The past comes alive through craft projects celebrating Minnesotas history and people. Imagine soldiers on the Civil War battlefield as you assemble a housewife sewing kit like those made by wives and mothers. Re-create the drama of a midwestern tornado when you build an automaton that actually spins, and celebrate the invention of water-skiing with a boat and skier that really glide.
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Step-by-step instructions carefully guide you to make your own marionette, but its up to you to stage the puppet show. The playful miniature scene of a Day of the Dead nicho offers a way to honor a loved one. A woodland hike will provide the twigs and leaves to make a troll. A walking stick in the tradition of folk artist Maurice Carlton inspires you to create art out of what you can find.?
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These projects and more generate hours of fun, not to mention useful pieces youll want to share with your family and friends.
Wendy Freshman is a program specialist for family audiences at the Minnesota History Center. Kristin Jansson is a freelance prop and prototype designer and a former costumer with the Childrens Theatre Company.
Perfect for a childrens party or a rainy weekend at the cabin, this collection of history-minded crafts can be adapted in countless ways for objects to wear, display, and use.