ORIGAMI ACCESSORIES BY KIMIKO

As a girl growing up in Japan, origami (the traditional Japanese art of paper folding) was part of  Kimiko's daily life. She was moved to take up the craft again when she saw her son making interesting shapes with origami. She calls herself an artisan -- finding artistic expression in everyday items. She is fascinated with the beauty of hand-made paper, by their designs, colors and textures. In this way, her origami accessories are deeply connected to the traditional Japanese art of papermaking.

These accessories are based on origami. She focuses on making each precise fold, moving her full attention from one to the next. Each piece is crafted from various kinds of rice paper (washi). The paper is printed with modern or traditional Japanese patterns, or hand-dyed. All of the folded origami pieces are glazed with a non-toxic sealer. The pendant hangs from a leather cord to form a necklace. All the wires used for the earrings are sterling silver. High-quality French barrettes are used for the hair clips. These are extremely lightweight, durable and water-resistant. A variety of colors and different paper designs make these accessories one of a kind.

Kimiko grew up in Japan and moved to Vermont in 1991. She studied Japanese and Korean modern history in college, and participated in student theater. She has been studying ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) for more than 30 years, and teaches classes and holds workshops as a certified instructor. She has been a performing member of “Burlington Taiko Group,” Japanese drumming troupe in Vermont.

Where to find Kimiko's work:

Belladonna in Middlebury, VT (802-388-4446)

Growing Vermont (University of Vermont) in Burlington, VT (www.uvm.edu/~growvt)

How to contact Kimiko:

Kimiko Yumoto

(802) 660-0824

kyumoto@hotmail.com