Letterman's Crab Challenge

What is your favorite "comfort" model?

I have many models I like to leisurely fold; but my favorite is the Montroll horse:

2003 or 2004?

Hat tip:  Kathy Knapp on the Origami List

Happy Belated New Year!

Robert Lang Baby, Folded December 31, 2012

Santa, baby!

Santa Claus ("Christmas Present") by Seiji Nishikawa Folded from 6" square.  Diagrams originally found in Origami Tanteidan magazine #64

 .
This has long been a favorite of mine.  A good part of its charm (aside from the ease of folding) is that you can open the flap at the top of the sack and put some hidden goodie inside.

I've folded over 50 of these so far to pass out to the kids at the gym (Japanese caramel and yogurt candy inside Santa's sack):

Only takes about 3 minutes to fold.

 According to Anne LaVin, diagrams are available for purchase download at the OUSA website.

Also blogging:

Anne's Origami Bits

Which side will fold?

Potential Bad News for Moneyfolders

Folded December 25, 2009 by Michael Sanders

 I've worried that the printing on the single dollar bill might one day be changed and updated (which means certain models like the Won Park koi that relies on the printing on the bill for added effect will lose some of its charm); but ending the dollar bill altogether would be disastrous for moneyfolders.  But that's of no practical consideration and consequence to lawmakers:

 Congress is taking a new look at killing bill — the dollar bill — as lawmakers search for creative ways to slash spending.

A new report by congressional auditors claims that replacing dollar bills with dollar coins could save taxpayers $4.4 billion over 30 years.

The coins last for decades, but the bills wear out and must be replaced every four or five years, the auditors found.

It’s the seventh time that the Government Accountability Office has documented the savings that dooming the dollar could generate.

Now a coalition of mining companies, vending machine operators and other interested parties is trying to rally Americans behind the idea, framing it as an easy way to attack the deficit without hiking taxes.

On Thursday, a House Financial Services subcommittee held a hearing to explore phasing out the dollar.

Some lawmakers are making arguments against such a changeover:

Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) said men don’t like carrying coins in their pockets or their suits.

And Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) said the $1 coins have proved too hard to distinguish from quarters. “If the people don’t want it and they don’t want to use it, why in the world are we even talking about changing it?” she said.

Polls show that most Americans oppose the idea.

Indeed, an official at the U.S. Mint testified at the hearing that most of the 2.4 billion $1 coins made in the past five years sit in Federal Reserve vaults. The coins are so unloved, production was halted last year.

NPR:

There's yet another hearing today in Congress on getting rid of the dollar bill and forcing everyone to use dollar coins.
A number of news reports, citing GAO testimony prepared for the hearing, have said that switching to dollar coins would "save the government money." This is wrong. As the GAO testimony itself says the benefits of switching to coins come from:

a transfer from the public, and not a cost-saving change in production. ... these are benefits to the government and not necessarily to the public at large.

In other words, it's not more efficient for the government to produce dollar coins than dollar bills. Saying it would "save the government money" to force everyone to use dollar coins is like saying raising taxes would save the government money. It wouldn't.

Well, origamists could put forth one more argument against the extinction of the $1 bill.  Maybe Won Park should testify to Congress?

Re-Upload: Hexagonal $ Box

Someone wrote me that MetaCafe's video wasn't always working (original post); so after finding the video file in my computer, I've decided to upload this one to BlipTV:

 It was made in 2006, in part at a WCOG meeting; and is crude by today's standards of origami video teaching (Sara Adams, Jeremy Shafer, Jo Nakashima, Tadashi Mori, Mari Michaelis, etc.).  But this one was never meant to be a professional production attempt.  More like notes.

Since that video, it seems folders have come up with a wide variety of variations.

"What do magicians pull out of a magic hat?"

A common reaction to Robert Neale's bunny bill.  Van Nuys, Japanese Gardens October 14, 2012

My Personal Endeavour

October 13, 2012

With all the buzz going on  here in LA about Endeavour's journey through the streets of Los Angeles and her retirement, I finally endeavored to fold a couple of space shuttles.

 One on the left:

Created by Toshikazu Kawasaki
Folded by Michael Sanders
10" square of regular kami (This one glides)

2nd shuttle on the right:

Created by Seiji Nishikawa
Folded by Michael Sanders
20" square of foil paper bonded to a lightweight starbright-type paper

An Origami Turtle- and I'm not Lyin'!

Designed by Sergey Yartsev
Folded by Michael Sanders
6" double-sided commercial kami

A man gets off work and walks into a bar. He just got off work, after a long hard day and is ready to unwind with some drinking.. He starts off slowly watching TV, drinking beer, eating peanuts...and finding a flyer on the counter, he tears it into a square and begins folding it. After about an hour of drinking and folding, he produces a fine work of art:  An origami turtle now sits on the counter.

As the night wears on, the man moves on to mixed drinks, and then shooters, one after the other. Finally, the bartender says: "Last call." So, the drunk man says, "One more for me... and one more for my paper turtle." The bartender gives the man a funny look, but serves him up two glasses.   Suddenly, the beautiful origami turtle becomes liquidated when the man drops it into one of the glass drinks, where the paper proceeds to soak up the contents. 

The man pulls the soggy turtle out and plops it down on the counter, making a wet mess.  He then throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat and starts to leave. The bartender, yells: "Hey buddy, you can't just leave that paper lyin' there." 

To which the man replies: "That's not a paper lion, that's a turtle." 

*bad-dum-bum*

Future Origami Talent?

Oh, the joys of paper-ripping!  The simplicity of a fine art!

Somehow I can't see Robert Lang and Satoshi Kamiya starting out this way....



...but you never know. 

8-month-old Micah (a boy) laughing hysterically while at-home daddy rips up a job rejection letter.

 Don't worry....it's just paper!

But I'd probably wait a few years before any of you decide to fold him a Kamiya phoenix 3.5 or Brian Chan Attack of the Kraken and hand it to him. 

The Art of Pizza-Folding

Hat tip:  Mark Kennedy

The Dark Paper

August 19, 2012
Creator: Angel Morollón Guallar
Folder:  Michael Sanders

10" x 10" square composite of tissue/Japanese foil/unryu

 Diagrams are in 4 Esquinas magazine #007.

Thanks to Mari Michaelis for an excellent video!

McKayla is Impressed

Not impressed....

....Unless it's folded from in 3 steps or less. 

 Impressed:

Apologies to any owners of these photographs I pirated and 'shopped off the internet without attribution.

The Fold of July

Lover'$ Knot

I made this last Sunday for a friend's 10th wedding anniversary vow renewal ceremony.  I tried it with the $10 denomination, but the printing did not lend itself to as good a result as the single (and the old $10 printing is much the same as the new one in terms of size and placement of the denomination sign).  The girl on the $10 also comes out bland.  So I settled for the single, liking how the "one" printed across the hearts can symbolize two hearts as one; and tied together by the word "TRUST".

I believe Mike Jittlov had adapted Francis Ow's model to the dollar and it was taught indirectly to me by Andrew Hans, with Ron Fujioka giving me one he had made and modified such that the "IN GOD WE TRUST" printing showed in the knot.

Exhibit at the JANM

Folding Paper The Infinite Possibilities of Origami:

Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami is the first museum exhibition to explore the history of paper folding, the works of the world’s foremost origami artists, and the connection between origami and mathematics, science, and design.

Origami, or Japanese paper folding, began centuries ago in Japan, probably in religious ceremonies and as a pastime of Court nobles. By the 17th century, much of the population was folding birds, animals, and boxes. Paper folding was also practiced in Europe and became well established there by the 19th century. In both regions, the practice was regarded primarily as a children’s craft or hobby for adults with nimble fingers. It was not considered “art” until the mid 20th century, when folders around the world began experimenting with different styles, techniques, and materials. Now, origami is a sophisticated international art form worthy of museum exhibition, collection, and scholarship.

The exhibition showcases contemporary origami by renowned artists from countries as diverse as Japan, the United States, Uruguay, and Russia. It presents them within the context of origami history and examines the many evolving styles of origami today, from representational figures from nature to modular geometric forms and abstract sculptures.

The exhibition also examines the relationship between origami and art, science, and mathematics, and demonstrates its tremendous impact in areas as diverse as space exploration, medical research, and fashion design. Lastly, Folding Paper explores origami—particularly the beloved crane—as a powerful tool for world peace.

Helen Sperber of the WCOG arranged for a group tour with the curator, Meher McArthur (who worked closely with Robert Lang as advisor). It was a wonderful presentation with a couple of unique pieces of origami artwork that make their debut at this exhibit (no photographing was allowed).

"You gotta know when to fold 'em..."

Hat tip: Yaacov Metzger on the Origami List