DROOLING

Yes, I'm drooling. This is too beautiful, magical, magnificent, marvelous, simply brilliant. Time to go find a thesaurus and finish this post. I want to tryyyy.

*Hah, well I can't imbed this particular video, so if you want to see what all the fuss is about go here. If not, please have a fantastic, joyous, peaceful, radical, happy day.*

I normally promise I'm working on something and that posts will be coming shortly. I can't make that promise this time. I'm working on something but it's moving way too slowly and with only 3 months left here, I think I'd rather be lying on the beach (and it's hard to fold paper on the beach - it's too windy and sandy and wet). No, I can't promise, but I'll try!

SHARING IS CARING

It's a lesson we all learn when we're young: Sharing is caring.

So what was shared with me and what will I share with you today? Well, it began with a friend of mine giving me a lovely gift of two packs of beautiful Japanese origami paper. I was kind of surprised that someone would do such a spontaneously kind act.

Shortly after, another gift was shared with me. I was taught this simple but elegant butterfly design. The two things shared with me at this point seemed to go quite well together and therefor I couldn't stop folding butterflies with this beautiful paper. The result was a decent sized pile of them kind of scattered around my room. All the while with the plan in my head to return a gift back to the person who started it all - so here's the result:

A little butterfly display (consisting of only the rarest of species, of course) which I will give to my friend as a thanks for giving me the paper in the first place.

I kind of really enjoyed this mini-project. I think when I go back to Canada, I might find myself re-doing it (possibly on a larger scale).

Oh yes, and in other sharing news: Someone actually answered my plea for new origami-related books from a previous post. My dearest mama was kind enough to order two books off of my wishlist (what! that actually worked??) and ship them straight to my office for a dancing-embarrassingly-in-front-of-my-coworkers surprise. Funnily enough though, I wanted these books so bad that I ended up getting them despite my financial restrictions a few weeks earlier. Yes, the exact same two books. So, I ended up with double. I guess I'm just too predictable. But still, I've had a lot of people show me they care because they share in this past little while and it's been too sweet. So thanks to those who share! Go out there and get sharing/caring.

I JUST DIED

That's all...

Paige Smith via Colossal.

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!

GEOMETRIC DICTIONARY

Simply put: I'm in love. I want these so bad, hung three in a row in my future dream home. I don't think I have to explain why either.

Lim Siang Ching's got way more up her sleeve too so check it out.

ORISHIKI

Another thing to add to my wish list. I've wanted this for ages now but kind of forgot about it until recently. It's just such a beautiful idea. The name Orishiki comes from (ori)gami, the art of paper folding, and furo(shiki), the Japanese traditional wrapping cloth used to transport objects. The metaphor works so well. Please, can I has?

This delicious fashion treat by Naoki Kawamoto. I'm slightly in looooove.

NEWLY ADDED TO WISHLIST

I need this book by Paul Jackson. Need, need, need. One: I love him and his work. Two: I love folding (obviously). Three: Oh hey, I'm a designer. After my friend showed this to me on Dezeen, I've added to my wish list immediately!