“Origami Tessellations” by Eric Gjerde and Most Recent Creation-Sortof

So I originally was waiting until my ordered copy of Origami Tessellations:  Awe Inspiring Geometric Designs came to write a review about Eric’s new book, but while it hasn’t come a copy has come from another source.  To be fair this review is hardly unbiased as I know Eric and he is in part responsible for sending me down this path of obsession.  He is always trying to bring people into the tessellating fold and his book is part of this.

The book starts off explaining what a tessellation is, a basic history of origami tessellations,  and how to do a basic grid.  He shows the fundamentals of tessellation design, such as how to create pleate intersections both with a square based grid and a equilateral triangle based grid.  Interspersed throughout are pictures of tessellations that appear in Islamic architecture.    After showing basic twists and folds with computer illustrations he has a beginners section on tessellations.  Number two, Spread Hexagons, is my favorite, probably because it was the tessellation that he had out that I looked at when we met at OUSA (Oops edit 2.5 not 3.5 years ago).  Five by four has a beautifully modern look, while Chateau-Chinon by Christiane Bettens evokes traditional tilings.  His intermediate projects are great introductions to folding designs with more than one type of fold/twist.  My personal favorite in the book is Negative Space Stars, a design that seems impossible without cuts is clean and compelling.  The one side clean negative stars and the other a pattern that really evokes the Islamic Tessellations that I personally love so much.

At the end of the book is a gallery and has tessellations from a wide range of people; Robert Lang, Joel Cooper, Christiane Bettens, Chris Palmer, Polly Verity, Sipho Mabona, Eric (of course), and me.  I have to say it was very surprising when Eric first asked if he could include some of my tessellations as I hadn’t been folding tessellations very long.  The creating and designing of tessellations has exploded recently and I know that it is in large part to Eric, to the Flickr group he started and his website http://www.origamitessellations.com.  The book is as clear and concise as a book can be in teaching origami tessellations.  Purchasing a copy is a great idea for the math lover, origami lover, art lover, or just anyone who can find the beauty in the transformation of paper into art.

So order here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568814518?ie=UTF8&tag=origamitessel-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1568814518 or go to his website to order.

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Recent mod of an old and problematic tessellation.  I made the grid about a mm to small and it created a host of problems so I took photos and then modified it a bit.

Pretty old school for my tessellations design, but I like it well enough.

Heart Box Pictoral Diagrams

Happy early Valentine’s Day.

I had posted a heart box and said instructions were forthcoming so here they are  http://www.flickr.com/photos/christine42/3241811189/in/photostream/ .  This is a simple design, but I have not seen the locking mechanism or the heart edges before.  (Standard disclaimer for anything I design and post) If you have seen the box before please post applicable links and/or information.  My recommendation is you work with a heavier paper.  Copy paper or ultrabright paper works just fine.  I like a 7-8 inch square to start out with although a 6 inch works.  Best of luck.

Christine

“Takeout” Box Instructions and First Pillow Test

This is one of those folds that is so simple that I suspect it has to have been designed before. What I really like about it is it’s strength and good use of paper. Its 3 in high and a 3.5 by 3.5 inch. Given that this vellum started out as a regular 8.5×11 cut into a 8.5 inch square I think the space that is kept is great and it is very strong, as demonstrated

As is usual if this has been done before please post applicable information and a link if possible.

Instructions start here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christine42/3205167722/

Also I am posting a really rough first draft of a pillow based off the Oceania Box. Eric’s comment about made me think about some earlier faux suede I tried tessellating this summer. I think I may have to suck it up and buy some real suede or leather to get the body that I want for the design.

The faux suede does not have enough body to hold the separated to curve the pleats. Freehanding the ironing not a good idea. My eyeball isn’t that good. I should sew across the base of the pleats before sewing for assembly. When I bought this I was at an upholstery fabric store. I absolutely loved a vivid turquoise blue leather that I saw, this was bought in place of leather cause of cost. I will play with this more when I have time.

Origami Tessellation – “Framed Star Tessellation” Instructions

As some of you know I am fascinated with three dimensional tessellations. This is a different and much simpler process than I typically use, so I figured it lent itself more to online instructions. This does assume a certain level of ability. First the grid should really be 32nds if you want to get repeated stars. 16ths would allow you to make about one star I suspect. The grid I used was 48ths. For instructions on how to make a grid link to Eric’s origami tessellations website and look it up and that also goes for a triangle twist.

Step one is creating the first triangle twist.

Secondly you arrange the grid as shown, as if to do another triangle twist. But don’t!

Push the tip, where the lines intersect in.

From the edge of the pushed in hexagon go over two spaces and arrange the pleats as if you are going to create a triangular twist. The repeat the “concave” hexagon.

Then going upwards from the new concave hexagon do the same thing. I also added a triangle twist on the outer edge of the emerging larger hexagon. Then another triangle twist on the middle “concave” hexagon.

Keep repeating around, till you have formed a hexagon of the pushed in hexagons. The triangle twists are in the directions shown below, every other one faces the other.

The other side is where it gets its name. This is the basic unit. The process repeats from each of the triangle twists. Refer to the first two pictures for the full tessellation.

The nice thing is once you’ve constrained the free paper there are at least 10 easy mods that will change the form completely. I’ll leave them to you to find, but remember part of origami is discovery. Push things in a little differently and a new design is born.

Enjoy,

Christine

Soon I have a pillow that is a test I’ll publish.  The front is done I just need to pull out my sewing machine and filler.   I also had some earlier tests that collected dust, as most stuff I test does (by the necessity of time)   I pulled out and started playing with.  I am currently not friends with my  iron though.  I might splurge on a cord free one and I think I’ve come around to “investing” (that’s the word I’m using instead of indulging) in a craftrobo pro.

Philipily Quatre Bowl Instructions and a few links

This bowl is part of a curved computer aided tessellation I am working on. The collapsing of it is going poorly, but looking at a bowl of Philips I realized it might make a good bowl if I used one iteration overlaid in a circle. The original design is based on a equilateral triangle. The design works with any number of sides of a polygon with little modification.

To complete print out the crease pattern below as large as will fit on a sheet of paper.

Then score the creases following the lines above. I recommend a pen that no longer has ink. Then make the creases as shown below.

This is the bottom.

This is the top.

To try the five sided bowl the crease pattern is below.

Links that I sent to the o-list but forgot to given the e-mail a subject.

Some origami in fashion links.

http://sxyfashionqueen.blogspot.com/2008/12/sfq-answers-lady-gagas-origami-dress.html

This is more tangentially related. The fabrics were inspired by traditional papers and they may have origami birds on one blouse, but the pic wasn’t good enough to be positive.

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japan-fashion-influences-bruno-basso-and-christopher-brooke-do-origami-prin

Nifty top
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/36765

jacket
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/35303

shoes that appear to have little leather blintz folds.
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/27268

Chair and stool with origami design influence
http://www.shearyadi.com/myworld/the-multidisciplinary-work-of-designs-from-so-takahashi/

Purse with a fold or two.
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=74447&parent_category_rn=130031&productId=907600&langId=-1

While I am sure you are all familiar with Sipho Mabona’s extraordinary work, he has a website that is as exquisitely constructed as his designs. Check out his site. My favorite pick is his Multiple white Koi picture. Bella.

http://www.mabonaorigami.com/

Happy Holidays,

Christine

Dollar Bill Bunny

Here is were the pictures start.  They are numbered.  I know it’s only rough instructions, best of luck.

Organic Geometry in Brown Silk and a Nifty link or Two

http://www.camilladiedrich.se/items.html  Go seven spaces down and click-You will see some interesting textile surfaces.

An origami flat pack spoon you fold.  Usability I can’t rate, but it is cute.  http://www.likecool.com/Origami_Spoon–Design–Gear.html

Small table base origami inspired http://www.likecool.com/Origami_Range_Table–Furniture–Home.html

Not exactly origami, but it does have a related aesthetic http://nymag.com/nymetro/shopping/homedesign/14630/

This wallpaper I am in love with

 

Below is a piece of mine inspired by a host of things, but predominantly Nishimura circles, Polly, and Phillip’s pulling me down the abyss of curved folding.  This came after a box bender.  Arrghhhh!

 

Box bender first few (14 and counting)

SOFA, San Francisco, and a bunny

Two fascinating weekends and a bunny in a row. Last weekend I was in San Francisco at a lovely event with lovely hosts who were fabulous. I thank everyone involved because you did an amazing job. SF was rainy, but I really enjoyed the Ferry building, a retrofitted building that now has trendy shops and some great foods and treats. The view was breathtaking and calming. Berkley had houses that embodied great craftmanship and farther north the landscape significantly changed and was its own type of wonderful. Pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/christine42/second page currently.

This weekend I went to SOFA (Sculptural Objects and Fine Arts) at Navy Pier in Chicago. SOFA began with a look into the mind of Bubacco. A genius at glass he created a vision based on eternal damnation and it was ethereal and overwhelming. I was having processing issues I was so excited I was shaking like an overstimulated child at Christmas. It was a rather last minute decision to go and I found it beyond belief (as were the price tags that accompanied many of these pieces of art, including a glass one for $140,000.) Focusing on origami and the designs in that vein or inspirational in that vein tended to be fiber or wood art. There were two panels that were irregularly corrugated and a host of wooden vessels that made me think of a lot of the origami bowl design that is floating out there.

Many wood designs were organic with a notable exception which I’ve posted last. Definitely not organic, but perfect geometric nirvana. I’ll take two when my trust fund comes around or I hit the lotto

For origami art on a monumental scale one must turn to Kevin Box. An artist out of the Southwest he was there and graciously explained his design philosophy. He creates origami pieces and then casts them in metal. Appropriately placed in front of the window were you can view Lake Michigan was a 15? foot metal origami sailboat supported by “wooden” oars that brought it up to its height. He had near life sized origami horses and origami “sofas.” I have to say that the large origami horse was my favorite. His work and philosophy can be viewed at http://www.outsidetheboxstudio.com/

One of my favorite artists is Nishimura, first introduced to a lot of people on flickr by Ray Schamp. Nishimura creates these circles of movement and energy with precision that is hard to fathom. To my great pleasure I realized that she has changed from strictly straight line designs to creating her circles with curves. I greatly admire her work and running at $1,200-$4,900 at the show she had some of the most least expensive art I saw, but some of my favorite.

On a much more trivial note at dinner at KowKow a restaurant in Chicago that has the most tasty, crisp, and fresh eggrolls available a dollar bill bunny visited. As with all my designs if you have seen it before please state the source and a link with a picture if possible so I can link to it. Redundancy happens. This design is not exceptionally strict so I think that all proportions of money should work. Not exceptionally great from the front, but it is easier than a large percentage of my designs.

Computer Aided Origami Designs

So lately I have been sidetracked from my pleating by the ingenius Polly Verity.  She has inspired me to start playing with curves.  I bought a CAD program ViaCAD and have been rather obsessed lately, although that is starting to subside, more because the last two crease patterns I made didn’t work on the first try.  I tend to discard things if they don’t work the first time around, a habit I am working to get past.  So below are two crease patterns for two units and the pictures of what the finished units look like.  I highly recommend you score with a stylus or a dead pen before you fold the creases.  These can be tessellated and I recommend you use cardstock or some heavier paper although you can do them in copy paper.  The designs make me think of futuristic architecture and are surprisingly strong.

 

 

There are more crease patterns and designs here http://flickr.com/photos/christine42/ .  Everything is as usual creative commons release.

Blue Diamond Corrugation & crease pattern + New Avenues

        

This is a fairly basic corrugation.  Initially it doesn’t completely flatten.  If you push the connectors in one direction you can easily flatten it (refer to pic)  The modification to get the second corrugation is included, but ups the difficulty level.

The exploration below involves using goran pleats and heavy modification.  I do not always start with a standard solid polygon.  The pleating is deconstructed and the edges expanded to create organic shapes.  The first paper is some Italian paper that has a lovely memory to it and the second is a sheet of oiled lotka, which has a lovely pattern and was a pleasure to work with, although has less tension in the finished product.