The 30+ Day Folding Challenge
To explore a different folded / pleated shape every day
In common with a lot of creatives, I tend to flit from one project to the next, not always finishing the first project before the next exciting, “new shiny thing” catches my attention. By setting myself this challenge I hoped to focus on one topic for a while and really push the boundaries to develop some new ideas, shapes and designs in felt-making.
This post is my edited highlights from the first 30 days of this challenge, if you would like to see the whole journey, all of the different shapes and more of the thought processes involved behind each piece please start here:
I have long been inspired by Andrea Noeske-Porada, a felt artist best known for her origami pieces. For years I had believed her to be the designer of the kaleidocyle:
But after my first post in this series, Henny van Tussenbroek got in touch, it turns out Andrea was just the first person to make one in felt, the original designer was in fact a Dutch mathematician-artist, (MC Escher) and author of this book:
Thank you Henny for sharing this information and correcting my assumption!
This book is a quite a slim volume but it is a fascinating read. I was lucky enough to find a second hand copy here in New Zealand and it is one of best creative books I own. If you would like some help to figure out the pattern for a kaleidocyle, I highly recommend getting a copy.
I have made a few items based on the designs in this book, some have turned out better than others!
Using various books on origami for inspiration and templates, I have made dozens of different shapes form paper and card, these are just a few:
And recreated a few of my favourites in felt:
Let me know if you have been playing along too, these journeys are so much more fun when taken with others! 🙂
20 thoughts on “The 30+ Day Folding Challenge”
Super. Thank you!
Love this!! So inspiring to see all of the different shapes you can create with felt.
Amazing Teri. I have often wondered about origami and shibori felt work, but haven’t done much about having a shot at it.
What’s even more amazing is that just before I received notification of your post, I received one from Paula Beardell Krieg (Playful Bookbinding and Paper Works) about Chinese Thread Books and Zhen Xian Bao. That sent me down another rabbit hole. This is the link to one of the posts she has done regarding this – https://bookzoompa.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/inside-a-chinese-thread-book-zhen-xian-bao-post-7/
I first thought that Ruth would be interested in this, but it sounds as if you may well find it fascinating too. It seems that inside a slim folded paper cover there are 30 boxes hiding!
Ann
Oooh that’s an interesting idea Ann, combining shibori felt with origami….
And WOW!! I’d never heard of thread books before, Paula’s post was a real eye-opener for me! Looking at the first image it is hard to imagine each box is concealing more and more, larger boxes beneath. Stunningly beautiful way to organise your threads (I’m assuming that is what they were designed for).
Amazing stuff, Teri! What a great challenge and way to exercise the brain 😀
Shh… don’t tell my brain this is exercise, I have been framing it as daily “play time” 🙂
I actually own this book. I haven’t looked at it for years, but now I am going to go find the box it is residing in and reread it.
Thanks for sharing this, I always find MC Escher’s designs endlessly fascinating.
Escher had an incredible mind, not only figuring out the 3D structures but designing the most beautiful repeating patterns to adorn them too. The surface design patterns were an unexpected bonus when I received the book. Enjoy!
What a great challenge for you Teri! I have not read the MC Escher book, I will have to check my local library. I have been doing a bit of folding making books and have really enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing more of your folded felt.
From the prices I saw, I get the impression these books are now out of print (Escher died in the early 70’s). Fingers crossed your library has a copy….
This is fascinating!! Can’t wait to take a class from you on it.
An origami felt class might be a while away yet! But I love your enthusiasm 🙂
Very cool Challenge, Teri. I gave my grandson one of the kaleidocyles for Christmas last year, they are very cool to play with. I was thinking about the paper lucky stars the other day. I may have to make something in felt now.
A felt version sound like a great plan Ann – please post about it if you do! 🙂
A very challenging challenge but what great results!
Ha ha, I am really just allowing myself some play time 🙂
I love Escher’s drawings which are mind boggling enough Teri but these pieces take it to a new dimension. Thanks so much for sharing.
Helene x
I’m another fan of Escher’s work Teri and hats off to you for attempting these forms in fibre!
Please i love what u r showing but i would love to learn how to do some of them.Is there a way of linking some to video,s to show how to do them please.I have no workshops in quebec in english
Plus do you have workshops coming up and where are u located.
Thanks
Sue
Hi Sue, I am located in Auckland, New Zealand and will be teaching a complex resists 2 day masterclass in November that will be focussed on how to use multiple resists more creatively. That will be a face to face, exploratory class, with no fixed outcome (other than to play and explore).
I’m still very much in the learning / exploring stage with origami felt, so don’t feel I am in a position to offer classes on it yet. Why don’t you play / learn along with me? There’s no rules as such, feel free to use whatever materials you have to hand to make small samples to test different questions that each piece will present.