




Date: Wed, 26 Jan 94 11:53:24 AST
From: hull@cs.uri.edu (Tom Hull)
Subject: Bugs and other stuff

RE: Where to find BUG folds.

I too love to fold tiny insects (replying to Nat). Here are some books with
bugs in `em:
_Origami for the Enthusiast_ by John Montroll
------- John's first book. It's awesome. Buy it. Contains a moth, stink bug,
a wonderful grasshopper, and one or two others that I can't remember.

_The Complete Origami Book_ (I think that's the title) by Robert Lang
------- Lang's first book. It's good, but many models use non-square paper,
and there are a few diagram errors. This is the book with the Tarantula that
someone mentioned previously. There may be other bugs, but I don't recall.

_Origami Zoo_ by Robert Lang and Stephen Weiss
------- This has a few bugs, namely a grasshopper (different from Montroll's)
and a praying mantis (different from the one on the archives). The mantis
is made from non-square paper, but it's easier than the one on the archives
and I think it looks better. Oh yeah, there's also a horse fly and paper wasp,
both which use the white side of the paper for the eyes (very hard, but very
good folds. I've actually scared people with these). I think the wasp is
from a non-square. Hey, I think there's an ant in this book too, but I
might be hallucinating. Check it out.

_Origami Sculptures_ by John Montroll
------- This has Montroll's insect base, and includes a bol weevle and an
asparagus beetle. They're very fresh.

_Origami: Paperfolding for Fun_ by Eric Kenneway
------- This book is out of print, and only the first edition has any bugs.
I mention it because these bugs (a spider and a fly) really turned me on
when I first did them! Look for it in your local libraries. You might get
lucky (or snail me something that you like, and I'll send you copies :).
They are non-square, but they look SO COOL when you fold them with foil
paper that I don't care! These bugs are by Max Hulme.

_Origami for the Connoiseur_ by Kasahara and Takahama
------- The only bug in this book is a ground beetle by John Montroll (as well
as his stegasaurus :)! I mention it because (1) it's an A #1 awesome book and
(2) Kasahara writes that by "studying" John's beetle, you can create other
beetles of your our. As an example he shows a picture of a stag beetle which
he made by "modifying" John's ground beetle (no instructions, of course).
The funny part is that Kasahara is right! If you do unfold the ground beetle,
you can open up the head and produce this stag beetle. I managed to do this
after an hour or so of studying the model, and highly encourage everyone
to try it! This is how you learn to create complex-level folds.

Well, I know there are other books, but these are my favorites. You might
also try looking at the Friends Annual Collection books. They usually
have a bug or two in them.

Hmmm. Not a bad list for an "off the top of my head" kind of thing. I must
not be doing enough schoolwork.

------------------------------ Tom "steppin' in style" Hull





Date: Wed, 26 Jan 94 18:25:20 AST
From: Brad Blumenthal <brad@eecs.uic.edu>
Subject: Multi-media origami

   First of all, has anyone thought of doing "quick-time" movies of origami

Yeah, I have.  I've been working on the design of a multi-media
origami-based educational system.  The idea is to use origami as a
hook to hang lessons about geometry, history, culture, etc. on.  That
way, something interesting can be happening while you're going through
the "repeat four times" steps of an origami fold.  There are some
interesting research issues involved in the origami system itself
(integrating video, diagrams, text, etc., being entertaining without
being distracting, providing feedback), but it's also meant to serve
as a testbed for some ideas that I have on multi-media editors and how
they should work.

Implementation will begin as soon as I bung the video spigot, memory,
and disk drive into my machine -- that may have to wait until after
the Super Bowl though (go Cowboys).  Actually creating QuickTime
movies is trivial; as with most aspects of multi-media, content is far
more difficult than technology.

   any really good bug folds.... let me know!!

The Lang book is _Folding the Universe: Origami from Angelfish to
Zen_.  I'm partial to Montroll myself though.

Take care,
brad





Date: Wed, 26 Jan 94 19:22:18 AST
From: SPARKER@U.WASHINGTON.EDU
Subject: Re: Multi-media origami

>Yeah, I have.  I've been working on the design of a multi-media
>origami-based educational system.  The idea is to use origami as a
>hook to hang lessons about geometry, history, culture, etc. on.  That
>way, something interesting can be happening while you're going through
>the "repeat four times" steps of an origami fold.  There are some
>interesting research issues involved in the origami system itself
>(integrating video, diagrams, text, etc., being entertaining without
>being distracting, providing feedback), but it's also meant to serve
>as a testbed for some ideas that I have on multi-media editors and how
>they should work.

I always thought that using origami to teach other things would be great.
I figured it would work well on cable public access, but multi-media
sounds even better.

Sue
sparker@u.washington.edu





Date: Wed, 26 Jan 94 20:24:08 AST
From: "M.J.van.Gelder" <M.J.van.Gelder@rc.rug.nl>
Subject: Bugs

The title of Robert Lang's book is 'Complete Origami'. Indeed with the
cuckoo clock, marvellous!

Maarten van Gelder                   M.J.van.Gelder@RC.RUG.NL
Lichtboei 210                        Rekencentrum Rijksuniversiteit RuG
9732 JK  Groningen                   Groningen
Holland                              Holland





Date: Thu, 27 Jan 94 10:59:09 AST
From: jeanine@watson.ibm.com
Subject: origami for educational purposes

I, too, am working on origami for educational purposes.
I have signed on to give a workshop at the NYC Friends February Folding
Fun Fest (that isn't quite right, but it is close) on February 13th.
Sign up and come and we can share ideas.

Jeanine Meyer
Mt. Kisco, NY
914-241-4489, 8957





Date: Thu, 27 Jan 94 12:21:49 AST
From: GURKEWITZ@WCSUB.CTSTATEU.EDU
Subject: origami animation in hypercard

The multimedia messages reminded me that I have a disk received from
California. It's really cute "flip card" animation of 2 or 3 origami
models being folded. One was the flapping bird and another was
the simple house. In addition to the animation there were other
screens that were visually very nice, a woman in a kimono with
a chiyogami style pattern.

The disk is by Robert Yochum who I haven't been in touch with.
I think the disk was made available through the West Coast Origami
Guild.

It's for the Mac and Hypercard. I might be able to find a way to
upload it to the archives, though I don't use the Mac much.
I'm going to check with Yochum to see if it's ok. But if you
want me to send you a disk send a SASE with a blank disk and
I'll make you a copy.

Rona Gurkewitz
181 White Street
Danbury, Ct 06810
203 775-8656





Date: Thu, 27 Jan 94 13:31:46 AST
From: AHELM@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu
Subject: Re: Multi-media origami

I don't think Lang is the author of Folding the Universe: Origami from Angel-
fish to Zen.  But I do think that that is one of the best books in English,
especially since it goes beyond the page and beyond folding itself.

Cheers,
Anthony





Date: Thu, 27 Jan 94 13:42:32 AST
From: Brad Blumenthal <brad@eecs.uic.edu>
Subject: Multi-media origami

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Peter Engel is the author of _Folding the Universe_.

Lang's book is indeed _Complete Origami_.

I need to fold more.

Take care,
brad





Date: Thu, 27 Jan 94 23:42:38 AST
From: larryfinch@aol.com
Subject: Re: Multi-media origami

 >>I don't think Lang is the author of Folding the Universe: Origami  >>from
Angel-fish to Zen.

Peter Engel is the author. And it is a great book!

I recently succeeded in folding his "One Dollar Crab" (after several
failures).

Larry





Date: Fri, 28 Jan 94 01:17:11 AST
From: vann@andataco.com (V'Ann Cornelius)
Subject: Re: Multi-media origami

>I don't think Lang is the author of Folding the Universe: Origami from Angel-
>fish to Zen.
>
Folding the Universe is written by Peter Engle. I understand that
a second edition is in the works...

-v'ann-                             1828 Dora Drive
                                    Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
vann@andataco.com                   (619) 753-9623





Date: Fri, 28 Jan 94 04:52:31 AST
From: njulshaf@halcyon.com (Natalie Jo Ulshafer)
Subject: Re: Welcome!

Thank you, Javier, for the warm welcome!!
>I'm curious.  If you used scotch tape, I assume you did something to make
>it non-sticky?

well, I suppose someone ambitious might use rubbing alcohol to remove the
sticky, but I just folded the tape in half....  >poofta< no more sticky...

>Also, I have a great tarantula sitting atop my computer from another book

ah, yes, my computer needs some friendly bugs... I know a programer who has
a biggest bug of the week contest in his group, and the winner keeps the
bug trophy till the following week... I wanted to fold him some bugs...

> How about it,
>all you Pooh fans out there?  Let's get together and find/design origami
>versions of Pooh Bear, Piglet, and friends!

great idea!!

Well, thanks again for the warm welcome!!

Nat

email - njulshaf@halcyon.com

|"Dr. Pavlov's distinguished career came to an     |
| abrupt end one day when the doorbell rang and the|
| dog ate the Avon lady."                          |





Date: Fri, 28 Jan 94 13:53:25 AST
From: base00!jhc@codas.attmail.com
Subject: dollar-bill crab

>From nuucp Fri Jan 28 12:00 EST 1994
>From uucp Fri Jan 28 11:38 EST 1994 remote from codas
>From uucp Fri Jan 28 03:44:46 GMT 1994 remote from attmail
>From nstn.ns.ca!server Thu Jan 27 23:43:18 AST 1994 remote from internet
Message-Version: 2
>To: codas!base00!jhc
Date: Thu Jan 27 23:43:18 AST 1994
From: attmail!internet!aol.com!larryfinch
Message-Service: mail
MTS-Message-ID: <internet0280344381>
End-of-Header:
EMail-Version: 2
Subject: Re: Multi-media origami
UA-Message-ID: <internet0280344381>
End-of-Protocol:

(Speaking of Peter Engel's _Folding the Universe_), Larry said:

>I recently succeeded in folding his "One Dollar Crab" (after several
>failures).

What's your secret?  When I tried it, it looked more like a tick.  The bill
is so thick, that I have a real problem with edges not lining up.

-- Javier

 + jhc@codas.attmail.com            +  AT&T                               +
 + Javier Cubero                    +  Orlando, Florida                   +





Date: Sun, 30 Jan 94 01:10:51 AST
From: "Penelope R. Chua" <chupenr@minerva.cis.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: Multi-media origami

On Fri, 28 Jan 1994, V'Ann Cornelius wrote:

> Folding the Universe is written by Peter Engle. I understand that
> a second edition is in the works...
>
> -v'ann-                             1828 Dora Drive
>                                     Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
> vann@andataco.com                   (619) 753-9623
>
>
Is this really true?  I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of this
(out-of-print) book forever.  Does anyone know when the second edition is
due out?

Thanks, Penny

Penelope Chua   Biology Dept., Yale University   chupenr@minerva.ycc.yale.edu





Date: Sun, 30 Jan 94 01:20:52 AST
From: Cynthia Pettit <pettit@cs.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: dollar-bill crab

>(Speaking of Peter Engel's _Folding the Universe_), Larry said:
>
>>I recently succeeded in folding his "One Dollar Crab" (after several
>>failures).
>
>What's your secret?  When I tried it, it looked more like a tick.  The bill
>is so thick, that I have a real problem with edges not lining up.

I actually folded this one too from a very fresh dollar bill and I got
everything but the tip tucked in like it should...  It came out about
as thick in every direction!  A tick indeed! :)

I remember I even skipped a few folds and "faked it" through others to
get that thick stuff to fold right... :(  I wish it were an easier
fold to do... :(

[Public gratitude goes to Comet for giving me a copy of _Folding The
Universe_! <big hug!> :) ]

I also wanted to mention that I just got a copy of _African Animal
Origami_ [or whatever the name] by Montroll and just *love* the zebra!
I'm usually unable to fold '****' folds [ref: the fiddler crab from
_Origami Sealife_] but the Zebra is not too hard, only time-consuming
[~2 hours] -- and well-worth the time!

I finally got the book because I was joking to my brother who was
admiring an origami zebra which was only a horse painted with
stripes... and I said, "if it were one of John Montroll's, it would be
folded out of a one-sided black piece of paper, with the black showing
through for the stripes!!!"  My brother thought such a thing was
impossible with no cuts, but when we went to a local [huge] bookstore
and saw the cover to this book he was amazed!

I've folded a rather nice one and am going to send it to him! :)

I haven't folded anything else out of the book yet, I've been having
too much fun folding zebras! :)

Cyn





Date: Mon, 31 Jan 94 12:33:16 AST
From: Jeremy.Uejio@Eng.Sun.COM (Jeremy Y Uejio)
Subject: Re: Stores in Boston

Don't remember if I replied to you or not...

But, I managed to get sick, so I pretty much stayed in the hotel and
didn't get to go to any stores at all (except to the drug store... :-)

Thanks for the info.  If my sister (in Hartford, Conn.) is going to Boston,
I'll tell her about the stores.

                          jeremy





Date: Mon, 31 Jan 94 17:26:36 AST
From: larryfinch@aol.com
Subject: Re: dollar-bill crab

Replying to Javier--

 >What's your secret?  When I tried it, it looked more like a tick.  The bill
 >is so thick, that I have a real problem with edges not lining up.

I had a problem lining up the edges the first few tries. It took a lot of
practice and care. My "secret" for thickness was to squeeze it in a vise
several times during the folding to flatten it. My eyes are not perfect, and
it _is_ still rather thick, but it is at least recognizable.

--Larry





Date: Tue, 1 Feb 94 08:12:58 AST
From: Agnes Tomorrow <atom@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: a good Japanese bookstore

On Mon, 24 Jan 1994 lavin@MIT.EDU wrote:

> ...The store you're describing should be Kinokuniya.  They have
> branches in Tokyo, San Francisco and New York (maybe London, too, I
> can't remember.)  Great store!  (Wish I could get them to move
> *here*...)

        Just catching up on my mail...dunno if anyone has already
mentioned it--just in case, there is also a branch of Kinokuniya in
Seattle, upstairs at our largest Japanese department store, Uwajimaya.
It is quite a treasure!  So, for any Northwest origamists, be sure to pay
it a visit when you're in Seattle--in the ID, at around 6th and King or
so...

Agnes Tomorrow
atom@u.washington.edu





Date: Tue, 1 Feb 94 17:47:24 AST
From: John "M." Stockie <stockie@math.ubc.ca>
Subject: Model for orca?

Hi,

Has anyone come across a model for a killer whale?  I'm a big fan of
orcas and would love to fold one.  I've tried playing with forms
like those for sharks, and get something somewhat close, but I can't
seem to get the characteristic white patches on the flanks.  Any
ideas?

I also thought I should introduce myself: I'm new to the list.  My
name is John Stockie, and I'm a PhD student in mathematics at UBC.  I
only got into folding recently after reading an article on origami by
Engel from Discover magazine, which appealed to my mathematical sense,
I s'pose.  I'm also eagerly awaiting the new edition of Engel's
book....

Cheers!

John Stockie.





Date: Tue, 1 Feb 94 18:01:27 AST
From: Brian Ewins <gapv64@udcf.gla.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Model for orca?

Dare I start this thread again? I dare !

        There's a model of a killer whale in 'Origami Sea Life', by Montroll
& Lang.  (not one of the better models in the book, but pretty nonetheless)

        Baz.





Date: Wed, 2 Feb 94 10:02:24 AST
From: hull@cs.uri.edu (Tom Hull)
Subject: Re: Replies to Virtual Origami & math stuff

Hey Bob! Sorry for the delay in replying. You can send my a normal
business-sized envelope with one 29 cent stamp on it. That'll be enough
to handle the Virtual Origami article.

Apparently there's a new article out by some more Japanese guys on the
same topic. I haven't seen it yet though.

--------- Tom Hull





Date: Wed, 2 Feb 94 18:28:07 AST
From: Cynthia Pettit <pettit@cs.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: Replies to Virtual Origami & math stuff

>Hey Bob! Sorry for the delay in replying. You can send my a normal
>business-sized envelope with one 29 cent stamp on it. That'll be enough
>to handle the Virtual Origami article.

Can I get in on this too?  Can I send you a SASE [and maybe something
to make up copying cost...?]

Cyn [working on VR here at UNC! :) ] Pettit

Virtual reality: it's not what it seems.





Date: Thu, 3 Feb 94 14:17:38 AST
From: hull@cs.uri.edu (Tom Hull)
Subject: RE: SASEs and snail mail

Hey!

     First I must apologize for my last message. It was meant to go only
to Bob Roos, but I screwed up...
     BUT anyone may send me a SASE and get this article. However...

RE: Doing snail mail and such
     I agree with whomever suggested that those who want to get articles
made available over snail-mail, but who aren't happy (for whatever reason)
with enclosing a SASE, should instead send the person something neat in
exchange.
     Several times I've offered to send people things (mainly math-origami
related paraphanalia), and if anyone wants to do this exchange deal I'll
be happy to comply. Especially with people overseas, who would have a hard
time doing a SASE anyway.
     Check the archives for more info as to what articles I've found
(the most recent being the Virtual Reality Origami thing).

RE: More math!
     This is an announcement for (especially) mathematicians out there.
Durring the 25th Conference on Graph Theory and Combinatorics I should
(if all goes according to plan) be giving a talk on my origami-math
research. This conference is on March 7-11 in Boca Raton, Florida.
E-mail me if anyone wants more info.
     With any luck, I'll also be able to get my ori-math paper published
in the conference proceedings. It's called "On the Mathematics of Flat
Origamis," and if anyone wants a rough draft, do the snail-mail option
of your choice at my address:
     Tom Hull
     Department of Mathematics
     University of Rhode Island
     Kingston, RI 02881-0816





Date: Fri, 4 Feb 94 17:39:24 AST
From: GALLO@DIPMAT.UNICT.IT.
Subject: OIL and grasshopper

I have two unrelated questions to the origamians on the list.

1- I read in the FAQ that OIL has been discussed here in the past.
   Yet I haven't find any trace of it reading the archives.
   How can I get some reference and more information on this subject?
   Does OIL actually work? I mean is the description of the folding of a
   traditional crane long few lines long or it is a very long file?

2- grasshopper: from Lang _the complete book of origami_ is anyone
   here that has been able to follow the diagrams and to actually reproduce
  it? I tried for a week, several times and got very frustrated...
  (generally I am much better than that!)

Oh, now I recall that there is something more that I would like to ask:
I had this discussion with a friend about what means 'to know' how to
fold a certain model. He says that you may say so only when you are
able to fold all of a model by heart, with no help of diagrams and
notes. This is the reason why one should fold over and over again
the same thing before to try new ones. I can understand the _ZEN_
in this, but do not agree with this point of view. What are the
thoughts of the folders out here about this?

Giovanni





Date: Fri, 4 Feb 94 22:47:10 AST
From: vann@andataco.com (V'Ann Cornelius)
Subject: Re: Folding Universe

>
>> Folding the Universe is written by Peter Engle. I understand that
>> a second edition is in the works...
>>
>> -v'ann-
>>
>Is this really true?  I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of this
>(out-of-print) book forever.  Does anyone know when the second edition is
>due out?
>
>Thanks, Penny
>

I spoke to my source... Mark Turner in San Francisco.  Peter Engle wrote
the forward to Mark's (self-published) book 'Garden Folds'.
The word is that Dover is re-publishing Folding the Universe with the
diagrams and the text merged,  rather than the original format (text to the
left, diagrams to the right).  Dover predicted a release in June but Peter
suggested people 'keep an opened mind' about the real date.

About Mark's book, some of the designes use the Elias pleat base.  He has
dandilions with leaves, bulrushes, palm trees ... 19 models including a
corucopia with fruit (all from one piece).  Message me separately if you
want to write to him for a copy.  $20.

-v'ann-                             1828 Dora Drive
                                    Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
vann@andataco.com                   (619) 753-9623





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 11:10:57 AST
From: Brian Ewins <gapv64@udcf.gla.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: OIL and grasshopper

Hi,
        Re OIL, it is indeed discussed in the archives, but it's
unsuitable (it seems) for making non-flat models, eg Maarten's
Angel on the archive becomes 3-d at one point. As for making
small files, try Maarten's ORIDRAW program; the ORI language
it understands uses the symmetry of a model to reduce the number
of lines to be specified.

As for 'knowing' a model... it impresses people much more when
they ask you to e.g. 'make a tapir' (someone actually asked
me that!) if you can just twiddle your fingers and there it is.
I guess this aspect of it only applies to simpler models,
you wouldn't make Montroll's stegosaurus that way f'rinstance,
but doing complicated stuff without looking at the book is
just much more satisfying.

        Baz.





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 12:47:59 AST
From: AHELM@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu
Subject: Re: OIL and grasshopper

The "Zen" of Origami. . .

What does it mean to know a model?  Personally, I wish I knew by heart how to
fold many many things.  I wish I could whip out anything as easily as I do a
crane.  For me, the pleasure is the understanding of how something is folded,
and being able to do it myself.

When Robert Lang was on Japanese television folding his 1000 fold moving cuckoo
clock, you can bet he was checking his notes, but I'm not about to say he
doesn't know his own fold.

I do want to add a few more folds (of origami) under my belt, because I want
to be able to provide a pleasant diversion for my children and friends and
other people that I meet.

Cheers,
Anthony Helm





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 13:26:41 AST
From: Jeremy.Uejio@Eng.Sun.COM (Jeremy Y Uejio)
Subject: Re: Zen of origami

Hm... I too have not memorized many models as I have memorized the crane
and a few others. However, I do enjoy the feeling of recognizing a model
I have folded before even though I haven't memorized the model.

The question I have on this subject, is:

What is the best method to learn a model?  Here are my ideas off the
top of my head (I've honestly only done #1.)

1. Fold the model every so often and after a few years it becomes
memorized.  (This is the method I use.  :-)

2. Fold the model over and over again in a short period of time (over a
week) until one has memorized it.  Keep folding it every so often.

3. Break the model down into small groups of folds and memorize each
group as above.

4. Diagram the model over and over again until the diagram is memorized.

Any more ideas?

                          jeremy.uejio@eng.sun.com





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 14:04:33 AST
From: Joseph Wu <jwu@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: Zen of origami

I never claim to "know" how to do a model unless I can actually do it without
looking. I often recognize models and will say so, to the extent of naming
its creator and the book where it can be found, but I do not claim to
"know" them unless I can fold them on the spot. Granted, this is not the
only point of view, but it is what I am comfortable with. I currently have
about 100 models memorized, give or take a few. The contents of the list
of memorized models changes over time, with new models being added, and
older ones being forgotten (although many of these could be revived with a
few repetitions). Among the more complex models that I can do from memory
are Montroll's blue shark, pterodactyl and boxer (dog), Kasahara's
rhinoceros, Engel's kangaroo, and some of my own models. However, I have
heard of people who can memorize such models as Maekawa's demon. An
amazing feat!

As for Jeremy's ideas above, I normally use method #2. Sometimes I use
method #1. Method #3 doesn't have much appeal for me, and method #4 has
even less appeal. I simply hate to diagram (I'm too much of a
perfectionist). (Incidentally, I've finished diagramming my eagle, and
will be forwarding the Postscript version to Maarten shortly.)





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 19:16:46 AST
From: dzander@dazzle.sol.net (Douglas Zander)
Subject: Memorizing folds Was: Re: Zen of origami

  This doesn't seem to work for me.  My nephew likes my origami and asks
 me to make 20-25 models for him to hand out to his class on his birthday.
 Last year I made 24 stegosauruses in a few week's time and I don't remember
 by heart how the fold goes.  This year I'm making 28 Daedaluses for his
 class but I doubt I'm going to remember the fold after a year :-(
 I think the trick is to:
 1] start out with very simple models
 2] try to memorize the overall design and shape, not specific folds
 3] fold the models by heart every so often, say once a month for a year
 4] only after you get used to memorizing simple models then move to more
    difficult models

 I do know some of the most simple models; crane, boxes, sunfishes.  I would
 also like to be able to fold a lot of models by memory.

    Douglas Zander
    dzander@dazzle.sol.net
    dzander@solaria.milw.wi.us





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 19:37:35 AST
From: Maverick <shoopak@romulus.rutgers.edu>
Subject: Re: Memorizing folds Was: Re: Zen of origami

I seem to remember some of my folds through my fingers, and not my head.
Certain folds, I couldn't remember the middle portions or even describe some
folds entirely; however, when I pick up the paper, and say to myself, "let's
make a ...", my fingers automatically start to do it.  It's like playing by
ear on the piano, some pieces I could tell you what the notes are, but
sometimes I have to run through the whole piece up to that point, especially
with my fingers, even if only air-playing.

-r.





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 20:34:46 AST
From: Brian Ewins <gapv64@udcf.gla.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Zen of origami

>The question I have on this subject, is:

>What is the best method to learn a model?  Here are my ideas off the
>top of my head (I've honestly only done #1.)

>1. Fold the model every so often and after a few years it becomes
>memorized.  (This is the method I use.  :-)

>2. Fold the model over and over again in a short period of time (over a
>week) until one has memorized it.  Keep folding it every so often.

>3. Break the model down into small groups of folds and memorize each
>group as above.

>4. Diagram the model over and over again until the diagram is memorized.

>Any more ideas?

I memorize things sort of like (2) and (3). If you learn models
from books, many models in each book start the same way (eg
in Montroll's origami for the enthusiast, the rabbit, mouse
skunk, squirrel... all branch off at different stages). When
doing _all_ of these, you learn how to get so far on _any_ of
them. Next, there's usually some 'trick fold' which makes
the model you want different. More complicated models have
a series of such waypoints with 'easy' (...sometimes :o) ) bits
in between. Finally, the 'finish' folds are usually up to
you.
        Because of this way of learning things, I can usually get
through models which all come from the same book again, without going
back; but individual models (like those on the archive, for instance)
don't have this train of thought connection that makes life easy.
It's much better doing this than keeping on making the same model,
too; not only does it get boring, it means less (different) bugs for your
buck, papers helluva expensive :o(

baz





Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 20:47:57 AST
From: Joseph Wu <jwu@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: Memorizing folds Was: Re: Zen of origami

On Mon, 7 Feb 1994, Maverick wrote:

> I seem to remember some of my folds through my fingers, and not my head.
> Certain folds, I couldn't remember the middle portions or even describe some
> folds entirely; however, when I pick up the paper, and say to myself, "let's
> make a ...", my fingers automatically start to do it.  It's like playing by
> ear on the piano, some pieces I could tell you what the notes are, but
> sometimes I have to run through the whole piece up to that point, especially
> with my fingers, even if only air-playing.

It's called "muscle memory". Very common. Try recalling a phone number
that you commonly dial, for example.





Date: Tue, 8 Feb 94 02:24:47 AST
From: aratner@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Alexander Ratner)
Subject: Re: Memorizing folds

    Although I've been reading it for a couple months now, but this
is the first time posting a message for me.  This discussion seems
a good juncture to start adding my own $.02.
    As far as when I really know a fold well, its usually when I can
fold it without any help from the diagrams AND create my own
variations on the theme.  I will usually follow the same steps
until I reach the finishing touches such as the feet or head or beak
which give an animal model its particular character.
    Does anyone else out there in origami-land do anything similar?

    Greetings to all my brother and sister folders!  It's really
exciting to know there are kindred souls to my own.

     another folding fool,

          Alexander Ratner - aratner@sdcc13.ucsd.edu





Date: Tue, 8 Feb 94 11:24:52 AST
From: FWOLFLINK@RCNVMS.RCN.MASS.EDU
Subject: Re: Zen of origami

I have found that in order to remember a model that I haven't invented,
I have to eat them.  It generally only takes 25 or so, but complex models
might require as many as one hundred.  It's never a good idea to, however,
to eat them in one sitting.  I recommend a period of several months and
then once a year for refreshing.

If anyone has experimented with injectable origami, I'm interested
in hearing about it.
\
fred wolflink





Date: Tue, 8 Feb 94 11:48:57 AST
From: Jim West <west@optics.rochester.edu>
Subject: Re: Memorizing folds

Alexander Ratner writes:

>    As far as when I really know a fold well, its usually when I can
>fold it without any help from the diagrams AND create my own
>variations on the theme.  I will usually follow the same steps
>until I reach the finishing touches such as the feet or head or beak
>which give an animal model its particular character.
>    Does anyone else out there in origami-land do anything similar?

I must admit that it has been a long time since I memorized any folds
and in fact I would have to think to fold even the trivial models such
as the crane.  But I think that the key for me is exactly that--thinking
when I fold.  I have never found memorization an effective way to learn
anything whether it's origami, history or physics.  The best way for me
was to learn the foundations and then rederive the rest whenever you need
it.  With origami that means getting the standard bases down and then
making up variations on feet, tails and heads as I go.  It may not be
identical to the original produced by the model's creator but the intent is
there.  Often this degenerates into folding some strange-looking beast
with too many heads and not enough legs but if you're trying to entertain
a kid in a bus station, believe me, this is good enough!

I find myself rarely folding models more than once anymore and though I too
would love to produce a squid or a biplane at will I think that the monotony
of learning to produce such a polished product would bore me long before I
achieved my goal.  I suppose that we all fold for different reasons and for
me I think it is the folding and not the finshed model which I enjoy the most.

Jim West
west@optics.rochester.edu





Date: Tue, 8 Feb 94 12:33:20 AST
From: hull@cs.uri.edu (Tom Hull)
Subject: RE: Memories...

Hi Yall....

RE: Memories, like the corners of my paper...

Hey. You know, I started folding when I was 8, and even by the time I
was in college I didn't have hardly any folds memorized. Honestly!
BUT THEN I started *teaching* origami (in small class settings) and BOOM,
I found that everything I taught STUCK with me!

This makes perfect sense to me. When teaching a model, you really have to
study it. You have to be able to explain each and every step clearly.
It's a process much more detailed than just diagramming an origami fold.
So the steps tend to stick with you, especially if you're the kind of
teacher (like I am) who jumps from one person to the next when things
start getting tricky. After doing that I have a hard time *forgetting*
the model!

------------------------ Tom "your little buttercup" Hull





Date: Thu, 10 Feb 94 13:23:43 AST
From: Charlotte Steffani <CSTEFFAN@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU>
Subject: RE: Memories...

Speaking of teaching... I'm a neo-folder and I wanted some advice/information
from more experienced folders out there. I was wondering if most people learned
 origami from books or if they took classes, learned from friends - whatever. I
 also wondered if anyone had any recommendations for origami books - I have to
 say, I have found some of the diagrams pretty confusing in the slightly more
complex folds, even after several readings and attempts. Any suggestions?
Thanks.





Date: Thu, 10 Feb 94 13:45:54 AST
From: Joseph Wu <jwu@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject: RE: Memories...

On Thu, 10 Feb 1994, Charlotte Steffani wrote:

> Speaking of teaching... I'm a neo-folder and I wanted some advice/information
> from more experienced folders out there. I was wondering if most people
> learned origami from books or if they took classes, learned from friends -
> whatever. I also wondered if anyone had any recommendations for origami books
> - I have to say, I have found some of the diagrams pretty confusing in the
> slightly more complex folds, even after several readings and attempts. Any
> suggestions?

I learned from books, almost exclusively. Some good ones to start from are:

Essential Origami (Step-by-step Origami in Canada) by Steven & Megumi Biddle

The Complete Origami Course by Paul Jackson

There are other books, of course, but these two are designed to teach the
basics and to take a novice folder to a higher level of folding. Diagrams
are clear and there is a great deal of explanation.





Date: Thu, 10 Feb 94 14:46:11 AST
From: Jeremy.Uejio@Eng.Sun.COM (Jeremy Y Uejio)
Subject: RE: Memories...

> From: Charlotte Steffani <CSTEFFAN@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU>
> Speaking of teaching... I'm a neo-folder and I wanted some advice/information
> from more experienced folders out there. I was wondering if most people
> learned origami from books or if they took classes, learned from friends -
> whatever. I also wondered if anyone had any recommendations for origami books
> - I have to say, I have found some of the diagrams pretty confusing in the
> slightly more complex folds, even after several readings and attempts. Any
> suggestions?

I learned origami when I was about 5 or 6 and mostly learned from an
older relative like my sister, mother, or grandmother.  I then learned
from the inserts that come with origami paper.  It was not until I
was an adult that I actually bought some books and learned from them.

I'm interested in how other people learned origami, too.

                          jeremy.uejio@eng.sun.com





Date: Fri, 11 Feb 94 16:52:18 AST
From: "T.K. Lam" <mud05@cc.keele.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: Memories and learning.

> From: Charlotte Steffani <CSTEFFAN@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU>
> Speaking of teaching... I'm a neo-folder and I wanted some advice/information
                                  ^^^^^^^^^^
...meaning you've discovered something even better than origami? ;)

> from more experienced folders out there. I was wondering if most people
> learned origami from books or if they took classes, learned from friends -
> whatever. I also wondered if anyone had any recommendations for origami books
> - I have to say, I have found some of the diagrams pretty confusing in the
> slightly more complex folds, even after several readings and attempts. Any
> suggestions?
>
> I learned origami when I was about 5 or 6 and mostly learned from an
> older relative like my sister, mother, or grandmother.  I then learned
> from the inserts that come with origami paper.  It was not until I

I've always found that the models in the paper packs to be usually rather
uninspired.  It seems that they're always uninspiring and dull.

> was an adult that I actually bought some books and learned from them.
>
> I'm interested in how other people learned origami, too.
>
>                   jeremy.uejio@eng.sun.com

  I learnt the traditional folds from my family: crane, waterbomb,etc.

(BTW, does anyone know a two-piece spaceship that is formed from 'docking' a
waterbomb base and a 1/2 bird base ? I've always assumed it was a playground
fold from HK, but no-one else seems to know it)

   I folded most of the models in Harbin's _Origami_1_ when I was about 8.
Then a couple of years later I found the more complex pieces in
_Origami_[2-3]_ repaid careful study.  I particularly enjoyed Pat Crawford's
_Turtle_, mainly for its surprisingly 3-dimensional shape.  Sometimes the
diagrams were hard to follow: Jack Skillman's _Jackstone_ is actually not as
difficult as it might seem.

  On joining the BOS I found the 'engineering' school of folding (Elias,
Crawford, Brill)appealing in its subject matter.  Now, however, I prefer
intermediate/simple folds such as Eric Kenneway's, although I still enjoy
the challenge of Montroll and Lang.

  I'd like to know how many people create new models, and how many just fold
from books. Most of my own creations/discvories are simple/intermediate,
with an emphasis on folding sequence and 'good moves'. ( I love squash
folds! : ) Recently, my output has been low, often retreading past paths of
discovery, occasionly finding a new twist on an old theme.

  If memorising models is the goal( IMHO, the act of folding, or creating new
models, is) then folding as many models as posiible helps.  From this one
learns a variety of styles and techniques that are used over and over again.
Folding a particular model more than once helps: improving judgement so that
the model looks right, and appreciating what each fold does.
  The models I can fold from memory are the ones I have spent time with,
working out how the model is constructed( unfolding it helps).  I can
remember most of my own folds, because I was the one working out how the
folding sequence should progress.

  Paul Jackson claims much of origami is nothing but a bunch  of cliches
strung together... do you think this is true, or are these 'cliches' the
very stuff of folding ?

  Tung Ken Lam
  mud05@cc.keele.ac.uk





Date: Fri, 11 Feb 94 18:14:52 AST
From: LHODSDON@smith.smith.edu
Subject: Re: Zen of origami

If I don't talk to my fingers, how do I know what they are doing???

Negative reinforcement -- when you get yourself roped into folding dozens
of things (sunflowers in my experience) that can't be folded without
ripping the paper of choice for the fold....

I s'pose I should introduce myself...
I've been among the paper obsesses since folding my first paper balloon
(I've since learned they are called water bombs) in first grade.  Getting
myself into much trouble for entertaining my classmates :)  I went through
paper airplanes and cootie catchers and jumping frogs over the course of
my school years.

In college, I became interested in building models of platonic solids, and
then in cutting pop-up cards.  (Both of which will offend some purists.)

When I moved to Ann Arbor, I got involved in the Ann Arbor Society 4 Origami
where I learned many more interesting things (I still have a passion for
platonic solids and other geometrics) taught a few and generally had a good
time.

I'm now a graduate student at Smith College in MA, and have too little time
for folding, but I have truly been enjoying the vicarious thrill of reading
the mail of people who are in the thick (or thin) of the paper...

Lisa Hodsdon
lhodsdon@smith.smith.edu





Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 08:55:04 AST
From: Agnes Tomorrow <atom@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Zen of origami

        Over the years, I've accumulated a lot of different sorts of
origami paper (I'm always on the look-out for something new and
interesting!), and when I discover a new model I really like, I tend to
try it out in several different papers, to see which works best--not
intentionally, but more or less accidentally, after a few tries, I find I
remember the folds fairly well!
        I find it truly fascinating the way the same fold will look so
different in different patterns of paper!  And there always seems to be
one sort of paper which is 'perfect' for a given fold...(and conversely,
some fold which maximizes the possibilities of each different kind of
paper...)

Agnes Tomorrow
atom@u.washington.edu





Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 09:02:33 AST
From: Agnes Tomorrow <atom@u.washington.edu>
Subject: RE: Memories...

On Thu, 10 Feb 1994, Charlotte Steffani wrote:

>  also wondered if anyone had any recommendations for origami books - I have to
>  say, I have found some of the diagrams pretty confusing in the slightly more
> complex folds, even after several readings and attempts. Any suggestions?

        Perseverence furthers!  I think everyone finds the instructions
mystifying at first--I know I certainly did!  But, like anything else,
the more one practices, the more familiar one becomes with the
'vocabulary' of it--and the easier it becomes to look from one diagram to
the next and know how to get there...Of course, with Montroll, I *still*
occasionally look at his diagrams, look back at the paper in my hands,
and think, "Sure.  Right.  I'm supposed to do *what*?"

Agnes Tomorrow
atom@u.washington.edu





Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 13:44:24 AST
From: vann@andataco.com (V'Ann Cornelius)
Subject: RE: Memories and learning.

>
>  Paul Jackson claims much of origami is nothing but a bunch  of cliches
>strung together... do you think this is true, or are these 'cliches' the
>very stuff of folding ?
>
>---
>  Tung Ken Lam
>  mud05@cc.keele.ac.uk
>
A group of us have been documenting the folds used to make models as part
the process in creating the ORIGAMI MODEL INDEX. On the whole, I found
that Paul Jackson's observation is true. The models that are listed as
simple will usually have only one folding sequence. As the models become
recognized as 'more difficult', the folding sequences multiply, run
parallel, and require simultaneous motions.  Some that are identified as
complexed are so because of the level of precision that is required to
enable later folds to be made.  We have determined a finite number of
folds.

Maarten, Did your INDEX 'makers' find something similar?

-v'ann-                             1828 Dora Drive
                                    Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
vann@andataco.com                   (619) 753-9623





Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 14:31:30 AST
From: Jim West <west@optics.rochester.edu>
Subject: RE: Memories...

Agnes Tomorrow wrote:

>the next and know how to get there...Of course, with Montroll, I *still*
>occasionally look at his diagrams, look back at the paper in my hands,
>and think, "Sure.  Right.  I'm supposed to do *what*?"

I know exactly how she feels.  Yesterday I decided to fold Montroll's Lionfish
to give to the hostess of the dinner that I went to last night, and after some
hours of folding I got to a step near the end where I was supposed to sink a
little tab that was attached to the back fin.  It seemed easy enough but after
doing the obvious move I realized that all I had done was to flip the tab to the
other side.  What I was supposed to do was sink it inside of the model.  Now
maybe if my piece of paper had been 4'x 4' it would have been possible but this
is the first move I've encountered that I simply could not do.  Short of
slitting the model at the base of the sink and folding it in that way, I could
see no way of getting my foil model to open up to perform the sink.  It was
then that I read the little note beside the diagram which said that the model
could be left as in step 98 if this sink proved too difficult.
I took the easy way out and made it to my dinner on time with a less-than-
perfect but still beautiful and intricate lionfish.

By the way, this is a beautiful model and other than this move it wasn't too
hard, just very long.  I started with a 16" square and got about a 6" model.

Jim West
west@optics.rochester.edu





Date: Mon, 14 Feb 94 12:22:44 AST
From: makaala647@aol.com
Subject: The Buck Book

A few hundred letters ago I introduced myself and that I liked folding money,
I mentioned the Buck Book as a good source.
Someone asked for the info so here it is.
The Buck Book
All sorts of things to do with a dollar besides spend it
By Anne Akers Johnson
Published by Klutz Press, Palo Alto, CA.
       (these are the people who came out with "juggling for the complete
klutz"  and such")
These books are  available at most books stores. if not I'm sure it is
orderable.
ISBN 1-878257-51-X

Klutz Press
2121 Staunton Court
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(415) 857-0888

The book includes a real Dollar bill
folds include a bow tie, a dollar ring
and a dimein ring (I had to think about that)
a frog, an elephant and a peacock.

Lots of money trivia, and the fold diagrams are execellent, Life size and the
detail is shown
on the folded bills so you can use those as reference points, every stage of
a fold is laid out
so they are quick and easy to do. even the peacock.  For money folders, this
book
rates an 8+ its only failing is it doesn't have more stuff.

Matt Sparks
Makaala647@AOL.COM





Date: Mon, 14 Feb 94 15:56:30 AST
From: hull@cs.uri.edu (Tom Hull)
Subject: RE: The Buck Book

Hello people!

RE: The Buck Book.
     I know some juicy gossip about The Buck Book, which someone just m
mentioned. Bob Neale and some other seasoned money folderd recently sued
Klutz Press (the publisher of The Buck Book) for publishing THEIR folds
without giving them credit (or compensation). I believe they settled
out of court, or are reprinting it with credit given, or something.
It's interesting to know that this kind of thing does go on.

----------------- Tom "madonna wanna-be" Hull
