Satoshi Kamiya's Veiltail Angelfish

This is a design which has been on my Origami To-Do list for quite some time, now. I have been putting it off for as long as I can remember because I know that I usually sit with complex models for a really long time to complete them.

This took me 4 hours over 2 Sundays to complete it – not folding it continuously. There are 114 steps in all, not counting the repeats – and this is where, I daresay, I got side-tracked and delayed the completion of it.

Paper to use:
This model is best folded with pliable, thin paper because of the numerous layers and folding techniques involved. I have folded my rendition in Metallic Foil paper which I purchased from Nicolas Terry’s Origami-shop.com – Pack Tissue-foil Papers – 24 sheets – 30x30cm (11.8″x11.8″) – measuring 30 cms in size, single side colored. I found it easy to fold and shape the model (note the ‘pleating’ for the fins) in the end with this paper.

I read somewhere that the kind of paper Satoshi Kamiya uses for such models is special / exquisite and not something you can get at any shop. This paper is made specially made for such complex models / designs.

How to Fold the Veiltail Angelfish:
The diagrams to this amazing design are in the Tanteidan Magazine # 120 which you can buy as part of Volume 20 from Nicolas Terry’s Shop – Tanteidan Volume 20 (#115-120).

This is a complex design to fold and is not for beginners and those who are not experienced in folding sinks, collapses and other complicated folds / techniques.

The end result is really pretty and will make a nice show piece on your Origami shelf. I enjoyed folding this model, even though there were a lot of repetitions involved in the process. The ending steps for shaping the design is the main part of the folding process which gives this fish a very delicate characteristic.

Star Helena (Design by Carmen Sprung)

Sara Adams posted a new instructional video and I just couldn’t wait to get started on folding it. I really like the way the star comes together with the color changing variation and the fact that this model requires only one sheet of paper to fold.

Paper to Use:
You can fold this model with Kami, tant, tissue foil or even nice wrapping paper. However, you should keep in mind that if you are going to use this as a CD or DVD cover, the paper would have to be thicker than a fine tissue paper.

I used yellow colored Tant paper and pasted a thin sheet of red tissue paper on one side in order to have a color changing design. The paper was quite alright to fold and I didn’t face any problems with the thickness.

When making an octagon, one has to be precise and as Sara reiterated in her instructional video, you have to make crisp, sharp folds and precisely, too, in order to have a perfectly folded model. If you see my finished model in the picture, you will see that some folds are slightly off, and this is because my octagon was not cut accurately.

How to Fold this Design:

The diagrams to this model can be found in Carmen Sprung’s book – 21 Origami Sterne – which you can purchase from OrigamiUSA’s The Source. Also, Sara Adams has taken the effort to record a very good instructional video on folding this design.

Robert Lang has co-authored a new book with Meher McArthur – Folding Paper – The Infinite Possibilities of Origami, on the evolution of Origami from crafts to a fine art. There are no diagrams in this book though and this book is meant to showcase the evolution and styles in origami of various master folders from around the world. The images of their work Is stunning and this will make a good coffee table book or an entry into the library as part of your collection.

Sara Adams’ new Instructional Video on Carmen Sprung’s Star Helena is the latest in her series. It’s amazing to see how she can juggle a new born baby (who is so adorable!), work and Origami. Way to go, girl!
This star design of Carmen Sprung’s is folded from a single piece of paper – preferably duo-colored to take advantage of the color changing. You can use this as a DVD / CD cover or just simply as a decoration.

Maria Sinayskaya’s rendition of Carla Onishi de Godoy’s Parati Prata Star is a simple design (the diagrams are shared) allowing folders to take advantage of color changing feature to make a pretty geometric patterned model. This is a design which is simple and quick to fold and you can use just about any kind of paper.

David Martinez’s Scholz Star is another pretty beautiful design for which he has generously shared the photo diagrams to. He has been on a roll in designing lately and each of his designs betters his previous. His backlit tessellation designs are also popular spelling out intricacy and sophistication as always.

Nicolas Terry has also got some new colors in his awesome Washi paper collection. These are the 3 Sample Deluxe Washi RED + BROWN + BLACK which is currently available in his online origami shop. The paper is truly magnificent and the foil backed surface on one side makes it easier to shape the models when folding. You can buy this pack of 3 sheets or packs of certain colors, too. Currently only Brown, Red and Black are available at the time of writing this post.

Folded by Himanshu Agrawal and designed by Richard Wang, these Origami Geckos are pretty cute and might I add, easy to fold, too. Himanshu has done a lovely job of using contrasting colors, shaping and photographing the models, which are of course, folded by him. If you look though the comments on this Flickr photo, you will see the link to the instructional video for these geckos. Have fun folding them!

Finally, this is one picture I simply had to share with you all. Folded by EyalR who is known for his complex folding and perfect renditions of complex work, these Grim Reapers are simply out of this world! He has used 2 kinds of paper to achieve the black cloak and white face combination and has shaped this model really well.

Tessellation (Shuzo Fujimoto)

It’s been some time since I folded and I haven’t really got into the routine of folding. I tried out this tessellation by none other than the master Shuzo Fujimoto and I quite like the way it has turned out.

There is a lot of pre-creasing required and which is expected with folding a tessellation. However, once you get the hang of the technique, its gets done pretty quickly.

Paper to use:

I have used a 15cm square sheet of Kami for my rendition – single side colored.  This design took me about an hour and a half to fold, but thats only because I had to reopen and fold the whole thing whilst I was half way through because of a mistake.

You can try folding this design with Tant, Tissue Foil or any other paper which is not too thick – this is because of the layers of folds which are generally associated with tessellations.

How to fold this design:

While no instructional video or freely available diagram exists for this model, you can nevertheless get the diagrams from the book  - Hortensia Origami –  which you can buy from Nicolas Terry’s Origami Shop.

Heart-Flower Box (Design by Carlos Aquilar)

This is a design which was published in Leyla Torres’ Origami Spirit a few days ago. I absolutely love the ‘petals’ of this box and the fact that I can use it to store tit bits and with Easter right round the corner – Chocolate Eggs!

I have folded a container or box origami design after simply ages and that is only because I am not usually a fan of the four sided models. However, this particular design caught my eye and I simply had to get busy with it.

Paper to use:

I have used square duo-colored tant paper measuring 15 cms to fold this pretty container. However, in the instructional video you will see that Leyla Torres starts off with a slightly larger 18 cms square sheet of paper. I would recommend not using a square any smaller than 15 cms coz this would make the end model really small. A 15cms square sheet of paper results in a 4.5 inch sized end model / container.

You can choose between single side colored or duo-colored and experiment with other kinds of paper, too. Avoid really thin / filmsy paper such as tissue paper, as you need a slight thickness to the paper in order to have the ‘petals’ standing out as you see in the image above.

How to fold this model:

Leyla Torres has recorded a very good instructional video on her origami blog – OrigamiSpirit - and shared it with all her readers. She goes through each of the steps in a detailed manner and you will find the video very easy to follow.

Now, all I have to do is go get some fancy Chocolate Eggs for Easter and I am all set!