Origami Heaven

A paperfolding paradise

The website of writer and paperfolding designer David Mitchell

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Adaptations
 
Adaptations are those designs where I have taken an existing design - usually a traditional design, a playground fold or a classic modern design - and tweaked it slightly to create something different, or, perhaps just occasionally, something better.

I very much like this way of designing. It makes me feel connected to those, often unknown and unremembered, paperfolders who first pioneered the exploration of what folding paper can do.

 
 
 
  Name: Basketball Hoop with Stabiliser - adaptation of a modern design of unknown origin by the addition of a spring loaded stabiliser.

Paper shape / type: 2 sheets of A4 or similar rectangular paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2005.

Reference: 072

Diagrams: Office Origami - Adam Russ - Universe Publishing - ISBN 0-7893-1313-8 // Online diagrams can be found on the Designs of unknown origin page of this site.

 
  Name: Blow-up Long-eared Owl - adaptation of the traditional Waterbomb.

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any kind.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2014

Reference: 359

Diagrams: Diagrams not yet available.

 
  Name: Bric-a-brac - ultimate simplification of the traditional Chinese Junk design.

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any kind.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001

Reference: 228

Diagrams: Origami - Barnes and Noble - ISBN 0-7607-3331-7 // Quadrato Magico 75/76 Autumn 2004 // On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Coy Carp - alternative fish from the traditional Kabuto using the same cut as used for the traditional Goldfish.

Paper shape / type: Square homogeneous / dyed paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001

Reference: 230

Diagrams: Origami - Barnes and Noble - ISBN 0-7607-3331-7 - attributed to Oliver Zachary // Complete Origami - Collins and Brown - David Mitchell - ISBN 978-1-84340-397-5 // On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Fantail Secret Chicken - adaptation of a possibly traditional design.

Paper shape / type: Square homogeneous / dyed paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2006

Reference: 302

Diagrams: Origami Animals - Greenwich Editions - David Mitchell - ISBN 1-86288-770-4 // On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Flick Flack - a version of Seiryo Takekawa's Tarumpty Tum Tum (aka Tumbler) which has roll-back ability.

Paper shape / type: A4 paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2002

Reference: 243

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Frog Eat Frog - cut and fold design. Adaptation of a Paul Jackson design (which was itself an adaptation of a Robert E Neale original). Frog Eat Frog Eat Frog is also possible.

Paper shape / type: A4 or similar rectangle.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2005

Reference: 278

Diagrams: Office Origami - Adam Russ - Universe Publishing - ISBN 0-7893-1313-8 // On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Infinity Envelope - adaptation of a possibly traditional design.

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any type.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2005

Reference: 281

Diagrams: Diagrams not yet available.

 
  Name: Kamikaze - adaptation of the business card jumping frog design so that it works from ordinary square origami paper.

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any type.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2012

Reference: 340

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Knotfish - adaptation of the traditional Lover's Knot.

Paper shape / type: Square homogeneous / dyed paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1996

Reference: 127

Diagrams: BOM 185 August 1997 // Complete Origami - Collins and Brown - David Mitchell - ISBN 978-1-84340-397-5 // On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: New Mystery Box - simplification of possibly traditional Japanese design.

Paper shape / type: 6 identical modules from 4x1 rectangles.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1996

Reference: 128

Diagrams: Synergy 1 - Water Trade // On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Noah's Ark - development of the traditional Paper Boat.

Paper shape / type: Square paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2009

Reference: 327

Diagrams: Diagrams not yet available.

 
  Name: Cocotte in Flight / Pajarita in Flight - adaptation of the traditional design.

Paper type / shape: Square / Any kind of paper

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1997.

Reference: 570

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Octagonal Masu - variation of a traditional design.

Paper type / shape: A4 / Homogeneous paper.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2007

Reference: 317

Diagrams: Diagrams not yet available.

 
  Name: Pocket Tetrahedron - a pure origami version of the traditional pop-up tetrahedron from an envelope.

Paper shape / type: A4 or similar rectangle.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1994

Reference: 113

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Single Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Snap Dragon - variation of a jumping design by Dorothy Engleman.

Paper shape / type: File card

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2005

Reference: 294

Diagrams: Office Origami - Adam Russ - Universe Publishing - ISBN 0-7893-1313-8

 
  Name: Strengtheners for the Magazine Box

Paper shape / type: A4 or similar rectangle.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2005

Reference: 073

Diagrams: As Boredom Box in Office Origami - Adam Russ - Universe Publishing - ISBN 0-7893-1313-8 // Online diagrams can be found on the Designs of unknown origin page of this site.

 
  Name: Super Rooster - accessorised version of possibly traditional Rooster design.

Paper shape / type: Squares and 2x1 rectangle

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2006

Reference: 310

Diagrams: Origami Animals - Greenwich Editions - David Mitchell - ISBN 1-86288-770-4 // On-line diagrams are available on the Multiple Sheet Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: Turkey - adaptation of a possibly traditional design.

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any kind.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2006

Reference: 311

Diagrams: Origami Animals - Greenwich Editions - David Mitchell - ISBN 1-86288-770-4

 
  Name: Waterbomb Variation

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any kind.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2014

Reference: 521

Diagrams: Diagrams not yet available

 
  Name: Woodpecker - simple active play paperfold - adaptation of Paul Jackson's fold of the same name to provide a hole for the beak to peck into.

Paper shape / type: Square paper of any type.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1988

Reference: 033

Diagrams: BOS Convention Pack Spring 1989 // Origami Animals - Greenwich Editions - David Mitchell - ISBN 1-86288-770-4.