Book Description
Robert J. Lang, one of the world's foremost origami artists and scientists, presents the never-before-described mathematical and geometric principles that allow anyone to design original origami, something once restricted to an elite few. From the theoretical underpinnings to detailed step-by-step folding sequences, this book takes a modern look at the heart of the centuries-old art of origami.
Origami novices will appreciate the organization of the book, which begins with easy techniques and progresses to deep and powerful tools for design, all based on simple, intuitive concepts like grafting, circle packing, and assembly of tiles.
Both novices and aficionados will find detailed, step-by-step instructions for previously unpublished models, including the famous "Black Forest Cuckoo Clock."
Customer Reviews:
Not an origami recipe book.......2006-01-13
Dr. Lang delves into the hows and whys of origami design exploring origami the way Alton Brown explores food and cooking.
The instructions for creating beautifully made koi decorating the cover are not included in their entirety, notably excluding the sequence for creating the scales. Instead, Lang describes the principles and techniques for creating textures on paper, leaving the creation of the fish as an exercise for the reader.
If you're looking for a recipe book for cool origami designs, then this is not the book for you. Rather, this book is for anyone curious about just how the heck someone makes a cuckoo clock out of one uncut sheet of paper.
A truly incredible book!.......2005-09-28
By far and away the most comprehensive book on origami design and theory that I have every seen. There are thousands of books containing origami models, but few, if any, actually take the time to explain how the models were created in the first place. If Robert Lang didn't already hold a Ph.D., this book could serve as a dissertation. In addition to the theory and concepts of origami model design, this book also contains excellent models that demonstrate the principles covered in each chapter. I have always enjoyed folding Robert Lang's models in the past. They are challenging and extremely rewarding. I am a very good techincal folder but I could never really create my own models. This book has started me on my own path towards creating my own origami models to fold. While this book certainly could be useful to beginning origami folders, it best serves intermediate to advanced enthusiasts.
A great origami book.......2005-09-28
This is one of the best origami books ever written. Robert Lang is known for producing complex origami models and here he teaches the mathematical thought process behind the creation of these pieces. The book contains a number of chapters covering different methods of producing particular types of origami works and then each chapter ends with a series of advanced origami models for you to make with complete diagrammatical instructions.
The book is a wonderful instruction manual on how to create original origami designs but it also includes many sets of instructions for origami models which have never before been published. The exquisite Koi carp on the front cover (which I have seen in real life) is included as is the frog, and the infamous Black Forest Cuckoo Clock instructions are included at the end of the book. Don't try to make these pieces with ordinary paper - you will want to use very fine bank weight paper, tissue foil or wet folding with Canson or Elephant Hide paper to get good results.
This volume is an essential addition to any paperfolder's bookshelf and will provide many hours of interesting reading and wonderful models to fold.
The one book that every origami fan MUST have!.......2004-12-08
Robert Lang's book is one of the most amazing origami books I have ever seen. Disregard the higher than normal price for the book, it is worth every penny.
People who are simply interested in folding models will be delighted by the awe-inspiring Black Forest Cuckoo Clock and the collection of turtles (complete with shell designs). Other models include birds, a moose, a train, a valentine heart, and many, many others...all out of one sheet of paper with no cutting.
The books real value, however, is its wonderful discussion of the origami design process. Lang breaks down many different aspects and techniques of design into understandable bites. Personally, I enjoyed the mathematical discussions throughout, especially the tree theory section.
The bottom line: (out of 10)
---------------
Model Value:
9 (not a book entirely of models, but the models that are contained are gorgeous)
Instruction Clarity:
9 (excellent considering how complicated the models are)
Difficulty:
10 (even origami pros will be challenged by the clock and the tiling of the fish and turtle)
Enjoyment:
10 (reading the book is as gratifying as actually reproducing one of the models within it)
Overall Value (not an average):
10 (a true masterpiece)
The key to understand Robert Lang's work.......2004-10-12
If you are like me, at some point you developed an interest in Origami and your attention was caught by Robert Lang's books. I bought "Origami Insects and their Kin" and was immediately fascinated by the lifelike and ingenuity of the models. My fascination became frustration when I tried to find any model in the book that was "doable". With much patience, wasted paper and a few suicide attempts :-), I finally did one - the ant ! I kept coming back to the Praying Mantis and the Pill Bug with no luck. Then I found this magnificent book - Origami Design Secrets. By studying the methodology created by Dr. Lang, one can see the method behind his genious (or madness :-). I was stumped by a sequence in the Praying Mantis, then I understood what was behind it once I read the chapter on "splitting"... It was like a revelation! The presentation of this book, the didactics and the clarity are superb. Dr Lang created a whole new field of science to explain Origami. It also helps the creative process and the goal to eventually create your own models. I will never be a "virtuoso" like Dr. Lang, but this book opened a whole new set of doors for me. I highly recommend it!
Book Description
From the lost ancient art of towel folding (yes, there is one, and it does stem from ancient times) comes the newly revived and hot trend The Lost Art of Towel Origami.
Filled with hilarious completed-project photographs and step-by-step instructions and illustrations, this book will provide hours of entertainment. Stun your company by skillfully creasing and crinkling your linen into works of art. You've got everything you need, right in your own bathroom.
Creations include:
" Elephant
" Monkey
" Luscious Lips
" Skyscraper
" Ladybug
" Palm Tree
You'll never look at laundry the same again with The Lost Art of Towel Origami. The absolute perfect coffee table (or, ahem, bathroom) book is bound to get you and your guests folding masterpieces.
Customer Reviews:
The Lost Art of Towel Origami.......2007-07-06
I was very interested in learning Towel Origami. The size of the pieces and the number of towels needed to create them made the task almost impossible.
Good book, hard to do.......2007-06-08
The book is well written but I think you must need special towels to make the figures work.
There are better towel origami books out there.......2007-05-18
I bought this book after getting into towel origami on a Carnival Cruise. This was disappointing. There were some okay ideas but all in all I would spend the $$ buying the Carnival Cruise towel origami book instead of this one. I bought this thinking that there would be ideas for a towel wedding cake. Thier version isn't near as pretty as the ones that I found searching online. Skip this one and buy the cruise one on EBAY.
Lot's of good Examples!.......2007-05-16
This was a great purchase. The guides and examples were easy to follow and very colorful. The book was a hit!
The Lost Art of Towel Origami.......2007-05-12
I thought the instructions were vague. They don't give you towel size and/or detailed instructions. It seems like they skip a few steps. I could only do two out of the whole book and was disappointed in my purchase.
Book Description
In Origami Zoo, two of the world's finest paper folders present an exciting collection of original origami animals. Their creatures, ranging from the exotic to the familiar, the elegant to the whimsical, will both inspire the beginner and challenge the most accomplished folder.Choose among the dolphin, penguin, swan, owl, goose, kangaroo, praying mantis, or even the mythical Pegasus or extinct wooly mammoth. Each of these thirty-seven new projects is true origami-folded from a single piece of paper with no cutting or gluing-and is complete with clear step-by-step diagrams, instructions, and a photograph of the finished model.Origami Zoo will challenge and delight anyone with a penchant for creating something wonderful out of (almost) nothing.
Customer Reviews:
Nice Origami book........2007-01-11
Lang's book on Origami is a good buy for anyone interested in this ancient art of paper folding. It covers models that are simple to fold all the way to models that require more skill. It also includes quite a large variety of animals to explore.
A great book full of variety!!.......2006-08-04
This is the first origami book I have bought,Origami Zoo. Before I got this book I had to print heaps of stuff off the internet, and before long I had a huge collection of stuff I put in a folder. I soon found out that all the models I had printed out were way too hard for me, even though I'm around the intermediate to advanced level!! As cool as they may sound, the Biplane always confused me, the Bee always ripped and the Alien always became too small and thick.
But then I discovered Amazon.com. Here there were millions of choices of origami books, but I chose to get "Origami Zoo, an Amazing Collection of folded paper animals." This book was at my level exactly!!
My fav models are, so far:
- The Penguin. Even though this is one of the easiest, it still looks lifelike side-on.
- The Owl. This model is also 2D, but it perches on a thin rod, and looks lifelike as well.
- The Duck. This model is a particularly cute 3D one!
- The Sea Turtle. This model is both fun to make and cool to look at!!
- The Fox. This model is rather easy, 3D, and lifelike!
None of the models in this book are very easy. Most of them are at the intermediate level, but the last 10 or so models are complex. I still haven't gotten to the real complex models yet, but when I do, I hope I have a lot of large origami paper on hand!!
This book contains info at the start, about folds, paper, designing models and so on.
I would recommend this book to people who like to make a variety of animals, not just plain four legged animals, but insects and sea creatures as well!!
Lots of animals - Intermediate to Advanced.......2005-08-21
There is a great selection of animals to make in this book. Some are very advanced and complicated. Others are easier and more familiar. If you are a beginner, but are familiar with folds and instructions, it is worth giving it a try for a challenge.
Absolute excellence... Don't Miss!.......2003-07-02
Even though the final models are *extremely* complex, the book begins with very interesting texts about origami origins, evolution and approaches to creation; and the models go in progression from the very simplest ones. So actually this is an excellent "transition" book - if you have some experience with origami and have the ambition to try more complex stuff, there cannot be a better book than this one to guide you. The diagrams are crystal clear, and so are the indications. I got this book when I was 11 (I'm 24 now), and it is still every bit as amazing an enjoyable as back then!!
ABSOLUTELY Awesome...but CHALLENGING!!!!.......2003-04-19
Origami Zoo is yet another book my boys and I got from our local library. This book is by two of the BEST Origamists around, in our humble opinion.
We will be watching for it on ebay. While we are all beginner/intermediate folders, we are AMAZED by this book. There is nothing in it we don't like, but only a couple so far we've been able to figure out. It is WELL written. All the basic folds one needs, are clearly shown and explained at the front. While it has black and white illustrations, they are fairly easy to follow, and the written instructions are very good, IF you already know something about Origami. There are very nice & clear pictures at the beginning of each model, to show you how it looks, finished. I like that.
If you are intermediate to advanced, I would say this book will keep you busy for MONTHS, maybe years.
FUN, EXCITING, "CHALLENGING" ! I can't wait to get past the cool Dolphin, which I got pretty quick. If you are just starting out, don't be like us, find an easier book to begin with. Highly recommended!!
Book Description
Create nearly 40 striking paper figures with clear, step-by-step instructions and helpful diagrams. Features simple to advanced objects: cube, parrot, rabbit, seagull, cuckoo clock, rocket, mouse, elephant, violinist, Viking ship, and many more.
Product Description
Step by step instruction on how to make 8 towel animals, like they make on cruise ships, by folding towels. 15 color pictures of the finished animals. Detailed instructions are in pictures and text. Picture instructions are in black and white for better detail and show an actual towel being folded, not a drawing. Spiral binding enables the book to lay flat so you don't have to hold the book open while making the projects. Animals included are monkey, lobster, sitting dog, playful pup, elephant, duck, sea turtle and snail.
Customer Reviews:
Throwing in the towel.......2007-05-30
I agree with other reviewers about the homemade quality of the book. The book itself was VERY thin and not what I expected for the $14+ spent on it. It's NOT the worst book on towel origami but not the best either. I'd place it somewhere in the middle. The author does explain things well so I have to give her some credit for that. Think the main disappointment was the thin and homemade quality of it. Wasn't the best first impression when I opened the box. I still find learning towel origami by the DVDs on the market the easier way to go. Looking at photos or illustrations in a book with a lot of text doesn't do it for me when learning the visual art of towel origami. I need to see it in action.
Looked a little cheap..........2007-05-16
When I got this book it looked like some unprofessional company had made it. The book was bound only by sprial and the pictures were not in color. I would recommend not getting this book unless you really want to spend the money. The Lost Art of towel folding was a far better purchase.
Greatest romantic idea.......2007-05-13
I picked this up to surprise my wife every morning ! Makes her feel like she's on holidays every day. She looks forward to jumping in the shower every day just to see what critter awaits her that day. Only reason I rated a little lower was due to the fact the illustrations are a bit vague. But a great book just the same.
greaaaaaaaat.......2007-05-13
great book i have leaned to make all animals in the book. its just wha i wanted. thanks thanks thanks
Towel Monkey.......2007-03-22
The instructions are clear and the animals cute but the book itself is lacking. Very small and boreing
Book Description
A collection of 32 projects for novice origami hobbyists, clearly illustrated with easy-to-follow instructions that even beginning papercrafters can follow with successful results. Subjects range from an ultra-simple hat, cup, and pinwheel to the more challenging figures of a penguin and a piano.
Customer Reviews:
Beginners Origami.......2007-09-13
I like this book because the pictures and instructions were very clear. The difficulty of each piece is labeled. It is a good book for teaching children the art of Origami.
kids loved it.......2007-07-05
i got this for my 6 kids and they've used it so much, the pages are falling out.
Hours of Fun.......2007-01-13
This is a great family book. The projects are rated easy to difficult and the drawings are extremly easy to follow. All you need is the origami paper (available at Target or any art supply store). The finished products are amusing as well as useful. It's a book I always grab when we leave on vacation. Full of entertainment value, timeless.
Good.......2006-11-20
Some instructions are insufficient for COMPLICATED ones. Otherwise not bad. thats why 5 stars.
Must try.
Nice stocking stuffer.......2006-08-07
This little bookk, at a great price, makes a nice intro to origami. It is very basic. I found that most of the paterns in this book are repeated in Montroll's "Teach Yourself Origami," so I passed this on on to a cousin who was intrigued when she saw what I'd been doing. It's fine as far as it goes, but it isn't intended to go vary far. You can't beat the price. I thought it was a misprint.
Book Description
This creative money folding book offers step-by-step instruction on handcrafting money folds in a variety of beautiful new designs including the Statue of Liberty, eagle, teddy bear and butterfly. This informative guide is filled with beautiful photos of each money fold design.
Customer Reviews:
Fun on a buck.......2007-04-09
This was one of the funniest books to learn things from... dont get me wrong not all of them are winners but after you get the hang of it some of them are really fun to give away... I once spent an extra hour in a restarant folding dollors for the waite staff and ended up with a free meal out of it so it is a fun little trick to learn.
Unique money folds.......2007-04-03
This has a few USA-specific money folds. All the rest are also in the Hawaiian Money Folds book. This book is good if you really want those specific folds.
This is NOT a beginner's book!! The diagrams can be complicated. It will probably take a time or two on some of the projects to get the folds right. If you have a lot of problems with spacial relations, this book will torture you.
ADVANCED MONEY FOLDING.......2006-11-06
DIRECTIONS FOR 19 ITEMS, WHICH INCLUDES 2 BOXES. DIRECTIONS ARE EASY TO FOLLOW.MANY OF THE ITEMS ARE UNIQUE IE; A PAIR OF HIGH HEELED SHOES, VERY CLEVER.
Bad Investment.......2005-10-22
This book has some problems which the author Jodi Fukumoto is not willing to deal with. I contacted the publisher and they forwarded my message do Jodi. That was several weeks ago. I believe she doesn't care about the quality of her illustrations and descriptions. I am not the only one who has had problems following the folding plans, so I know it is not just me. There are some designs that can be done, but if you are looking to fold the rose, forget this book and save your money.
Book Description
Imagine a box made of paper! Boxes are one of the most popular formats of the age-old papercraft of origami. This delightful book is entirely devoted to the creation of origami boxes-plain or fancy, playful or practical, and elaborate boxes topped with cranes, butterflies, lilies, stars, and
more.
FABULOUS ORIGAMI BOXES includes designs for nesting boxes, simple triangle and square boxes and more complex hexagonal and octagonal boxes. Detailed illustrations provide step-by-step instructions on the correct way to crease and fold origami paper. Many of the designs are made of one sheet of
paper, but some combine individual units with intriguing results.
Both practical and lovely, these boxes can be used for gift-giving, storing trinkets, or simply for display.
Customer Reviews:
Not for a self-taught beginner.......2007-03-09
This is a wonderful book, but I jumped too far ahead of my abilities to follow these instructions. if you truly are a self-taught beginner, perhaps starting with something written specifically for beginners is appropriate.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.......2007-02-21
Fuse's boxes are really, really stunning. I can only add my voice to the chorus of reviewers that find this book highly useful.
The boxes are fairly easy to fold. Although I am an experienced folder of origami, I feel that a complete novice could pick this up and make most of the boxes with a little time and patience. (I can zip through most of them in less than 15 minutes, including the assembly.)
Everyone who has recieved a gift from me inside a personally-folded box has commented on the beauty and sturdiness of the box. If you use a nice, thick, cloth-like washi, the box will last for a very long time.
Check out Fuse's other work in modular origami, it's worth your time and effort.
A gift givers delight; very fast service! .......2007-01-19
I got just what I wanted and faster than I expected, especially Christmas time. It looks like great fun.
Thanks,
Sue
Breathtaking!.......2006-02-12
My first book by Ms. Fuse was not in English, and it was also my first unit origami book. I have been hooked ever since. The folding is not bad at all, although fitting the pieces together is like putting together a three-dimensional puzzle. The result is surprisingly sturdy, too. I find it a peaceful way to take a break and get my mind off of everyday annoyances. The word "Fabulous" in the title is well-deserved. When put together properly, the lids are decorated with geometric designs, lilies, bunny rabbits, a heart, butterflies, a crane... These are not images, but three-dimensional. If you love origami, boxes, math, or puzzles, this book will amaze you. Given the amount of pleasure you can get out of a few sheets of paper and this book, it is a real bargain.
Beautiful origami boxes.......2005-10-09
This delightful origami book features a collection of designs by Tomoko Fuse which have been published elsewhere in her Japanese language books but which appear here accompanied by English text. As always Miss Fuse's boxes are beautifully finished both inside and out and choosing the correct paper can add a great deal to the quality of the finished product.
These little boxes consist of a number of sheets of paper slotted together to form each part and some are really not that easy to do. The flower box and some of the other decorative tops are quite tricky to figure out and absolute accuracy is required in the folding. Having said this I have made most of the boxes in the book and the instructions are in Miss Fuse's clear and easy to follow style. All of the boxes are made up and photographed clearly in the book, both in a separate sumptuous gallery section and in black and white photographs alongside the instructions.
I would not recommend this book for a complete beginner but someone who has done some folding and has mastered the basic models should be able to manage and enjoy making most of the items in it.
Book Description
This fanciful application of clever origami techniques to traditional quilt patterns can add spice to every needleworker's repertoire. Twenty-two projects for quilts, vests, pillows, and other items include templates and folding instructions for easy star, diamond, pinwheel, and other designs.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous!.......2007-09-01
This book kept me up all night, making beautiful little flowers. Lots of inspiration! While the directions were "pretty good" a showing of the right and wrong side of the fabric would have been helpful, but a small amount of imagination and manipulation worked wonders.
Versatile technique. .......2007-06-12
I have had this book since it was published and made flowers to add a little textural interest to my quilts. I follow the basic directions but vary the size of the square to make all different sizes. It is the perfect take-a-long project in the car or plane. I made a garden of variegated batik roses to applique on the border of a too-flat-looking spring quilt. It really made an 8 hour car ride pass quickly. I have also made the roses in super size- 8" square final size- and put them on tote bags as decorative pockets.
Different and Innovate.......2007-05-15
Just the special technique I was looking for. Book is well illustrated, directions easy to follow. Nice projects!
fun.......2007-05-12
fun, project. Instructions are great. though I have yet to figure how to make the sunflower look right.
Fantastic Fabric Folding: Innovative Quilting Projects.......2007-03-23
While this book has some fabulous and innovative ideas that add to quilt design, I found the instructions and illustrations very difficult to follow. It seemed to leave you hanging between one-step to the other. I took the book to work and several people could not figure it out. However, one individual came along, took one look, and completely understood. So, if you want a challenge, or if you are good at reading between the lines, go ahead and get the book. I have not made a quilt but I did master the flowers on the front cover of this book. I will probably focus on making some of the pillows. However, for now, the book is on my shelf until I want another challenging project to work on.
Book Description
Illustrated instruction book features 38 unusual subjects, from simple to complex, each graded for difficulty. Sailfish, tadpole, killer whale, bay barnacle, dolphin, horseshoe crab, barracuda, blue crab, American lobster, and many more. Step-by-step instructions, notes on animals, technique of wet folding, much more. Over 2,400 black-and-white illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
My favorite origami book so far.......2007-09-04
The finished models in this book are great, they are clearly identifiable species, not just generic fish, crabs, etc.
What really makes the book stand out, however, are the folding sequences. The steps flow with a natural rythm, and every tricky step is clearly explained. Because the authors have created unique bases for each model, the results of a given step are often pleasantly surprising.
I have a pile of origami books, and this is my favorite so far by a pretty wide margin. When I finish folding everything in it, I will probably fold them all again because they are so much fun.
Wonderful origami book.......2005-09-30
This superb book contains an enormous range of origami models representing various forms of sea life. These range from sea urchins and starfish through to the Blackdevil Angler Fish and the almost impossible to fold Chambered Nautilus Shell. I have in my time folded most of the models and my favourites include the Angler Fish, Goldfish and the Murex shell which is wonderful in a textured foil.
Most of the models will require some folding experience, even the easier ones and the most difficult ones like the Atlantic Purple Sea Urchin and Blackdevil Angler Fish are really for experts only, but most folders of intermediate level and upwards will find something to enjoy. It is definitely a book which will help you to develop your folding skills but be sure to have plenty of paper on hand!
Each section includes an interesting introduction to the natural history of the life forms it is covering and the book is well laid out with clear computerised diagrams. It's an origami book I've come back to again and again over the years and which remains one of my treasures. I recommend it.
Not Impossible, but a Challenge.......2004-04-17
I've owned this book for a number of years and only recently have I been able to fold most of the creatures in it. This book is definitely not for greenhorns, but if you look closely at every single diagramme in the book, and interpret them exactly and are very careful, every model in the book is foldable. The end result is gorgeous paper sea creatures that can impress basically anyone--yourself included. I've been amazed at how beautiful the things I'm folding from this book turn out.
Great Book.......2004-04-03
This is one of my favorite Origami books ever. If you are thinking about getting it you should. This book will appeal to any body, from beginner to advanced. I love the models in this book. It contains various models of many genera and cover many of the marine phylums such as variety of gastropods, cephalodops, crustaceans, and many fish from Angler Fish to sharks to Sun fish.
One of the best.......2004-03-21
This book is well written with easy to understand diagrams. The models range from easy to extremly hard, but most of the animals are high intermediate.Most of the diagrams are so specialized that they can't make other models from the base, but the end result is an elegant model that isn't bulky like other models of this difficulty. I have most of Montroll's and Lang's work,and this is one of the best.The deep sea angler fish is my favorite with a full set of teeth. The binding is breaking apart because I've used it so much. Overall this is a book with the best models!
(Watch the binding of the Dover books!)
Books:
- Origami Design Secrets: Mathematical Methods for an Ancient Art
- Outstanding Scrapbook Pages: 250 Of the Best Pages and Techniques from the World's #1 Scrapbooking Magazine
- Paper or Plastic: Searching for Solutions to an Overpackaged World
- Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
- Prairie Children And Their Quilts: 14 Little Projects That Honor the Pioneer Spirit
- Presentations: A Passion for Gift Wrapping
- Professional Painted Finishes: A Guide to the Art and Business of Decorative Painting (Whitney Library of Design)
- Professional Pattern Grading for Women's, Men's, and Children's Apparel
- Quick and Clever Handmade Cards (Quick and Clever)
- Quilts in a Material World: Selections from the Winterthur Collection
Books Index
Books Home
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- Redwall
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- How to Prepare for the AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics
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General
| Sculpture
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Advanced Origami: An Artist's Guide To Performances in Paper
Origami Insects
The Complete Book of Origami: Step-by Step Instructions in Over 1000 Diagrams (Origami)
Origami Zoo: An Amazing Collection of Folded Paper Animals
Unit Origami: Multidimensional Transformations
