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I've always been fascinated by origami, but never had the patience for learning it. If you think you do have what it takes to model the world in folded paper, here's an opportunity to get a free copy of a unique origami book. Our pals over at Potter Craft have given us three copies of their new Paper Yachts book to give away to MAKE readers. Created by origami masters Nic Compton and Nick Robinson, the book has origami models of four famous racing yachts. You get sixteen water-resistant templates of the four models that you can use in the tub, in a puddle in your backyard, or other miniature waterway.
If you'd like a copy of one of these books, tell us why in the comments, tell us some of your origami experiences, making paper boats, or related tales. Link to pics if you have them. Next Tuesday, we'll choose three winners.
I have always loved origami. I make origami cranes all the time, especially when waiting for the check at restaurants. I have made them out of anything from napkins, a tortilla, paper napkin rings, to using wrapping paper. The wrapping paper ended up over two feet across in wingspan.
I have been trying to find other neat origami figures to make and the book would be very cool.
This is the hardest one I did:
http://www.leonlaura.com/2009/04/25/more-difficult-than-your-average-bear/
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I was trying to show my three year old son how cool paper boats are a few weeks ago, but my skills were (and are) limited to the simple paper hat-type boat (like: http://www.mathematische-basteleien.de/paper_ship.htm ). I would love to share these designs with him.
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When I was 12 I made origami Nativity scenes for each of my grandmas for Christmas. One of my grandmas still displays it every year in her nativity scene collection. Still looks crisp!
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I enjoy art and the book looks like fun.
I recently finished folding 1,000 paper cranes over a 4.5 month period, which I then gave away less than a day after finishing.
There is a photo of the finished set here:
http://1000cranes.blogspot.com/
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8ar1rAVdy9o/Sg-O-8tI66I/AAAAAAAAAVs/ATIl20TGkDU/s320/DSCN3148.JPG
Thank you,
Daniel
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I think I deserve a book as I am one of the worlds leading experts in Hamster origami mathematics. Well I am in the top one anyway.
My epoch defining experiments are here
http://liveatthewitchtrials.blogspot.com/2008/02/hamster-maths-experiment.html
with more photos here
http://picasaweb.google.com/david.curran/Hamster#
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I love building paper boats, but sometimes I get a little carried away- here is a picture of a very large paper model of the Titanic (the rotating 3D photo was hot stuff in the mid-1990s!)
http://www.skotophile.com/quick-n-dirty/titanic/
I would love to share the book with my kids who also love paper books!
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I like paper boats. I'd like to build a real boat, but a paper boat will work in the meantime!
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looks good!
I have been fascinated with origami since I was 8 years old!
my obsession with origami, both of my own design, and works published by the greats (Brill, Kasahara, Takahama, etc)has led to some interesting experiences...
when I was 11, I went to the national origami festival in DC (because I wanted to learn new designs!), but was very dissapointed, when teachers at the tables only new cranes and boxes!
I soon got bored, and started folding a 30 sonobe unit polyhedron, and within 15 minutes, I had 3 tables of other kids (and adults) at my instruction!
in 7th grade, I signed up for the "cardboard boats" activity at my school, in which we had to make a boat, and then hop IN, and paddle around a bowie. I took several sheets of blueprint paper, and folded a giant flower box, which I lined with waxy 'yoohoo!' cartons, and reinforced with honeycomb cardboard. the boat sank, but it was a fun experience!
I have since led two semester-long origami activities in my highschool, and every year i visit the 4'th grade as a guest speaker/instructor in their unit on Japanese culture.
also, I love boats! what better way to fuse the interests than a book... on boats!
please let me know what you think of my 'stuff'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25521348@N06/
http://harrisonrose.blogspot.com
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When I was in the second grade, my mom, sister, and I made origami reindeer - a large herd of them. We used only (gently used) paper shopping bags and, if the bag had a logo, gave some of them to the merchants from which the bag came.
Because that was so successful and enjoyable, I begged my mom to come into school to teach my class some origami. She was a little shy because, before that, the project for which we made musical instruments out of shoe boxes and rubber bands had some unexpected snags: half of my classmates had problems stretching the rubber bands over the boxes (a hand-coordination thing), and, of course, some rubber bands snapped. Ouch!
The reindeer, however, were a great success. We were much more successful with the motions of matching up, pressing down, and securing the fold with our fingernails than we were with stretching rubber bands.
I would love to learn how to make the boats you pictured. Our school lets us do community service at an early age; I'm just finishing sixth grade and, this year, I volunteered to read to Pre-K through K. I have also participated in Project Cicero, where we gather gently used books that we love in order to share with kids that haven't had a chance to read them yet. Some books that are donated to Project Cicero are not in good enough shape to pass on. Wouldn't the Origami yacht project be a great way to (1) reuse and recycle these books, (2) do a great activity with the little kids so that they can be successful, and (3) help to build the school community? And no rubber bands!
If I am selected as one of the winners, I will donate the book to my school library after we do a school Origami Yacht project so that more kids can make them!
Thanks for sharing the pictures - they are inspiring!
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I've loved making origami ever since I was a child. First I made really simple things like hearts and little one dimensional houses -- then I graduated to more advanced stuff like 3D stars and really nifty boats that I'd float in my bathtub. I'd love a chance to win this book so I can make even more "advanced" boats! :)
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I have no books on origami. I have no yacht. This would solve both my problems.
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Not being much of a listener in school I'd spend most of my time drawing or taking things apart or causing small explosions with the bunsen burners. After things like my pocket knife and mini eraser catapult were taken away I was left with paper. Luckly this led to my enjoyment of Origami, well though I never learned many of the advanced folds and designs I did become quite adept at a few dozen which I still know to this day. They have saved me in long meetings or on flights (when events that harken back to my days at school my trusty pocket kinfe would be taken away). Recently I was recuited by my sister to make a few hundred random folded items for a fund raiser. Like most things it's the truly simple things like a piece of paper that can have the most amazing results and learing a few boats would be great.
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My son and I have committed to doing a number of Backyard Ballistics projects this summer and I do believe that injecting a naval aspect into such projects will add just that much more interest and educational value. In other words, we want to build really cool paper boats and then try to destroy them with catapults and other siege weapons.
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My absolute favorite paper boat was one from a Rupert Annual c 1960 something. It was called Rupert's Magic Boat.. These annuals were a great source of Origami...birds, animals etc. Does anyone else remember this boat? I later made it for my son's..ahh happy days.. :-)
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When I was younger, my sisters and I would casually get together and sing row row row you boat... One day, dad saw the moment. He then decided to take us to a sail boat from a friend of his. There, my sisters and I felt a rush of emotions coming through us as we stepped into the sailboat. Needless to say, we had the best time ever while singing row row row your boat.
Well, the main reason dad took us there is because his friend was selling the sail boat. Dad bought it because the great family time we had. However, I'm in college now. There hasn't been an opportunity for me to get together with the family.
Looking at this book makes me feel nostalgic. Beautiful days I spent with the family. This book will definitely help feel close to my family. I can imagine all of them in my desk. Sailing while I study.
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The best book ever is Origami To Astonish And Amuse which was my brothers.
http://thestuffiaminterestedin.blogspot.com/2009/06/origami-contest-pictures.html
As you can see I finished my invisible duck.
Other than That chapter Origami For The Almost Deranged this book has good origami. If I get this book me and my brother might become interested in origami again. Bye!
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I have to admit I'm a bit of a mishap crafter when it comes to oh knitting, sewing, painting... but I am one with paper.
The boats will perfectly complement my action origami flapping butterflies & inflatable goldfish in the perfect pond of paper serenity.
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If i Double posted take as whole
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My brother is the only reason I am good at origami today. Here is his book that is now mine. http://thestuffiaminterestedin.blogspot.com/2009/06/origami-contest-pictures.html As you can se I perfectly made the invisible duck. If I get this book me and my bro might get into origami again and I could show this book to my always experimenting friend. BTW the book is called Origami To Astonish And Amuse.
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When my son was young he had an origami book and he loved to make basic stuff he did some birds and animals. It makes me smile to think about it. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)Verizon.net
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Sorry Carlene, the giveaway has ended.
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