The Emperor moth is a widespread, but never very common, moth of heathland, moorland, woodland rides, sand dunes and grassland scrub. A very large moth, the female can have a wingspan of up to 10cm, but the male is smaller, with large, feathery antennae. During the day, males can be seen flying swiftly about and can be mistaken for butterflies. The females rest in low vegetation during the day, releasing a special scent to attract males. The caterpillars feed on woody plants, such as heather, bramble and blackthorn, and overwinter as chrysalides, sometimes for two winters.

Orange Peel fungus - lovely bright orange fungus easily mistaken for discarded orange peel, growing in an ancient woodland near to the coast in Hampshire.

Cup size - 0.5cm - 10cm across, growing early autumn to winter.

COMMON RESIDENT, but a real challenge to photograph, move so quick, and keep to the blind this of leaves and branches.. Attracted to flowering trees and shrubs where it takes nectar in addition to small insects, could watch them all day. Double click for more detail.

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THANK YOU, for your visit, and kind comments, cannot possibly show all the Gambian images, so will have to cut off when I see enthusiasm dropping off.

Hope you enjoyed the weekend, we sure have had a battering with high winds in the U.K. Stay safe and well, God bless................................Tomx

A small tanager like bird about 10cm tall with distinctive yellow legs.

This stunning Iris Louisiana ‘Ann Chowning’ has just opened on the margins of my garden pond. It has deep cherry red petals with bright yellow signals on glossy deciduous foliage. The flower head spans 10cm in diameter, and really stands out from the smaller yellow iris plants in the pond.

This BEAUTIFUL male bird is shown above, the females are plain olive-brown, with no tail streamers. They differ from most sunbirds that they have a prolonged breeding season, records from all months. my brother found one of their hanging nests, decorated with bark flakes and tendrils, complete with feeding female in attendance in February.

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THANK YOU fpr your visit and friendship, enjoy your new week, and stay safe and well, God bless...........................Tomx.

"I can't stand the rain against my window........"

The first line of this beautiful song: I Can't Stand The Rain by Ann Peebles

Enjoy ;-)

This origami cat doesn't like the rain either .......

Model: origami Cat

Design: Gilad Aharoni

Diagrams and video can be found on his website

I folded it with a 21x21cm piece of black/white paper

Final size: width 10,5cm, height 10cm

GAMBIA FEB 2019

================

HOLIDAYING in the Gambia from Dec to Feb, and amazing to think for many thousands of miles these little chaps go. Lively and mobile, encountered in bushes, notably coastal mangroves, often seen with several birds working the same tree. This one I hope is safely back in the U.K again. Some do overwinter in the south east.

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THANK YOU for your visit and very kind comments. Enjoy your day, stay safe, God bless..................................Tomx

To brighten up another grey day…….so I folded this origami modular, called 'Sudden Flame' by Aldo Marcell and I hope it will not start burning as it is paper, just joking ;-))

On the right you see just one module and on the left the finished version, made of 12 modules. I used double-colored kami-paper, size 7,5x15cm. Final size: diameter 10cm.

Model: origami Sudden Flame

Design: Aldo Marcell

There is a photo-tutorial

You don't have to bike to the nature when you have the nature on your bike !!

James Sadoka uses his model 'Eight-Point Star' (see first comment box) as a base to create several 'abstract' origami animal models.

Here we see 'The Seal', waiting to see what this new day will bring.

Happy Thursday ;-))

Model: origami Seal

Design: James Sadoka

Diagrams in the book 'Modern Origami' by James Sakoda

Paper: 15x15cm silver foil

Final size 'Seal': 10cm width, height 7cm

If you are interested to see more of his 'modern origami-models', you are invited to visit my origami-album James Sakoda. Enjoy ;-)

“Elegance wanted body and life, which is why it turned into a cat.”

Quote – William IX, Duque of Aquitaine

I love cats, so I folded some ;-))

This Siamese cat is not too difficult to fold. It consists of three parts: the head, front legs and body with tail. I like the simplicity a lot.

Model: Origami Siamese Cat

Design: Makoto Yamaguchi

Diagrams in the book "Cute Animal Origami" by Makoto Yamaguchi

Paper:

Head: 7,5x7,5cm black kami paper

Front legs: 7,5x7,5cm black kami paper

Body and tail: 7,5x15cm black kami paper

Final size: about 10cm height and 9cm width

""""This young Santa is very excited. He was playing in the attic under the guise of tidying up....... and look what he found! It it could come in handy during this festive time of December, don't you think so too? It will be his very first Xmas ;-)))""""

Model: origami Santa Claus

Design: Teiichiro Terui

Diagrams in Tanteidan 14th Convention Book

I used a 18x18cm red kami to fold this Santa Claus.

Final size: Height 10cm, width 5,5cm

Yellow Cacti plants about 10cm high.

Playing with 3 different sizes black colored paper and origami cats of course ;-)) These are flat models, you would have to support them to pose in 3D, but taking the picture with “Bird's Eye View” makes it look like they are sitting upright again .

Funny illusionary effect.

For the "Crazy Tuesday" theme: "Flat Lay Photography". I hope it will fit the theme. If not, no problem, I had fun in making this image ;-))

Happy Crazy Tuesday.

Model: origami Siamese Cat

Design: Martha Mitchen

Diagrams in Origami-USA Convention Book 1991

Both Cats are folded from a 15x15cm black/white kami paper.

Final size: height 10cm, width 8cm

"I am what I am. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, for you have been kind to me. But I am a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer."

Quote - Peter S. Beagle

A happy Start of your Friday and maybe already your weekend ;-))

Another lovely cat by the same designer as yesterday (see first comment box). And this 'dark' cat is so "Lady-like", at least in my eyes. But perhaps that is because I have a black cat, called Lady, there is much resemblance ;-))

Model: origami Cat-15°

Design: Seiji Nishikawa

Diagrams in the Origami Tanteidan Convention Book # 10

Paper: one sheet of brown sandwich paper (23x23cm)

Final size: height and width about 10cm

Llegó a casa en un envase de pasta dental , era una pequeña hoja chata, que en realidad es un tallo. Al año siguiente ya comenzó a florecer y perfumar las noches veraniegas.

Es una flor nocturna pequeña unos 10cm de tallo y 7cm de diámetro, ,.

Este año me está dando pocas flores pero igualmente da mucha alegría .

Es originaria de Oxaca, Mexico , aunque ésta que me compartió mi amigo peruano, se la trajeron de Guatemala.

Si bien su nombre científico parece complicado en realidad es que Epiphyllum: es un nombre genérico que deriva de las palabras griegas epi o sea "sobre" y phyllum que significa"hojas"..

Luego la palabra Pumilum, que es un epítetu latino que significa enano...

Dejo fotos de otros años

www.flickr.com/photos/itza/46355034372/in/photolist-2dCeE...

www.flickr.com/photos/itza/32626670453/in/photolist-2dCeE...

I woke up to about 10cm of snow, yesterday morning. This is fine on the main roads, at sea level, where superheroes clear the roads of snow and ice...However, when at 200+m and there’s a downward 30° angle, it’s a wee bit slippery.

Here, it’s around 8am. I had just come down the second of four big hills on my track, at The Pixies.

By the time I got home after work, all the snow had gone.

A beautiful morning!

The Pixies,

South Carrick Hills

SW Scotland

“Up in the morning’s no for me,

Up in the morning early;

When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,

I’m sure its winter fairly.”

Robert Burns - “Up In The Morning Early”

HFF

cropped

""It was so nice to see and catch up with my creepy friends, but yeah, there always comes a time to fly home again. So take care, be safe and best wishes", says this little Witch, sitting on her broom, ready to take off.

She was very concentrated, at the moment I made this photo, to enlarge her magic hands, so she had enough power to control her broom. I was told, it is not easy to navigate a broom……;-))

I used a 35x35cm sheet of silver foil, which I painted red on the other side, because I wanted a red witch.

Final size: Height 10cm, length 10cm, width 5cm

Model: origami Witch on Broom

Design: Miyajima Noboru

Diagrams in Tanteidan Convention Book #4

February Gold ....is my name.

This little nodder was one of the first to poke through, all alone and no more than 4" or 10cm tall. This variety are normally a bit bigger than that but not this lonely baby.

"Is it just me or is it getting crazier out there?"

Quote — Joker-Movie

I used a 30x30cm gold foil to fold this origami character. Final size: 10cm width and 9cm height.

Model: origami Joker

Design: J.W. Park

An older origami Buddha design, more abstract, but…. folded from just one piece of paper! It is a very ingenious design, I like it a lot.

I had to wait for the perfect sunlight to make the photo and this morning that moment was there;-))

Model: origami 'Seated Buddha'

Design: Fred Rohm

Diagrams:

- in the BOS-booklet #51: "The World of Fred Rohm" by Pete Ford

- - on the CD: 'The Origami World of Neal Elias' by Dave Venables and Marc Cooman

Paper: one piece of gold foil, 24x24cm.

Final size: height 10cm, size of one side of the 'table' 6cm

~~"Oeps …..I'm not quite used to walk in the snow, dear…..", said Lady Snowman.

"We're going to succeed, I'll hold you", my dearest….", said Mister Snowman.

They arrived safely at their home.~~

There are very few origami Snowman models, made out of just one piece of paper, like this one.

I folded it twice as you can see, with some variations. I hope you like them too ;-))

Model: Origami Snowman

Design: Yoo Tae Yong

There is a tutorial.

Paper: a piece of patterned foil 24x24cm

Final size: height about 10cm, width 14cm ( both arms included)

Isa Klein also designed a variation of her origami modelar 'Adaga'. With just a few different folding steps, you get a different element, with which you can create a different modular called 'Adaga as Flower'. In the photo above I show you two different angles of this variation.

You can also flip up the pentagonal flower(s) so that it becomes more detached from the whole. But I like the way it is now ;-))

In the first comment box you see "Adaga". I folded both modulars with the same size of paper and color, so you can see the difference better.

I also want to let you know that I'm taking a summer break. Stay safe and healthy, dear friends, I will do too and see you in a couple of weeks ;-))

Model: origami 'Adaga as Flower' / 'Adaga em Flor'

Design: Isa Klein

There is a tutorial by Isa Klein.

Paper: 30 pieces of orange kamipaper, 7,5x7,5cm.

Final diameter about 10cm.

One can recognize Rohm's origami 'cat-designs' by the way the eyes are shaped. This model is folded from only one piece of paper and it can stand by itself.

Model: origami 'Togetherness', also called 'Me and my Shadow'

Design: Fred Rohm

Diagrams:

- in Pajarita magazine #38

- in the BOS-booklet #49 "The World of Fred Rohm" by Pete Ford

- on the CD: 'The Origami World of Neal Elias' by Dave Venables and Marc Cooman

Paper: one sheet of double colored kamipaper 24x24cm. Final size: height about 10cm, width (from tail to tail) 11cm

"These origami daffodils are having a little conversation."

I used thin white Japanse paper, so I decided to present this model in monochrome.

Happy Thursday ;-))

Name: Daffodil

Design: Toshie Takahama

Diagrams in the book: Creative Life With Creative Origami 3

Each daffodil is folded from two pieces of paper:

- flower: a hexagon 14,5cm

- stem + leaves: one rectangle 50x9cm: first you have to cut a rhombus and then fold it

Final height of complete flower: about 25cm height, of which 10cm for the flower (point to point)

"Adaga" means 'dagger' in Portuguese. The name of this modular origami model is given based on the shape of the details, that looks like a dagger.

While looking at it I saw two faces, a sad and a happy one. So I made a diptych ;-))

Folded from 30 pieces of orange kamipaper, 7,5x7,5cm. Final diameter about 10cm.

Model: origami Adaga

Design: Isa Klein

Diagrams in Tanteidan Origami Convention Book #16

Eurasian Siskin [Spinus spinus]

In between showers, at The Pixies.

This is another wee sweetie visiting my feeders. He’s really quite small - about 10cm and weighs only about 10g.

A little charmer!

The Pixies

South Carrick Hills

SW Scotland

Thanks for visits and comments. Elaine 😄

Have a guess....What is it or better what will it be?

We are halfway a folding process....... ;-))

Update: It is an in-between-step, folding the origami Hedgehog by John Richardson. The finished model look like this.

Model: origami Hedgehog

Design: John Richardson

Diagrams: BOS magazine #75

Folded from a rectangle (2:3) German wrapping-paper 27x40,5cm

Final size: length about 10cm, width about 9cm, height about 5cm

The name porcelain mushroom is revealing. The hat is smooth and slimy, making it shine like porcelain. The often completely white mushroom is a striking appearance in the beech forest. It is a fairly large mushroom with a translucent cap up to 10 cm wide.

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De naam porseleinzwam is veelzeggend. De hoed is glad en slijmerig waardoor deze glimt als porselein. Het vaak geheel witte paddenstoel is een opvallende verschijning in het beukenbos. Het is een vrij grote paddenstoel met een doorschijnende hoed tot wel 10cm breed.

Le Troglodyte mignon est un des plus petits passereaux du vieux continent.

Il mesure moins de 10 cm de longueur et ne pèse que 8 g environ.

La longueur de sa main est inférieure à 5 cm.

Sa silhouette est très typique.

Le corps rondelet porte une tête massive prolongée par un long bec fin et légèrement courbe.

Une très courte queue (3,5 cm) est le plus souvent tenue relevée.

The Eurasian Wren is one of the smallest passerines on the old continent.

It measures less than 10cm in length and weighs only about 8g. The length of his hand is less than 5 cm.

Its silhouette is very typical.

The plump body has a massive head extended by a long, thin and slightly curved beak.

A very short tail (3.5 cm) is most often held up.

Source: Oiseaux.net

Especially during the night you can hear cats 'sing', defending their territory, sometimes they even fight….

I used very thin paper, because there are lots of layers. The eyes came out a bite rumbled, looks like scarves from the 'fight'. Don't know who is the winner here…..;-))

Hope you still like them and a happy Thursday!

Model: Origami Cat - 'Backyard Symphony'

Design: Fred Rohm

Diagrams:

- in the BOS-booklet #49: "The World of Fred Rohm" by Pete Ford

- on the CD: 'The Origami World of Neal Elias' by Dave Venables and Marc Cooman

Folded from a dollar-size piece of thin ricepaper, 9,3cmx23,8cm

Final size: height 10cm, width 9cm

The fly landed 10cm in front of the little jumper at the end of the leaf and was seen, rather than creep up on the fly the jumper went sideways and on to the underside of the leaf reappearing topside again close to the fly and pouncing! Clear sign of complicated thought. Glad their not man size.

"I must have flowers, always and always."

Quote - Claude Monet

And when they are (not yet ) visible in the garden, I just fold them ;-)) Like these little happy tulips, greeting us enthusiastic and saying: "Happy Monday and a lovey week ahead! "

Model: origami Tulip

Design: Taiko Niwa

Diagrams in the origami NOA-magazine #296

Paper:

Red tulip:

- flower: 6,25x6,25cm red foil; final size 3,75cm

- leaf: 7,5x7,5cm green Japanese paper; final size 7cm

Together final size about 10cm

Both yellow tulips:

- flower: 5x5cm, final size 3cm

- leaf: made from a triangle, diving a square 7,5x7,5cm by a diagonal; final size 7cm

Together final size about 9cm

Caltha palustris (Ranunculaceae) 134 22

Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches, and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flowers between April and August, dependent on altitude and latitude, but occasional flowers may occur at other times.

Caltha palustris, grow wild alongside streams and in shallow water around ponds, forming loose clumps of kidney-shaped leaves, each up to 8-10cm across. In late spring and early summer, large, shiny golden flowers like giant, waxy buttercups appear. These are attractive to a wide range of pollinators.

If you like a VW Bug/ Beetle , I sure you will in love with this origami model ;-))

I created a Cabrio version (you can see that on the left of the photo). It's a variation of the original origami VW Bug, which is shown on the right.

Both folded from double sized wrapping paper 24x24cm. Final size: length 10cm, width 6cm, height 6cm

A few more facts about this type of car:

~~The Volkswagen Beetle—officially the Volkswagen Type 1, informally in German the Käfer, in parts of the English-speaking world the Bug, and known by many other nicknames in other languages—is a two-door, rear-engine economy car, intended for five occupants, that was manufactured and marketed by German automaker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003.~~

Info - Wiki

Model: origami Car / VW Bug

Design: Charles Esseltine

Diagrams in BOS Convention Book 2001 - Autumn

Model: Origami cabrio

Variation: Marjan Smeijsters

A different origami Buddha, also sitting in a origami lotus flower, but differently shaped/folded, yet from the same designer.

This time I used very thin golden brown paper to created a different mood.

Name: Origami Buddha on Lotus / Buda sobre a flor de lotus

Design: Kunihiko Kasahara

Diagrams in the book: 'A Arte dos Metres de Origami' by Mari Kanegae

Folded from two pieces of thin Japanese paper 15x15cm, one for the Buddha and one for the lotus. Final height about 10cm.

An abstract version of an origami Lion, also folded from the Owl-base (see first comment box)

Note of the designer: ""The Lion, which was first discovered by my son Bill, has been recognized as a dog as often as it has as a lion"".

So what your first impression?

Model: origami Lion

Design: James Sakoda

Diagrams in the book "Modern Origami" by James Sakoda

Paper: one piece of brown Unryu-paper, 20x20cm. Final size: 10cm width, height 5cm

If you are interested to see more of his 'modern origami-models', you are invited to visit my origami-album James Sakoda. Enjoy ;-)

A chaque sortie macro sa merveille...

Voici un des plus grands Ichneumonidae d'Europe, et je peux vous dire qu'elle est vraiment grande et impressionnante ! Le corps (sans les antennes) peut mesurer jusqu'à 3cm, et l'ovipositeur de la femelle est tout aussi long, parfois même plus. Les plus grands spécimens mesurent 10cm de la pointe des antennes à la pointe de l'ovipositeur. Mais la taille peut considérablement varier en fonction des ressources disponibles lors du développement de la larve.

Cette dernière se développe SUR la larve du Sirex géant (Urocerus gigas). Alors que beaucoup de larves d'Ichneumonidae sont endoparasitoïde et se développent donc dans le corps de l'hôte, chez cette espèce la larve reste sur son hôte et le dévore de l'extérieur. L'hôte est paralysé par la femelle avant la ponte, ce qui permet à la larve de se régaler en toute tranquillité.

Ici cette femelle est donc en train de pondre. Elle enfonce son ovipositeur dont l'extrémité est similaire à une mini foreuse dans le bois pour atteindre sa victime. On se demande comment elle la détecte, enfouie à plusieurs centimètres de profondeur. En l'observant, avant de prendre cette drôle de position, on voit qu'elle tâte le support avec ses antennes. C'est grâce à ces dernières, qui sont équipées de récepteurs, qu'elle peut déceler odeurs et vibrations lui indiquant la présence d'une larve de sirex.

"I'm going home now…;-))….. best wishes and take care!!!"…….

A different view of this lovely origami rabbit, who is leaving us…...

Model: origami 'Rabbit'

Design: Yoo Tae Yong

Diagrams in the Origami Tanteidan Convention Book 2015

Paper: one piece of silver foil 35x35cm, final size 9cm wide and about 10cm tall (depending how the ears are folded ;-)

Far be it for me to question the experts but these were massive! The biggest here was certainly 10cm but elsewhere I would say easily 12cm. Regrettably, I would need a ladder to confirm it. They certainly grow bigger than 8cm Mr Jordan!

Aldis Anastigmat 10cm f2.8

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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LIVELY MALE SUNBIRD, with a broad violet brest-band. Habits coastal scrub, attracted to small flowering bushes, probing for nectar always on the move, flies with rapid wing beats and a dipping flight, am very happy to have nailed this one, because its no easy job. Zoom in to see its amazing plumage !

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated, and find encouraging. Stay safe, God bless..........

.............................................Tomx

""Surprise…surprise…!!!

Some chickens are very curious and want to step right into the big world…. shouting out loud "Here I am….. !!!!""

Neal Elias (1921 -2005), who designed this model, was one of the most important and influential figures of the modern origami.

He has great designs and they are very interesting and also much fun to fold!!

This origami model is a golden oldie, it was created in 1962.

I folded this from one piece of soft, fine-textured paper, 19,5x19,5cm, previously painted one side yellow.

Final size: about 10cm width and 11cm tall

Model: Hatching Chick

Design: Neal Elias

Diagrams:

- in the booklet 'Origami The art of paper folding 4' by Robert Harbin

- on the CD 'The Origami World of Neal Elias' by Dave Venables and Marc Cooman'

The Brown Thornbill is found in dense shrubby habitats including wet and dry forests, woodlands, shrublands, heathlands and rainforests, as well as along watercourses, mainly in the temperate and sub-tropical zones.

The Brown Thornbill feeds mainly on insects, but may sometimes eat seeds, nectar or fruit. They feed, mainly in pairs.

Photographed Maleny, Qld, Australia.

Steve Hitchcock © All rights reserved

The largest & fastest dragonfly found in Britain with a wingspan of 10cm & speeds of up to 24mph. The male is easy to identify with its apple green thorax and bright blue abdomen and blue eyes, he tends to be on constant patrol and will rarely ever settle. He rules his area aggressively chasing away any intruders that venture too close and even taking on small birds.

Wilford Clay Pit, Nottingham

Blunt nose, small eyes, and small hairy ears in contrast to other British species of mice and also much smaller; prehensile tail the same length as the head and body; russet orange fur with a white underside.

Size: 50-70mm.

Weight: 4-6g.

Lifespan: 18 months on average.

Origin & Distribution: The harvest mouse is a native species. The harvest mouse is mainly found from central Yorkshire southwards. Isolated records from Scotland and Wales probably result from the release of captive animals. Areas of tall grass provide favourable habitats, such as cereals, road side verges, hedgerows, reed beds, dykes and salt mashes where nests can be built.

Diet: They eat a mixture of seeds, berries and insects, although moss, roots and fungi may also be taken. Harvest mice sometimes take grain from cereal heads, leaving characteristic sickle-shaped remains. Noticeable damage to cereal crops is extremely rare.

General Ecology: Harvest mice are extremely active climbers and feed in the stalk zone of long grasses and reeds, particularly around dusk and dawn. Their hearing is acute and they will react sharply; they either freeze or drop into cover in response to rustling sounds up to 7m away. Harvest mice have high energy requirements; the cost of being warm blooded and coping with a high surface to volume ratio.

Breeding nests are the most obvious sign indicating the presence of harvest mice. The harvest mouse is the only British mammal to build nests of woven grass well above ground. Nests tend to be found in dense vegetation such as grasses, rushes, cereals, grassy hedgerows, ditches and brambles. They are generally located on the stalk zone of grasses, at least 30cm above ground in short grasses and up to a metre in tall reeds. The size of the nest can vary from only 5cm in diameter for non-breeding nests to 10cm in diameter for breeding nests.

Harvest mice have many predators: weasels, stoats, foxes, cats, owls, hawks, crows, even pheasants.

Breeding: Harvest mice usually have two or three litters a year in the wild, between late May and October, but even into December if the weather is mild. Most litters are born in August. Cold wet weather is a major cause of mortality. There are usually around six young in a litter. The young are born blind and hairless but grow extremely quickly and start to explore outside the nest by the 11th day. The young are abandoned after about 16 days, but continue using the nest which may at then start to look rather dilapidated. A fresh nest is built for each litter.

Sometimes the same origami model is created by different people, who had more or the less the same idea, like happened here with this origami 3D-Snowflake.

It is a simple model so I could use 'vellum'-paper, which gives also great results when backlighted. I made a day and night version;-))

In the upper row you see first an open snowflake. When the centre is being pushed in to create the star, you get the other two, shown from one side and the other and also little variations at the "tentacles".

In the bottom the snowflakes are folded in another sequences, but the result tis the same. I folded a small and a big one.

Folded from hexagon, 10cm, final size about 4-5cm. Except for the big one then the hexagon is 15cm, final size about 8cm.

Model: origami Snowflake

Design: Toshikazu Kawasaki (first row)

Diagram: in the book 'Origami Dream World' by Toshikazu Kawasaki

Model: origami Snowflake

Design: Joan Appel (lower row)

Diagram: BOS Magazine #139

Niqui has recently finished crafting this 3D goldwork turtle. The whole piece is only 10cm from nose to toes, so you can imagine how small the head and eye is. See my first comments for a view of the whole project.

The Firecrest is the UK's 2nd smallest bird at 9-10cm and spends most of its time hidden away in the canopy, so its a real treat when you get lucky with views like this.