I find David Shall's Napkin Ring to be very practical, not just for holding napkins, but also for carrying rolls of paper, replacing ribbon on a package, for a quick bracelet/headband, for a kid's rolling toy, for hanging things, for an eye-catching way to leave a note or business-card (tuck into the inner pocket of the ring).
Yes, I still use the traditional newspaper hat to keep off the sun -- old folks remember it fondly, kids who hardly know what a newspaper is are amazed and delighted. Origami arrows -- very handy for posting temporary signs. (Fold a Waterbomb Base on one end of a rectangle. Fold in the long cut edges under the extended points of the Waterbomb Base. When you're done with the sign, a few more folds turns it into a Frog action model.) Origami booklet (not for purists, since it requires a cut) -- i use these often for taking notes on recycled paper. Someone in the forum mentioned action toys to keep kids entertained. To my mind, that's one of the most practical uses for origami ever, anywhere. I wouldn't limit it to action models --- the kids find their own ways to make almost any model an action model. Put together some Traditional Magazine Cover boxes, the Waterbomb, Business card cubes, or my Building blocks <http://www.giladorigami.com/origami-database/Building%20blocks%20Karen%20Reeds> (1985 Origami USA Convention volume), you've got blocks to build with or safe "balls" for playing catch. Small packets to hold coins or tokens. My Interlock Change Purse <http://www.giladorigami.com/origami-database/Interlock%20Change%20Purse%20Karen%20Reeds> (1991 Origami USA COnvention volume) uses a dollar bill to hold spare change. The traditional Seed-Packet is very useful for holding small odd-shaped objects or powders (seeds, nuts, candies, coins, cookies, screws, salt, sugar, flashdrives....) Gilad's origami database conveniently includes "useful" as a category http://www.giladorigami.com/origami-database/useful (Thanks, Gilad!) Karen Karen Reeds, co-ringleader, Princeton Public Library Origami Group. Affiliate of Origami USA, http://origamiusa.org/ We usually meet 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8pm, 3rd floor. Free! We provide paper! All welcome! (Kids under 8, please bring a grown-up.) Princeton Public Library info: 609.924.9529 http://princetonlibrary.org/ Next meeting: Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 6:30-8pm -- Laura Kruskal will teach new models from Paper Canoe base. karenmre...@gmail.com
