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LaFosse Art Deco Wing Attacks Gymnastics Coach!

I've posted before on Michael LaFosse's Art Deco Wing. 





Reaction was priceless!

Last week was origami week at my gym, during summer camp; and I was recruited to come in to teach origami all week (I normally only teach team, these days).  It was fun.  I may post a couple more video clips that may give teachers out there some ideas on how to bring entertainment into the teaching.

FOLD-EASE®: RIdiculous or Ingenious? Useful or Unecessary?

Has anyone ever tried using a FOLD-EASE®?

FOLD-EASE® is a patented paper and card creasing tool, which prevents friction burns/cuts, speeds up folding and creates a better fold appearance.

Speeds up folding.
Better fold appearance.
Prevents friction burns and cuts

Dermot sent a link to the Origami List.  Looks like it was featured recently on some show called Dragon's Den.




 A "pointless pitch"?




I am almost 100% sure I saw this product at an OUSA convention, around 2005 or so.  I vaguely remember someone in the hospitality area using it; or promoting it.  It's been out of sight out of mind, since; and it took clicking on Dermot's link to make me recall having seen it a decade ago.

Okay, on this page it says "founded in 2011".   Hmm...

Can't believe this product has survived and kept in business, if I in fact did see it years ago. The reason why I think it's been that long ago, is until 2015, I had stopped attending OUSA conventions around 2007 (aside from maybe a PCOC here or there).


Anyone can back me up on this or know anything more?

Marti's 1st Sunday and Yami Update

Small turn out at Marti's yesterday.  I could count the number of folders on one hand. 

Marti, herself, was out of town, visiting Japan. 

I perused (as I usually do) some of the books I don't have, in Marti's vast origami book collection:

Folded various dividers (OUSA Convention book 2012) for the traditional masu box after folding Kasahara's "happy box" from a recent issue of NOA, brought by Hisako (I finally figured out how to renew my own subscription through the internet.  For years, I used to receive my issues through Kinokuniya- no longer).

After the meeting, I swung by Marukai to pick up bacon fried rice and fruit for Yami.  Saw this at the checkout:

Notice the sign at the top and then the "WARNING" sign on the right?  Mixed messages, anyone?! 

Yami doesn't answer his phone so there's no planning ahead and warning him beforehand. 

He was very receptive and responsive yesterday.  He's not always like that these days and I'm not sure if it's due to any personality changes related to his stroke(s), his current situation, medication, sugar, or just plain mood. 

Pam Miike did a beautiful job with organizing Yami's cards and origami gifts he received through the mail by OUSA & worldwide origami friends and well-wishers.  She put them all into books. 





I arrived in the middle of his dinner (which I thought looked yum!); and he eagerly devoured the bacon fried rice.  Left him a small bowl of grapes as he said he couldn't finish all the ones I brought. 

I will eventually post photos and/or video from Yami's birthday party at the end of last month.

Hello Cutie Cat!

Backcoating Panel Workshop at Centerfold

Never used mc?  Never tried back-coating your own specialized paper for those museum-quality, complex and supercomplex folds?  Didn't make it out to Ohio?  Then this might be for you:

Kubo

This was from last Monday night.  After a long day at work.  I lasted until only 1am and then I called it a night.  Helping Jared Needle who was commissioned for a project involving hundreds of folded birds (his design based upon a model from the movie).  It was insane that he took this on, given he was at Centerfold that weekend; and then they moved the initial batch due date to Tuesday (from Wednesday).

Downtime with Chewbacca

Sunday Funnies

Source

July POP

Yes, I'm behind in my blogging activity:




Photos here.

Feeling froggy

Brought out a few frog models to show at last month's POP:

Classic munching frog by Teruo TSUJI:

Pokeball

Stefan Delcat's Dollar Shirt & Tie

NOA August Issue #492 Review

Sunday Funnies

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Origami Zoo Informal Review

Joel Stern and Tuttle Publishing have done it again, producing a handsome origami kit that comes complete with 40 patterned origami paper, 95 stickers, a foldout zoo map (with coloring possibilities for the backside), and a pamphlet of clear instructions for 15 projects.  Origami purists can appreciate Joel's talent in designing conceptual animal models that are recognizable and simple enough to complete in around 21 steps or less.  Non-purists and novice folders will appreciate the challenge of folding models that are from beginning level to intermediate level; and are not restricted to the limitations of strict folding, but are enhanced by the stickers (for eyes and animal faces), which kids always love, patterned paper, and the zoo map for play.  What happens if you run out of stickers and paper?  Option 1 would be to resupply with another kit purchase.  Option 2 is exercise creativity:  Any paper will work and the stickers are a bonus, not a neccessity- kids love to draw and color and will have no qualms about drawing their own animal patterns, eyes, and faces onto paper they fold.

This fun kit makes for a wonderful gift to anyone who is a fan of zoo animals; and/or love kids craft and paperfolding.

Sunday Funnies

Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee

On an aside:  Fred Upton was at the Hollywood Bowl two weekends ago to attend JJ Abram's full 2009 Star Trek film in concert with the LA Philharmonics.  While there, he managed to fold and give a Won Park 2-piece $ Enterprise to Michael Giacchino, the composer of the Star Trek score; and George Takei, who Fred says is a fan of origami.  A note about the $ bills Fred folds with:  they have included in their serial numbers, "1701".

Another friend of mine along the same weekend posted on FB photos of her at the Japanese-American National Museum and shopping in a supermarket with George Takei and his husband (got his opinion on the whole gay Sulu thing- publicly known about).

I'm not a big fan of the Abram's reimagined Star Trek universe (enjoyable on their own terms); but have any of you ever bothered to check out the fan-made Star Trek Continues?  Absolutely impressive and amazing at how well they have captured the heart and spirit, the look and feel, of the Original Series.  It's like discovering lost episodes.  They are that good! 

Sunday Funnies

Source

Plush Tsuru

Plush Bahamut/Divine Dragon is next, right?

Paper Glider Scene from the Original Planet of the Apes

The movie "Planet of the Apes", directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. Seen here, Roddy McDowall as Cornelius holding a paper airplane folded by Taylor.

In one of my favorite classic sci-fi films, Taylor attempts to communicate how he got there:



Following this scene,

Dr. Zaius: What is this?

Dr. Zaius picks up the paper airplane that Taylor made earlier...

Zira: A toy. It floats on the air.

Cornelius: Zira!

Zira: Try it!

Dr. Zaius: Nonsense!

Dr. Zaius wads up the paper airplane and drops it to the floor. He then turns and starts to exit the room along with Dr. Minimus and the two gorilla guards...

Cornelius: (clears throat): Um... Dr. Zaius?

Dr. Zaius turns around to face Cornelius...

Dr. Zaius: Yes, Cornelius?

Cornelius: Aren't you forgetting something...?

Dr. Zaius: I don't believe so. Why?

Cornelius: I hope it was an innocent accident...

Dr. Zaius: What are you talking about?

Cornelius: You know damn well what I'm talking about. You wadded up that piece of paper and just dropped into the floor, walked off and left it there... a foot away from the wastebasket. What's that all about?

Dr. Zaius: Oh, that. Yes...that was for dramatic effect... to make my point about the foolish impossibility of flight. Worked rather well, wouldn't you say?

Okay....maybe some of this didn't actually occur in this way, in that movie.  But Dr. Zaius did crumble up Taylor's origami artwork as evidence of Taylor's intellect.