made: origami box

the base of these boxes is one of my favorite patterns called, "tsura" designed by tomoko fuse. the pattern is from the book written by her titled "origami boxes". it is made of two pieces that fit together to create a square cube that is so much fun to make. the paper i used is actually calendar pages from the typographic calendar designed by kit hinrichs of studio hinrichs. it's just too beautiful of a calendar to recycle so i save it for paper projects. fun! the lid is made from the "masu" box pattern with a sticker placed inside to keep it together. to finish, i thread the ribbon through a washer because it is simple and has just enough tension to hold the ribbon in place. bonus, the ribbon doesn't get wrinkled like it would if tied in a bow, which makes reusing it easier. yes, i am one of those people who reuses ribbon, and tissue, and wrapping paper. fact: making origami boxes is pretty high on my list of fun. paper geek, i know!

folding techniques for designers: from sheet to form, by paul jackson

item: folding techniques for designers: from sheet to form
designer: paul jackson
photos via: daily icon
comments: i have been dreaming of this book for awhile. thanks to a late birthday gift, it now resides with me. yes! paul jackson has a background in fine art and origami. he has created origami patterns, written many books on paper folding, taught folding to a number of design schools, and consulted with many design related companies. this book is a compilation of the folding exercises he has taught. what's interesting about this book is that it focuses on individual types of folds more than the finished model. this allows the reader to combine and or alter the folds according to their needs. elegant, modern, geometric, i can't say enough about how beautiful and useful this book is. here is a not-so-short list of the types of people who have benefited from his workshops: designers (fashion, graphic, architectural, industrial, jewelry, and interior), artists (sculpture, ceramics, printmaking and fine art) and engineers, model makers, mathematicians, and scientists. wow, it's impressive how far reaching the exercises in this book are.

nada le hoang an

items: leather handbags
designer: nada le hoang an
photos via: i/object
comments: nada's designs are a nod to origami. some of her bags have folds which conceal hidden pockets and pouches. on her website it says that her challenge is to design bags without stitching where leather straps and knots replace metal fasteners. her work is fascinating and i love that she puts so much thought and unique vision into her work.

ann van hoey

item: ceramics
material: earthenware clay
designer: ann van hoey, belgium
photos via: ann van hoey
comments: these pieces were inspired by origami. after visiting japan, ann's work reflected the simplicity and geometry of origami. these pieces have no glaze or any decorative element added to them. they are simply the clay and the shape of a circle as it morphs into a square. simple and powerful.

made: origami vase covers and upcycled milk carton vase

ok, i know, i know, the images are crunchy. they were shot with my cell phone, so my apologies. the origami vase covers are brown kraft paper that is folded. it's one of my favorite materials to work with because it is utilitarian, humble, soft to the touch and has good memory for folding. the origami patterns are from the book, home decorating with origami, written by tomoko fuse. even if you are not skilled at origami, these are patterns you can fold with ease. the vase covers are beautiful, sculptural and almost architectural. all you need is an empty can or jar to hold the flowers inside and no one will notice because the paper will cover everything. i used tape to secure the edges together but if you have some of those mini magnets or brads, that would work also. when the flowers have faded, if you don't use tape, you can take off the magnets or brads and store the covers flat to reuse them later. the bottom images are of a plastic milk carton with the stickers removed and an angled section cut off the top to create the vase opening. leaving the handle on makes it easier to transport the vase. i usually use these when i am bringing flowers to a friend because it's so easy to grab and go. decorative paper shown is zinnias from snow and graham. the translucent character of the plastic has a nice diffused quality so you can skip the decorative paper if you want instead. just a couple of ideas to package flowers that save time and money by making use of everyday items that are usually already on hand.

made: origami envelope

item: origami envelope
origami pattern designer: gay merrill gross
material: paper
courtesy of: origami; creative ideas for paper folding, written by gay merrill gross
comments: this envelope is easy to fold and so functional. that's what is so wonderful to me about origami. it is simple, elegant and functional. it's still amazing to me that you can take a two-dimensional piece of paper and without glue, fold it into something beautiful, sturdy and useful. gay merrill gross has written many books on origami which can be found on amazon. happy folding!

made: party plate

item: party plate
origami pattern designer: tomoko fuse
material: paper
courtesy of: fabulous origami boxes, written by tomoko fuse
comments: my favorite origami books are written by tomoko. her origami patterns are beautiful and so well engineered. this plate has many uses and it is quite sturdy. i love that it's made with two different papers, one for the base and one for the liner. it's fun to pair contrasting or complimentary papers. her book can be purchased on amazon. all paper geeks welcome.

2010 holiday cards

cards covered in paper scraps the same way you would make a book cover for your textbooks back in grade school. also a hand cut snow flake ornament fits in the partial pocket on the inside.

last year's holiday cards

the card folds into an envelope so it's only one piece of paper. the first shot shows the inside of the unfolded card and the second shot shows the folded finished piece ready to mail.