5 comments about Unit Polyhedron Origami.

1. This is a beautifully presented book with wonderful models and photos. But a lot of the units are repeats if you already own Fuse's all time best book Unit Origami - Multidimensional Transforms. About a third of the book is materials from her Unit Origami book. Additionally there are a few beautiful dodecahedra and several other units. Overall it is a must-have if you are a modular origami lover.



2. If you're into making geometric solids then this book is a necessary compendium. You must own this!
   
   I especially enjoyed the linked cubes-- the structures are quite solid and well put-together.



3. What can be said about a book from the so-called "queen of modular origami"? It's awesome. It's original. It has various models on how to build all the regular polyhedra and most of the semi-regular (Archimedean solids). Plenty of diagrams, of all difficult levels. If it weren't enough, this compilation is BEAUTIFUL, with excellent pictures of most of the models, perfectly build in nice paper and with an aesthetically well-chosen combination of colors. It's the best book on the modular origami subject I've ever seen. Tomoko rlz!



4. This book is easy to follow with simple, clearly stated directions for building polyhedron models ranging from simple to complex. The instructions nicely couple easy-to-read diagrams with large, colorful images of the finished products that help me to visualize my end products as I fold.
   
   I am currently working my way through all of the models in this book, and I am really enjoying the gradual way that Tomoko Fuse introduces new models. She groups obvious types together in the book's sections, and methodically explains (by text, diagram and picture) each unit from simple to complex variation. Instructions include the type/name of the structure, level of difficulty, size of the paper needed, number of each type of paper unit required, a three-dimensional diagram of the polyhedral structure (for more complex structures) and assembly diagrams that show how the pieces fit together. All of the instructional images are in color so it is easy to differentiate between front and back of each paper unit, and to tell the difference between units in the assembly diagrams.
   
   This book presents reusable paper unit types that are creatively put to use in the models in a number of different ways. For instance, I like the way I can create colorful joints that add to the overall presentation of each piece. I especially like the "Various Methods of Assembling Double-Sided Hexagonal Rings" section where Fuse explains how to take the traditional polyhedral structures she has taught and extend their shapes creatively in order make new designs. In general, there are enough variations of each type in all sections that I do not feel like I am working through the drudgery of the same projects over and over as I have with some other books.
   
   Overall, this is an excellent addition to the library of anyone interested in exploring polyhedron models with origami.



5. muy buenos graficos ademas de buenas explicaciones de los pasos a seguir. Los modelos van desde lo más básico hasta modelos de alta complejidad. Recomiendo este libro para los que quieran incursionar en el origami modular.

5 comments about Quick and Easy Enchanting Gifts Wrapping 149 Items.

1. This is my first book on gift wrapping, and I couldn't have made a better choice. Instructions were very precise and easy to follow.



2. I ordered this book for ideas and to see how to wrap neater presents. It showed how to do everything from a simple box, to much more dramatic effects!! A must have for anyone who wants the gift presentation to be as important as the gift. Well worth the price...



3. Also likes this book. Bought it together with another book about wrapping.
   It has lots of pictures and for a beginner that is good. I still would have liked a little more exciting things. I didn't use this one as much as the other book. Will still be looking for more special wrappings books for beginners :-)



4. I thought the cover was a bit off-putting but inside I especially enjoyed the step-by-step photos to explain the various steps of wrapping each present. Very helpful. Will turn to it often when trying to make my gifts look pretty.



5. This is a useful reference for anyone who knows the basics of tidy wrapping, but would like some fresh ideas. The instructions for bows are excellent, and the photos show a number of variations.
   
   It's not a super-sophisticated book, but you will certainly get some ideas that will delight your friends and family. In these days of gift bags and stick-on bows, just a little something extra has a big impact. Well worth the money IMO.

No comments about Easy Origami Fold-a-Day: 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar.

5 comments about Unit Origami: Multidimensional Transformations.

1. I have had this book for about 5-6 years now and IT'S A MESS! By that I mean, dog-eared, folded, written in, you get the idea. This is absolutely my favorite of the many origami books I have. It introduced me to modular origami back when I was just making boxes and cranes. The instructions are excellent and I have made so many models for gifts, decorations, you name it! Fuse's models decorate my bookshelf and have delighted many of my friends and family members. This book is definitely for more experienced folders, however I do have a friend that borrowed the book and had never done origami before, and he used some of Fuse's methods to build an amazing bridge of his own creation. You can use the methods to create models in the book as well as your own pieces of art. I HIGHLY recommend this book and any other written by Tomoko Fuse.



2. looks good sounds good read well but ive seen better, i do recommend to the high commited



3. Tomoko Fuse is one of the best known names in origami, and modular forms seems to be the hottest current area. She takes her work seriously, she states, always trying to create the most perfect folds. I am a beginner with a casual interest in moderately complex figures, so this book is way above my interest, commitment and skill level. The large number of black-and-white photos and diagrams also index this as a book for the serious origami hobbyist.



4. I appreciate Tomoko Fuse's work because her designs are simple, yet elegant, and they are very clearly explained and diagrammed. She approaches her subject in such a manner than she manages to demystify it so that the reader isn't too intimidated to attempt a project. Hers is the first name I turn to when I'm ready to move on to other techniques, designs, or styles. This book was no different in that regard. It is, as the name implies, instruction on creating multiple UNITS that will then be assembled into different shapes and designs. For that reason, I would say it is defintely for a dedicated enthusiast, as it definitely takes some patience to connect some of these units in a way that will leave the final model smooth and unblemished. However, this is the case with any modular or unit style origami, and not specific to Tomoko's work. If anything, she manages to take some of the mystery out of it in the process and even include encouragement where necessary. I enjoyed her little snippets of insight into her method and approach, as well as her deep admiration and reverence for the craft in general, which comes through in these writings. I fold paper because it gives me a sense of peace and satisfaction through accomplishment. Each new project is a tiny little victory when completed, and works as well for me as meditation. These many different units and connecting them in fun and different ways is certainly fulfilling for those who have that constant inner urge to fold, and then not knowing what to do with tons of cranes, birds, and boxes, etc., that you've created. I just fold different kinds of units over and over, then when I'm ready, I can attempt to connect them later on. There are enough different units and ways to connect them that I am stimulated for hours on end with no end in sight yet. If you are just beginning to fold, I would hold off on this book until you get used to something simpler, like her book "Origami Boxes."



5. Excelleng book on modular origami. Very well detailed and good explanations. It is not necessary, but it helps to be comfortable with basic and intermediate folding techniques.

3 comments about Paper in Three Dimensions: Origami, Pop-ups, Sculpture, Baskets, Boxes, and More.

1. Diane Maure-Mathison does a good job of putting together a nice selection of creative ideas with paper. She focuses on creativity and simple ideas that can be easily expanded. Her work on pop-ups which I was looking for covers the basics but does not go into the details of more complex design.



2. The illustrations were beautiful, and I was disappointed to learn that patterns were not included.



3. This is the best book I've seen (and I've looked through EVERYTHING at Barnes and Noble and Borders stores) on making all kinds of three-dimensional paper creations. In fact, it's pretty much one of a kind. True, as another reviewer says, it doesn't have patterns for the illustrated projects, but it does have good instructions. I would think that most people would want to come up with their own works by using the illustrated techniques, and being inspired by the author's finished projects. After all, the idea is to be creative, isn't it?

No comments about The Little Book of Towel Origami.

2 comments about Origami Rings & Wreaths: A Kaleidoscope of 28 Decorative Origami Creations.

1. Have enjoyed creating all the rings and wreaths in the book. Beautifully presented. Highly recommended.



2. In the past, I would have wondered how I might use these designs. I like my origami to be useful for something, and Tomoko Fuse's box designs have been a mainstay for my gift giving for years now. Recently, however I purchased an origami book on jewelry making, Origami Jewelry: More Than 40 Exquisite Designs to Fold and Wear, which gave me ideas for gifts. Fuse's book provides a wide variety of ideas for jewelry pins. I also expect to combine what I've learned in both books to make large decorative wreaths for the holidays. I think this may become one of my favorite books.

5 comments about Dollar Bill Animals in Origami.

1. Maybe because we see money every day folding it into origami is very interesting, This book has clear instructions on how to make a variety of animals from dollar bills. (Use the Look Inside feature on Amazon to see the variety of origamis you can make.) The instructions have a clear diagram for every step of the folding.
   
   That doesn't mean folding animals is easy. Dollars don't hold creases very well, and both sides of the dollar are the same color which makes following a diagram difficult. Also like in normal origami the cooler it looks the more frustrating it is to make it (usually). Duck Star and Fish are pretty easy to fold, but as for Unicorn- whew boy.
   
   I recommend this to people who want to give money as a gift, but still make it personal, or to people who just think it would be cool to do origami with money. They patterns are cute, and there are not so many books on money folding out there.



2. Certain folds are impossible to figure out from the pictures and arrows. For example, in the "Swan", step 4 shows what looks like 3 folds... I think. And then a triangle like shape seems to be the result in step five. The step they show does not make any sense.
   
   I had to figure it out from the picture of how it turned out. After twenty minutes, I got it, but with no help from the directions given.
   
   Many other pictures show a fold that you later figure out, were supposed to leave part of the bill out of the fold (Did that make much sense... No? Now you know what the book is like.).
   
   Yes, it is possible, but I'm thinking a video or personal instruction might be better for a first time origami guy like myself.



3. There is a huge variety or animals, the models are not as hard as I thought they would be. I would recommend this book over any other I have purchased. There aren't any simple models thrown in to just fill the pages, they are all first class creations.



4. GREAT book.. loads of fun.. challenging.. Will keep me busy for quite a while..



5. The book has some great ideas but the directions aren't easy to follow. They seem to skip steps and you are left trying to figure them out. A decent book, but not for beginers. The 2 best books I own for $ Oragami are "The Buck Book" and "The guide to Hawaiian-style money folds". Great directions with pictures.

5 comments about Origami Sea Life (Origami).

1. This book is well written with easy to understand diagrams. The models range from easy to extremly hard, but most of the animals are high intermediate.Most of the diagrams are so specialized that they can't make other models from the base, but the end result is an elegant model that isn't bulky like other models of this difficulty. I have most of Montroll's and Lang's work,and this is one of the best.The deep sea angler fish is my favorite with a full set of teeth. The binding is breaking apart because I've used it so much. Overall this is a book with the best models!
   (Watch the binding of the Dover books!)



2. This is one of my favorite Origami books ever. If you are thinking about getting it you should. This book will appeal to any body, from beginner to advanced. I love the models in this book. It contains various models of many genera and cover many of the marine phylums such as variety of gastropods, cephalodops, crustaceans, and many fish from Angler Fish to sharks to Sun fish.



3. I've owned this book for a number of years and only recently have I been able to fold most of the creatures in it. This book is definitely not for greenhorns, but if you look closely at every single diagramme in the book, and interpret them exactly and are very careful, every model in the book is foldable. The end result is gorgeous paper sea creatures that can impress basically anyone--yourself included. I've been amazed at how beautiful the things I'm folding from this book turn out.



4. This superb book contains an enormous range of origami models representing various forms of sea life. These range from sea urchins and starfish through to the Blackdevil Angler Fish and the almost impossible to fold Chambered Nautilus Shell. I have in my time folded most of the models and my favourites include the Angler Fish, Goldfish and the Murex shell which is wonderful in a textured foil.
   
   Most of the models will require some folding experience, even the easier ones and the most difficult ones like the Atlantic Purple Sea Urchin and Blackdevil Angler Fish are really for experts only, but most folders of intermediate level and upwards will find something to enjoy. It is definitely a book which will help you to develop your folding skills but be sure to have plenty of paper on hand!
   
   Each section includes an interesting introduction to the natural history of the life forms it is covering and the book is well laid out with clear computerised diagrams. It's an origami book I've come back to again and again over the years and which remains one of my treasures. I recommend it.



5. The finished models in this book are great, they are clearly identifiable species, not just generic fish, crabs, etc.
   What really makes the book stand out, however, are the folding sequences. The steps flow with a natural rythm, and every tricky step is clearly explained. Because the authors have created unique bases for each model, the results of a given step are often pleasantly surprising.
   I have a pile of origami books, and this is my favorite so far by a pretty wide margin. When I finish folding everything in it, I will probably fold them all again because they are so much fun.

5 comments about Kusudama Origami.

1. I bought this book a couple of weeks ago and can't seem to stop folding...The instructions are easy to follow, provided you know a little bit about origami (just some basic folding techniques, which you can learn online.) The designs are very interesting, though very time consuming. Block out some time to do this! When I finished my first Kusudama piece, I was so pleased at how beautiful it was. I have experimented with lots of different papers and achieved great results, even with papers that were not japanese. My favorite is the bouquet of lilies, which is stunning in bright colors. I definitely recommend this book to those who would like to pick up a new hobby and wow their friends and family with amazing gifts.



2. The models are very easy for an experienced folder and turn out beautiful. Everybody whom I have shown them to was amazed. The figures are wonderful and are great gifts.



3. Another of Fuse's masterpieces
   
   For some reason, I think Fuse has the pictures of the ugliest models on the front cover of this book! Inside are some really beautiful models.
   
   The models are easy enough for new folders, who are determined (You have to fold a lot of the same thing, and then join them together using needle and thread, so you don't see results until the very end).
   
   All in all, a great book.



4. I became the shipment very quickly. I like this book, because the instructions are short and clear.



5. My 16-year-old daughter loves origami and is presently making an origami bouquet of 24 flowers from this book. Just know that this is fairly advanced origami. One flower takes her about 15 minutes, and then the flowers will have to be put together with string!