Craft Studio provides creative outlet for Family Weekend

The tigers were made out of yellow socks.

By Rachel Krause

Published Sept. 15, 2009

Correction appended

The Craft Studio offered a free stuffed tiger workshop Saturday in celebration of Family Weekend. Craft Studio coordinator Kelsey Hammond said the workshops are a great way to get the entire family involved.

"Last year, we heard some complaints about some of the buildings not being open," Hammond said. "So we just wanted to make sure we do something for Family Weekend every year, so we can celebrate everyone."

During Family Weekend last fall, the Craft Studio offered room decor crafts, where participants made items, such as MU lampshades and jewelry holders. This year's tiger-making classes filled up more than a week before Family Weekend, and the studio had to turn away numerous families throughout the day.

Each participant made a tiger out of yellow socks provided by the studio. Hammond said the craft usually takes a total of three hours, but to save time the Craft Studio sewed the body together to allow participants to finish the tiger in one to two hours. Participants were responsible for sewing the tiger's head onto the body, as well as decorating the tiger with stripes, buttons and other materials.

"Our whole philosophy is to make something, so we just want people to come in and make something," Hammond said. "We also figured stuffed tigers — who wouldn't want to do that?"

Freshman Taylor Hawkins' mother, Tracy Hawkins, came and brought her two sons, Jordan, 8, and Collin, 6, to make the stuffed tigers before going to the game later in the evening.

"We were looking for fun things to do for kids their age," Tracy Hawkins said.

The cost was also attractive to the Hawkins family.

"And it's not expensive," Jordan Hawkins said.

Taylor Hawkins said she had taken part in other Family Weekend events, such as Mizzou on the Mall at Lowry Mall, which ran from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

"They had free cake and soda," Taylor Hawkins said. "We got to take a picture in front of the tiger that was blown up."

Kim and Steve Czapla from St. Louis made stuffed tigers with their freshman daughter Christina Czapla.

"I wanted to do some family events," Christina Czapla said. "We came here last year for my sister, and it was really boring. So this year, I wanted to come do the actual things they had."

Christina's mother agreed.

"I'm having fun," Kim Czapla said. "Last year we were bored to death, but this year, with this activity it actually makes it fun. It gives us this time in the air conditioning to have some family time."

The Craft Studio offers multiple free "crafternoons" throughout the year.