Wizard (Design by Hojyo Takashi)

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Wizard (Design by Hojyo Takashi)

Wizard (Design by Hojyo Takashi)

This is a design I started folding three weekends ago and completed today, folding about 2-3 hours each weekend. I have folded this model before using Kami paper and I wanted to try it again using a better variety of paper. My first thought was to go for a duo colored tissue foil paper however, I saw this particular kind in the local paper shop here in Brussels which had a different texture and I thought I would give it a try. I quite like the outcome and I think it’s come out much better than the kami version.

This model is quite complex to fold and there were times, especially on steps 75 – 80 where I found myself opening up and re-folding the creases multiple times. It’s been a long time since I picked up a complex model to fold and I quite enjoyed folding this model. I think the maroon color of the paper combined with the beige gives the model a good look overall and I am very glad that I chose this color combination to fold this amazing model with.

Paper to use:
One can use regular kami or any thin paper which is colored differently on each side (duo colored) to fold this model. Thicker paper such as copy paper would make it difficult to hold the layers of folds especially for the wizard’s staff and therefore is not a good choice.

How to fold the model:
The diagrams for this model are in the Origami Tanteidan Magazine No. 109 which can be purchased from Japan Origami Society or from Origami-shop.com when available.

My earlier redition of this fold can be found here, which is folded with regular single side colored Kami paper. As you can see, shaping the wizard’s beard is not very easy using kami paper. I like the paper I have used today to fold the model simply because it is slightly thicker than kami and with the maroon and beige combination, it gives the wizard a very striking look.

Star Sonobe (Design by Maria Sinayskaya)

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Star Sonobe (Design by Maria Sinayskaya)

Star Sonobe (Design by Maria Sinayskaya)

I moved to Brussels, Belgium on work recently and I experienced for the first time a complete lockdown of an entire city. I was amazed at the residents’ response to the tense situation with the kittens and messages on social media. It was a nice gesture to keep people’s minds off the tension and goings on that night. Things are slowly getting back to normal with most commercial establishments, schools etc opening up today. It was the longest weekend, I think and we were only too happy to start getting back to normal.

I spent the time this weekend folding a modular design using the kami paper I still had with me. It was a good way to get my mind off things.

This is a pretty design by Maria Sinayskaya, who is well known for her lovely modular origami designs. This model is pretty here easy to fold, however the assembly is slightly tricky. You have got to be careful with the formations of the stars else you would end up having problems putting it all together. The thing to look for is the pattern of 5 spokes, forming the star all around, and if you keep to this, you will never go wrong in your assembly.

Paper to use:
Wrapping paper or regular kami paper which is single side colored will work perfectly for this model. If you do use wrapping paper, it would be a good idea to select a type which is colored plain or uniformly on one side in a single color and with another color and / or design on the other side. This will make the model much more pleasing to the eye and you can also use this as a Christmas decoration. For my rendition, I have used 30 square sheets of 3 inch kami paper, to fold the model.

How to fold:
Sara Adams has recorded a good instructional video post on folding this model. You can also take a look at her Youtube video here:

Hope you enjoy folding this model!

La Roue de la Fortune (Design by Ancella Simoes)

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La Roue de la Fortune

La Roue de la Fortune (Design by Ancella Simoes)

This is a new model, the design for which I came up with quite by accident, a few weekends ago. It is quite simple to fold and in order to get the alternating color effect, I used sheets of paper which are single side colored (the other side is white). In all, I used 10 sheets of Kami paper, measuring 3 inches each, to fold this model.

I do like the finished model, especially towards the center where the interlocking of the sheets is more prominent. I would think a bolder look to it, such as using black and white or strong contrasting colored sheets would give it a much richer look.

At the time of folding this design, I wanted to experiment with pastel shades and the progression from lighter to darker hues in certain color families – hence this light colored, pleasant, easy-going look and feel to the model.

Mondrian Cube (Design by David Mitchell)

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Mondrian Cube (Design by David Mitchell)

Mondrian Cube (Design by David Mitchell)

Leya Torres of OrigamiSpirit.com posted this rather lovely model a few days ago and I could not resist trying it out this weekend. It is a design by David Mitchell, based on the famous Piet Mondrian painting and with the correct choice of colored paper to fold, one can achieve the same effect.

Leyla demonstrates the folding sequence using 3 colored sheets and this would give you a simple combination of two colors per side of the cube. However, in order to achieve the color combination like in the Mondrian painting, one would need to use a combination of colors and this concept has also been explained in the video, towards the end.

Paper to use:
One can use almost any kind of paper for this model, as long as its thick enough to hold a crease or edge of a cube. I have used regular kami paper measuring 3 inches in size, single side colored. The resulting model is about 2 inches in height, width and length. If you are using single-side colored paper, like I did, you would have to start with the white side facing upwards or towards you.

How to fold the Mondrian Cube:
In her detailed blog post, Leyla Torres has recorded a nice instructional video and also provides tips on folding this model.

Icosahedron Sonobe (Design by Tomoko Fuse)

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Icosahedron Sonobe

I’m back to folding this summer, and I started out with a modular design from our favorite – Tomoko Fuse. Her designs are always interesting and with the right color combinations in paper, one can fold pretty kusudama.

For this particular design, it takes about 3 hours to fold and assemble at moderate pace. The individual units themselves are quite easy to fold, so its a good model to fold for folders with a little experience in folding, too.

Paper to use:
I used regular Kami paper, each of the sheets measuring 3 inches in size. These were 30 square sheets in all and single side colored. One has to start with the white side down in order to have the white color appear in between like shown in the image accompanying this post.

How to Fold the Icosahedron Sonobe:
There are many instructional videos on youtube for this model and the one I referred to and found very helpful is Tadashimori’s Instructional video. His explanations are clear and steps shown are very simple to follow.

Hope you enjoy folding this model!