The bird is one of the oldest shapes in leaf craft, and it is made from one leaf and nothing else. There is no glue and no wire. A few folds and a tucked end turn a flat leaflet into something that reads instantly as a bird.
Folded, not assembled
The body is formed first by rolling the leaflet into a soft oval, then the tail is folded back and tucked through the centre. The whole thing takes about twenty minutes and depends entirely on the leaf being fresh enough to hold a fold.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | One coconut leaflet |
| Length | 14 cm beak to tail |
| Hanging | Cotton thread loop |
| Making time | About 20 minutes |
- Tied to a wrapped gift
- Hung on a small branch
- Perched on a shelf or desk
- Scattered along a table for a meal
Made in small batches through the year, so the green is deepest in summer and warmer in tone in winter.
