For the early years of my children’s lives, we spent a lot of time getting messy. I still have some of the trophies of those creative play sessions; little figures more resembling blob monsters than animals (“It’s a kangaroo, mum!” “Ah yes, I can see that now.”). As they are older, these prized items have become less frequent sadly, but last week it was my turn to present a carefully crafted item to my children, “Look what I made!” after joining in a Pop Up Scotland Pub Craft Club session at Paradise Palms in Edinburgh.

Held on a Tuesday night from 6.30pm for a couple of hours, this sociable session is led by multi-talented artist Anne Rushing. This time the activity was origami, though others have been/will be felt flowers, patchwork, book binding and lino printing. About half a dozen or so people sat, and with clear direction from Anne (and printed diagrams) and her QVC-deft hands, we tentatively folded our way through lid and base to make a beautiful paper box. Not since folding those beaky pick-a-number/pick-a-colour childhood games have I concentrated so hard on paper folding. Folds that seem to make no sense suddenly transform the paper into a section of box as if by magic, though the real magic feels like it came from the super-complicated brain of designer Tamoko Fuse, on whose work this project is based. The whole session was a piece of double entendre heaven, lifting of back flaps and dismay at sudden sticky-out bits.

At £15 per two-hour session, Pub Craft Club provides all materials and professional tutors (aiming to pay artists a decent rate for their expertise) and it felt amazing to have achieved something new whilst meeting new people and enjoying a glass of wine in the wonderful setting of Paradise Palms to a background of Booker T, Curtis Mayfield and Al Green. Check their Facebook page for latest craft session details. Booking is essential as places are limited. My younger child, bless him, was sweetly impressed by my efforts.