My idea for next year!

[smileyllama]

I think that we should all join together and make 1000 origami paper cranes and mail them to Michelle for good luck in the next season. Yes, I know, this is a JAPANESE tradition, and Michelle is CHINESE, but I think we can expand hers and our cultural horizons! Anyone with me? I have about 300 at home, but I'd start over for Michelle!

[smileyllama]

Just thought of something! The cranes will symbolize Michelle's flying. She refers to this fascination with "flying" on the ice in Heart of a Champion. I think we can bring a smile to her face!

[skatingfan]

Excuse my ignorance, what is an origami crane, do you have picture of one?

[smileyllama]

www.fascinating-folds.com...adako.html (http://www.fascinating-folds.com/origamiland/sadako.html)

The Sadako story. This is why the cranes are so special and symbolic. Here is a pic. Need anymore info?
http://www.rosella.apana.org.au/~mlb/cranes/cranegrn.gif
I just think that we should do the same for Michelle! Wish a thousand times good luck, it'll come true!

[Jarrett]

To my knowledge, Andrea (michelle-kwan.homepage.com) is already doing a project like this.

[smileyllama]

Really? Darn it... I'll go check it out, maybe I can help her.

[smileyllama]

Well, just talked to Andrea, and we are joining forces.

[Jenny]

While I think this is a very nice idea, I don't think it would be best for Michelle. This is based on all my conversations with the ladies in Shep's office about how Michelle gets swamped with soooo much stuff... they weren't all that supportive about us sending just a small book of messages to Michelle, so I can't imagine they'd be too thrilled about anyone sending her 1000 paper cranes. I'm not trying to squash anyone's idea here, but I'm just being realistic. Perhaps instead of sending the cranes to Michelle, they could be sent to a children's hospital or something. As much as Michelle would appreciate the good luck messages, I think she'd be more touched if we sent a bunch of get well messages to sick kids. I think oragami cranes would really lift their spirits... the messages on them could be a combination of "get well" wishes and motivational quotes from Michelle. Someone could take pictures of the cranes and/or of the kids who receive them and send the photos to Michelle. Anyway, that's my $.02 on this project.

[littleone4eva]

Hey, that's a great idea, Jenny!!!! Why didn't think of that :) :) :) We'll try to get things started ASAP :) I'll give you some credit too :) Maybe, for every well wish message you guys give to us to send, we'll give each kid like 5-10 stars and a crane or so what. Gotta discuss it with Michael :) Bye!

[littleone4eva]

I've already e-mailed CMN and we can also add origami tulips!!! I hope this will work out... Does any body have a picture of an origami star or tulip? That pic of the crane will be usefull, if I have permission to use it.

[Valerie]

Making cranes for the children at CMN hospitals is a brilliant idea. My friends and I made stars for Michelle for her 19th birthday before, so I personally like the crane idea for the children better. Plus, it also symbolizes Michelle's "flying" :) I'm thinking that 1000 cranes may not be enough. I am curious, however, as to how the project is going to be carried out though.

[smileyllama]

I don't know... I don't think we can do more than 1000 unless we had more help than just the two of us... I think the tulips are a GRRRRRREAT idea! Gotta go discuss it with Andrea.... We'll keep you all updated!

~> Michael

PS: Thanks so much for the suggestion, Jenny!

[Jenny]

I'm glad you all like my little twist for this project! One other thing to keep in mind... I think it's important to make the distiction that the cranes are from Michelle's fans and not Michelle herself. Hopefully that will be obvious, but I don't want the kids to mistakenly think that Michelle actually made them or that we're "officially" representing her or anything (since we don't have permission to do that).

[littleone4eva]

I'm confused... so we can though say it's in honor of her, right? Although it's not representing her... The site is almost done :)

[Jenny]

Yeah, I think it's OK to say it's in Michelle's honor... just not that the cranes are from Michelle. Know what I mean?

[Valerie]

Is Michelle still one of CMN's national spokesperson? How about "in honour of Michelle Kwan from her fans" or "from Michelle Kwan fans in honour of her".

[littleone4eva]

http://michelle-kwan.homepage.com/cmnorigami.html

Here's a preview of the site... still gotta add the details.

[michellesmom]

Cute idea!

I have a couple of questions (of course)

Does it cost anything?

If not, who will pay for the paper, etc.

Would we be able to get some cranes for our local children's hospital if we wanted to?

Would we be able to make some cranes " " " " " " " " "?

BTW, there's a children's book called "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes." See www.amazon.com/exec/obido...22-8988916 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440474655/o/qid=965341744/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_3/102-9108422-8988916)

Is this by any chance where you got the idea?

[littleone4eva]

No... this won't cost anything for you guys ;p Michael and I are donating our own paper to Seattle CMN (I've bought some a long time ago and the places we work at has tons of paper and can afford to let us have some, hehe ;p). As we would LOVE to have your CMN benifit from the project, I don't think we'd beable to coordinate it. Although, if you would like, I guess you could start your own 'branch' of project for your own CMN. I don't think we'd beable to get cranes to you... but we can certainly teach you... well, try, over the internet. But there are many origami books too if you guys are really interested. I have heard of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, but our idea didn't really come from that book (I've never read it)... I've just always liked making origami ;p Well, the site is up now, so feel free to start. WOO HOO!!! spread the word, and we'll be posting it up at FSW, Skate Forum, etc. too...

We're still trying to think of an official title for the project... along the lines of "Careful folds", "Caring Cranes" "Soaring Spirits" or something like that. But if anybody of you guys have any ideas... please let us know!

michelle-kwan.homepage.co...igami.html (http://michelle-kwan.homepage.com/cmnorigami.html)

[smileyllama]

Dido on what Andrea said. I'm sure the place where I work won't mind if a *few* pieces of paper "fly away." :)

I kinda got the idea from Sadako, kind of. That's where I got the whole 1000 cranes and good luck parts from. Actually, my friend showed me how to make cranes a year ago, and I started to make a thousand... but kinda got to 200 before I stopped. Now I have a reason, and we're making progress! I got bored at work today, and made about 25...