Check out these paper crane creations: This Hurricane artist turns origami folds into fashion and art

Written by Jessi Bang
May 20, 2024

ST. GEORGE — From paper cranes to glass-encased roses, one woman with nimble fingers and a creative spirit is transforming simple paper folds into art and jewelry.

Origami art is encased in glass, Hurricane, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Origami art is encased in glass, Hurricane, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I’ve had dreams of folding origami,” Brianna Adams said. “Sometimes when I can’t fall asleep, I go over the folds in my head.”

Adams turns paper origami into fashion and decor, including earrings, necklaces, hanging car mirror decor, jewelry dishes and more. Her items span from dragons and delicate roses to butterflies and boxes, with stars sprinkled in for a touch of magic. Her main specialty? Paper cranes.

Adding to the uniqueness of Adams’ art are her pint-sized cranes, which all began with a challenge: folding a crane from a 6-by-6-inch piece of paper. From there, her obsession with miniaturization only grew, leading to even smaller and more intricate creations.

The smallest crane she’s created so far measures in at three-eighths. While she sometimes uses needles to make petal folds, the majority of her work is done by hand.

Instead of using a magnifying glass to create the tiny sizes, she holds the paper as close to her face as possible. She also enjoys writing names on grains of rice.

Brianna Adams turns paper cranes into wearable fashion and decor, Hurricane, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Brianna Adams turns paper cranes into wearable fashion and decor, Hurricane, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I actually have like negative six vision,” Adams said, pushing up her glasses. “So I’m pretty blind. But my up-close vision is really good, so I just have to get really close.”

Aside from her tiny creations, she’s also folded a crane over 4 feet tall. Most of her creations are sealed for added durability, making them water damage-resistant. Additionally, she crafts origami roses using multiple paper lotus flowers, which she encapsulates in glass, similar to the enchanting rose from “Beauty and the Beast.”

Adams’ origami journey began during her time at a call center. With calls trickling in slowly one day, she found herself battling boredom. Turning to origami for entertainment, she experimented with various folds using the only materials at hand – sticky notes.

Continuing to fold for enjoyment, she was inspired to create her first pair of origami crane earrings. When her grandmother spotted them, she immediately wanted a pair of her own. After having similar reactions from other family members and friends, she created an entire tackle box full of paper crane earrings.

That’s when she decided she was ready to try selling them to the public. She began selling at local markets before exhibiting her pieces at the local co-op Trudy’s Spot, where they have been displayed ever since.

A jar full of origami cranes sits on a table surrounded by other folded art, Hurricane, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A jar full of origami cranes sits on a table surrounded by other folded art, Hurricane, Utah, April 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

As someone who struggles with anxiety, Adams said origami has helped her take her mind off life’s stressors. She finds solace in folding during therapy sessions, transforming potentially stressful or triggering moments into moments of creative calm.

Creating origami art isn’t Adams’ first time dabbling in the art world. She has a diverse artistic skillset that includes drawing, painting, punch embroidery, needle felting and crocheting, along with crafting resin jewelry and other handmade crafts.

“I have like seven or eight hobbies,” she said. “This is just the one that caught people’s eyes.”

For more information, follow @origamibri on Instagram. To purchase items in person, visit Trudy’s Spot at 130 Main Street in Hurricane.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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