Origami Ikebana, by Benjamin John Coleman. Review.

World Origami Days continue until November 11, and so do my origami book reviews...

Origami Ikebana

Create Lifelike Flower Arrangements

Benjamin John Coleman

Tuttle Publishing 2014

Paperback + DVD, £15.95

Link to Amazon: Origami Ikebana

ISBN 978 4 8053 1242 1

Star rating: *****

More paper flowers!:

Benjamin John Coleman is an origami innovator. In Origami Ikebana, he presents an entire system for making realistic-looking flower arrangements (ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging, characterized by elegant minimalistic designs). The papers for all the arrangement components – blossoms, leaves, stems, base – are painted and shaped to create a more naturalistic result than standard origami flowers. (My guess is that painting the paper makes it more pliable, capable of being moulded into graceful curves.) 

The book teaches you how to fashion all the arrangement components from start to finish:  the leaves, blossoms, stems, even the base. You are taught how to craft bark-like makigami  stems, and how to assemble the pieces into a cohesive whole – an elegant ikebana arrangement. 

The makigami stems are rolled from newspaper triangles. Adjusting the shape of the triangular template alters the taper of the stem – a similar method to making paper beads. The rock bases are crafted using a papier-mâché-like technique (I have to say, they have me thinking of school science fair volcanoes).

The book features designs for 8 different leaves and 30 different flower shapes. The folding how-tos are presented using a patented origami instructional method called “Glow Fold”, in which the folding diagrams are colour-coded to indicate sequence.

The accompanying DVD reinforces the on-page instructions. The “Glow-Fold” diagrams, plus directional arrows, are superimposed on the “folding moves”­ video –  this makes learning the technique just about foolproof.

I am absolutely bowled over by John Coleman’s development and presentation of the Origami Ikebana concept. The resultant arrangements are elegant and graceful. (Very occasionally, I think the results look over-manipulated. To my personal taste, it is the spontaneity of origami that appeals.) These floral models, exquisite creations, are labour-instensive projects. If crafting an everlasting floral display is your goal, Origami Ikebana may be right up your alley. 

So – a beautifully-conceived system, clearly and professionally presented (the author has teaching credentials). If you are looking for a more sculptural approach to origami flowers, Benjamin John Coleman’s origami/papier-mâché hybrid could be just right for you. And for the price of a book/dvd combo, you get the equivalent of an evening course in flower arranging!

Note: I was supplied with a review copy of this title.

Notes on the History of Origami, Origami Papercrafting. Book reviews.

World Origami Days run through 11 November. I’ve been observing them with a series of origami book reviews.  I’ve got more books than World Origami Days left – so I’m piggy-backing my reviews!

Notes on the History of Origami

By John Smith

Paperback 1972, 2014

British Origami Society

ISBN 9781 4952 1500 1

£4.00 (e-book)from The British Origami Society

Physical copy from Createspace via Amazon (price today: £5.76)

Star rating: ****

This delightful mini-compendium of curiosities is a re-issue of a booklet originally published in 1972. Its modest 28 pages are info-packed and highly-illustrated (many pics in colour). There’s a History of Paper and Paper-Folding (both Eastern and Western traditions). Next comes a super-fun section spotlighting famous origami popularizers or contributors to the advancement of origami – including Lewis Carroll, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Leonardo de Vinci. It’s a treasure trove of paper-folding-related factoids and historical footnotes.

Example: Do you know what a trouble-wit is? It is a sheet of artfully-pleated paper that is manipulated into various configurations (like Paul Jackson pleating). The sequential slight-of-hand transformations were used by entertainers to illustrate a story.

Paul Jackson pleating - similar to a trouble-wit.

There are some misspellings – particularly in the names (Percy Shelly (should be Shelley), Hans Christian Anderson (should be Andersen)) – so I would recommend a proofread for the next edition.

When reading this title, you should bear in mind that it was put together pre-internet – so at the time of its publication (1972), it was a mini-triumph, being the very first booklet published by The British Origami Society.

There’s a bibliography in back, so you can chase the references and can follow the paper trail.

This title would make a fun stocking filler for a budding origami enthusiast, or any keen papercrafter.

Note:  I purchased this title myself – not a review copy.

Origami Papercrafting

Folded and Washi Paper Projects for Mini Books, Cards, Ornaments, Tiny Boxes, and More

By Suzanne McNeill

Design Originals 2013

Paperback (Amazon link), £5.26

ISBN 978-1-57421-434-5

Star rating: ***

This title isn’t brand new – it came out last year, but I am including it because it is origami-related.

Maybe the title of this 36-page project book should be Origami-inspired Papercrafting – because it is very crafty and not for origami purists. Many of the projects are template-based crafts constructed out of origami- or washi paper, so are not pukka origami projects. Having said that, crafty is what you expect to get when you buy a Design Originals title. The projects are made by contributors, who are clearly credited at the beginning of each project (commendable). 

The makes are a mixed  bag. Some of them are fabulous, cleverly-designed  and highly-desirable, others are run-of-the-mill fete-makes dressed up in pretty washi paper. (Would you wear a covered, recycled CD disc as jewellery? –  Quality control.) 

The following projects look amazing: Flower Star Books, by Sheila Cunningham. These are magical flat-pack ornaments that open out for full 3-D display. Delightful – and you could pop them into an envelope as a greetings gift. Vellum Christmas Ornaments – the modular units make appealing 3-D stars. The 3-D Christmas Tree involves some fascinating fancy folding to make the tree boughs. The Wonderful Pocket Books have  winning accordion pockets. The Coffee Filter Booklets are a template project that has nothing whasoever to do with origami (apart from the cover papers) – but they do look great. The Fashion Folders, by Karen Thomas, are a true origami less-is-more project – and  are all the better for it. The wallet/folders make perfect use of double-sided paper.

With the festive season coming up, you could source some giftable makes from this title.

Note: I was supplied with a review copy of this title.

The Origami Home, by Mark Bolitho. Review.

The Origami Home

Beautiful Miniature Furniture Projects

By Mark Bolitho, Chair of the British Origami Society

Jacqui Small 2014

Hardcover £20-00

ISBN 971-1-909342-51-4

Star rating: *****

I am fast-tracking this review so I can bring it to you during World Origami Days.

The Origami House is a genius “concept book”. With this book/kit  (papers are included), you can make a houseful of origami furniture models, designed by pro origami designer Mark Bolitho (who happens to be the Chair of the British Origami Society). The furniture is beautifully photographed in styled roomsets worthy of a glossy decorating magazine. The book is accompanied by 55 sheets of specially-designed origami-paper home furnishing prints (wallpapers and home textiles) by name designers.

My favourite spread it the Modern-Retro dining room (the cover pic), in mid-century modern style (channelling the Festival of Britain), prints provided by the ever-clever Mini Moderns. Other miniature treasures include a flat screen TV, a standard lamp and shade, and a Welsh dresser. The Workspace, is a complete workstation with computer and keyboard, deskchair, and reading lamp. (If IKEA did origami, it would look like this.) There’s also a bed with plump pillows and a coverlet, and a bathroom suite. The only disappointments: no kitchen or garden furniture – I guess that leaves the door open for a follow-up title. 

The models are clearly explained with detailed step-by-step illustrations using standard origami annotations. These projects are not for beginners, so if you are thinking child’s Chrismas gift, then I would suggest buying this yummy book for yourself now, then making the origami models as a gift to give. Presentation idea: you could house the roomsets in shoeboxes or in a homemade cardboard carton doll’s house.

The specially-designed papers are glossy finish and durable. The prints and patterns are to die for. Designs are by Jane Churchill, Little Greene, Malabar, and (as previously mentioned) Mini Moderns. The photography is by Michael Wicks, who has many swish corporate clients. 

Whether you are an origami crafter or a miniature enthusiast, this book is big on the fun factor.

Note: I was provided with a review copy of this title.