Origami Heart over Heart Romantic Video

I was tinkering with Instagram and came about a nice video creation product called Flipagram.  

Hmmmm ... perked my interest so I tried to make one using my "Heart over Heart" origami fold.  I showed the finished product to my wife and daughter and they liked it a lot.

Here is my mini simple movie titled "Origami Heart Love Notes".

Music is from my wife's favorite song and singer - A thousand years by Christina Perri.

Hope you liked it.

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Origami Design / Creation - Simple Heart over Heart Origami

Saw a lot of origami heart pieces being displayed for Valentines day so I tried to design one for myself.  The first rule is that it should be something simple and heart shaped.  

So, I started doodling and came up with this:

 

I call it "Heart over heart".  A small heart on top of a bigger one ... I likened it to be a "Husband and wife", a "Parent and a son/daughter".  I checked the internet for anything like this design but wasn't able to find one so I believe that this is either too easy or a traditional model that nobody really folded.  To me, it is a great origami piece!

This model can be used for:

A bookmark

Or for something as daring as a ...

Love Note

For everyone's enjoyment, I created a tutorial video below:

Hope you like it ... have a great day!

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20th Wedding Anniversary - Thankful and Hopeful

Reached our 20th wedding anniversary last 22nd of January 2014 but finally had the celebratory family lunch today - January 25th at Outback Steakhouse.

My wife and I has been through difficult times but we are so thankful to reach this milestone in our union.  Too bad our eldest daughter was not around to share our happiness, nevertheless we are content that we have her in our heart and mind on this day (in fact, every day).  Hope and pray that we will continually receive the Lord's blessings of good health and happiness for the days ahead.

Food was very good and did had a wonderful and memorable lunch.  

See for yourself ...

Seafood soup with Fresh Veggie Salad

(Really) Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Toowoomba Chicken (Sauteed shrimp & Grilled chicken)

Succulent & Saucy Baby Back Ribs 

Have a nice day!

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Origami Creations - Octopus from Crease Pattern (CP)

There are so many wonderful origami models to fold but mostly they are the complex (complicated) or super complex level ones.  Diagrams are not usually readily accessible but normally the origamist will openly provide the crease patterns (CP) for these models.

To me, again, it works like a puzzle that needs to be solved.  And for a CP, the challenge is levelled up.  Problems normally encountered is one is unsure where the mountains, valleys and prelim unused creases are.  A lot of guessing and trials need to be done hoping my paper will last and not tear up.

Well, this is the first CP I tried based on the Octopus model of a famous japanese origamist, Satoshi Kamiya.

And this is a photo of what I have made:

This is a first fold and has room for improvement.  Took me a day to figure it out but I admit I had to pause for many times looking at the finish model in order to achieve a satisfying piece.  I'll try again with the use of a bigger and better paper next time.

Appreciate the help from Oritube Master who gave me useful tips and links to try this model.

Overall, I am quite happy and can be proud of my achievement.

Have a nice day!

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More info here:

Crease pattern Wiki link => Here

Satoshi Kamiya website = > Here

Origami Designs /Creations - 3D Horse Head Tutorial

Just barely two (2) weeks before the Lunar New Year of the Horse so I tried to catch up with the video tutorial for my Simple 3D Horse Head origami.  Details were mentioned in my blog here.

And a photo here to remind you on this model.

Without further ado, here below is the tutorial.

Again, I wish everyone a great Lunar New Year of the Horse.  Enjoy and have a great weekend!

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Origami Designs / Creations for the Year of the Horse (馬年) Tutorial

Finally got the chance to complete my video tutorial for the simple origami horse as mentioned in my blogpost here.

Got me a new picture too ... with all the horses folded so far.

Gallant Horses - Heads up high!

And an auto-awesome photo below:

The contest requires us to do limited number of folds thus the outlook may not be so horse like.  

Here is the video tutorial.

Advanced Lunar New Year of the Horse to all!  Prosperity, Wealth, Good Health and Happiness be showered upon us.

Have a nice day!

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Origami Design / Creations - Origami Wet Folded Horse

The past week, I was exposed to a very interesting origami folding technique of wet-folding.  I have read this style before but never really went to doing it until I saw his simple folds on circular paper as shown in his flickr account here.

Tuan Nguyen Tu called it minimalist art with the use of very few curvy folds and just plainly highlighting relevant structure of the model.  Turns out that every piece can be many things (a shape shifter) depending on where the beholders' eyesight point of reference is.

So, being so pumped up with inspiration, I tried making one from my own horse model and doing the minimalist style (leaving out appendages and shapings).

Here is my work:

 

Really very amateurish but I hope I made up with putting the model in a nice matte frame :o).

I wasn't able to achieve the soft look and gentle curvy lines as I still have solid and strong structures made on my model.  Also, I was only using copy paper so my error creases (a lot of them) can readily be seen.  

Overall, I feel that I have come up with an adorable piece of work (and experience).  Hopefully, my next try will be impressive!

Have a nice day!

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More info:

Wet folding Wiki =>  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-folding

Wet folding tutorial=> 

http://www.langorigami.com/paper/wetfolding_papers.php

Recap Best Moments in Instagram 2013

I have had an Instagram account just late last year as I am quite interested in taking photos.  Or rather, pushed to take pictures and videos for the family for keepsake. 

Since then, I was always towing the family's electronic gadgets.  Fortunately, things are getting more lighter and convenient so I no longer need to be burden with the heavy stuff.

I noted a nice video made by Statigram when you have an Instagram account.  Quite refreshing to see what I have done for the year inspite of the very dismal number of likes :o).  Nevertheless, it was fun, fun, fun and great memories...

Here is my best moments video ...

If you have an Instagram account, do go and try it.  More details can be found here.

Have a  nice day!

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Origami Designs / Creations - Simple 3D Horse Head

Quite impressed with the models submitted in the simple origami contest for the Lunar New Year 2014.

As I seem to have the momentum for creating more origami designs, I was able to come up with another one.  

This is plainly a horse head model and below is what I have submitted.

This model takes only 12 folds to make but requires a lot of pinch markings due to its 3D boxy form.  Very simple piece yet it gives a playful feeling which I believe exudes the real essence of making origami!  Fun, fun, fun!

Additional photos for your enjoyment.

Clearer photo of the 3D Horse Head.

Horses in a cup with fireworks :o).

Let me make a video tutorial on this for your enjoyment.  

Hope you like them.  Have a nice day!

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Origami Designs / Creations for the Lunar New Year of the Horse (馬年)

Even before the year 2013 was to end, a new origami competition has been announced for the celebration of the Lunar New Year of the Horse.

Fully recharged and ready for challenges, I set-out to fold my simple horse.  

I usually start from the simple origami bases and work towards coming up with the required body parts - very amateurish.  Then, I do the shaping.  Term commonly used for this creative style is doodling.  It is really a hit or miss thing but the outcome is very rewarding and self-fulfilling.

Here is my simple origami horse.

Gallant Horse - 2 views

I called this my "Gallant Horse" due to its upright posture (chest out and stomach in).  It is headstrong, fearless and ready to face the year 2014!  Not to forget to mention my awesome background "fu" (福) character.   This is the new year's blessing for Prosperity, Success, Wealth, Good Health and Happiness! 

Below is a clearer photo of the final model with hind legs, tail and ears defined.

Another photo of the horse in red kami paper complete with CNY fireworks.

Gallant Horse amid fireworks

For those interested to try and fold my Gallant Horse, you may get the photo diagrams here.

When I have the time, I'll upload a video tutorial and advice you the link on my future post.

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year!!!

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Origami Creations - Free Blackfish (Killer Whales or Orca) (逆戟鲸)

Still reeling from excitement on my whale shark experience, I went to watch the documentary movie "Blackfish".  

It is a story about a real Blackfish (more commonly called a killer whale or an Orca) in captivity named Tilikum who performs in SeaWorld shows in Orlando Florida.  It focuses on the consequences of animals in captivity and specifically highlighting the fact that Tilikum was involved in the deaths of 3 individuals (2 of them are his trainers).  Highly recommended movie as it is well researched and very informative.

Below is the official movie trailer:

My family was at SeaWorld in San Diego and personally seen this lovely, huge, likable and intelligent sea creatures.  Rightly so, they should have been called "Panda" whales rather than the scary moniker "killer whales".  Do you think so too?

Shamu Show at SeaWorld San Diego - August 2012

Watching the movie also reminded me of a very nice origami model of Seiji Nishikawa of an Orca.  Diagram is found in the "Works of Seiji Nishikawa" book and here are photos of my fold:

An early morning composition.

An evening composition

Hope you like it!  Have a nice weekend!


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More info:

Blackfish movie Wiki =>  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfish_(film)
SeaWorld Park in Orlando =>  http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando

Wish Fulfilled - Swam with the Oslob Whale Sharks (鲸鲨)

Christmas 2013 is a memorable one as I was able to fulfill one of my wishes (and also for my daughters') - to be able to swim with the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus).  Indeed, an adventure of a lifetime experience.

The trip took us about 3 hours from Cebu city as it is nearly the southernmost part of Cebu province (before the town of Santander).  We were a group of 32 people and fitted 6 vans to drive us directly to Boljo-on for an overnight stay before finally going to meet the whale sharks the next day in Tan-awan, Oslob.

This is the place where the magic happens:

Mr. Santa is excited too!

Before the actual interaction with the whale sharks, we had a short orientation on the rules and regulations to follow when swimming with these gentle giants.  After which, off we go to our small catamarans with snorkel and life vest on hand.  

Now, let the photos do the talking ...

Nice weather and pristine clear waters

 

Wow, really awesome!

Close-up shot.

Up close and personal

Much more closer ... so breathtaking!

Great feeling and so blessed to be able to have achieved an item in my wish list.  Even more happier to have shared this joyful experience with my family and good friends.

Here's looking forward to 2014, next stop will be to the Holy Land.

Have a great day!

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More information:

Whale Shark Wiki =>  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark
Map of Cebu =>  http://www.islandsproperties.com/maps/cebu.htm
Oslob Whale Shark Watching website => http://www.oslobwhalesharks.com/