Springtime comes early this year

Fellas. If you're looking to impress that special someone (or trying to convince someone to be that special someone), this is a great model to make her. It's relatively simple to make, and creates quite an impression.

This composite model benefits from serendipity: the vase was designed by Toshie Takahama, and the tulip was designed quite independently by Kunihiko Kasahara. An anonymous folder ended up combining the two.

The vase is made from a 5 7/8" square of duo origami paper (Fold'ems "Peony" paper, to be specific). The tulip stem is made from a 5 7/8" square of standard greed origami paper, and the blossom is made from a 3" square of light pink/hot pink duo paper. The designs for all three parts may be found in Practical Origami by Rick Beech.

Zing butterfly

I do much, if not most, of my folding at Cafe Zing. The staff has gotten to know me quite well, mainly because I can't be bothered to bring any of my creations home with me, so the baristas end up with them.

Last week, I entered Zing to discover an addition to their menu.

One of my butterflies was nestled contently among the foliage. It's not real foliage, but then, it's not a real butterfly, so it all works out.

This butterfly is one of my favorite designs. It was created by Michael G. LaFosse, from his book Advanced Origami. I folded it from a 5 7/8" square of standard origami paper, resulting in a model with about a 3 3/4" wingspan (4 1/4" if you squash the wings down flat).

One difference between this model and LaFosse's design: LaFosse gives instructions for folding the head into something more recognizable. Unfortunately, I find that I am not talented enough to fold it using this size of paper, so the completed model gives sort of the impression of a butterfly head, as opposed to something that looks more real.

Octagonal box

This box is a going-away present I made for my friend Rachel, who is moving to California in a couple of weeks. She is actually the person who gave me the idea to post pictures of my origami on the Web, so it's only right that her present be the first picture.

This is a composite or "unit origami" model. The lid and base are each made from four sheets of standard origami paper cut to 4" squares. When assembled, the lid is a bit over 3 1/4" from side to side, and the base is a bit smaller. The white portions of the box are the undersides of the paper.

This design is by my favorite designer, Tomoko Fuse, from her book Fabulous Origami Boxes (truth in advertising). The lid (but not the base) also appear in her book Origami Boxes.

In the pictures below you can see the assembled box, the exteriors of both lid and base, and the interiors of both lid and base.

Allow me to introduce myself

Hello to anyone who may be reading this. My name is Wayne, and I am a software engineer from Boston who spends a lot of time engaging in the ancient art of origami. I'll use this space to periodically post pictures of some things I've made.

I don't claim to be a particularly accomplished folder or photographer, but I hope you'll enjoy my photos.