Well, it's been a month since Valentine's Day and I finally did Meenakshmi Mukerji's Hearty cube!! 😅😅 I have procrastinated quite I know, but unfortunately work has been taking it's toll 😒

The cube, that has a heart on each side, is made from 6 modules. Each module is folded from half a square - a rectangle of ratio 1:2. So the easiest way to do it is to cut 3 squares into 6 modules. 

Origami paper with different colours work best, as that would mean the hearts would stand out. Instead of the traditional red, I decided to go with a light yellow origami paper, with little flowers on one side. Am quite pleased with the way this has turned out 💛

It is a simple modular origami and would be a great model to try out for beginner origamists. 

Model Details:

Model: Hearty Cube

Creator: Meenakshi Mukerji

Book: Exquisite Modular Origami II

Author: Meenakshi Mukerji

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Rectangle in ratio 1:2

Paper Size: 6 inches * 3 inches

Model Size: ~ 1.5 inches in height

Tutorial: Instagram

Number of Modules: 6

 

A little origami modular to start the New Year 2021! Happy new year! 

This nice little modular, called Origami Rain Star is designed by Aldo Marcell. I have folded a couple of his models before - the Origami Tornado and the Origami Cyclon. And so I was quite excited and scared of folding this one! The Origami Cyclon was really a difficult one to fold! But this turned out to be a joy to fold and assemble and very economical to boot! 

This model is folded from a rectangle 1:3 in ratio. So I used double sided origami paper, 7.5 cms in size. I divided the paper into 3, so the pieces I ended up with were 2.5 cms by 7.5 cms. The individual modules were quite easy to fold. And the assembly was also surprisingly easy!

 What surprised me the most about this model was the size of the finished model. 1-inch by 3-inch rectangles, I expected a small model. Turns out this model was quite different! The final model measured approximately 4 inches in diameter.

Double-sided paper works best and I love the way those little stars show up when the modules are assembled. 75 gsm origami paper works best for sizes that I usually fold. 

Model Details:

Model: Rain Star

Creator: Aldo Marcell

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: 1:3

Paper Size: 1 inch by 3 inches

Model Size: ~4 inches in diameter

Modules: 30

Instructions: Stranamasterov.ru

Tutorial: Youtube 

My mega Mette Ring project is finally completed! Whew!! After working on and off for nearly a year, I finally completed it! 

And I am absolutely thrilled by how well it has come through. I had made a total of 20 rings which were linked together to form a slinky. Finally inserted the last module into the first, forming a ring of ring of Mette rings. 

Absolutely love the colours that were chosen by Little Miss. Apparently, I am incapable of even choosing the rainbow colours for these rings 😄😄 But as always, she chose impeccably, the perfect colours that show a good gradation of colour.

While this has been a tiring bit of work, I think the final outcome would give anyone, absolute satisfaction! But not to be forgotten, there are 360 modules to be folded. Which makes this the biggest origami work that I have ever attempted!!

Model Details:

Model: Mette's Ring

Creator: Mette Pederson

Book: Mette Units

Author: Mette Pederson

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inches

Diagram: Mette Units

Modules: 18

After trying out this modular wreath by Lidiane Siqueira, I attempted another of her wreaths, the Marieta Madala, a Christmas themed wreath, folded from 8 modules.  

It would, of course, look best with paper coloured red on one side and green on the other. Since I didn't this paper, I decided to go for red and green single sided origami paper. I like the way this has turned out and I think it would make a great addition to my Christmas tree. 

Model Details:

Model: Marieta Mandala 

Creator: Lidiane Siqueira

Difficulty Level: Simple 

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inches (7.5 cms) 

Model Size: ~4 inches across

Modules: 8

Diagram: Criativa'rte

Recently I discovered another origami artist from Thailand, Sansanee Termtanasombat. As per her blog, PrwOrigami, her goal is to collect 1000 kusudamas. She also provides tutorials for a number of the models on her blog.

Of the models that have tutorials, I liked the heartbreak kusudama, for which the suggested colours are red and black. Naturally. But, I decided to go another way and chose pastel shades. I am not sure how well this combination of light blue, cream and white has turned out, but I quite like the pleasant colours. The individual modules are fairly easy to fold and so is the assembly, which is the traditional sonobe assembly.

In recent days, I seem to have developed a love for tassels, so I made a tassel for this kusudama too and made it into a hanging ornament.

Model Details:

Model: Heartbreak Kusudama 

Creator: Sansanee Termtanasombat (Praew)

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: 1:2

Paper Size: 3 inches by 1.5 inches

Model Size: ~4 inches in diameter

Modules: 60

Tutorial: Youtube

After starting my Mette Rings project in July, here is the current status of the project. I have succeeded in completing 10 of these rings. I have to make another 10! At the speed at which I am progressing, I have serious doubts that I will finish by the end of the year, but hey, nothing wrong in hoping 😄

I still have a few colour gradients in yellow, followed by orange, red and pink. Apparently, according to Little Miss, I am missing a couple of colours in the blue-green transition. If I do get those colours, I will need to do some rearrangements. But as for me, I am quite happy with the colour progression right now.

Model Details:

Model: Mette's Ring

Creator: Mette Pederson

Book: Mette Units

Author: Mette Pederson

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 2 inches

Diagram: Mette Units

Modules: 18

The origami wedge cube is a visually captivating modular origami that I had wanted to fold for some time now. This model, designed by Miyuki Kawamura, is assembled from 20 modules - 8 of the corner modules and 12 of the pyramid structures.

I found it a fun model to fold and assemble. Neither the folding nor the assembly is too complicated. Assembly is by sliding a pocket into a flap. It is assembled without any glue and holds together very well.

Loved the colour combination, chosen by Little Miss. The brown and the pink contrast very well, I thought and the final model is really eye-catching!

Model Details:

Model: Wedge Cube

Creator: Miyuki Kawamura

Book: Origami Tanteidan 9

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inches

Model Size: 2.7 inches

Number of Modules: 20

The Graciosa wreath is a very simple origami wreath by Lidiane Siqueira. It is also very economical. The wreath is made from an odd number of modules - 7 of them. Each module is folded from half a square.

The size I liked is a 7.5 cms square cut into 2. So for my wreaths, I used one sheet of 15 cms square, double sided origami paper. From this, I got 7 rectangles, 7.5 cms by 3.75 cms. The modules are very easy to fold. Each module forms 2 spikes of the wreath, so that the final wreath actually has 14 spikes.

Assembly is also quite easy, it is just a matter of slotting one module into the next. It is held together with glue.

Model Details:

Model: Graciosa  

Creator: Lidiane Siqueira

Difficulty Level: Simple 

Paper Ratio: Rectangle

Paper Size: 3 inches * 1.5 inches (7.5 cms * 3.75 cms) 

Model Size: ~3 inches in diameter

Modules: 7

Diagram: Criativa'rte

So while folding the mette ring units for my Mette Ring of Rings project, I tried out some small variations to it and ended up with a neat variation.

Here the little triangles shows a colour variation that I found interesting. Anyway, will update soon on my progress. Till then!

Model Details:

Model: Mette's Ring Variation

Creator: Mette Pederson

Book: Mette Units

Author: Mette Pederson

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inches

Diagram: Mette Units

Modules: 18

Tomoko Fuse's spirals has always fascinated me. And since my last Tomoko Fuse origami was this pyramid box in May, I figured I would try out another of her spirals origami.

This origami spiral cube has been on my to-do list for quite a few years now! And finally I managed to do it! The cube is made from strips cut out of A4 paper. Each A4 sheet is cut into 4 strips. A total of 12 such strips are needed, which means 3 A4 sheets will be required.

As with most of Tomoko Fuse's models, the individual modules are fairly easy to fold. Assembly is a lot more challenging. I assembled the first three faces, on a flat surface. And I admit, I glued the tips of the spiral so that it didn't unravel easily. Once the three faces was done, the fourth face was decidedly more difficult but manageable. Then the top and bottom of the cube. Assembling one of the 2 ends was easy, because I could insert my hand inside the cube to hold the arms of the spiral and then continue with the assembly. The true challenge was, as always, in finishing the final face. I didn't have proper support, which meant I was forming the spiral in air! But finally, with a good deal of patience, I succeeded!

While I am happy with the cube, I find it too big for my taste. Hope to make another one from A5 paper. The principle remains the same. 4 strips from each A5, 12 strips in all.

Model Details:

Model: Spiral Cube

Creator: Tomoko Fuse

Book: Let's Fold Spirals

Author: Tomoko Fuse

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Rectangle

Paper Size: 11.7 inches * 2 inches

Model Size: ~3.5 inches across

Number of Modules: 12

Tutorial: kusuda.ru

Recently I discovered a Youtube Origamist - Origami Kankichi. I later found out that he does have a blog and various other social media sites, but I prefer the youtube channel. Well, on his channel, he regularly posts tutorials on folding and assembling origami modulars. Most of this models are 30-unit assembly and of these, I especially like the sonobe variations - I have a particular fondness for sonobes. So after much deliberation, I decided to try out one of the sonobe variations that he has designed - the Mt. Fuji Kusudama.

The kusudama is a representation of Mt. Fujiyama in Japan. Naturally, it works best with blue and white paper. But, for me, the first time I saw this kusudama, I was reminded of Tomoko Fuse's Chrysanthemum Globe kusudama. So I decided to use a dark pink and white paper, to resemble a chrysanthemum covered mountain, I guess. Anyway, any contrasting colours should work out well for this kusudama.

The modular is made from 15 squares of dark pink and 15 squares of white origami paper. Each of the 15 squares are cut into 2 rectangles of ratio 1:2. So finally, to make the model, we will be folding 60 modules. 30 of these modules will form the mountain shape and the other 30 will form the sonobe base. The mountain modules are slotted into the sonobe bases before starting the assembly. While the task seems quite daunting, the folding is not very difficult, though a little time consuming. Assembly is the usual sonobe assembly - 3 pyramids grouped in clusters of 5.

Model Details:

Model: Mt. Fuji Kusudama  

Creator: Origami Kankichi

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: 1:2

Paper Size: 3 inches by 1.5 inches

Model Size: ~4 inches in diameter

Modules: 60

Tutorial: Youtube

I am sure most of us have watched the animated movie "Finding Nemo". I have watched this movie, repeatedly, because Little Miss loves it! So naturally, when I came across this youtube tutorial to fold a two-dimensional clown fish, I couldn't resist folding it!

The fish is not a pure origami model, since it involves gluing of the pieces but I guess we could say that it is a modular one, made from 4 modules - a tail, a body, the head and the fins and is created by Mariko Miyamoto of Oriart.

While each module is folded from a square, the size of the square varies.  So the tail is made from a 5 cm square, the body from a 10 cm square, the fins from 7 cm square and the head from 5 cm square. Obviously the model works best with a rich orange single-sided paper ie., paper that is orange on one side and white on the other. The different modules are held together by glue or tape.

The sizes I have mentioned, give a clown fish that is the bigger of the two in the picture. I named this one Marlin 😀 And naturally, Little Miss wanted a smaller version, for Nemo. So I halved all the values from the previous model to end up with a mini clown fish - Nemo. Though the squares were small, since the model was fairly easy, I was able to make the smaller fish without any trouble.

So, have a go at it. It is a fun model and is sure to attract a young audience! And the lovely alternating colours adds a whole lot of beauty to the characters.

Model Details:

Model: Clown Fish 

Creator: Mariko Miyamoto

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 2 squares of 5 cm (2 inches), 1 square each of 10 cm (4 inches) and 7 cm (2.7 inches) for the bigger fish
2 squares of 2.5 cm (1 inch), 1 square each of 5 cm (2 inches) and 3.5 cm (1.3 inches) for the smaller fish

Model Size: ~3 inches across (bigger fish) and ~2.5 inches across (smaller fish)

Tutorial: Youtube

Valerie Vann's Omega Star Kusudama has been on my to-do list for quite some time. Finally this new year, I decided to get around to it!

Though Valerie Vann is well known for her magic cube rose, this kusudama interested me more than the rose. This modular is made of 30 units and are incredibly easy to fold! It starts with a water bomb base and involves exactly 2 more folds after that to fold the module!

Assembly is also easy, theoretically! As you add more and more units, the tabs tend to pop out of the pockets, but it is still manageable.

I liked the paper that I had used and the colour I had chosen, steel grey. The modules are folded from 3 inch squares and the resulting modular origami is around 5 inches in diameter.

Model Details:

Model: Omega Star Kusudama 

Creator: Valerie Vann

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inches

Model Size: ~5 inches in diameter

Modules: 30

Tutorial: Youtube

A very happy New Year 2019! Hope this year bring joy and peace to every one of you 🎉🎉

This recent pair of origami that I made - Daniel Reutskiy's kusudama - is very special for me. For one, it was decided and planned completely by Little Miss. She decided on the model, the colour combination, which I absolutely love, btw, and the number of modules. I usually make 30-module kusudamas. But for a change, I have made both the 12-module and the 30-module ones.

I have used 3 colours - chocolate, butterscotch and raspberry (as Little Miss calls it). Each square is 3 inches side. 30 modules or 12 modules as the case may be. Final sizes are 3 inches diameter for the 12-module kusudama and 4 inches diameter for the 30-unit one.

Model Details:

Model: Modular Kusudama 

Creator: Daniel Reutskiy

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inch squares

Model Size: ~4 inches in diameter (30 modules) and ~3 inches in diameter (12 modules)

Modules: 30 and 12

Tutorial: Youtube 

Daniel Reutskiy's  modular origami, folded from 30 modules is one that I absolutely enjoyed folding!

But more than the origami itself, what pleased me the most was the colour combination that I have used in the origami. This combination of colours was chosen by Little Miss, she calls it butterscotch-chocolate-raspberry. Initially I was very sceptical of the three colours she had chosen but she was absolutely convinced that it would come out well and I must admit, I love the way it has turned out! Kudos to my Little Miss 👌

That said, the modules are pretty easy to fold and so is the assembly. I like the way the models dips in. No surprises with regard to the assembly - it is the standard icosahedron assembly - 3 modules in clusters of 5.

Overall, an enjoyable experience. There is also a 12-module version which i hope to try out soon.

Model Details:

Model: Modular Kusudama 

Creator: Daniel Reutskiy

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3 inch squares

Model Size: ~4 inches in diameter

Modules: 30

Tutorial: Youtube 

Aldo Marcell's modular origami models are really, really pretty to look at! I had previously done the ever-popular Tornado.

So this time, I decided to work on the Cyclon model. Overall, the model is very economical, in that, the paper is in the ratio 1:3. Which means from 1 square, I managed to get 3 modules. Considering I was using some of my precious double-sided paper, this was very nice!

And folding the individual modules was also pretty easy. But the assembly is a whole different story altogether! It is seriously difficult! And this was aggravated by the size of the modules. Since I had divided up a 3-inch square into 3, I was working with small pieces of paper and, while I have folded really tiny pieces for my origami jewellery, it was obvious I have lost the touch of handling small pieces.

So to reiterate, the modules are easy to fold but really difficult to assemble! At one point, I was fairly certain that I was just going to lose patience and crush the whole thing 😔 It was only the thought of folding 30 modules again that stopped me from flinging it all away!

Anyway, I am glad I persisted. I am happy with the outcome. But going forward, I will doubly careful before choosing any of Aldo Marcell's models to fold 😆😆

Model Details:

Model: Cyclon 

Creator: Aldo Marcell

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: 1:3

Paper Size: 1 inch by 3 inches

Model Size: ~2.5 inches in diameter

Modules: 30

Instructions: Stranamasterov.ru 

In recent times I have made quite a few of Tomoko Fuse's modular origami. So for a change, I decided to try out Tom Hull's Bouncy Ball.

The Bouncy Unit Icosahedron, better known as the Bouncy Ball is made from 30 square modules. The folding starts with creasing into fifths. Once the paper is folded into fifths, the strip is folded to form the modules. So thin origami (60 gsm) paper is recommended, as we will be folding 5 layers of paper together.

Assembly is a little challenging, but once fully assembled, the model is really strong. And makes a great bouncy ball!

Model Details:

Model: Bouncy Ball 

Creator: Tom Hull

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3.5 inch squares

Model Size: ~4 inches in diameter

Modules: 30

Tutorial: Youtube

A modular origami, made from 30 modules, from Tomoko Fuse's 'Unit Origami Fantasy'. I apologise for the quality of the picture. It was just one of those days when no picture came out well! And the poor quality of the paper didn't help.

But to move on to the model, this is a continuation of one of my previous posts, way back in 2014. I got a sudden hankering to make the 30 unit model and voila, here it is! The modules are folded in the same way and assembly was fairly easy.

Model Details:

Model: 30-Unit Modular 

Creator: Tomoko Fuse

Book: Unit Origami Fantasy
 
Author: Tomoko Fuse

Language: Japanese
 
Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3.5 inches

Model Size: ~5 inches

Modules: 30

While I love folding origami kusudamas, over the past few years, I find it more pleasing to fold geometric modular shapes. And for those who are interested in polyhedral origami, Tomoko Fuse's book 'Unit Origami Essence' is an absolute treasure trove! As is the case with most of her other books, this book too is entirely in Japanese. But that is no hindrance, since the pictorial steps are very clear and fairly easy to follow. And in the few places that one might get stuck, Google Translate comes to the rescue.

One of the drawbacks of using a Japanese books is that I was not able to figure out the names of each of the models. The book is divided into 4 chapters. The first chapter is on cubes. The second chapter deals with solids made from triangular bases, the third - solids made from pentagonal bases and finally, the fourth deals with solids from star-shaped bases.

My first attempt from the book was from the Cubes section. I tried out pretty much all the cube models. The individual modules are pretty easy to fold. The second of the models (in brown and yellow in the pic) was very unique - made from boat-shaped units, 4 units in all. Most of the other cubes were from 6 modules. A couple of the cubes were pretty nice variations.

All the models have a recommended size listed. For all the cubes I had tried, it was given as 15 cms * 15 cms (6 inches * 6 inches). But I had used 9 cms * 9 cms (3.5 inches * 3.5 inches) squares and didn't have much difficulty folding or assembling the pieces.

Model Details:

Model: Various Cubes

Creator: Tomoko Fuse

Book: Unit Origami Essence

Author: Tomoko Fuse

Language: Japanese

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 3.5 inches

Model Size: ~1.4 inches side

Number of Modules: 3 to 6

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

May this Christmas be a time of reconciliation and peace, may the love of Christ be with us and His peace surround us. May our Christmas be a time of healing, giving and sharing.

Merry Christmas!

And here are a couple of really adorable Christmas earrings that I had recently folded. I absolutely love how well they have turned out!

The first pair is made with red beads and oxidised bead caps. And of course, red and white washi paper. The second pair is made from kami paper with wooden beads to add some green relief.