Neogami grew out of my love of origami and the idea of turning folded paper into something small enough to wear. Paper was inexpensive and easy to experiment with, and origami was something I was already good at, so I began making tiny models and turning them into jewellery. The name Neogami came from the idea of creating a new expression of origami through miniature, wearable pieces.

Working at such a small scale takes a surprising amount of precision. I choose papers for their colour, pattern and how well they fold, and every origami element is folded individually by hand. My designs include cranes, miniature versions of Toshikazu Kawasaki's origami rose, butterflies and rabbits, as well as necklaces with tiny cranes suspended inside glass bubbles. Some of those cranes begin as a square of paper only five centimetres across.

I started out selling a few pieces to friends and coworkers, then moved on to local craft shows and eventually began selling my work through independent shops. One of those shops happened to be a vintage store, where I spent several years working and learning about old cameras and other vintage objects. That experience eventually led to opening a vintage store of my own, but I continued making Neogami along the way.

What I still love about origami jewellery is what can be done with such an ordinary material. Paper doesn't need to imitate gold or silver to be interesting. Its value comes from what has been done with it and the time, precision and handwork that turn a simple square of paper into something completely different.

Find Neogami Origami Jewellery in Toronto shops including Hanji Gifts, Made You Look, and The Handwork Department