So here’s a truth, I really like being on time, and I’m closely related to other people whom really enjoy being on time too. So I am completely surprised every time it seems to get away from me.  Hello November, good-bye November, it’s been nice seeing you again. Now I must begin to wrap my mind around the  holiday season ahead and the start of another new year.

This fall I had the opportunity to spend more quality time working on a few different ideas for drawings that I just couldn’t seem to put down.  The majority of the drawings are drawn with an Inc. R2 Roller Ball otherwise I used an unknown old fine tip pen that was floating around the house.   The wide colorful piece is  drawn with the R2 and a rainbow of Sharpie markers.  I started it about 2 years ago and worked on it off and on for a few weeks before rolling it up and forgetting about it.  Finally this fall I finished it up.

If you have ever attempted creating a repeating design for textile or paper goods, today’s post is for you!  When I first attempted to manipulate an image into a repeating pattern I became so frustrated at the results that I ended up consulting my dear friend Google.  There must be a simpler way I thought!  Within minutes I came across an article by artist Julia Rothman on Design Sponge in which she gives a wonderful tutorial on the process.  You can find her article over here.

Julia uses a simple “draw and quarter” method which has become one of my go-to trick for designing all over patterns for fabric, stationery, and wallpaper.  The example  below shows a before and after of a repeating block inspired by early season wildflowers.  A version of this design for fabric can be seen by clicking here.

Another simple technique that I find helpful is to scan the images for your pattern and use Photoshop or a similar program to create a repeating pattern for a small area.  A block is not used for this process.as it is very straight forward. Instead create a new document at the size you wish to cover with a pattern.  Simply copy and paste the image/images being used and play around with the size and position on the page.  Continue pasting the image until you have covered the area and are happy with the results.  Try rotating the images or varying the size for a different perspective you might surprise yourself!  The apples and daisy pattern were created using this simple technique.

I love finding similar patterns and shapes in nature.  For me it’s like playing a matching game on a much larger field.  Here are a few recent fungi I have come across paired with another natural object that I felt referenced the other in the shape, texture, or color.

1. wasp nest via Wasp and Sting Prevention  2, 3 & 5 fungi by Borealchick  4. Ocean spirit shell  6. Oak wasp gall

You can see more photographs of my recent finds in nature by heading to my post over at Dearest Nature.

Just about my entire life I have been “creating things.”  As a child, if you left me in a room alone with a package of construction paper, glue and scissors I would make a slew of objects & art only emerging to eat.  Not much has changed.  Given the cold & raw weather we have been experiencing the past couple of days I am completely content feeling cozy inside with my collection of paper.

While I  can’t recall the first time I played around with origami I do know that I have always found it to be a soothing activity.  I can make a paper crane when waiting for my morning coffee to brew- even before my eyes have lost their sleepiness .  I recently checked out a book from the library, The Art of Origami, by Gay Merrill Gross, and in it found not only a variety of new projects to experience, but a history of the art and its emergence in Western Culture.  The first book in English which depicted origami as a “creative art” was published in England in 1956 by Robert Harbin.  He had studied with a Japanese origami master, Akira Yoshizawa helping to bring the ceremonial art form to another level and audience.

The paper wallet/card holder design was created by a professor of physics, Humiaki Huzita.  I was drawn to this project because of its simplicity and function.  While this paper creation is a clever way to hold business cards or money, it is also a pleasant way to present a gift, which after all is a tradition of origami in Japan.  A folded ornament called a noshi, is a way to signify that a package is intended as a gift.  Why not merge the past & present and use this holder to present a gift of money or a gift card?

The examples I have made were created using a variety of papers and weights.  When using a stiffer paper it might be helpful to tie a string or ribbon around it when using for a gift.  Light weight paper might require adding an additional support.  Here I have used 3 1/2 x 5 inch paint color samples (which you can pick up for free) at any home improvement store.  Head to your local library for more information, or simply do a web search for “origami wallet instructions” to find this pattern as well as a variety of creative examples.

Head on over to How About Orange’s post “Practical Origami book” to see some beautiful images of modern and practical paper folding techniques.  The last photograph features a similar folded paper wallet seen here!

All photographs were taken by the Borealchick.