Happy Fandom Friday! Each week, I highlight an aspect of the various fan communities that have sprung around movies, TV shows, books, games, or even memes, if the level of dedication is awesome enough.
I wish Bonnie Burton had been working her magic when I was a kid. Back then (let's say from 8-14 years old) I was a huge Star Wars devotee, and would have killed for the guidance that Burton offers in her capacity as head of the Kids section on StarWars.com. After the success of her book Star Wars: How to Draw, she's releasing The Star Wars Craft Book, which offers instructions on simple but incredibly creative projects: Emperor Palpatine made out of a shriveled apple (genius, I tell you), carbonite-bound Han Solo in a bar of soap, and the sack puppets you see above.
Burton made the Library Journal's Editors' Spring Picks; in the following interview, she discusses the inspiration behind her projects and offers tips to the aspiring crafter:
How did you come up with these projects?
I’m always looking for ways to reuse materials instead of throwing them out. I have a slight peanut butter and jelly addiction, so I go through jars of the good stuff regularly. Instead of recycling jars, I make things out of them like flower vases and snow globes. Many of my craft ideas just come from years of looking at things differently. The more you craft, the more you’ll start seeing a Bith band in a pile of wooden spoons or AT-AT legs when you see Pringles cans.
Any advice for libraries hosting crafting programs?
It’s easy to organize a craft program on a zero budget. I like to ask kids to bring things from their recycling bins at home so I can show them how simple it is to transform trash into toys. If you supply the glitter, googly eyes, glue, beads, felt, and sewing supplies, they can get crafting very easily. Kids are imaginative from the get-go; they can see a spaceship in a cardboard box or an Ewok in a brown sock. They just need a place to unleash their craftiness, and a library is the perfect setting for that.
How did you score a dream job like writing for StarWars.com?
I’ve always been a writer, and being a lifelong geek as well only makes my job dreamier. I think Lucasfilm hired me because I brought more of a mainstream angle to the site, and I really wanted to do fun low-tech activities in the kids’ section, too—like drawing tutorials and craft projects.
I love gaming and TV, but I think I had the most fun as a kid when I was in our playroom drawing or making sock puppets. We live in a world of so many ways to spend our time online or plugged in, and often it’s a good idea to step away from the TV or computer and do something with our hands—even if we end up accidently covered in glitter.
What’s next for you?
I’d love to continue writing drawing books for other geeky franchises. I’m tackling more extreme crafting activities for fun. I have a dream of making a robot that will do all my chores, but most likely I’d make sassy robots to watch movies with me like the sidekicks on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Currently, I’m making a dog bed that looks like the Sarlaac pit Boba Fett fell into.
So while I can't hop in a time machine and hand these to my nine-year-old self, I'm really excited to see that young Star Wars lovers are encouraged in their fandom. And really, these are all-ages; consider them for next year's Valentine's, or a silly gift for your beloved Star Wars aficionado.
Check out more news and features on crafts.
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