'Modern Kusudama Origami' by Ekaterina Lukasheva is an excellent book on modular origami. To date I have already tried out 3 models and here is the fourth one - the Jaciara.

For the first attempt, I went ahead with the recommended paper size - 4 inches square. The finished model was about 5 inches in diameter - a tad too big for my liking. The next time I try, I will attempt a much smaller size, probably 2 inches or so.

The individual modules are not too difficult to fold, though it looks kinda scary at first! I liked the way the modules locked together.

There are a couple of variations mentioned. Hopefully I will get a chance to fold those as well.

Model Details:

Model: Jaciara 

Creator: Ekaterina Lukasheva

Book: Modern Kusudama Origami

Author: Ekaterina Lukasheva

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 4 inch squares

Model Size: ~5 inches in diameter

Modules: 30

Tutorial: Youtube

My second attempt at making a bowl was a better success I think! I have been repeatedly told that the tubes in which the print is visible, are much more unique in appearance. So I went ahead with printed tubes which were coloured in shades of blue.

The base started off with a deep blue, which forms the rim of the bowl. As in my previous post, the base is formed using the same method. One thing I noticed is that, the deeper the colour, the lesser the print is visible.

I had used 3 shades of blue. Deep blue at the base, a lighter version in the middle and finally, a light blue to finish it off. The finish needs some work and hopefully this will become better in the subsequent attempts!

Once the bowl was complete, since I had some more tubes, I decided to go ahead and make a pen stand. This turned out quite sturdy and useful.

Finally, a coating of varnish to strengthen and protect the pieces and I am all set!

Swans are such beautiful, graceful creatures that have long captured the human heart. And given that they mate for life, I decided to fold this beautiful origami on Valentine's Day.

The creator of this origami swan is Fynn Jackson, well-known for his origami masks. The masks do not interest me, unfortunately, but I did enjoy folding these swans, even though, if you are a regular reader of the blog, you would know that modular origami is where my interest lies. If origami masks interest you, be sure to check out his works on Facebook and Instagram

I used fairly big-sized (9 inch squares) single-sided origami paper. Double-sided paper would have worked better I think, because no matter what I did, I could not prevent the back of the paper from being seen (See the white bits on the black and grey swans!). There is a sink at the base of the neck, which I found particularly challenging. But otherwise, this was a good model to fold.

Well, give it a go. At least it will be a change from the hearts that everyone seems to fold on Valentine's Day!! 😎

Model Details:

Model: Swan 

Creator: Fynn Jackson

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 9 inches

Model Size: ~3 inches across and ~2.5 inches in height

Diagram: Docdroid

As a gift for a friend, I had again folded the origami Patterned Icosahedron, created by Meenakshi Mukerji. I had previously folded it during the Christmas season. And enjoyed making it.

So this time, I decided to go with a pink and lavender duo-coloured paper, a favourite of my friend's, which resulted in a very pleasing modular origami. And I also went with smer unit sizes than my previous attempt and still was able to fold and assemble without any problems.

Model Details:

Model: Patterned Icosahedron

Creator: Meenakshi Mukerji

Book: Ornamental Origami

Author: Meenakshi Mukerji

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Rectangle in ratio 1:2

Paper Size: 3 inches * 1.5 inches

Model Size: ~ 2.5 inches in diameter

Tutorial: Youtube

Number of Modules: 30

Ok, New Year and new trials! 😆 So my latest trial in newspaper weaving involved attempting a bowl. And this has been a project of new attempts!

First, till now, my problem has been getting a good bowl shape. Why? Because one cannot use a base form when weaving the top half of the bowl. This is more of weaving by look-and-feel and frankly speaking, I am not yet very good at this look-and-feel weaving!! But, I am getting there. I hope!! 😄😄 And this bowl was my first attempt at that.

In addition, I tried out a new way of moving from the base to the walls of the bowl. This gives a nice, thick rim to the base, which makes the bowl much more stable than usual. I found this style of weaving quite difficult, but in the days to come I hope to master this technique.

And last, I ended up using a mix of 2 colours randomly! A rust-coloured base with a orange coloured tubes in the rim of the bowl. Well, this is my attempt to try out new combinations in the hopes of striking something interesting! I don't know if I have achieved what I hoped for, but at least I had a go at it!!

Model Details:

Model: Woven Bowl

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Tutorial (making newspaper tubes): Youtube

Picture Tutorial for the thick rimmed bottom: Stranamasterov

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