Member Reviews
Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.
So helpful! I've always wanted to get better with my origami, but have struggled with it. The infographs in this book were extremely helpful, as well as detailed. Better yet, I was able to understand and follow them perfectly! Thank you!
A fab beginner’s guide to doing origami with confidence, through 40 beautiful easy to follow projects plus a companion online video. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine. #Origami101 #NetGalley. Pub Date 21 Aug 2018.
Really excellent book that you definitely want to read with some origami paper (or a cheaper equivalent) next to you. My fingers itched to try out the techniques for myself, and I had to put the book down, to hunt up some paper use. The figures are clear and (relatively) easy to follow, even for a complete novice. I only had regular paper which was definitely too thick for some of the folds, but it still gave me a good idea of how the theory worked, and I'm on the lookout for some proper origami paper to try it out "for real" now.
The book is separated into sections that each start out with the same basic shape, which nicely shows off the variations you can get from just a few changes. Each section starts out with some simple figures, and then proceeds to much more complex figures with a lot of details.
A fun and approachable book.
Very interesting and useful source of information for crafty individuals. Lots to learn. And could keep you entertained for many hours
I just love books like this.
There are plenty of projects to try your hand at here and they are particularly fun to do with friends and family too. This resulted in much hilarity in our house
This is a very nice book. My son and I used it, the instructions were clear and helpful. This is a great first origami book
Origami 101
This book is big. And Full. It is intended for novices wanting to learn the Japanese art of paper folding. Very little would be helpful to those already versed in the art. This book takes a different direction when teaching origami. First off the book does not start with a glossary of various folding symbols and what they mean. They instead put these in special boxes or pages and teach that fold when it is needed in a specific design. It also uses color to help a novice differentiate various instructions and paper direction. The book says there is an accompanying DVD which should even more useful. Having read (but never conquered) many origami book, I can say that this one is different. Is that a good thing, I don’t know. It depends on the learner. But I do think this is an excellent book to try.
I have been holding onto this book for over a month, waiting to have some time to really test out the patterns. I finally had the opportunity to do so, and I am glad that I did. I have been playing around with origami since I was a kid, and have always enjoyed folding beautiful paper into interesting and unexpected shapes. It's the kind of hobby/craft I turn to when I want a quick creative boost between my longer term creative pastimes.
However, as a dabbler, I always have to look up instructions for anything I am interested in making--and most written instructions are incredibly difficult to follow. Nowadays, I will often go to YouTube for these instructions, because seeing someone actually manipulate the paper can really help clarify how I should fold something. But still, all too often, probably at least half of the projects that I try are complete failures.
But now, there is Origami 101! This is a fantastic book, with really clear and well-thought-out diagrams that provide the exact information that is missing from standard origami instructions. The ones that I found most helpful are the diagrams that show which edges should be aligned when folding and the one that shows which crease should be reinforced before creating an inside or outside reverse fold.
I only got through the first section of the book--the section focused on the kitefold base--but I was pleased with how well the different models built my skills. And, even the earliest, simplest models were interesting shapes that I had not folded before.
I also appreciated the suggestion and instructions for using standard printer paper to learn on before folding origami paper. I reviewed an e-book advanced reading copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and so I didn't receive the sample paper that will be provided with the actual book, I thought the samples shown in the book did a great job of using pre-printed/colored paper, which I assume is the paper that will be provided. That is an extra benefit.
All in all, I think this is a great basic book that provides the reader with a set of basic skills that should allow more confidence when tackling more complex (and less well-diagrammed) models in the future. I am planning on purchasing an actual published copy of this book to keep on my crafting bookshelf, so that if a crafting urge or some pretty paper calls out to me, I know where I can go to make sure I am able to accomplish something I can be proud of.
I reviewed an advanced reading copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!
A great collection of projects, with lots of descriptive pictures and clear instructions, Full colour pages which greatly helps the instructions to show what way to fold or turn the paper.
Well written instructions and folds for different animal and bird shapes. Colourful and bright illustrations. For some folds we had to move back and forth.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
Very nice book. Starts you out as a beginner and builds your skills from there. So many illustrations that help you succeed in making all sorts of lovelies. Thanks to the author and publisher for letting me download this book and to NetGalley for making it possible. Now go get your paper and get started!
Does what it says in the title! This 224-page book walks beginners through simple to more complex designs. As a complete beginner, I found the pictures and diagrams easy to follow, helped particularly by the method used called 'Glow Fold' which you can access through the included DVD, where the moving piece 'glows' during folding, doing away with any confusion that may occur with a static diagram - particularly helpful as the designs become more complex.
The designs themselves range from simple to advanced and include many flora and fauna - including fish and birds and even a fabulous Tyrannosaurus rex. Most look great with just white paper but a few look better with coloured paper - although of course you could colour them with pens or paint after completion to help enhance the appearance. Alongside the designs, tips are added on how to expand on the designs if you wish.
I think this is a terrific book and an ideal guide for beginners. My only reason for not giving it a higher rating is that a bit of a stretch of imagination is required to visually link some of the finished pieces with what they are supposed to be, and I would also personally like to see a wider range of designs beyond just flora and fauna. However, I would highly recommend it as an excellent way to start the craft.
Origami 101 is a new release in the 101: Look, Learn & Create series. Released 21st Aug, 2018 by Quarry Books, it's 224 pages and available in ebook, hardback, paperback and spiral bound formats. This release is a reformat and re-release of the 2011 version which is updated with new content.
Author Benjamin John Coleman has written several books on origami. This one is aimed at complete beginners and starts with an introduction to concepts, some definitions and supplies. The text and accompanying illustrations are encouraging, clear, and easy to follow. Nothing to frighten or intimidate.
The book includes both photographs and line drawings. The projects introduce new folds in a tutorial step-by-step format and further projects incorporate already learned material along with new folds.
The book includes some -very- simple projects and some imagination may be needed to actually visualize the stated designs as what they're named. The Loon for example, without the specially colored paper, wouldn't be recognizable. Ditto the tropical fish and parakeet. However, there are some simple beginner folds which are elegant and beautiful (the sitting dragon is wonderful). I believe that all of the projects are original.
Origami is a wonderful mindfulness exercise as well as a worthy art. Crafting these as a classroom activity unit would be do-able.
I received an early access e-galley of this book. Apparently the full version comes with paper and online access to video clips and further support materials.
Four stars, original origami designs well presented.
Origami has always facinated me. The style and how to take one square of paper and turn it into something so beautiful or a different shape has me in awe. This is a beginner book for young and old with beautifully illustrated step by step photos of how to do different origami shapes. I have been wanting to make my own cards and this book would be helpful in that and scrapbooking. Some of the shapes I likeds were Peacock, Graceful Swan, 8 pointed Star, and the Sea Turtle. This is a great way to show your creative side and relax.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The idea behind this Origami instruction book is nice, the different folds are explained in an easy to follow way.
The thing is, none of the finished shapes looks appealing to me. All of the animals need tons of imagination to maybe recognize the animal from the name of the shape, there are crushed places, multiple layer places ... the style simply doesn't appeal to me.
YMMV, so have a look inside and if you like the style, go for it!
What a great book this was! I have only just about mastered the art of making a paper plane, but now thanks to this book the sky is the limit!!
Lots of different design to make such as The Penguin, The Flying Crane, The Rooster and, my favourite, the Tyrannosaurus Rex! As you go through the book, the designs do begin to look harder and harder, but the instructions are concise and easy to follow with tips on how to follow the symbols used within them. There are clear colour examples of the finished product and there are plenty of designs to try right from beginners to accomplished origami makers!
There is also a pop-out symbol bookmark to keep by yourself when you are doing the designs, just to remind you of the different symbols and folds. I won’t kid you and say it’s easy to do, but it’s definitely a lot of fun and you may be lucky and make something that looks like the picture (unlike me!)
I enjoyed Origami 101. I learned new patterns I hadn't seen in other origami books. The directions for these creative creatures were easy to follow using the special icons. The only issue I had was that explanations of these icons would come suddenly in the middle of creating something; they were not categorized at the beginning for reference. I really like that it taught me how to make practice paper; I'm a thrifty crafter. .
Thank you to Quarry Books and Net Galley for an e-arc of this title in exchange for my honest review. THIS is how you do a craft book. I tried some of the origami pieces, and I've not been successful with this in the past. I was able to follow, and complete, the ones I tried. I recommend this.
This book contains great explanations and well-written instructions. As an absolute beginner, I found it really easy to figure out, and I learned a lot. There were moments when the structure of the book made it confusing, having to flip back and forth for instructions, but it's overall a decent place to start learning about origami.