Craft Day at Grandma's (with Potholders and Other Loopy Projects)

Kim Ryon, sales manager and grandma extraordinaire

What better way to bring out my inner seventh-grade crafter on a special afternoon with my granddaughters than to tackle a project that I remember doing during summer camp—Potholders! I have clear memories of sitting on a rickety picnic table at a community park creating these colorful kitchen accessories.

I couldn’t wait to make new memories with my granddaughters when I saw Potholders and Other Loopy Projects. This Klutz activity kit is packed with hundreds of colorful loops and a loom that makes it easy for kids of all ages to weave a variety of fun crafts. It was a perfect activity to take on with my granddaughters, who are 4 and 9. We planned a “Craft Day at Grandma’s” so that I could share my exceptional knowledge of welting and weaving with them, but in a last-minute panic my daughter-in-law asked if she could leave her son with me too. I couldn’t say no to my grandson, but I was sure that Isaac would be bored out of his mind since his favorite thing to do at our house is help Grandpa with yard work, or fix anything that needs repairs. But boy, did he prove me wrong. By the time his older sister, Lena, was done picking out the colors for her potholder, Isaac was already halfway through his own.

We only had two looms so the youngest, Lyla, took pictures while she waited her turn (but she was itching to make a potholder of her own). Once it was her turn, she loved stretching the loops straight across the loom, and I loved seeing how proud she was of her color combination! The second layer of loops was a bit harder for my youngest granddaughter, since it required weaving over and under, but I was excited to reminisce about my own childhood and share my expertise (with a quick glance at the instructions of course).

Voilá! After only about an hour we had two finished potholders, three happy kids, and lots of precious memories!

The crafts were supposed to be a surprise gift for their mom on a later date, but as soon as she walked in the door, they couldn’t wait to show her what they had made her. They were so proud of their accomplishments that they have been begging me for another project ever since. So stay tuned for the next “Craft Day at Grandma’s!”

May is for Mothers (with Potholders)

 

Aren’t moms the greatest?

I was flipping through some old pictures and came across this gem -- my mom and I decked out in matching Halloween face paint to go trick or treating one year. Pretty great, huh? That’s my mom! She is happy and brave, and lives life with so much enthusiasm that you kind of can't help but love her. I know I sure do!

Even though Mother’s Day is still a couple of weeks away, I couldn’t wait to get started on her gift. Last year, I made Capsters photo jewelry and a Stamp Art card, but this time I wanted to try something a little different. I gathered up some girls for a Mother’s Day craft session and we made some pretty Potholders. We made ones for moms who like bright neons and pretty pastels, a yummy salsa coloured creation for a foodie mom, and we even made a potholder eyepatch (for the pirate mom?) with our leftover scraps.

But that’s not all this boxy kit makes… We whipped up a purse, a picture frame, and even a Loopy Chicken. When proud mama Christie spotted that crazy knitted chicken, she just had to make one for her special baby, Maeby.

When Mother’s Day rolls around, I’m going to wrap my potholders up like a little bouquet. They’ll live one life as colourful cotton blooms, then maybe another as a pretty art piece or a sturdy kitchen rag, or they could, of course, hold pots. Whatever she chooses to do with them, I hope my mom thinks of me every time she spots her Potholders.

Happy (early) Mother’s Day to my momma and all the rest.