Origami Sunday…Perhaps I’m getting better..

So I finished up several sculptures today and started a few more.   I have suddenly become fascinated with antlers.   Well, I guess I always have had a thing for them.  But my recent concepts have been exceeding my expectations.  And then there is this dragon I have been working on.   I’m not sure why he turned out as well as he did.  perhaps I was feeling rather inspired yesterday.  But I digress…

The origami deer series!  Cool concept eh?   Ever since the moose, I have had the idea to try out several other species of deer to see what I can do with them.  Now I know there is the old method that I have been doing ever since when. However,  I have not had much success with cardstock wet folding those designs.  Especially the ore challenging ones.   So, have been free folding to see what I can come up with.   As of right now,  the caribou and the whitetail deer are finished.  I started on an elk,  that turned out pretty cool as well.  I’ll see If I can post pictures tomorrow.
I’m going to have to take a day off of folding soon so I can post the new items in my new shop.   So far I’m liking how things are turning out…even though apparently, no one has come to m shop yet.  Ah well,  this was an experiment anyway to see if there are any interested parties out there for Origami.  I already had an Idea of the answer, but it still is best to test the concept.  Not to mention often times things lead you to better ideas!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.   And for those of you who have jobs….well,  good luck with that!  in the mean time,  the weather has let up a bit and we may be going to Des Moines tomorrow…or sometime this week.   we hall see.

Green Dragon Anyone?

So today I finished setting up my Etsy shop.  It took longer than expected.   I don’t know if  why there were so many hurdles in simply setting up a shop, but I guess they are there for a reason.  I only listed 5 items at the moment,before Cheryl told me to quit for the night. It’s a good thing because I’m finally at the fun part and I don’t want to skimp on things that I can take my time on.
In the mean time,  I finished a green dragon and it was the first thing listed in my shop.   I worked on it all day Saturday and it ended up being the only thing I accomplished that day.   I’m quite proud of how the head turned out.   I folded several prototypes before finally settling on this version.   With a little luck,  someone one Etsy will find it as adorable as I do and will give it a good home.  We shall see.

I guess I will make this one of those quick posts as I’m rather tired tonight and have much to do tomorrow.  I’ll have to set up a link from my blog to my shop as well.  Ah, where does all the time go at the end of the day? 

A Cardstock Origami Dragon, This has Potential!

Today was one of those days where you sit back and experiment with ideas and techniques that have to be tested.   The idea!  Wet Folding a Dragon out of cardstock paper.   I have attempted to tackle this idea before, with less than ideal results.  However, in recent weeks I have experimented with some other techniques that showed promise.

 So today,  I folded one up with leftover cardstock.  As far as prototypes go  I think this one has potential.  The pictures do not do it justice ( as with most origami) and I chose the absolute worst part of the day to take the pictures.  I should have had natural sunlight or at the very least better lighting in general.  The results are that the red looks a little orange, and some of the detail is lost in the head and feet.  However,  the alternative was to not take any pictures and have nothing to show for this posting.   So...one makes due.

As mentioned before, this is just a prototype.  I want to work with a couple designs and maybe more colors.  It is rather exciting to think about all the possibilities!  

Other than that,  I also experimented folding up a new origami vase out of cardstock.  The previous vases for my flowers always looked a little...off.  So I thought about finding a new design and seeing how it would fold up with the thicker paper.   This particular design calls for a few very tricky 'unfolds' in the final stages.

 To complete the design,  I have to carefully unwrap the cardstock that is trapped behind several layers.  It is simple with regular paper, but cardstock is thicker and more stiff, making it a challenge to not rip as you are crushing it out.  However, the results are a stronger vase that has more rigidity.  Cheryl says that it looks better as well.  And it has locking folds that prevent it from unfolding over time.   Normally I would use glue to keep the vase together,  however,  glue  can be messy and takes time to dry.  Not to mention you have to hold it in place with either a clip or your fingers and that could scar the paper in places.....unsightly! 


As for the plants,  I revisited the little bonsai tree I made previously....this time with Orange and yellow leaves.  I still have about a 1000 flower trees I want to fold up...but that may take a little more time.   I can't wait! 

Happy Presidents Day! With Finished weekend Origami...

I finished only three sculptures this weekend.   That is pathetic given that we had a three day weekend this weekend.  I guess the designs were a little more challenging than normal.  And I did do a few housekeeping chores that needed to be done.  But I really had three whole days where I could let my creative fire loose on the world...and All I have to show are three designs.   BLA!

Well at least they are finished.  I was worried I was not going to complete the ancient dragon in time for work tomorrow.  By the way, ACT had presidents day off!   I have never had presidents day off from work.  Heck,  I usually had to work on most holidays!  It is nice to work for a place that celebrates the obscure holidays that only the US Postal Service even acknowledges! 
I'm not sure why ACT "celebrates" ( or simply 'observes') Presidents day, but my theory is that Iowa School are closed on this day, and ACT, being a part of academia, follows the education crowd and gives their employees a day to recover.  Then again,  According to Larry's Creative zone,  The schools in Des Moines were still open for business today.  Well, what do I know?  I'm just a simple origami Artist.

Speaking of Origami:  The finished bulldog and dragons are here on display.  I had planned to fold up another bulldog design, but time was in short supply.  This one apparently likes shoes...and cats.


As for the dragons,  well the ancient dragon did not turn out as well as the previous one.  However,  he isn't all that bad.  And he is the third one that has been successfully completed!   Not had out of five attempts!  Paper makes a huge difference in the folding process.  I still think that the red wrapping paper is not the best choice, so there is still room to improve. 

Well, I hope everyone had a great Presidents Day.  And if you are starting the work week,  I hope things go swimmingly for you for the remainder.  As for me,  the project at ACT has about three more days of scoring and then I will find myself with a surplus of time to fold and start up that Etsy shop that Cheryl has been bugging me to create.  So Much to do....so little time.

This Week In Origami...

I know I have not posted much during the week, but that does not mean that I have not been busy.   Well,  sort of.... I try to keep the larger projects to the weekends.  But during the week,  if I have any energy after working at ACT,  I try to fold at least a few easy projects to "stay in shape" as they say.  A co-worker gave me some paper made from recycled coffee filters so I had to give it a try.  I folded a few simple cranes in various poses to see how the paper handled wet folding.  I liked it!  But the small sheet size will ultimately limit what I can fold with it.  But for the basic simple designs, it should work well!
Then there was Valentines day!  I folded a few roses for the ladies in our group.   I had a few left over, so Cheryl suggested that I offer the remainders to the men......Er.   That was rather uncomfortable and awkward.  I don't know that it needs to be said,  but apparently,  females do not see the innate problem with men giving other men flowers.  So, for the few female readers that may stumble upon this blog,  I will share the ground rules for acceptable male to male contact.   One:  Shaking hands.  

This is the only form acceptable when greeting a stranger...and you only need to do it once!  After the initial greeting, a wave will be sufficient for the remainder of the engagement.  The only other acceptable male contact I can think of is in the army on the battle field pulling a comrade out of a burning vehicle or into a foxhole during a artillery barrage!  Everything else is, at best, frowned upon.   Men do not hug, braid each others hair, soap each other up in the shower.  So....don't ask us to give flowers to male co-workers and think that is "precious"!


Other than that,  I have been working on a few larger items for the weekend, but none of them are completed as of the writing of this post.   A Bulldog and a simple Dragon are in the works, as well as another ancient dragon. Hopefully I will have them completed by Tuesday and will have better pictures to show off.

  In the mean time,  A couple of things:  One:  a sleeping cat!  And two,  a fork the defies gravity!  It was one of those moments where something unexpected happens and you simple have to take a picture because you don't see something like that everyday.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend! 

Origami Ancient Dragon Complete!

Remember when I started it last week?  It's tough starting a large project and not having the energy to complete it.  However,  Instead of 4 days worth of folding,  I'm proud to say I finished it in two!  The shaping of the final folding went fairly quickly compared to last time.

 And it was much easier than before since I did not wet the paper from the beginning.  I applied a thin paste mixed with methylcellulose just on the finishing touches and then clamped them and dried them with the heat gun before moving on.

 So much easier!  I wish I had figured it out earlier.  In the end,  I think it might have taken me 8 hours total.  I was even surprised that the paper worked out as well as it did.  

Tomorrow I want to try some of the two ply tissue paper to see how it will hold up to the design.  It has been treated with a  methylcellulose coating so it should be stronger.  I'm a little worried that the paper is , at best, a 20 inch square.

 The paper I worked with on THIS dragon started out as a 30 inch square with the final sculpture ending up being about 12 inches long.  I may reach a threshold  where it becomes too small for me to work with.  I guess I will just have to find out in the end.  in the mean time.


Enjoy the pics.   I tried to take multiple angles, but I'm not sure any of them do it justice.  It has become one of those sculptures I have fallen in love with.  I can't wait to fold another!