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Origami Sourcebook

By Jay Ansill

Published: 2004 by Quarry
Pages: 208
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 1592530656

Buy from: Amazon.com

Skill Level : From simple to complex
Clear diagrams? Less than perfect
Tinted diagrams (to show 2 sides of paper)? Yes
Photos of completed models? Yes
Is there indication to the model size resulting from size of starting paper? No
Are the models "Pure" origami (From square - no cuts)? A few are from other shapes
Overall Impression

This is a collection of two books previously authored by Jay Ansill: Origami Monsters & Mythical Beings and Practical & Decorative Origami. There are a few slight changes from the original books, though, as the new edition adds a couple of models by Michael LaFosse and omits a parrot by Ligia Montoya.

There are some excellent models included here, with the mythical-beings part containing the more challenging projects. However, the book's weakness lies in the fact that the diagrams are not the clearest, and some of the photographs in the mythical-beings part are quite bad - they even managed to mess up a photo of Neal's dragon...

My favorite models in this book are Lang's Shiva and Neal's cute wizard and witch.
I wouldn't recommend this book for beginners, but for advanced folders, who sometimes enjoy a small challenge of "deciphering" diagrams.

The Models
Model Creator Notes Photo (click for a larger image)
Napkin cuffs Catherine Abbott 3 variations
Shawl napkin fold Gay Merrill Gross
Bird of Paradise Traditional Napkin-fold
Pajarita Traditional
Ingenious letter-fold Robert Neale From a rectangle
Star Traditional Weaved from 4 strips
Crane Traditional
Fancy dish Traditional
Lotus box Michael G. LaFosse From 3 squares
Picture frame Aldo Putignano Heart-shaped frame
Renaissance Shopping bag Fred Rohm From a rectangle
Swallow Ligia Montoya
Flapping dove Ligia Montoya
Tropical flowers Ligia Montoya From a pentagon
Chalice Samuel L. Randlett From a hexagon
Heart gift box Martha Mitchen From a rectangle
Bowl Aldo Putignano
Three-D Greeting cards Traditional Not really origami. From a rectangle. With cuts
Penultimate modular system Robert Neale Two systems for creating many modular designs
Star system Robert Neale
Ouroboros Robert Neale Winged worm eating its own tail - nice
Bat Michael G. LaFosse From a triangle. Also published in Origami Fun World and in Advanced Origami
Wizard Robert Neale Cute!
Witch Robert Neale Cute!
Dragon Robert Neale Neale's famous dragon. Also published in The Flapping Bird
Gargoyle Jerry Harris Nice winged monster. Also published in Origami USA 1989 convention book
Daedalus Gabriel Alvarez Casanovas Excellent. Also published in El Libro de las Pajaritas de Papel
Pegasus Gabriel Alvarez Casanovas Nice
Flapping dragon Stephen Weiss Nice
Woodland elf Stephen Weiss From a rectangle - Very nice
Folded by Eileen Tan
Centaur Neal Elias From a rectangle
Dragon Marc Kirschenbaum Very nice
Folded by Gadi Vishne
Shiva Robert J. Lang Excellent - The Hindu god with 4 hands
Unicorn Stephen Weiss Nice
Folded by Gadi Vishne
Long-tailed dragon Matthew Green Nice
Folded by Eileen Tan
Cerberus Robert J. Lang Very nice
Folded by Eileen Tan