Paper Play

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like … Well, You Know What.

**Christmas greenery** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

A friend once wittily remarked that this year, December has only two weeks and January has six. It certainly feels like it. I’d barely cracked open the first door of my Moomin advent calendar when I felt catapulted into the middle of the month. But, surely, that is the point. By filling our days with decorating, gift-giving and feasting, we are able to take our minds off the icy winds that penetrate even the warmest jumpers and the rain laden clouds that darken even the shortest of days. Through filling our homes with greenery and light and colour, we stave off misery and cold. January only has a brief celebration on the eve of it coming into being and then nothing. No wonder it feels long.

O Christmas tree!

In our family, the Christmas tree goes up on the first weekend of December. It marks the beginning of festivities and serves as a poignant reminder of all those we love who have contributed decorations but who we cannot necessarily see. In the past, this was mainly my husband’s American relatives and my American friend; now it includes our own children who now also live ‘across the pond’.

**Our family tree** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Our tree would win no prizes for style; it has no designer elements, just a higgledy-piggledy profusion of ornaments stitched with skill or crafted at Sunday school with glitter and glue. Yet, each one is precious and as we hold the ornament in our hands before placing it on the tree, we reflect on the person who gave it and smile at the memories they invoke. Often, it is a bitter sweet experience. Our children are grown, our days of adventurous travel have ended, but the tree is a symbol of resurrection and new life. So, who knows what the dawning year will bring?

Deck the halls

Before Christmas trees, it was traditional to bring evergreens into the home at the time of the winter solstice. From earliest history, they were seen as harbingers of hope: heralding the sun god’s return and with him the growth of new crops. Others viewed them as protection against evil forces and sickness. (History.com) Evergreens are also associated with eternal life (since, unlike deciduous trees they never ‘die’). For Christians, this marries with the arrival of the Christ child and his promise of immortality.

Though it is not necessary to ascribe our greenery with any greater symbolism than that of Nature’s ability to provide beauty at any time of the year. When I went to pick my greens for the mantle piece this last weekend, the rain was mizzling and the skies a deep grey, but bundled up in coat and scarf, it was a pleasure to pick and snip what I needed, inhaling the clean scent of pine and damp earth beneath my feet.

**Bringing in the greens**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Once arranged, the lounge felt lighter and more festive. The centrally heated air took on a fresher perfume. The twin focal points of greenery and fire place served as promises of warmth both now and in the months to come.

Christmas always provides the best excuse for paper play. This year, I went into recycling mode and used some sheets from old books I had been given by a local bookshop. I was able to make baubles and pretty ornaments to hang from the window. No doubt, they will be packed away for next year … unless some new design takes my fancy.

**Literary decorations!** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

When using old books, do keep in mind that really old ones have fragile papers. The ones pictured above held together – just – but I doubt they could manage a lot of handling.

As I ran out of Christmas cards at the eleventh hour, I also took to recycling some old ones into a new design.

**Upcycled cards**
Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

A good scalpel, some origami and a few embellishments brought these old cards to life.

Ornaments

No Christmas is complete without ornaments for the tree or indeed any object that will hold them. To maximise my cards’ usefulness, I made tiny origami angels complete with thread so that once the message was read, they could be attached to the tree.

With a little help from the inimitable Su Blackwell, I even made a teeny paper doll for my ‘pear tree’. It was a privilege to meet this astonishingly talented paper artist and if you have a moment, you may like to look at this link to see how transforming books into art is really done. https://www.boredpanda.com/illuminated-book-sculpture-su-blackwell/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

My little doll looks rather sad in comparison, but since her latest book contains templates and instructions, I shall practice a little more!

**First attempt.** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Handmade with love

Conscious as we all are that over-consumption is costly to the planet, I made a decision this year to give only one gift per person and wherever possible, hand made. I started planning in about October, as I’m not as speedy as I’d like to be!

Some of my favourite gifts have been those specific to the holidays. These are things that are brought out year after year and the skill and kindness of the giver remembered each time. Perhaps I could do the same? Working on the principle that everyone can use an extra seasonal something, I decided to make wreaths for those who lived close by and brooches for those that needed posting.

With a little help from YouTube (well, quite a lot actually) I downloaded a poinsettia template and watched the instructions. A trip to Hobbycraft fulfilled the supply side and then all I had to do was make them. The wreaths seemed to need a little extra, so I made some embroidered leaves that I had seen in a magazine. Several weeks later, they were ready to deliver.

**Wreath detail** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Since they were assembled using only a little glue from a glue gun, the wreaths can easily be repurposed for other seasons and the brooches are perfect for autumn too.

Looking back, I see that it has been a very creative Christmas season. Sewing, card making, gathering greens and adding decorations has certainly made the time pass pleasantly. Next week, I shall have to focus of wrapping the final presents and before we know it, Christmas will be here.

And then, I shall have to think about cooking…

Confessions of a Paperphile

Of all the materials available to mankind, none beats paper. It is the medium for books, for art and for writing: pretty much everything I hold dear. Like water, it is almost ubiquitous: like water, it holds little value until it is scarce.

Indeed, in the past, paper was the preserve of the rich, but now it is so cheap that it is used and thrown away without a thought. This post hopes to rectify that. I’m not suggesting that you hoard every scrap but that you come to love paper, as I do, for the infinite ways that it can bring you joy. When planning this piece, I realised that I would have to limit my enthusiasm to just one aspect of paper use and I have opted for the three dimensional. Paper, like plastic, can take an infinite variety of forms, but unlike plastic, can be safely and easily recycled.

**Paper snap dragons** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Inception

My paper obsession started in childhood. Television was rather more educational than entertaining then and I remember finishing a programme and rushing off to find some old newspapers to make palm trees. They did, sort of look like palm trees, but the final result didn’t matter too much – what did was the pleasure of creating them. And unlike other toys, they didn’t clutter up the house before being relegated to the back of the wardrobe; they were created and returned to the bin.

When I was a little older, the playground craze was for snap dragons (see above) – a simple origami form that opened up to reveal your fortune. Why nine-year-old girls trusted their fates to such inventions is by the by, but it did introduce me to the idea of origami, which I have loved ever since.

Keeping it simple

What makes paper play perfect for children is that the materials are cheap and readily available. Though my paper play has become a little more sophisticated over the years, my basic materials haven’t changed much at all. I’ve added a scalpel, a bone folder, a cutting board and specialist ruler, yet all I really need are scissors, paper and glue.

**Everything you need** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Once one’s paper obsession begins, it is quite hard to keep restrained. After all, there are so many amazing papers out there and costing little more than a cup of coffee. I try to keep my collection under control by getting only specialist origami papers and the occasional Flow paper book. Leafing through my paper books alone can bring hours of entertainment, crammed as they are with paper projects of every kind. Below are some little houses, pre-printed, that I made up as 3D models.

A tiny project to amuse for a little while Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Art for free

Yet, enjoying making art from paper, doesn’t require expensive paper books or Japanese origami papers, absolutely any paper will do. Old newspapers, magazines, music paper, wrapping papers and old books can make the most elegant pieces. I often cut up old calendars for their beautiful images and then reimagine them as cards. The art of collage, that I have yet to master, thrives on found images reconfigured. Book lover that I am, I adore things that are made from old books. These tomes can be made into clocks, jewellery, decorations, sculptures and even clothes. It has become its own art form with exhibitions of the most stunning creations made from whole books to the pages of old telephone directories. The delicate and almost ethereal qualities of paper only adding to their charm.

Having dug out my Playing with Books edition, I decided to make some spring blooms in honour of the season. An added advantage is that I shan’t have to water them.

**Who needs silk when paper will do?** Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Inspiration

For me, the hardest part of any venture – especially creative ones, is getting started. What if I fail? What if my beautiful lily turns out looking like a turnip? (quite a few of my early attempts did). The beauty of working in paper is that every failure only results in a slightly more full recycling bin. Whatever time you have ‘wasted’ will have taught you valuable lessons about working slowly and carefully – rush with paper and it will rip. Sometimes, even when you don’t rush, it will rip.

Though working with paper requires absolute and methodical concentration, it generally does not take long. Making my granddaughter’s quilt took me the better part of a year; making my paper flowers, an afternoon. With only a few materials needed to get started, it is the perfect occupation for when you have a little time spare and want to achieve something rather than watch something.

But if you prefer paper play as spectator sport, there is no end of amazing content in books and on-line. Whatever you choose, take a little time to appreciate the paper in your life. Who knows, you may end up a paperphile too.

**Extreme origami! I think I need a bit more practice**. Image: Istvan Hernek on Unsplash

Home ECO-nomics

With all the current political and health concerns, it is easy to forget that the Earth needs our help. Whilst we all know that we should be doing more to save the planet, it is often difficult to find the time and motivation to actually do so. And as with many worthy activities, it can seem rather boring.

Be a friend of the Earth Image: Louis Maniquet on Unsplash

But what if we change the narrative? What if, instead of thinking that it is something we ought to do that it is something that we can enjoy doing: something that brings us financial or creative benefits or both?

The topic is endless and complex, so I shall begin on the small scale and where we can see the results. I shall begin with the home.

The three Rs

Here’s a jolly little song to inspire you!

There is a very simple formula for living a more environmentally conscious life and that is to follow the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Focus almost always tends to fall on the last, and although that is important, it is not as significant as the others. If we reduce the amount that we consume and reuse what we have, recycling becomes a small part in a virtuous cycle.

Twenty is plenty

With heating accounting for 50% of UK homes’ heating bills (Energy Saving Trust) it is worth thinking about how much we actually need. It turns out that like the ideal speed limit near schools, 20 is plenty. This equates to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, if you need it warmer to keep well, turn it up, but for most of us, a woolly jumper will do the trick.

Since we are always dressed for dog walking, this temperature suits us fine. Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Heat efficient cooking

Despite cooking food being a significant part of a household’s energy use, I seldom see guidelines on how to cook more efficiently. So here are a few I have picked up along the way.

Put a lid on it! The simple act of putting a lid on a pot decreases the cooking time and reduces energy costs. Many foods, once brought to the boil, will cook very happily without any heat at all when sealed with a lid. I use this method to cook vegetables and rice and it works a treat. (You can always turn the heat back on if they need a little extra.)
Match the pot with the hob. Placing a smaller pot on a larger hob could waste up to 40% energy according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. And this was with only a 2 inch differential.
Oven on? Fill it up! If you have an oven on, try to fill all the shelves. It may take a little forward thinking (putting the butternut squash in to make soup the next day, for example) but it is well worth it. And cooling ovens can be used to dry fruit leathers, herbs and kale chips.

Food glorious food

Food waste in the UK is beyond startling, currently around 20 million tonnes. The true cost of this is huge: in the production, packaging and transport of wasted food; the financial cost to the consumer and its disposal in already overstretched land-fill sites. A few steps can go a long way towards reducing this waste: planning your grocery list; resisting multi-buy deals on fresh products unless you can realistically use them all and learning to use up everything in the fridge.

My cooking tends to be determined by what is getting closest to its sell-by. So I start by seeing what needs to be eaten and plan my meals around that. It takes some of the strain of what to make for dinner out of the equation. An all-time favourite is ‘bottom of the vegetable basket soup’. Soups are a brilliant way to use up tired vegetables. This one is easiest of all. Take your sad vegetables, clean and chop. Fry a chopped onion, add vegetables and stock plus any seasonings/ herbs your fancy. Bring to the boil. Turn off the heat and let vegetables cook until tender. Reheat before serving. Add rice or oats for a thicker, heartier meal.

A delicious starter for pennies – and no waste Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

If you wish to economise on food bills and have that virtuous warm glow of helping the planet too, here are a few ideas to enable you to do that. Buy wonky veg! Most supermarkets now sell ‘imperfect’ (in appearance only) vegetables at ridiculously low prices. These vegetables would probably have been thrown away – all the effort – and energy used to grow them wasted.

Whilst organic vegetables are ideal, they can be expensive. And if they are flown in from New Zealand, I’d question the benefit. Local is always better. If you can get both, that is perfect.

All of us have home freezers, and these work most efficiently when full. Ours contain bread and baked goods to keep them fresh; fruit and veg from the garden and commercial sources. We’ve just discovered frozen avocado chunks- perfect for guacamole and no more wasted avocados that go bad over night.

Smart containers

When it comes to reusing, containers are the key. Without going crazy, look at the product you are buying and think how you can give the packaging a second life. Ideally, go for something that you know you can easily reuse – like Nutella in a tumbler glass rather than an oddly shaped jar. Be imaginative. Even the protective sheath on a greetings card can be reused for small items. My favourites are glass jars, which have endless possibilities. Most of my storage containers are old pickle jars. I love the tiny jam jars for lip balms and even made my American husband a patriotic snow globe from an old olive jar.

Jars – How do I use thee? Let me count the ways. Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Decorate with stickers or pretty labels to give them a personal touch. Another great resource is magazines. Read, enjoy then repurpose. And when you are done? Recycle!

Paper play

Beautiful papers are too good for the recycling bin Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Pretty magazine papers are perfect for wrapping small gifts, making bespoke envelopes and practising origami.

Wrapping paper can almost always be reused if opened carefully and pretty gift bags will certainly serve many times. Old calendars, with their beautiful illustrations on quality paper, make wonderful backdrops for cards. And old greeting cards make super gift tags.

One of my favourite paper resources is books – the old ones whose covers are falling off. There are whole books on this form of upcycling and book art is a special love of mine. Printed pages (as with sheet music) can be used in endless ways from jewellery to hedgehogs.

And all those little paper scraps? They are perfect for collage.

The final step

Once you have enjoyed using everything, then it is time to recycle. Out of courtesy to those handling your waste, it is good to give containers a wash in soapy water before putting in the recycling bin.

The more you consider your use of the Earth’s vital resources, the more you are likely to look after them. In doing so, you will save money and the planet.

I have only touched on a few ideas here, but I would love to hear from you if you have any imaginative or practical ways to minimise domestic waste. Please pop your ideas in the comments section below, and if there are enough of them, I shall present them in a future post!