Paper Wardrobe

I don't know what it is about dress-up that is so fascinating to kids, but I believe that a kid has not been born who did not play dress-up at some point or other. I supposed when you are very young, it is not that you don't know who you are yet, but rather that you are no body, and at the same time you are every body. It's that incredible feeling that you could be anything you want just by donning the habit. It's very different when we're adults. Not only do we lose that strange but wonderfully tolerant imagination that kids have, but there is always some expectation for us to be one thing or another.

But that's enough philosophizing for one day I think.

When I was little, I always liked to cut up little pieces of my old clothes and make miniature clothes for my dolls. Turns out this is much easier. If only I could make my own clothes out of paper to avoid going shopping. I hate shopping.
(Click on "READ MORE" below for the full collection.)

 Here are some tacky shirts that you 

would die if your dad ever wore.

Paper Android Buddy

The power went out for three hours today, as it does every day here in Beirut. However, I do not have back-up power on Sundays. So while I was sitting around waiting for the electricity to come back on (I'd like to take this opportunity to wish our beloved minister of power good luck in the upcoming elections), I thought I'd fold myself a little paper Android buddy.

This Android robot is based on Gerwin Strum's design. Check out this great tutorial by Jo Nakashima.

Special Delivery: Unboxing My Origami Paper Order

I am in the middle of writing a paper, due tomorrow. Well, not really the middle; it's more like the first quarter... Okay, okay, I just started. For people like me, having a bit of extra time before the deadline does not mean having more time to work. It just means having time. In that time, we make useless videos that nobody will ever watch. 

I just received my order from origami-shop.com, and I was so excited about it that I thought "What would be the geekiest thing to do right now?" Of course, the answer was "Unboxing video!"

Enjoy!

Tutorial: Origami Flower

I made a post about origami flowers a while ago featuring this pretty flower right here. I couldn't find the instructions I used anymore, and I have no idea who designed this model. Luckily though, I was able to remember how I made it and created my own tutorial!

So without further ado, here is an origami flower tutorial, featuring Checkers, the naughty cat. (For more on cats, see this post.)

This is a relatively easy model, though not for beginners. For your first attempt, I recommend paper that is not too thick.

For more origami flowers and details about how to make the stem, check out my earlier post.


Happy folding!

EDIT: Someone very graciously pointed out that this is Ernesto Del Rio's Flor Del Rio. Thanks Serendipidade!

Easy Origami for the Easily Bored: Ninja Star

Ever felt like you should be doing something instead of bumming around the house but were too lazy to make too much effort? Feeling unproductive can be extremely demoralizing.

Sometimes a few easy models are just the answer. Not much effort required, but you still have that feeling of satisfaction at the end. I've decided to start a series of Easy Origami for the Easily Bored. In this series, you will find some simple models that will help you pass the time. For the first in this series, I decided to make my very first tutorial!

In this video, I will show you how to make this eight-pointed modular ninja star. The star opens into this cool disc-shaped object which I have been told looks like Xena's chakram! It's a very cool model and only requires a bit of repetition and precision.

I noticed that the traditional way of making this model leaves a lot of creases all over your disc/star, so I tried to make this model with as few creases as possible. Let me know what you think!

A New Year, A New Page

It’s the New Year, and for the first time I have felt the real weight of a whole year. So much has happened in one short year. It's surprising how much a person can change (and what a sentimental sissy they can become), and for the first time, I am looking forward to a new year. But I suppose it's all useless if we don't learn something along the way. So here’s what I learned this year.

I learned how to make this neat (as in cool, funky, interesting; definitely not meticulous, precise or clean) firework origami by Yami Yamaguchi. This is a very cool model because it changes shapes. It’s not big, fiery or bright against the night sky, but it doesn’t wake the neighbors.

 

 

You will, of course, excuse the rough and tattered edges.

I thought we’d kick off the New Year with something new on this blog, so here’s my first ever video to show off the shape-shifting abilities of this model! Hopefully, there will be more to come and a tutorial next time.

 
Here is a tutorial for making this model. 


I also learned a few lessons this year that I hope I’ll remember.

If you’re mad at someone, don’t start the year being angry. You might not know what’s in store for you this year, but a good way to start is with good intentions and an open heart.

Make your resolutions realistic, so instead of saying “I will be more patient and less hot-headed”, say “I’ll learn origami this year to help me relax.”

Don’t take anything personally, unless it’s a complement. And don’t take anything seriously, unless it’s about food, J. R. R. Tolkien or origami.

Don’t be resentful, and don’t get too wound up about things because it’s never really worth it when you look around and there’s a friendly face staring back at you, and you realize that nothing else matters.

So enough romantic mumbo jumbo and sentimental Metallica songs. Here’s hoping that wherever you are, you’re spending the New Year with someone you love.

Happy 2013!

The numbers above are adapted from this person's origami numbers. The number zero is my own hasty variation. I did not like how they did it, however, so I changed the method somewhat. I might make my own tutorial sometime, as I have not found any tutorials I liked.