I love books (especially craft books) and I love beautiful vintage illustrations so no wonder I fell in love with the latest book of Rae Grant - Homemade:101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids. I was lucky to get a preview copy and I have to warn you:If you get it you'll be crafting your way into summer. Stick around I will be giving away a copy, details at the end of the post!
I own her two other books. I borrowed a copy of Crafting Fun from the library and ended up paying so much late fees on it that I got my own! I was first attracted to the beautiful vintage illustrations, it looked like a book my mom could've used growing up.
Let me tell a bit about what I love in Homemade:101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids. It offers a generous collection of classic activities for kids and families organized in 6 sections:
- Hand sewing and embroidery
- Papercrafts
- Making Jewelry
- Baking
- Building things
- Toys, Games and Pastimes
Each activity is clearly explained with detailed instructions (very important if you're like me). This book was a hit in our house. Samy is looking at our copy right now and devising his next activity with Tarek . And best of all, all the activities use material you have around the house. No need to run to the store every time you want to craft with your little ones. We've already made, to be more precise Samy made the pretzels. Sorry no pictures there, my kids gobbled everything before I had a chance to take one.
So I am very happy today to welcome Rae and have a little chat with her. Grab a cold drink and join us!
Who is behind "My Little Hen"?
My name is Rae Grant and I live in New York City with my husband and daughter. I’m a graphic designer, a writer and designer of children’s books. My husband is an architect and our daughter is sweet and fun and a little of both of us. We are a creative family by profession and by nature.
Our home life is nothing short of an art studio, craft station, and place to make and do. It gets a little busy around here when I am writing books but it’s fun.
I love the artwork in your books.What served as your visual inspiration?
My school age daughter, her many young cousins, and friends served as the inspiration for my book series Cooking Fun, Crafting Fun, and now Homemade Fun. Being a mom exposes me to some many kids. I knew I wanted to make a creative book series that kids would like to sit down and look through and read for ideas. Using vintage children’s art and simple drawings seemed to really inspire me too.
What is your first memory of crafting/baking?
My sister Julie, who also has done much of the illustration in HOMEMADE FUN, got an easy -bake oven one year for Christmas. I remember how fascinated we were that the little light bulb could actually bake the cake batter. We played with the easy bake oven for hours.
When you create just for the love of creating, what do you make?
Usually, I make something that is ephemeral, like paper dolls, a toy made from a cork, or a little object like a sewing card. I like the idea of making something that is special for the moment and one that can be spontaneous and quickly put together. I’m not a great “big project’ person except when it comes to making books. My little projects help my daughter to experiment too.
What is the secret to a successful craft/cooking session with little ones?
It’s freedom time when we craft around here. In my experience, letting kids explore materials and projects without heavy supervision is the key to successful creative time with kids. It’s good to have organization, but it’s also best not to impose too much of an opinion as they work. Let them figure it out and find their voice. Eventually kids will want to make something more precise, at which point more expert guidance is helpful.
Do you have a personal favorite of the recipes and/or crafts?
Right now I am in love with the Soft Toy Bunny and the Owl bookmark in Homemade Fun. Both are easy to make with and for kids and really delightful to have around the house. I want us to make a lot of them for gifts.
How does your daughter react to your craftiness? Does she like being surrounded by homemade objects?
The kids in our family, (which includes nieces and nephews) think I’m pretty cool to have books for kids that they can relate to. The kids like to discuss food projects with me a lot. During the holidays they often consult me about crafty projects. It’s a fun role to have! I love it.
Rae in 10 questions:
- What is your favorite word? Jo Pie
- What is your least favorite word? Urg
- What turns you on? color
- What turns you off? redundancy
- What sound or noise do you love? The little bird that chirps outside our window every morning. It has a very sweet song.
- What sound or noise do you hate? Huge trucks blasting down the road.
- What is your favorite curse word? I don’t use it but “sugar tit” is a curse word my grandmother used to say. It amuses me.
- What is your favorite blog? So many and not just one- I love discovering a new blog that has beautiful ideas on it.
- What is your least favorite activity? Preparing taxes
- If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome Rae Grant, you are home.
Here's the list for book tour stops over the next several weeks.
Support our blog community and visit!
June 6 Examiner.com
June 8 Simple
Kids
June 9 Journey to a Simple Happy Life
June
10 Progressive
Pioneer
June
11 Steady
Mom
June
14 Crafty Crow
June 15 Wise Craft
June
16 The
Yellow Door Paperie
June 17 Berlin's Whimsy
June
18 Young
Ones
June 21 Thimbleberry
Kitschen
June 23 Exhale Return to Center
June
25 Earthy
Crunchy
June 28 Maya *Made
June
30 Sew
Liberated
July 5 Betz White
So one of you lucky ladies will win a copy of Homemade: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids.
To enter the giveaway leave a comment before Sunday, June 13th.
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Have a lovely crafty day!!!
And the winner is number 4:
