Thousand cranes for Japan

In Japan, an ancient legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. Senbazuru, the group of one thousand paper cranes threaded on string, are traditionally given as a wedding gift by the person who has folded them, as a wish for "a thousand years of happiness and prosperity" upon the couple. Senbazuru are also often given to a new baby for long life and good luck.

The Thousand Cranes has also become a symbol of world peace through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who developed leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II, and spent her time in the nursing home making a thousand origami cranes in hopes of getting well. Sadako's story is told in the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (1977).

(Information and photo from Wikipedia.)

Here is our favorite set of instructions for folding a paper crane, from the Informed Democracy website.

Our thoughts are with our sister Girl Scouts of Japan and all of those affected by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan.

Fishing swivel bracelets

Fishing swivels are small metal devices made of two rings with a pivoting joint in-between, designed to keep a fishing line from tangling. They also make inexpensive and cute bracelets with the addition of some beads.

Swivels come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and can be purchased at sporting goods stores, or at Amazon.com. The size 10 and 14 swivels are best for bracelets.

This can get a little fiddly, as the clasps and beads are small, and you will probably have to unbend the clasp in order to get the beads around the bend in the swivel. The swivels tend to come uncrimped if you open and shut them more than once; try beading the entire bracelet then recrimping each swivel with the needle-nosed pliers (don't do them as you go in case it comes uncrimped, as it is hard to get the swivel back together after that).

Make sure that the beads will fit onto your swivels before you start.

You can also use spring-ring clasps on your bracelet, if you want.


Fishing Swivel Bracelets

Supplies:

various beads
dangly charms, if desired
snap fishing swivels (6-8 per bracelet)
spring-ring clasps (optional)


Equipment:

paper plates or plastic trays (like container lids) to keep the beads in one place
needle-nosed pliers


Directions:

Open up a swivel and thread on a few beads. You may need to unbend the wire quite a lot in order to get the beads around the curve.

Thread the loop end of another swivel onto the beaded one, and close the first swivel. Use the needle-nosed pliers if the swivel is hard to close.

If you want to put more than 1 or 2 beads on a swivel, you will need to thread on a bead or two, then the next swivel, then the remaining beads, so that the next swivel is more-or-less centered between the beads.

Open the second swivel, bead it, and thread on another swivel. Repeat until the bracelet fits around your wrist. You may want to make it long enough that you can put the bracelet on without having to open and close a swivel, or use a spring-ring clasp.


Adapted from Dangles and Bangles by Sherri Haab and Michelle Haab (Watson & Guptill, c2005).

Japan links

Some links on Japan for International Day/Thinking Day --

How to write haiku and a haiku worksheet.

Origami Club, and how to fold a paper crane.

Carp kites.

Paper fan printable craft.

Girl Scouts of Japan (in English).

Kiyoharu Otake's calligraphy gallery, another Japanese calligraphy gallery, and how to write "Girl Scouts" in katakana.

Thinking Day passports.