Customer Reviews

Origami Boxes For Gifts, Treasures & Trifles

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book has wonderfully clear instructions (better than those of Tomako Fuse). The best part of it is that it has color photos of each stage of the projects so that you can make sure you are following the directions correctly. The boxes I've made are beautiful and make nice gifts on their own. This is the book to buy if you are a beginning paper folder.

When I returned from my Japan vacation in Nov. of '98, I sought out origami books at some of the local bookstores and happened upon this book. The pictures are well done, and the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. A great introduction to the art and joy of making Origami boxes. I was hooked immediately. That holiday season's theme was Origami boxes. The boxes are brought out every xmas at Mom and Dad's and are placed under the tree before the store bought gifts arrive and after they depart. The boxes are wonderful conversation pieces. I share "Ben Eckley from Freemont, WA. USA" view on the Dirk's borrowing from Tomoko Fuse. Dirk's book hooked me in. After making all of the boxes in Dirk's book, I sought out additional Origami books on boxes which led me to Tomoko Fuse, the true master.

I can't seem to put this book down. I take it with me and make boxes on the commuter train to work. I'm going to put homemade candy in them for Christmas gifts. I made them for my 2 grown children and wrote messages on scrolls to place inside.These boxes make unique gifts even when they are empty!

I've often been interested in origami but never heard of an origami box until a friend introduced them to me. Besides being decorative they are rather a funtional craft for creating presents and holding small keepsakes. The books directions and illustrations are easier to follow than some crafts texts. I intend to use this as a manual for a adults' chafts class; material is inexpensive and the directions are easy for the beginner. The color photography does an excellent job of illustrating the variety of possibilities in colors and configurations.

I am a box connoisseur, especially an Origami box connoisseur, and I have yet to find a master craftsman with the genius of Fuse. I am always looking for something new to push the envelope, however, so I purchased this book to add to my growing collection. Although I was impressed by the luxurious paper selections made by the author of the book (one assumes) with which to present the box patterns, I found nothing original with respect to design. Furthermore, the photo illustrations, while they display the finished artwork nicely, are somewhat less satisfactory when it comes to demonstrating the sometimes intricate and confusing folds involved. Although the diagramatic line drawings of other origami books seem less colorful and eye pleasing, they are none the less much easier to follow, especially for the beginner. Even though I have done origami for several decades, I would almost certainly have had to refer to Fuse's line drawings to clarify Dirk's photo demonstrations. One thing that the later does have over the former, though, is that the method of folding the stand-up tabs for the lids of some of the boxes is clearer in the photos than in the diagrams. Although less satisfied with it than with my Fuse's, I don't regret having purchased the book, as it is visually satisfying, provides one with ideas for using the boxes, and certainly enlarges ones sense of the artistic use of various types of paper. From my amateurish attempts to work in stained glass, I know that in the practice of any art genius comes in many forms. Fuse's is that of original design. Dirk's is in her precise technique--her finished work (if it is hers) seems absolutely flawless--and in her decisions regarding color, pattern, and line.

Like another reviewer, I have noticed that almost all of the designs seem to be exact copies of Tomoko Fuse's work. Perhaps the book explains the models better, but Fuse undoubtably originated them. Perhaps she can't copyright a model?

Anyway, I wholeheartedly recommend TOMOKO FUSE's work, although you need some prior experience before you dive into some of her models, or just buy her set 'Quick and Easy Origami Boxes' which even includes paper.

Gee I'm so glad that Ms. Dirk made such good use of Tomoko Fuse's excellent book "Origami Boxes"! I too fell in love with it's beautiful designs. However I don't know that I'd have the cover of my book feature box designs directly lifted from somone else's work. Perhaps I'm being too harsh. Maybe Alexandra has Ms. Fuse's blessings. Inquiring minds would love to know!

For the origami box experts this may not be the be-all end-all book. But for origami enthusiast this will be inspiring and instructional. The challenge for most origami books is showing the 3D aspects of the pocket and inside reverse folds and interlocking box parts. This book does a great job showing off these details.