Origami mini books | How About Orange

September 16, 2008

Origami mini books

Another project from my Japanese origami book: mini books. I didn't do a perfect job, but they're so tiny and adorable, who cares? They're made from one rectangular piece of paper, folded many times. The finished booklet is about 2.5" square. I'm in awe of whoever designed this project. He or she is clearly a genius.

Update: Check out this instructional YouTube video for an even tinier book! Thanks, Hoang!

25 comments:

Nevis said...

I think they're adorable!

The Nicholsons said...

I tried (and tried and tried) to make these mini books this summer and could not get any of them to look anywhere near your books!

I agree that the original design thinker-upper must haveb been a genius; just trying to follow it made my brain hurt! I eventually folded a cat and called it a day.

Jessica Jones said...

Wow, did your cat mind being folded?

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

They're darling!

Riverlark said...

Does each page have a folded pocket? They were created by Hedi Kyle, a wonderful book artist and paper artist innovator. Sadly, she doesn't have her own web site, but she is featured in Penland's Book of Handmade Books.

Riverlark said...

I meant to add that Hedi calls it a Blizzard book as she came up with it when she had time to herself during a freak Philadelphia blizzard.

Jessica Jones said...

Nope, no pocket. Just flat, although there is a diagonal crease running across.

Nix Muse said...

You did a great job, they're adorable.

Jo said...

They are very cute!

Lotussooz said...

WOW!!! those are awesome. I have to go buy that book you do so many awesome things out of it. I know a little bit of origami that my grandmother taught me but nothing that cute.. THats it I'm going to amazon right now!!!

Lisa said...

Oh my goodness, how small! Might need a magnifying glass if something was written in them! How cute!

Anonymous said...

Now these are much more attractive than plain notebooks. Great idea!

Judy said...

I can't seem to get the instructions. Just the Amazon "look inside" in Japanese. Help!

Jessica Jones said...

Oh, the link just shows the book the project is from. To see the instructions, you'll need the actual book. And yes, it's in Japanese, I'm afraid!

Anonymous said...

These books are so cute - could you share the instructions on your blog??

counselor kristal said...

Oh! I love your site. Your posts are inspiring me to sew something! :)

<3

Anonymous said...

Oh those are lovely!

Jessica Jones said...

Petra, I would share the instructions, but they span a few pages and require 37 steps of folding. A little too much for me to manage. Plus I think it might be a copyright infringement. You might have to break down and buy the book (I know, that international shipping is killer.)

Hannah said...

where do you get your paper for origami?

Jessica Jones said...

Well, that pink book isn't actually origami paper. You need a 24x48 cm piece for these, so I went to PaperSource and picked out a sheet of the thinnest patterned paper I could find. My other origami paper comes from Dick Blick or mostly from my friend Megumi in Japan.

Anonymous said...

Those are sweet! I love special notebooks/journals/books.

Chris said...

Very neat. I wish I had the patience to do them! I think I'd get irritated rather quickly since they're so tiny. But I'd gladly try a bigger version :)

hungry little bird said...

So cute! They would be even cuter with tiny pictures of my kitties inside :)

Jessica Jones said...

Yep. But no pictures of your lizard? How is he, by the way?

Anonymous said...

oh these are too cool! i do a similar project with my students and they think it is just the coolest thing!