Homeschoolers sell handmade crafts at Holiday Kids Makers Market

Aleigha Acevedo sat under the shade of a gazebo at Catawba Meadows Park on an unusually hot October afternoon, one end of a hair wrap pinned to the latticed, metal table as she braided the other end.

Her craft was inspired by a ’90s trend, the 12-year-old homeschooler said.

Aleigha attached small clips to the end of the wraps because, in the ’90s, people wrapped string around their real hair. It caused issues, she said.

“The problems with actually putting the string in your hair is you would have to wash around it in the shower and not get it wet,” Acevedo said. “And sometimes, if you got it way too tight, you would have to cut that strand of hair off.”

Her clip-in “hair wraps” are an easy solution so people won’t have to sacrifice their hair for their aesthetic.

The hair wraps are one of several crafts she will be selling at the Foothills Forest Friends’ Holiday Kids Makers Market on Nov. 14. She will also be selling paper mache crafts, pocket chains, and bead bracelets.

Another homeschool student, 6-year-old Ezekiel Headrick, was making adjustments to a wooden birdhouse he built.

Headrick plans to make eight birdhouses, six bird feeders, and four squirrel feeders for the makers market.

As a lover of nature himself, Ezekiel said he wants others to be able to enjoy it, too.

Foothills Forest Friends is a homeschool, nature-oriented co-op based in Morganton that is designed to connect families and lean into outdoors learning.

Twice a year, the co-op holds makers markets that help students build business-oriented skills while also making a little money.

Co-op founder and director Erin Molina said the idea came from the kids themselves, who wanted to sell some of their creations.

“We first were going to be at the farmers market, but then I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to just have something that’s just for the children?’” Molina said. “No parents, no adults selling stuff. Just the kids, and they get to learn what it’s like to have their own little business.”

Molina said there will be about 20 booths on the day of the market.

Two best friends, 9-year-old Luna Gracie and 10-year-old Evalina Flores, will be selling Holiday-themed items and other trinkets.

Luna’s booth will have clay magnets, pins, and cards with art she drew on her iPad.

“I enjoy making them,” she said of all the crafts. “And people enjoy the cards.”

Evalina will have keychains, snow globes, and Christmas ornaments made from pressed flowers and mason jar lids.

“It’s around the festive time, and I feel like (these things) would be useful for people,” she said.

Molina said all the children are quite talented.

“Definitely come check it out,” she said. “You’d be amazed.”

The Holiday Kids Makers Market will be in downtown Morganton on the Historic Courthouse Square on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.