Learn More about the Book
Make realistic and decorative paper flower arrangements with this stunning origami book.
The Japanese art of flower arranging is an age-old practice that honors nature and creates beauty through harmony and balance. This brand new book, Origami Ikebana, shows you how to create unique ikebana-inspired paper flower arrangements any time of the year.
Since discovering ikebana some years ago, origami artist and author Benjamin Coleman has worked on developing techniques that enable him to create ikebana-style floral arrangements with simple folded paper. In this book, Coleman combines the principles and techniques of ikebana, origami and makigami (paper rolling) to create beautiful and lifelike paper flower arrangements. You'll learn how to construct stems from paper-mache-like makigami rolls and cap them with exquisite folded paper flowers and leaves, as well as how to display the arrangements on stone-like bases made of paper.
Topics covered in this ground-breaking origami book include:
- Basic origami flower folding and assembly techniques
- Painting the leaves and flowers to enhance realism
- Using incremental leaf sizes for a greater sense of depth
- Making stems using makigami paper rolling techniques
- Creating "stone" bases for your arrangement from origami paper
Dozens of different origami flower arrangements are described in this book and the enclosed DVD contains detailed step-by-step video lessons showing you how to create each model. Don't spend a fortune on real flowers and plants that will wilt in a week make your own beautiful paper floral arrangements that will last forever!
This origami book contains: - 128 page, full-color book
- Step-by-step instructions
- Colorful diagrams and photographs
- Origami flower folding and arranging techniques and tips
- 8 different leaf types
- 30 flower types
- Instructional DVD
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Review Quotes
1. "Coleman "(Origami Bonsai)" specializes in intricate origami designs drawn from nature. His latest collection takes flowers (a popular theme in origami) and presents them in intricate arrangements following the design principles of ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Directions for a variety of flowers and leaves are included, allowing crafters to design their own arrangements or to recreate Coleman's designs. The author also introduces his method for creating rolled paper stems and branches, which he has named ""makigami"" (for "rolled paper"). This technique allows paper artists to create realistic components using ordinary newsprint treated with an easy to mix glue solution, then painted as needed. A DVD featuring lessons adapted from the patterns in the book is included. VERDICT Ikebana is a natural fit with origami, and Coleman's realistic projects will be a hit with experienced paper crafters looking for a new challenge." "Library Journal""
2. "I love the origami flower folds in "Origami Ikebana" by Benjamin John Coleman, published by Tuttle of Vermont. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The author combines the principles of ikebana, origami and makigami (paper rolling) to create beautiful paper flower arrangements." "Handmade By Deb blog""
3. "Coleman's work relies heavily on a base that he calls the basic flower form. Folders who pay close attention to the process for folding this base should have no problem making the majority of the flowers featured in Origami Ikebana. [ ] To the casual observer, Origami Ikebana looks like a very complex book. However, Coleman states that even relatively inexperienced folders can create arrangements using his techniques. Like Coleman's previous books, Origami Ikebana uses glow-fold diagrams to make it easier to understand how to fold the flowers and leaves that make up your ikebana arrangements. His patented glow-fold diagrams highlight the surface of the area that will move during the fold with an orange, semitransparent glow. In the step following the fold, a narrow trace of orange glow is visible along any open edges to indicate where the glowing surface went. This turns diagrams that would otherwise seem like a confusing puzzle into a logical step-by-step progression, thus assisting the novice folder in creating the featured models. Origami Ikebana also includes a supplementary DVD with tutorial videos to assist you in mastering the featured techniques." About.com Origami"
4. "If you think you know origami, think again. This highly sophisticated version of the ancient art of paper folding combines the subtleties of Japanese flower arrangement (ikebana) with state-of-the-art paper folding techniques." Retailing Insight Magazine"
5. "Overall, I am very impressed by both the quality and quantity of the content in Origami Ikebana. The entire book is filled with beautiful examples, in full-color and even comes with a DVD! I think that any origami enthusiast would enjoy this book, but especially those who like to go a step further than just folding and to find ways to sculpt the model for a beautiful display, as well as to experiment with their own folding patterns. If that sounds like what you like to do, this book is for you!" Yuki's Origami blog"
6. "Coleman (Origami Bonsai) specializes in intricate origami designs drawn from nature. His latest collection takes flowers (a popular theme in origami) and presents them in intricate arrangements following the design principles of ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Directions for a variety of flowers and leaves are included, allowing crafters to design their own arrangements or to recreate Coleman's designs. The author also introduces his method for creating rolled paper stems and branches, which he has named "makigami" (for "rolled paper"). This technique allows paper artists to create realistic components using ordinary newsprint treated with an easy to mix glue solution, then painted as needed. A DVD featuring lessons adapted from the patterns in the book is included. VERDICT Ikebana is a natural fit with origami, and Coleman's realistic projects will be a hit with experienced paper crafters looking for a new challenge." Library Journal"
7. "I love the origami flower folds in Origami Ikebana by Benjamin John Coleman, published by Tuttle of Vermont. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The author combines the principles of ikebana, origami and makigami (paper rolling) to create beautiful paper flower arrangements." Handmade By Deb blog"
8. "This book and video teach you how to create more realistic flower form to use in your long lasting paper arrangements. Everything in the arrangements is made with paper. This method doesn't use floral wire or tape. You'll need different kinds of paper, glue and paint. It's a very comprehensive book. He covers materials, how to choose and cut paper, how to find the grain of the paper and how to paint it. [ ] The video is very well done. The author is clearly enthused, and some parts he explains while looking into the camera and there are displays of ikebana hanging on the wall behind him so you can see the forms. For the folds, it's focused in on his hands and the paper. Some of the folding is more complex, but easy to understand when you see it done. So here's the part that made me really happy with this video my family watched it with me. Not just "in the room while I watched" but actually watched it. We are all at different levels of folding ability, so parts that I grasped quickly needed to be paused and played again for some of them, but that could be done. These are projects that my whole family can enjoy." Don't Eat The Paste blog"
9. "I am absolutely bowled over by John Coleman's development and presentation of the Origami Ikebana concept. The resultant arrangements are elegant and graceful. (Very occasionally, I think the results look over-manipulated. To my personal taste, it is the spontaneity of origami that appeals.) These floral models, exquisite creations, are labor-intensive projects. If crafting an everlasting floral display is your goal, Origami Ikebana may be right up your alley. So a beautifully conceived system, clearly and professionally presented (the author has teaching credentials). If you are looking for a more sculptural approach to origami flowers, Benjamin John Coleman's origami/papier-mache hybrid could be just right for you. And for the price of a book/dvd combo, you get the equivalent of an evening course in flower arranging!" The Papercraft Post blog"
10. "This lovely origami craft guide is filled with page after page of beautiful paper flower arrangements, complete with step-by-step instructions and photo tutorials to help you achieve the perfect paper flowers every time. You will learn how to create stems to hold up your lovely origami blooms, and how to anchor your life-like flowers to a base in order to create flawless centerpieces and wedding decorations. Lastly, if you don't have the right color paper, you don't have to worry. Origami Ikebana will show you how to paint your paper flowers the exact right shade to match your wedding colors or living room. The book is organized by flower type, so all you have to do is locate the flower you would like to create in paper so that it will never wilt or fade. You can even get more creative as you get used to the origami techniques and begin to design your own flowers. Your guests will be in awe of these enchanting flower sculptures that gracefully adorn your tables and walls. Even if you are not planning a wedding, creating origami flower arrangements is an art form that will teach you grace, discipline, and an appreciation for detail." Alexandria Petrassi, Editor, AllFreeDIYWeddings.com blog"
