origami scrapbook

In the town spirit, I would like to share something on my ~ page, if only to put index.html out of its neglected, default-hello-world misery.

My current obsession pastime happens to be origami.

Most of the models here are simple to fold. Others are simple to fold with an apt choice of paper. Some I tell myself I will never fold again, then promptly forget having ever attempted it and proceed to redo, with equally disastrous results. Optimistically, like the episode of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya with endless summer, this can only be repeated so many times for a piece before ennui sets in. Regretfully for the valued viewers of this page, it is not a learning exercise, and I apologise, particularly if you are the designer of the models mangled.

Hover a mouse over the image or see the image name for the model designer’s name. With noted exceptions, each model is folded from one uncut square.

Lastly and more importantly, thanks for visiting.

~mio

updates

recent

Things I’ve been folding lately.

Double Cube (two uncut squares) Twisted Box Wings of Love Heart in Heart, Heart with Fish Heart Coaster Harlequin's Heart Wallet with a Heart Venus Comb Murex Chair Toucan Elephant Mr. Puppet Mouse Snake Rhinoceros Elephant Oni Mask

dogs

Town seems to be fond of dogs, so here are some paper ones.

Akita Kanji the Dog Evie Shiba Chow Chow Pekingese Great Dane Pug Pomeranian Shiba Bull Terrier Dog Welsh Corgi Dachshund Scottish-Terrier Aberdeen German Shepherd Saint Bernard Pug Poodle Bulldog Dachshund Puppy Chihuahua Lay down dog Bull Terrier Dalmatian Golden Retriever Dog Doberman Pomeranian American Cocker Spaniel Poodle Beagle Dog Siberian Husky Papillon Beagle Pomeranian Dog Collie Papillon

etc

Other animals and insects.

Echidna Elephant Lion Lucanus Maculifemoratus Prosopocoilus Giraffa Golden-Ringed Dragonfly Tree Frog Tree Frog Poison Dart Frog Darkness Dragon 2.0 Shark Sheep

about

Q. How long have you been doing origami?

A. >10 years. There’s not much here to show for it, and the convenient reason is this page will probably be a rotating display of recent folds to conserve community resources (bandwidth and disk space). The actual reason: I only keep a small fraction of models folded, and a hard disk failure several years ago wiped out the horrible photos I had taken at the time. It is an honour to have a friend to whom one can give things.


Q. Why origami?

A. I’m crazy. That aside, there is an elegance in bringing out form through folding from one uncut square that borders on romanticism. Not all origami start that way, but it is an appealing aspect.


Q. Do you use tissue foil?

A. Occasionally, but my makeshift sheets tended to be too thick for the models with which they were originally intended to be used, and reversing creases takes a little longer from the paper stiffness. There’s a lot of potential in combining other papers that are thinner or have interesting textures. Some folders use tissue foil extensively and swear by it, so it depends on the model and individual preference.


Q. Do you fold from crease patterns?

A. Rarely, much less than I would like, because I always seem to be doing it wrong, even though some people might say there is no such thing in origami and art.


Q. Do you have any advice on getting started?

A. Please enjoy it. Try to fold precisely, aligning landmarks — in many instances it will pay off later, when you need to refer to a line from a hundred steps earlier. Pick up different papers and see what you like. Observe any paper type and size recommendations for a given model, as this could be the deciding factor for successful model completion. Although there are many video tutorials, learning to interpret diagrams will enable you to fold designs not yet documented in video and other more obscure sources.