August 31

The origami chain is over 8 feet long now.  I'm hoping to hit at least 12 feet before I send it off to Eileen and Warren for holiday decorating.

The view out your window is today's drawing assignment.  The bright green flower cart full of impatiens is out our kitchen window.  I must admit a bit of artistic license in filling in the flowers just a bit to cover the thin spots on the bottom shelf....  Mary

August 30

Today's assignment is to draw a musical instrument.  We are not a musical family.  That gene just skipped us.  This finger piano belonged to the girls when they were little.  It's been in a dresser drawer for years, but the sound is still quite lovely.... Mary

August 29

The scrapbook card stock I used for this crane was almost too heavy to fold, but the zigzag pattern was just too cool not to use.

The assignment for drawing today was to draw a favorite tool.  My new favorite tool is my traveling watercolor box.  For ages I've had a commercially produced one from that just never worked.  It would not lay flat when opened up.  There was no place for any brushes other than the one (smaller) that came with it and no water receptacle.  I won't name the maker since I like everything else they make, but this particular item was awful.

My new box is an old metal Lipton teabag box.  The three paint pan holders from the original box fit into this one, as does the detachable mixing palette. And a little green glass bottle for holding water fits as well.  The original brush and an aqua brush that you can fill with water fit inside as well. One of the paint pans held white paint which was not something I'd ever use so I popped out the block of paint and filled the pan with some lamp black.

Not saying that I'll actually paint in pubic any time soon, but I like having the option. And all the paints and accessories fit inside the box to be put away safely out of small paw reach when I'm not working....  Mary

August 28

Today's drawing assignment was "draw a tree or trees, leaves or branches".  Yesterday I had my eyes examined again by a retinal specialist mid-day (all is well).  During the work day the only bus that runs out to our neighborhood runs every 50 minutes.  Of course, I missed the previous bus by 5 minutes so I was forced to wait at the European bakery near the bus stop.  There were no tables inside so I took my pastry and water outside and sat under the pergola. 

I've started carrying a small (3x5) sketchbook in my work bag.  After I ate my treat, I took out the book and a pencil to, OMG, draw in public!  It is an assignment that is coming up on my list, and the idea of drawing in front of anyone was a bit daunting.  However, I had the perfect excuse that if the drawing was awful, it would be because my eyes were hugely dilated from the appointment.

Shockingly, no art gods struck me down.  No drawing police had me arrested.  I just sat at the little table and drew the gnarly little pine tree next to it.  It was actually fun, and the drawing isn't half bad.  Cross that assignment off the list....  Mary

August 27

My origami is getting so unadventurous, but the paper is still fun and the shapes are classic.

Today's assignment is to draw what you see when you wake up in the morning.  That would be my buddy, Duvy.  Eileen brought Duvy and Monster back from New Mexico and had to leave them here with us since Warren is allergic to cats.  (Oh darn, we have to keep the boys.)  Duvy sleeps next to me so I usually see him first thing in the morning.

At first glance Duvy looks like a big old panda cat, but in reality he is a deep, gorgeous Cuban brown not black with lovely creamy white accents.  Duvy is one big old Buddha cat who lets nothing ruffle his fur.  We should all learn from Duvy and his calm....  Mary

August 26

This is more of the Folded Square paper that Anne gave me for Mother's day.  I like how it folded into the table pattern with 'fold here' in the center.

Tonight's drawing assignment:  Draw your phone. 

About a year ago, Anne finally put her foot down and said I had to give up my really dumb cell phone and get a smart phone.  I'd held out long enough so I agreed.  Like so many things in this life, I can't believe I didn't do it earlier.  My iPhone is my alarm clock, timer, calendar, level(!), notebook, check register, you name it.  If this phone stopped working tomorrow, I'd replace it before the day was over.  This is coming from someone who does not Tweet (or even read Twitter) or have a Facebook account.  This phone is just such a useful tool, I can't imagine not having it....  Mary

 Origami Table

August 25

A little pink crane.  And a drawing assignment to draw my dinner, so leftover pot roast, carrots, and potatoes.  It's on my very favorite dinnerware, Blue Heaven.  It would be very easy to buy lots of it on eBay, but it's more fun to just randomly find pieces at thrift stores and estate sales....  Mary

August 24

This paper from the British graphic designers is really amazing to work with.

The drawing assignment for today:  Draw your glasses or sunglasses.  My sunglasses have great Tory Burch orange logos lining the inside....  Mary

August 23

To round out the suite of origami furniture, a tiny paper sofa.

Today's assignment is to draw my hand.  It's not bad, but I think this weekend I should probably try several different "poses" for drawing my hand.  It will be good practice....  Mary

 Origami Sofa

August 22

Tiny origami chairs to go with the tea table from yesterday.

Today's drawing assignment:  Draw a bit of "organized chaos" -- your messy desk, your table stacked with books, etc.  I went with the jumbled pile of books next to my bed, including Danny Gregory's newest book, An Illustrated Journey....  Mary

 Little Origami Chairs

August 21

An origami table set for tea, and draw your watch or other piece of jewelry. 

This is the necklace I wear each day -- a talisman of sorts, I suppose.  There are five charms: Virgin of Guadalupe (I was born on her feast day), definition of the word peace, the Earth, create, and a quote from my favorite philosopher, Mr. Rogers.  "You can never go down the drain."  Great philosophy for life on so many levels....  Mary

 Origami Tea Table

August 20

This paper that Anne gave me for Mothers' Day is just fabulous.  The drawing assignment for today is draw a bottle, jar, or tin from the kitchen.  It's a so-so result, but at least I'm drawing every day....  Mary

August 19

Added to the origami chain.  The day's drawing assignment: Draw a well-loved object.  This Madonna stood on my mother-in-law's dresser the whole 35 years I knew her and for all of Rick's lifetime before that. Wonderfully, I was allowed to choose it as my remembrance of Kate....  Mary

August 18

Just a simple crane tonight since my postcard drawing took a very long time tonight.  I'm following Danny Gregory's daily drawing prompts at his blog for Everyday Matters (EDM) Challenge.  So I'm ripping off the Band-Aid and posting tonight's drawing:  Draw your bed.  Perspective's not great, but I like the colors.  Off it will go in the mail tomorrow to Eileen and Warren in LA.  She will immediately recognize the quilt if nothing else....  Mary

Actually, the chaise in my studio with the cats' quilt on it.

August 17

There is something just so amusing about making and inflating origami balloons....  Mary

August 16

For years I've referred to myself as an artist who can't draw.  So for the second half of this year, I'm working at drawing every single day.  I'm not ready to share my meager attempts, but I am doing it every day.

In fact, I'm doing a drawing each day on the back of postcard (graciously provided by my friend JK's partner), taking a picture of it for my own records, and sending the postcard off to Eileen in LA so she gets mail.  Who doesn't love getting mail?  Even mail with mediocre drawings?

Most of my evening studio time is spent on the drawing.  Hence my lack of adventurous creativity in the origami realm.  But I'm in the studio and posting every single day....  Mary

August 15

Monster would not cooperate in modeling the crown....  Mary

 

Purple Origami Crown

August 14

Need to get Annie to the airport at the crack of dawn so she can go visit Eileen in Los Angeles....  Mary

Paper airplane

August 13

We should be thankful for the unseasonably cool weather - 48 degrees tonight, but it is nippy.  Of course, it could be 105 and humid, so a few unripe tomatoes is a small price to pay....  Mary

Origami Four Leaf Clover

August 12

We had dinner tonight with Warren's parents, grandmother, and aunt.  It was lovely but, goodness, did we eat too much....  Mary

August 11

Molly and Joey's wedding was delightful.  Simple, lovely, and fun-filled with Molly's brother Ben officiating, flowers grown in her mother's garden, donuts instead of wedding cake, and dancing until the wee hours of the morning....  Mary

 

Toshie's Jewel

August 10

My niece Molly is getting married today.  Many congratulations to the happy couple!  Mary

Origami Heart

August 9

It's the weekend.  No meetings.  No undergrads.  No waitlists....  Mary

Origami Happi Coats

August 8

It's been a long week with a lengthy meeting mid-day, each day.  Thankfully no meetings scheduled for tomorrow.  Maybe I will actually get something accomplished....  Mary

Origami 8 Petal Flower

August 7

We went to a bon voyage party in our old neighborhood tonight for our dear friends Joe and Judy and Kent.  They are leaving next week for a year in Spain.  What an adventure!  Safe travels, dear friends....  Mary

August 6

Polka dots!  Mary

August 5

Could not resist folding a bird from bird printed paper....  Mary

August 4

Scrapbook paper comes in 6 inch square like origami paper.  It's thicker and stiffer than scrapbook paper, but it works well for modular pieces like this box....  Mary

August 3

A lovely and simple origami whale pattern....  Mary

August 2

I added to the paper chain again tonight....  Mary

August 1

The origami chain is now 6 feet long....  Mary

 

Another 31 days of origami