Why I Think Origami Is A “Disorder”….

I used to joke about it at work,  that I have an Obsessive Compulsive disorder called Origami.  People laugh and brush it off,  but there are tiems I actually think it is a problem.   Well,   I guess we should define “problem”   I guess you could look at it as “treatment’ for the “Real Problem”  Of having to do thingss with your hands all the time.  I guess you could look at it as a positive channel of negative energy.  Whatever the terms you want to call it.  I find myself folding all the time.  and Not always in a good way.   Sometimes it makes me upset when I can’t fold anything presentable.   The folds just don’t work out.  Cheryl LOVES those days….As I’m like a fussy baby crying because he is just mad at the world.  But before I get to far off track…  Here is the reason for the post.  The Origami Hippopotamus!

I have wanted to fold one for a while and FINALLY found a design I liked enough to try.   It also looked simple enough for cardstock.   So….Let’s fold it up!   

 

My first attempt:   Out of 12 inch cardstock. Wet Folded.  Kinda big and flimsy…..let’s try a smaller paper

Second attempt  8 inch cardstock.   Dry  folded.   The Head is a little “off”   being too narrow.   The body needs work.

Third Attempt:   8 inch Cardstock…Dry Folded with methylcellulose applied to the folds after the base has been folded.   The Body is too wide…but the head looks better.

4th Attempt.   8 Inch Cardstock.   Pre-Treated with Methylcellulose and allowed to dry almost completely before folding.  I’m getting closer.   By now I deviate from the pattern and add a few small pleat folds to give the legs more definition and shape

Last attempt:   Random 10 inch piece of  Wall Paper paper.   Found at a “remnants” part of the paper store.  I was not expecting much with this paper, but it is tear resistant and  flimsy compared to the cardstock.   Namely, It does not support it’s weight very well.

 

This one looks pretty good….and the entire process of this evolution took about three days!   I simply had to walk away from them and rethink what I would do for the next one.   I imagine most people would have either called it “good enough”  Or said I will never complete this.  But Not Me!   It has to be perfect and I won’t stop until I get there!  ( Yeah I wish!)   I hate it when I get this way.   I should be folding something up for the shop that will sell…..Instead I have been stuck in “Perfection Mode” for THREE DAYS!   Each one of these guys take a while to fold…even though they are simple.  And they drain a lot of my creativity mojo for the day.   So much so that I usually call it after I complete one.  

I still have some paper drying on my desk that I will try to fold up tomorrow.  We shall see how it turns out.