. I'll write to you for more contact details to post you the prize.

For all those who have posted here and took part in this giveaway before this post, I'll further extend my appreciate to offer Free shipping for anything you choose from my Artfire store at http://chyrls.artfire.com. Even a single card. Remember to mention this giveaway for the free shipping.

Krishenka, Thank you again. Can't tell you how much fun it is to follow this post. :) Big HUGS!

Chyrl

Krishenkas Treasures said...

My pleasure Chyrl you were a true delight to work with Hugs back.xx

Atif Saeed said...

Origami can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. After learning this art, basically all you need is paper. By just using your fingers, you can make a variety of traditional shapes or even create new ones of your own. Expect some level of frustration if you try to learn origami from a chart of drawings. But if you happen to meet someone who knows origami, take advantage of the opportunity to learn this art of folding paper.

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