Origami Connect - Past Events

Gay Merrill Gross is known for her practical designs and clear instructions, including the Gift Bag with Lock Top, Tree Fairy Gift Box and Convertible Bag. Today, Deb Pun will teach several practical containers that are quick to fold and a decorative ribbon and bow. Each model is folded from one-sheet and can be used for any gift-giving occasion. These containers can be flattened for storage. We will be folding five models in the order listed below:

1. Hooray! Bag designed by Paula Versnick. She taught it informally at the 2017 British Origami Convention. The bag has an open top and is a secret action model. Gay describes Paula’s Hooray! Bag "has two “arms” at the top. When you pull them outward the Bag magically pops open!" I'll teach the folding sequence from Paula's diagrams. ☛ Bibliography: published in British Origami Society, Issue 306

2. Gift Bag with Lock Top is an arrangement created by Gay Merrill Gross based on Paula Versnick's Hooray! Bag. I'll teach the Gift Bag using Gay's text-only instructions and share her design notes. She incorporated an ingenious folding sequence to create the side gussets. With a simple adjustment to a single fold, this gift bag becomes a wide variation. Text instructions only, not published.

3. Ribbon and Bow is created by Rosa Hye-kyung LEE (South Korea). She is the creator of this clever 1-sheet 3D ribbon and bow. She writes, "I am the original developer of this origami ribbon bow. This origami ribbon bow was first introduced in the book titled "Origami Nara: Volume 3", published in South Korea back in 2003." The ribbon and bow require cuts. Use a double-sided tape or roll of tape to attach it to the Gift Bag with Lock Top. ☛Bibliography: Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plsagp9PtuQ ☛Diagrams https://blog.naver.com/tigarrose/221986022988 ☛Rosa’s blog https://m.blog.naver.com/tigarrose

4. Tree Fairy Gift Box, great for gift giving because the content is completely enclosed. Gay originally designed the box folded from U.S. letter paper (8.5”x11”) to hold David Brill's Christmas Tree Fairy folded from 5-inch square. The top flaps overlap each other and are held closed by tension between the flaps. ☛Bibliography: Not published. In the photo, a piece of fabric ribbon decorates the box. Two Simple Hearts (designed by Gay Merrill Gross) are attached to the ribbon by double-sided tape.

5. Convertible Bag is folded from a preliminary base and has an open top with a handle. Great when folded from duo paper because the bag's interior shows one side of the paper and the base shows the opposite side of the paper. Deb Pun will share a folding sequence to securely lock the handles that is not published in the Extraordinary Origami book. ☛Bibliography: published in Extraordinary Origami: 20 Projects from Contemporary American Masters, edited by Marc Kirschenbaum, Fox Chapel Publishing, 2018. ISBN-13 978-1565239494

Kay will kick things off by teaching us how to fold Honey Bunny, an adorable cat, and a clever standing pocket—perfect little folds to brighten your day.

Deanna will bring some holiday cheer with Gay's Santa Coming Down the Chimney letter fold! This festive design is perfect for tucking in a holiday note, a gift card, or even some flat chocolate treats. She’ll also show us how to fold a Button Glower that makes a lovely ornament, plus a charming Bird in Hand.

And don’t miss Dollar Folds with Arlene! You’ll learn how to transform money into playful models—a fish, dragon, frog, and even a framed George. These folds are fun, creative, and make great conversation starters!

Step into the magic of Storigami and More, where stories and folds come together to celebrate some of Gay’s favorite creations. Gay and Rachel collaborated on many timeless models and stories, delighting audiences of all ages—and now Rachel is bringing that spirit to life once again.
Rachel will share a magical attention-getter that Gay taught her, along with two of their most-loved stories:
Brothers Long, Brothers Short — transform a simple letter-size paper into a clever little box. Nosy Rosy — discover how a story unfolds into a charming origami shirt. But that’s not all—Rachel will also guide you through folding a flower arrangement, a heart-shaped paper clip, and a basket. All models range from simple to low-intermediate, making them the perfect kickoff to this special series that reflects Gay’s playful, creative style. Join us for folding, storytelling, and celebrating the joyful art Gay shared with the world.

The model is a Rhombic Hexecontahedron (which is a stellation of the Rhombic Triacontahedron), comprised of 60 golden rhombi. We’ll start by creating a template that will help us to prepare 60 golden rectangles.

Peter designed this Panther in early 2024 using a mix of box pleating and 22.5° geometry techniques. Although there are some sinks, the sequence is relatively pleasant overall and there's potential for a variety of poses by adjusting the positions of the legs, tail, and head.

Let us introduce you to the beautiful Phu Tran Origami Rose! This elegant paper rose is a wonderful variation of the classic Kawasaki Rose. The Phu Tran rose maintains the beautiful spiral form that makes all rose designs so captivating but introduces several key differences. Most notably, Tran’s design features modified petal shapes that create a slightly more open bloom. If you are a folder who enjoys a challenge, this would be a great class for you. A great sense of accomplishment awaits!

This vase is a revised version of the original Geometric Vase that Michał taught at Centerfold. Folded from a hexagon, it remains flat through most of the steps, with an elegant folding sequence. The final step brings it to life, transforming it into a 3D shape.
As a bonus, Michał will demonstrate how to transform the vase into the stunning Christmas tree he shared on his Instagram during the holidays.
And if that weren't enough, Michał will also present a star model of his own creation along with a few more surprises if time permits.