This funny model is by Tomoko Fusè. It can be found in “Origami for the connoisseur”, by Kunihiro Kasahara and Toshie Takahama, ISBN 4817090022.
Each is folded from 3 sheets of 15 cm paper (kami on the left, kami+print chiyogami by Grimmhobby on the right). As always with Tomoko Fusè, it’s really sturdy once assembled.
You can make the model rotate around its center! It’s really funny to play with, amuses children and geeks alike :)
So… a year ago, I blogged about Nick Robinson’s elephants. As I said before, I don’t fold many animals, but there are a few exceptions: I like birds, bats, cats, dragons, and butterflies. And elephants, obviously. So, more elephants!
This cute guy is by Fumiaki Kawahata. Leyla Torres made a video tutorial. I’m not sure about the paper, maybe the 20cm from Avenue Mandarine?
I think the elephant on the right is the one by Edwin Corrie, found in “Origami Animals” by Vicente Palacios (ISBN 9780486478746), page 40 – he has a few diagrams on his website, check it out :)
Both models are intermediate. Step 11 of Corrie’s elephant is a bit tricky, but not undoable.
This very pretty model by Tomoko Fusè can be found in “Origami modulaires d’exception”, ISBN 9782889355815 (nuinui editions), page 42.
It is folded from six 15X7.5 cm sheets. The red ones are washi chiyogami by Grimmhobby, the white ones are very plain paper, but I thought it made the patterned ones stand out more.
You can add more modules if you feel like it, and make it more fluffly.
This book has plenty of cute models, in the easy or intermediate range. For non-Frensh speakers, I’m pretty sure the books by nuinui editions are translated, at least in Italian, maybe English? As usual, the instructions are clear and photos gorgeous (personnaly, I’d prefer a bit less photos and more models, but I guess I’m not the main audience intended).
This star can be found in a Toyo small book in japanese, no idea what the title means, but ISBN 4902031010071, page 115. Again, no idea who the author is, if someone speaking japanese can tell me, I’ll update :)*
The star is folded from 16 sheets of 7 cm kami paper.
*Edit: once again, Michel Grand helped with identification of the author! As we can see on Origami House’website, it’s Yamaguchi Makoto, and the book is “Kirei na Origami”
(Beautiful Origami), number 6.
One of the reasons I love origami is that I love paper. I always did. I enjoy admiring the patterns, and I love the texture of different papers in my fingers. When I find new papers to fold, it generally doesn’t go well at first – I love when my fingers suddently understand the precise resistence and strength of the paper, when I adapt the folds to allow for the exact thickness of the paper ; when the perfect model to let the designs be admired pops to my mind.
Origami is full of enlightenments. Concrete, material, my-hands-have-grasped-this revelations. I generally have a hard time getting my brain to be quiet for a while, and folding origami is a perfect way to reach that. There’s no point in over-thinking it, you have to fold to understand.
But then, there is fun to be had for my brain as well. Learning cryptic and often confusing japanese names for the different kinds of paper ; searching for good origami models, reading about amazing origami artists, and sometimes pour this new knowledge in their wikipedia pages in the process ;)
One might even find spiritual, philosophical enlightenments. It does teach patience and it’s sometimes a form of meditation, relaxation or such. It’s also an art of the ephemeral: creations of paper are to be enjoyed while they last, but you know the colors will fade, or children hands will get to them, or your previously most beloved creations will seem dull, clumsy once you’ve learned new models, once your hands become more agile. And that’s not an issue, that’s the whole beauty of it: I love to give my origamis when people ask for them, it makes place for new ones, it’s a constant reminder of impermanence.
This laughing demon is in the leaflet provided with 35cm kami paper. I can’t read japanese, so I have no idea who the author is. If someone reads japanese, has the paper and can tell me, I’ll update :)*
I folded it not from the paper it is sold with, but from double-sided kami paper 35 cm, to have the mouth red and colored face. The finished model is around 20 cm high.
I really like his joyful smile, and the eyes are very expressive too. It’s also relatively easy to fold.
*Edit: As always, Michel Grand is an attribution detective (he should get a free subscribtion to Origami Tanteidan ;)). So, we’re not absolutely sure, but this demon looks really similar to this model by Kawai Toyoaki. It might be a variation by someone else, though, as I don’t recognize the ideograms for her name on the model.
This cute cat box (or shell) by Tomoko Fusè can be found in a book in japanese, ISBN 4480872035, page 22.
The box is folded of one sheet of A4 paper (the same I used on this box).
It’s cute and elegant at the same time :)
Edit: correct ISBN (thanks Michel Grand!). By the way, on Gilad’s page you can see all models in the book (as you can see, the book uses paper in A format – but some work with other rectangles, too).
Those two very different models can be found in “Origami” by Paulo Mulathino, ISBN 0785802622 (Chartwell books inc).It is a book full of simple but cute designs.
Cube folded from 6 sheets of 7 cm Senbazuru chiyogami (Grimmhobby). Pipe folded from 20 cm Heyda paper.
It may not be very visible from the photo, but the pipe (page 26) is actually 3-D and really realistic.
I saw the cube model (page 72) and immediately wanted to fold it ; halfway through, I checked the author, and was not surprised to see it was Tomoko Fusè. This is a very simple and elegant model, as always :)
These butterflies by Michael G. LaFosse can be found in “Origami Papillons”, ISBN 9788861125759 edtition White Star. This kit includes many amazing models, but the diagrams are the most confusing ever (it sends you from page to page and it’s a miracle if you manage to have the colors you wanted at the end) and the paper included in the kit doesn’t fold well.
This “Machaon Alexander” (p 36) is folded from Hologram chiyogami paper (Daiso) 15 cm. I love the curved tail of the wings!
The “Machaon Alexander” at the bottom left is made of kraft double-sided paper (yes, it is my favorite model of the book). The “Origamido Butterfly” on the right is folded from Daiso Traditional Japanese paper.
This collection of Machaons (all made from MarpaJansen Mandala 20 cm) was an order from my sister, she’ll make a board with them I think. This paper doesn’t fold so well, the creases are very visible and don’t allow mistakes – but the pattern is gorgeous :)
This pumpkin by Tomoko Fusè can be found in this book (ISBN 9782889355815 for the French edition, but nuinui have their books available in multiple languages). It’s page 66.
It is folded from 6 sheets of square 15 cm paper (you can use 7 if you want, the model says 5 works too but I doubt it). The paper is double-sided chiyogami (in a package of 120 sheets, 30 patterns)
I think this would look better with simpler paper, this is a bit too much.But I really like the geometrical form, and it’s quite sturdy.
The book has plenty of cute models, I’ll probably present some others soon!