Instructor: Bari Zaki

No group Zoom workshops are currently scheduled. That said, the full-length live recording is available, either on its own, or with the option of scheduling a private or semiprivate workshop (in addition to the recording). No previous paper folding experience is necessary. See the dropdown below for pricing.

Envelop is one of our favourite verbs. And enveloping is one of our favourite aspects of gift giving, parcel presenting, and anticipation amplification. In this workshop, you will learn to think, literally and figuratively, beyond the standard box to create beautiful wrapping materials.

What you will make: Two sizes of hand-folded envelope sans top flap, one petite origami box, and one incredibly deluxe envelope-case with string & button closure.

We will begin with a brief introduction to paper grain and a review of workshop tools. Then, you will learn to hand-fold an envelope sans top flap (a flat bag). You will make two different sizes of bag from the same size of paper. (The taller is 4 x 10½; the wider is 5¼ x 7¾.)

Next, you will learn to wrap two teeny butterfly clips in Japanese paper, to use as a closure or attachment for your envelopes. I share my personal techniques for trimming your clip-covering papers perfectly! Nota bene: Your kit includes 5 additional sheets of 8½ x 11 Japanese paper & 5 additional teeny clips so that you can make more bags with clips.

Then, onto your petite origami box, which measures 1¾ x 1¾ x 1½. You will measure, score, and fold (numerous times!) two pieces of luscious 100% cotton Saint-Armand papers. Nota bene: Your kit includes an additional pair of papers so that you can fold a second petite origami box.

By now, your fingers will feel nimble, & measuring, scoring and folding will seem natural. You’ll be ready to make an envelope-case to hold a three-dimensional object, in this case (irresistible pun) a set of eight Carta Pura notecards & envelopes. And for the finale, you will learn to attach a string-and-button closure with a pair of beautiful buttons from Soutache (the buttonerie just two doors down from Bari Zaki Studio). Nota benissimo: Your kit includes an additional sheet of Saint-Armand, plus extra string & buttons, so that you will be able to make a second envelope-case.

Workshop fee includes an extremely extensive kit of materials:

Envelopes sans flap (a flat bag): 7 sheets of Japanese decorative paper (8½ x 11); 7 teeny butterfly clips; and 7 clip-covering bits of Japanese decorative papers (⅜ x ½)

Petite origami box: 4 pieces of Saint-Armand (2 of 6 x 6 and 2 of 5⅜ x 5⅜)

Envelope case with string & button closure: 2 pieces of Saint-Armand (11 x 14); 1 set of 8 Carta Pura notecards & envelopes; 4 beautiful buttons and waxed-linen thread to complement

Tools needed: Bonefolder, X-acto knife, lightweight awl. These are all included in my Basic Bookbinding Kit, or you can purchase items individually. I offer a 20% discount on any tools you order for the workshop (via refund after your purchase).

Other tools needed: metal ruler, triangle ruler, cutting mat, a pair of sharp scissors, and a fairly fresh glue-stick.

Class fee includes the materials (but not the tools) to make 7 hand-folded envelopes sans top flap, 2 petite origami boxes, and 2 envelope-cases with string & button closure. The papers in the kit are very vintage, from my years of collecting; they are in limited supply, and each kit is individually assembled for a complementary combo. If a particular colour or pattern catches your fancy, please e me and I will do my best to grant your wishes.

If you’d like to purchase an additional set of materials, you certainly can. However, you cannot accomplish this in the dropdown menu (because one set of materials is included with the workshop fee). To order additional sets of materials, please just e me and I will be in touch extremely promptly. It’s $145. per additional set of materials. (No shipping fee if you order at the same time as your workshop registration.)

This recording is 4-ish hours in total. It includes the “natural pauses” from the original workshop sessions, giving you time to complete the various steps. You can pause the video wherever and as often as you’d like, but you may not need to at all. 

To schedule a date & time, add this class to your cart, and then email barizakistudio@gmail.com with your preferred date(s) and time of day. Feel free to call or e me with any questions (773-294-7766 or barizakistudio@gmail.com).

I look forward to sharing my love of papers, origami, and envelope-making with you.