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Kusudama Book Recommendations?

Posted: November 12th, 2018, 11:18 pm
by NearestBlackhole
I've tried to do kusudamas, but I have trouble with assembly. Books are usually vague and expect you to figure it out yourself. I was wondering if any of you have book recommendations with clear instructions for assembly?

Re: Kusudama Book Recommendations?

Posted: November 14th, 2018, 9:54 am
by Grace159
The origami book edited by Rick Beech has quite clear instructions for assembly, however it only has six modular models and only two could be considered kusudama's

My favourite for explaining the different shapes and how to achieve them is 3-D Geometric Origami Modular Polyhedra by Rona Gurkewitz and Bennett Arnstein. It is not pretty like a lot of my other books or even my first recommendation, however it has a consistent language of pockets and points and it goes into detail what each shape consists of and when a certain shape needs some assistance in the form of internal supports. It also explores shapes other than square and how to achieve them.

On a side note I personally adore modular origami and learning all the different ways two pieces of paper can be joined together so please introduce me to the ones you love and I will try and give you a hand.

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Re: Kusudama Book Recommendations?

Posted: December 2nd, 2018, 5:57 pm
by NearestBlackhole
I have a book by Meenakshi Mukherji called "Exqusite Modular Origami" but I gave up on it a long time ago.

Re: Kusudama Book Recommendations?

Posted: December 3rd, 2018, 12:29 pm
by Grace159
Folding smaller units so that more fit in your hand helps.

You can also make a nest to gently cup the bottom of the kusudama.

I haven't made one, but I did see a cool one on a YouTube video.

Small bulldog clips can also help, but they do dent the paper and the final model tends not to be as robust.

Finally depending on how purist you are feeling on any given day glue on the inside or lacquer on the outside tends to keep them altogether.

Sometimes it simply doesn't work. The first time I tried to make a fireworks by Yami Yamauchi I could not connect the final pieces. I ended up refolding the 12 units into Stackers by Michael LaFosse and tossing them around the backyard.

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Re: Kusudama Book Recommendations?

Posted: December 6th, 2018, 3:36 pm
by steingar
Depends on the Kusudama. The ones that use string to put together something that really does look like a flower ball are tricky. Tomoko Fuse has written a very good and well illustrated assembly in one of her kusudama books.

If the subject is modulars, well that's a different story. Me, I use clips of various sorts to hold the pieces together during assembly. Failing that I use glue, though most get binned before they hit that stage.

Re: Kusudama Book Recommendations?

Posted: December 24th, 2018, 10:55 pm
by Andre-4
For beginners the best suggestion would be Miyuki Kawamura ..she has a book that's not only paper balls but not the regular 30 units and she really works the angles ..Here you can brush up onyour algebra n log...
Another person who is a beginners choice Bennett Arnstein ....again more than the boring 30 unit limit