36323679 Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Vol 2 Iss 4

The Long Narrow Leaf Braiding Makigami

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Table of Contents The Copyright Barrier

5

Braiding Makigami

9

Introducing Glow-Fold

16

Folding the Long Narrow Leaf

17

Design Considerations for the Long Narrow Leaf

24

Web-Enabled! Click on any highlighted item or text in this document and you will be taken to a link on the web.

Origami Bonsai® is a registered trademark of Benjamin John Coleman

You are free to adapt and share Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 4 as long as you attribute the material you use to Benjamin John Coleman. Glow-Fold is a patented technique and must be licensed separately. Contact [email protected] for details.

2

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Origami Bonsai Resources on the Web Click on the thumbnail to be taken to the corresponding web site.

www.OrigamiBonsai.org Origamibonsai.org has tips, books you can buy, free folding videos, photos of Origami Bonsai created all by people living all over the world, and lots more.

www.Scribd.com/Benagami You'll find Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine here along with less expensive electronic versions of Advanced Origami Bonsai and Origami Bonsai Accessories.

FaceBook When you become a "fan" of Origami Bonsai on FaceBook you will be notified when new issues of this magazine are released. You'll also find craft show schedules where Origami Bonsai artists will be present, along with other announcements.

www.YouTube.com/OrigamiBonsaiForum A lot of Origami Bonsai folding videos.

www.Etsy.com Search "origami bonsai" and "makigami accessories" to see lists of items for sale in these categories from artists and craftspeople around the globe.

3

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Origami Bonsai Books and Instant Flowers Click the thumbnail to order or preview.

The first book in the Origami Bonsai (2010, Tuttle Publishing) series is available at bookstores worldwide. This book teaches how to fold the basic flower form from which many varieties of flower can be folded. Comes with folding videos on DVD. 112 pages.

Advanced Origami Bonsai teaches how to make branches from newspaper paper using the Makigami technique. Also teaches how to create intricate branch networks for Origami Bonsai sculptures. 182 pages on DVD or through Scribd.com.

Origami Bonsai Accessories teaches how to make durable Makigami jewelry, accessories, bangles, planters and other items. Concepts presented can be applied to other crafts, hobbies, and art forms. Make virtually anything from paper. 152 pages on DVD or through Scribd.com.

Origami Bonsai Instant Flowers are the first mass produced origami flower in the world! They fold instantly into 12 flower varieties with videos on YouTube to guide you. Each package comes with 6 red, 3 blue and 3 yellow instant flowers.

4

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

The Copyright Barrier Mary buys a book and learns how to make sculptures. Betty sees her sculpture and offers to buy it. Is Mary violating the book's copyright by selling Betty her art work? This article discusses the relevance of copyright law as it would be applied to a book which teaches someone how to create something. Some areas of copyright are clear; for example, everyone would agree that scanning and electronically distributing a copyrighted book would be a violation. Other areas are not so clear. The question posed above is an example of a grey area within the law. A grey area is a topic for which there is no clear resolution. Before copyright law existed, work created by an author could easily be taken over by unscrupulous publishers and individuals. If a writer approached a publishing house with a new

5

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

book, the publishing house could publish it without paying or acknowledging the author. To make matters worse, other individuals could claim they were the originators of the work. The fact that there are doubts about whether Shakespeare really wrote Hamlet is testament to the need for copyright law. Copyright provides the copyright holders with an assurance that their innovative work won't be duplicated, usurped, or transferred without proper attribution and compensation. This allows them to share work that would otherwise be kept confidential. Copyright law facilitates access, while at the same time protecting the rights of the copyright holder. New markets get created, thus stimulating economic activity. It is this resultant economic activity that represents the grey area. One answer to the question posed at the beginning of this article can be easily obtained. Does the original copyright in the book allow readers to sell their work based on the book? Many books clearly define what rights the reader has with regards to their work, and will stipulate these, usually within the first few pages of the publication. But if the book just says "copyright 2010," does Mary have the right to sell something she created based on the book? According to Kevin A. Thompson, an attorney with Davis McGrath LLC in Chicago, USA, Mary needs to get permission. "If it were a play, and someone performed it, for profit, then they would need permission. The same is true for a diagram (in an origami book) and the resulting folded piece. It's a derivative work from the diagram. So they should get your permission if the work is being sold," Thompson said. But it seems there is not a consensus of opinion, because attorney Rachel Stillwell of Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner and Sloane, ALC, Marina Del Rey, USA stated "While a diagram can be protected under the copyright act, infringement of the copyright in such a diagram can occur in

6

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

the form of copying only if what is copied is the diagram itself rather than the idea conveyed in the diagram." To resolve her dilemma with certainty, Mary will need to ask for permission. This creates a barrier between Mary and a market for her work. By the time Mary obtains permission from the author, her market, Betty, will probably be gone. And if the author is dead, Mary might never resolve her predicament. "Some companies choose to publish their work under a Creative Commons license," (www.CreativeCommons.org) stated Sarah Feingold, an attorney who specializes in intellectual property rights and author of Copyright for Artists. "You can choose to allow people to make commercial use of your work with attribution." Feingold should know. She also works with www.Etsy.com, a major outlet for handmade arts and crafts. "Some other companies also have disclaimer language accompanying patterns and art, either with Creative Commons symbols or with text." Creative Commons is a not for profit corporation that facilitates the sharing of copyrighted material. They do this by allowing authors, artists, and other creative people to specify what attributes within a copyright they wish to protect. By using a creative commons copyright artists can specify how their work gets used by others. This is an important advance in copyright protection as it allows other artists to build upon the work of others without worrying about whether they're violating copyright. It could be argued that Creative Commons copyrights open new markets and stimulate economic activity. To further stimulate those markets, Creative Commons has a search engine on their web site so you can search for art, photos, videos, music, or just about anything else you might want to incorporate into your work. When you find something you want to use, you just read the Creative Commons license associated with it, comply, and you don't have to worry about copyright infringement. The site, the licenses, and the search engine are all free. It is an amazing resource.

You will notice that the copyright at the beginning of this month's issue is different. It is a Creative Commons copyright. I wish I had known about Creative Commons before the Origami Bonsai series of books were published. Sadly, the copyright inside my books is the old standard. If I haven't made myself clear in the past, I shall now. I grant my readers the right to sell their sculptures based on my publications. Regards,

Benjamin John Coleman

7

Bonsai Origami Bonsai Electronic MagazineOrigami - Volume 2 Electronic Issue 3 Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

June 1, 2010

Makigami Accessories are durable, wearable and biodegradable. To see a list of Makigami accessories available on Etsy, Click here.

Origami Bonsai artists and craftspeople, make sure to include the keywords "makigami" and "accessories" when posting your work to Etsy so it will be included when readers click this advertisement.

8

www.OrigamiBonsai.org

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Braiding Makigami

The other day I asked my niece if she would teach me how to braid. I've wanted to investigate braiding Makigami for some time, and she agreed to teach me. I rolled three narrow strips, and then she attempted to braid them. She was successful. We molded her work and allowed it to cure. The finished bracelet, with only three narrow strands of Makigami, was more flexible than I had envisioned.

I decided a six strip braid would be more appropriate. Initial results were mixed. I didn't know how to braid, and I struggled to keep up with a video tutorial on braiding (here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22 p3wIHLupc ). I was successful, although my finished work bore the marks of an inexperienced craftsman. Because I had tried, failed, and tried again repeatedly with the same set of strips, the Makigami flaked and some areas were delaminating. But I knew that with experience this could be resolved, and became excited at the potential.

9

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

My next attempt involved a different technique which required five Makigami strips. The resultant braid is quite beautiful. What I find of particular interest is the visual effect tapered Makigami strips add to the complex beauty of the braid. I think this bracelet is exquisite. The combination of the complex braid and tapering strips is wonderful. My inexperience at braiding is still visible in the small flakes of paper which can be seen. I trimmed them off, and the finished bracelet is pictured below. I painted it with in a faux walnut finish (Origami Bonsai Accessories P. 70, and a final coat of black).

10

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

How to Make a Braided Teardrop Makigami Assembly

1. Roll five dual-tapered Makigami strips (using recipe 3 on P. 141 of Origami Bonsai Accessories).

2. insert one end of each strip into a clip.

3. Braid the strips (watch this video to learn how to braid).

11

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

4. Combine the loose ends. Pinch and knead the loose ends so the paper fibers combine a bit (see step 8 to understand why).

5. Shape the braided strips and insert the ends into a clothespin. You can do more shaping. Try flattening, widening, and/or narrowing the braid.

6. Allow the strips to cure. I put mine on the dashboard of my 1993 Chevy which was parked in the sun. They cured in three hours.

12

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

7. Important: Drill first, trim second. Drill a tiny hole for a necklace or earring finding. Also remove any delaminated or flaking Makigami with a razor blade.

8. Trim excess Makigami from the area around the hole you drilled in Step 6.

9. Paint your braided Makigami strips with a finish (see Origami Bonsai Accessories for more detail).

13

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

10. Glue Origami Bonsai flowers to the braided Makigami teardrop. Also add findings for earrings and a strap for pendants.

14

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

As you can see from the photograph, a little experience goes a long way. Once I got the hang of braiding, a world of design opportunities seemed to open up.

15

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Introducing Glow-Fold Glow-fold is a new diagramming technique I developed for a book I am in the process of writing. I remember struggling with origami diagrams as a child. Often it was hard to discern what effect a fold in one diagram had in the subsequent diagram, and it was often through trial and error that I successfully completed models. I recently had the opportunity to meet Vanessa Gould (creator of the movie Between the Folds); I mentioned my new book project to her, and she stressed the need for clear diagrams. I developed this method for diagramming based on our conversation. Perhaps it will take some of the trial and error out of origami. I have since patented Glow-Fold. Glow-Fold Example Conventional Diagram

Glow-Fold Diagram

The first diagram shows a square of paper, bisected by a dashed line, along with an arcing line with an arrow at its tip denoting the direction of the fold.

Glow-fold would enhance this diagram by adding a semi-transparent glowing triangular area below the line to be folded.

In a subsequent diagram, the paper is shown as a triangle.

Glow-fold adds a semi-transparent glow along the unfolded edges in the subsequent diagram.

Step 1

Step 2

16

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Folding the Long Narrow Leaf Folding instructions for this leaf are available in the following diagrams, or via a video on YouTube. Click the image (right) to watch the video instructions.

Click for folding video.

Step

1 Begin with the colored side of your square facing down. Fold your square in half diagonally and then unfold it.

Step

2 Fold the right edge to the center as shown.

17

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Step

3 Fold the top edge to the center.

Step

4 Fold and then unfold the bottom edge up using the left edge for alignment.

18

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Step

5 Fold and then unfold the left edge using the bottom edge for alignment and then flip your paper.

Step

6 Fold and then unfold the bottom left corner up and to the right and then flip your paper.

Step

7 Simultaneously fold both outside corners to the center line as shown. The lower tip will move up to the same point automatically.

19

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Step

8 Your model should look like this. Now we zoom in on the area that will become the stem.

Step

9 Fold both of the bottom outside corners of the upper pleat of paper to the center.

Step

10 Inside reverse fold the folds you made in Step 9.

20

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Step

11 Fold the narrow tip of the uppermost layer down and toward the left.

Step

12 Narrow the stem by folding the outer corners to the center.

Step

13 Fold the upper outside corner of the top layer of paper down and to the right.

21

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Step

14 Your leaf should look like this. Fold the top edge down and to the right to narrow the leaf.

Step

15 Fold the top edge down and to the right again to further narrow your leaf.

Step

16 Fold the top two layers up and to the left, then repeat steps 14 and 15 on the righthand edge of your leaf.

22

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Step

17 Your leaf should look like this.

Step

18 Pinch the stem with one hand as you curl the other end of the leaf.

23

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Design Considerations for the Long Narrow Leaf Our arsenal of leaf styles has just grown by one; the long narrow leaf. This leaf shape is commonly found on houseplants and often used in floral arrangements of real flowers. I initially thought that a narrow piece of paper would be required to create this leaf. However I am a fan of traditional origami, and I developed a folding pattern that can be completed with a square piece of paper. This long and narrow leaf will add some drama to your projects. There are a few issues that must be considered when using this leaf style. Because the edges are made up of six densely-folded layers of paper, this is a heavy leaf. Both the effects of gravity on the leaf stem and the center of gravity of your sculpture must be considered. With regards to the stem, I suggest you connect the leaf over a longer area of Makigami. When it comes to center of gravity you have two choices. The easiest choice is to create a narrow sculpture, where the center of gravity is directly over the planter (pictured left). Another option is to distribute the weight. Balance your sculpture with weight and counter weight; in other words, for every leaf attached on one side, attach another on the other side. If you choose to use this method, every leaf on one side of your sculpture should have a corresponding

24

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

counter-weight-leaf on the other side of the sculpture. An example of this strategy is pictured on the facing page. Another issue unique to this leaf is it's tendency to unfold.. To ensure the leaf remains folded it should be curled. The curl provides tension which should keep the layers of paper in place for many years. While curling the leaf helps us with the unfolding issue, it creates a new problem. Most Origami Bonsai leaves are flat, and mostly two dimensional. They require little planning in terms of depth. This leaf has depth which must be taken into account. I suspect building a wall sculpture with these leaves would be quite challenging. The two sculptures I created for this issue of the magazine were a lot of work, but you can see the dramatic touch this curled leaf adds to their overall shape.

25

Origami Bonsai Electronic Magazine Volume 2 Issue 1

Click Here

to see a list of Origami Bonsai sculptures available on Etsy.

Origami Bonsai artists and craftspeople, make sure to include the keywords "origami" and "bonsai" when posting your work to Etsy so it will be included when readers click this advertisement.

26