I JUST DIED

That's all...

Paige Smith via Colossal.

DOCUMENTING A FAIL

I promised a new post, but I didn't say it would be good. So here's a failed attempt at Francesco Mancini's Morningstar... My past few projects have all been using the same unit by him, and with a slight variation on that unit, he created a whole different kind of model (this one). Problem is, he didn't mention what that variation was or how you put the thing together, so I thought I'd be all clever and take on the challenge of figuring it out by only referencing his Flickr photos. I almost figured it out... sort of. I think I have the basic geometry down (a "rhombicubeoctahedron"), but it's not constructed quite the same and because of this it's collapsing on itself (and yes, I did use tape and scissors, duhn-duhn-duuhnn. I'll admit it!). Either way though, here's the fail:

Okay, fingers crossed that the next thing I make will turn out okay.....

FISHIES

I have something coming, I swear.... It's been made for a week now and sitting on my bedside table waiting to be photographed and posted about, I've just been too busy. In the mean time, please enjoy this bit of wrapping paper that is now hanging in my room. I saw it and had to have it. If it makes the trip back to Canada I may consider putting it in a frame. It was only $10 HKD too (under $1 CAD) so all the more reason for me to do a little dance in my tiny room. The colours (which are actually not that great in this photo because all of Hong Kong has been washed out in grey for the past three weeks)!

Seriously though, I will post more soon!

TETRAHEDRA + WEIRD TETRAHEDRA

Hi. I'm stumped.  This is a post to follow the earlier CUBE + OCTAHEDRA post, both comprised of a unit designed by the talented Francesco Mancini. I don't know what one of the intersecting polyhedron in this modular ball is called (hence the post title). The compound is (I think) two tetrahedra - 4 sides, 4 verticies, and 6 edges (totally math!) - but one of them has some weird bendy-stuff going on. So I'll just leave it and say it's weird. Voila!

Again, like the 24-unit model, this 12-unit model has interesting patterns depending on which angle you view it from. The bigger version had a combination of square- and triangle-based as well as high- and low-tipped pyramids. This one is all triangle-based, and here's a diagram of the result. Bam!

DREAM LIBRARY

So I was in heaven today. Heaven being the art/design section of a book store. BUT. This particular book store actually had it's very own (however small) sub-section dedicated solely to paper folding/art. Yes, you can now imagine me falling to the ground in the aisle, tears of joy rolling down my cheek which soon turned to tears of sorrow since I couldn't really afford a single one. So here I have made a wish list of paper-related (and others) books that I will one day get my hands on... 

1. Paper Engineering: 3D Design Techniques for a 2D Material, Natalie Avella - Explores creative ways that folding techniques are applied in graphic design through case studies.

2. Perfect Paper, Adeline Loh - A collection of projects that use paper as the main medium, going beyond it's conventional use. From intricate 2-dimensional paper cuts and 3-dimensional paper sculptures, to paper use in installations and fashion... Yuuuummm.

3. Outside the Box: Cardboard Design Now, Michael Czerwinski & Santiago Perez - The name speaks for itself. Works that show the practicality and possible environmental benefits of using cardboard in design.

4. Cardboard Book, Naralle Yabuka - Okay, probably the same thing as the above cardboard-applications-in-art-and-design book, but still it looks super. Super duper, even.

5. Paper Cutting: Contemporary Artists, Timeless Craft, Laura Heyenga - Profiles 26 contemporary artists who focus their work on the intricate art of paper cutting and re-inventing it each in their own ways.

6. Making It: Manufacturing Processes for Product Design, Chris Lefteri - Documents over 100 manufacturing processes through their pros and cons, suitable production volumes, costs involved, speed of production, relevant materials, typical application and sustainability/effects on environment. Basically looks like my Mass Production class minus the droning prof that put me to sleep 60 seconds in, AKA awesomely cool! Sure, this one's not a paper one, but I'm adding it to the list anyways.

Okay, I think I'm done for now. I might just have to order one to quench my thirst for paper knowledge! Huzzaaahhh!

STUFF

Completely unrelated to paper. But it is Ruby-related. I get to do some graphics at work, and that's super exciting! Making an event invite for a party we're having in collaboration with other artsy places on our block at work. So I ran around the neighbourhood snapping some photos and then did some Illustrator-ing (you know what I mean, when you've got 20 artboards open with every iteration possible). Huzzah, life is good! Paper things on the way too sort of. 

PS, Fontsnobs, don't judge.