Please Admire My Paper Christmas Stars !

Christmas stars
@MALUSE (69428)
Germany
December 16, 2018 1:45pm CST
I can't say when I started making paper stars for the Christmas season. I've grown up with them. My mother learnt to do them when she was a young woman and made them until she died, i.e. for about 60 years. She has made tens of thousands. I'm not so diligent and not so generous. I don't give so many away as a present. But I've also made thousands over the years. The material I use are DIN A 4 ( 210 mm x 297 mm) sheets of firm writing paper. Firm is important. If the paper is too soft, the stars rumple. I cut six strips out of a sheet of paper, each 21 mm x ~50 mm (one millimetre more or less doesn't matter). A strip is folded five times until I have a kind of concertina. Then I take one fold between the fingers of my left hand and cut out a tip with a tiny pair of scissors in my right hand. I leave some paper standing and cut out some. All in all I have three different patterns. Can't I cut two or three tips together so that I'd finish more quickly? No, that's not possible. One tip is enough. The scissors I use are not nail scissors with slightly curved blades. It's possible to use them but cutting is more difficult with them. My scissors are so-called skin scissors. The blades are straight. When I've cut all the tips (you can count the number in the pic at the top), I take a white thread and a very thin needle and sew them together. The needle can only go through one tip at a time, so again no rushing here. One has to do this carefully in order not to destroy the star which by now has become quite a delicate thingy. Why do I only make white paper stars? Wouldn't golden stars also look nice or even nicer? Firstly I think that, no, they wouldn't and secondly, there is no appropriate golden paper on the market. At least not in Germany. I can only get slightly metallic golden paper. It rumples when I only look at it. Surprisingly, the stars made of firm writing paper are quite robust. They last for many years. Over time they become a bit yellowish which one only notices if one puts new ones beside them. I know that the stars last a long time because I see them occasionally when I visit friends. Two weeks ago I visited a friend who'd decorated her house for the advent season. I didn't remember ever giving her some of my stars, but saw some on a fir tree twig on a window sill. Other friends have them on their Christmas trees. I've written several posts on Christmassy topics which may convey the notion that I'm a committed Christmas buff. I'm not. I'm neutral regarding Christmas. Celebrating it or not celebrating it doesn't matter to me. I've analysed this attitude and have come to the conclusion that I suffered from a Christmas overkill when I was a child. We lived near the area where all the Christmas figures are made, namely in the south east corner of Germany. There's a small town, Seiffen, which lives on Christmas paraphernalia. There's even a trade school for woodcarvers. My mother had a friend whose family produced these things. We had them all: angles and miners (the area was famous for silver mining) as candle holders, whole angel orchestras, turning pyramids powered by the warm air rising from candles, incense burner figurines, nativity sets. Name it, we had it. Why do I make my paper stars then? Well, this is a nostalgic act. While folding, cutting and sewing them, I think of my mother and that my stars look better than hers, heehee. She was perfect with needle and thread but not so much with paper. With me it's the other way round. Moreover, it's nice to be capable of producing something people love you for, isn't it?
22 people like this
24 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
16 Dec 18
They are so delicate and beautiful in detail. Have you ever thought of selling them. If it didn't break the bank I'd buy one and I bet others would two.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
16 Dec 18
@MALUSE They look to me like they would be worth more.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
@Tampa_girl7 They are worth more if you think of the time it takes to make them. But people don't want to pay more.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
Selling them was interesting when I was still a school-girl. Now it would be ridiculous. I would earn so little for them that it isn't worth it. I can make only three in one hour. There is a limit for the price. People wouldn't pay more than 2 Euro/$2,26 for one star. That would mean $6,78 for one hour. Too little for the effort!
2 people like this
@allknowing (130088)
• India
17 Dec 18
That is a neat job I only make sweets and buy decorations. Christmas brings me joy We did make a tree using bamboo sticks, years ago
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
16 Dec 18
Those stars are really pretty and hats off to you for your patience. How long does it take for you to make them? I don't make any of my own decorations. I buy them, or should I say 'bought' as they are very old now.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
I can make three stars in one hour.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
16 Dec 18
@MALUSE You only make them for yourself or to give away? Have you ever sold any? They are really pretty.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
@mysdianait I have some for myself. They are several years old and still looking good. I also give them away as presents. By now all my friends have some. I can't give them new stars because they keep the old ones and have them for many years. Selling them was interesting when I was still a school-girl. Now it would be ridiculous. I would earn so little for them that it isn't worth it.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53688)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Dec 18
I love your stars! They are dainty yet striking. They are from your childhood and have always stayed with you (much like how origami cranes are with me . . . at this point we can literally make our paper crafts with our eyes closed ). I just showed my kids your stars (they are artistic and crafty too) and they were wowed by them too !
@much2say (53688)
• Los Angeles, California
20 Dec 18
@MALUSE I would enjoy that immensely! You said you had 3 patterns . . . have you ever tried to create new ones?
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
18 Dec 18
I wish I could sit with you and show you how to make them. People who are good with their hands can learn the craft, of course.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
20 Dec 18
@much2say I haven't, but my mother did. I've been faithful to the three patterns I learnt to cut as a child.
@Plethos (13618)
• United States
16 Dec 18
ive always admired your paper christmas stars. these look very flowery.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
Thank you. People often say that they remind them of snowflakes.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
@Plethos Really? Here is a photo of a typical chrysanthemum. Btw, were you also a member on the site bubblews?
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13618)
• United States
16 Dec 18
@MALUSE - i believe the flower they remind me of is called chrysanthemum.
@Icydoll (36725)
• India
16 Dec 18
Pretty neat and they resemble flowers .Very good .
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48236)
• Canada
16 Dec 18
They are beautiful and intricate works of art. I think that anyone who you have gifted one to would be grateful. And such a nice legacy to what your mother had taught you.
@Juliaacv (48236)
• Canada
16 Dec 18
@MALUSE Yes, I did notice that there are 3 different patterns shown in the picture. I'm sure that they make a lovely gift on a twig.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
I never give only one star as a gift! If you look closely, you'll see that there are three different patterns. So I always give at least three stars. I put them on a fir twig. That looks nice.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
17 Dec 18
I had the occasion to admire your Christmas Stars in the past and I admire your skills and your patience.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
17 Dec 18
Grazie!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
17 Dec 18
@MALUSE Prego, I have to try one day to make at least one.
@acelawrites (19274)
• Philippines
19 Dec 18
That's a nice tribute to your mother. She was good at making such paper stars, a unique skill one can have and for sure you got her genes! When I sew or embroider, I also think of my mother, it is a way of showing our love for them.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
19 Dec 18
Yes, it is indeed.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17795)
• London, England
18 Dec 18
Very nice! I wouldn't be able to do such detailed work for long
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
18 Dec 18
You don't have to do this for long. You can make a star or two whenever you feel like it. My mother usually began a new 'production' when Christmas was over so that she would have a certain number of stars for the following season.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22932)
• India
17 Dec 18
Those are done very beautifully.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
17 Dec 18
@responsiveme @Nevena83 Thank you for the praise!
2 people like this
@Nevena83 (65287)
• Serbia
17 Dec 18
@MALUSE welcome
• United States
17 Dec 18
wow, these are so gorgeous and intricate O:
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
17 Dec 18
Thank you!
• United Kingdom
16 Dec 18
So pretty x
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
Thank you.
18 Dec 18
Amazing
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
18 Dec 18
Thank you!
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
31 May 19
You must have a lot of patience as you create these. They are beautiful. I could never do something so precise with my hands.
@amadeo (111956)
• United States
16 Dec 18
thank you for sharing this wi th us.They are great. yes your right there.Something people love
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
16 Dec 18
Thanks for your friendly words.
@TheHorse (203718)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Feb 22
It is. I'm glad you're better with the paper part, but I bet your mom is still chuckling about her superior sewing skills.
@lovebuglena (42912)
• Staten Island, New York
28 Dec 20
These stars look real pretty. Great idea to try doing something like this. And I bet it's a lot of fun to make these.
@debjani1 (7211)
17 Dec 18
Its beautiful. Looks like made of silver. It's unique. Just want to take it.
@Nevena83 (65287)
• Serbia
17 Dec 18
Wooow, the stars look beautiful