As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate with the feast of “fast breaking” known as Eid. As an adult, I have now come to appreciate the ability to connect to God on a daily basis by means of fasting, praying, and charity. Growing up, however, Ramadan and Eid were always centered around presents in the form of gifts and glorious cash. It was always difficult to relate to the magnificence of this month, but this has been changing in recent times. IT professional by day and craft-a-holic by night, Hafsa Taher, has taken up the challenge of making Islamic holidays accessible to children and adults alike. Through fun activities and adorable DIY decor, Hafsa has made Ramadan and Eid something special for everyone to share and enjoy, Alhamdulilah.
Photo Courtesy of Saaleha Bamjee via Flickr
We sat down with Hafsa and asked her to share her story and an early Eid present for our readers!
1. As I mentioned, growing up, Ramadan was always a fun time amidst family and friends, but it was difficult to relate to the time as a child. How did you come up with the concept of crafting for Ramadan/Eid/Islamic Festivities?
Back in 2010, my niece was 3 years old and I was looking for activities to share Ramadan with her. As a child she wouldn’t understand the spirituality of Ramadan, but adults can totally experience it in the routine of fasting – breaking the fast, going to the masjid, etc. So I started with those concepts, but I was looking for more. The public library in Toronto had a good collection of books on Ramadan for kids. So we devoured those books together umpteen times. Looking online, I found lots of ideas from homeschooling moms on Ramadan lapbooks, so we would take one idea a day and work on it or just have an impromptu craft session. Something that’s become a ritual now is making an “iftar plate”; we use a paper plate and they scour through flyers to find foods they’d like to eat. They cut these out and paste them in the plate. As part of the activity we talk about what’s healthy and what’s not and what’s halal and haraam (permissible and impermissible in Islam). What a cute idea!
2. What was your goal in making these crafts initially and then marketing them to a wider audience? What is your target demographic (do you make crafts for kids or for home decor or both?)
Initially, I only did crafting for my niece. The activities were based on her learning style and age. As I would share my niece’s crafts on facebook and my blog, I would get emails from other parents asking for suggestions on specific crafts for different age groups. I saw the need for it and decided to create a website. MyRamadanFun.com features a craft a day during the month of Ramadan. My audience varies from mothers to homeschoolers, teachers to parents, and children ages 3-10 years.
3. What has been your favorite craft project?
Two years ago, a friend e-mailed me asking if I could make ‘Thank You’ cards for her children’s teachers. I agreed to take the order, but as I started to design the cards, I realized I was very upset. It broke my heart to think that teachers would receive a card that didn’t reflect the child’s creativity or his world of imagination. Then I realized the missing piece- I needed to create a card-making kit so that children (and adults) can design professional looking cards at home and (to the parents’ relief) without breaking the bank.
Since then, my favorite project is putting together card making kits based on children’s ages. In the card making kit, I include blank cards, envelopes, greeting tags, pretty paper and lots of shape cut outs and stickers. If it’s a gift, they receive it gift wrapped with a bow. Packing this kit is always very exciting for me. This year, my niece had to make 9 Eid cards for her swap group. I handed her a card making kit and a glue stick and walked away to craft in my room. Adult intervention can deter creativity so the kit allows them to work individually.
4. Can you share your sources of inspiration?
I get inspired by everything around me! Sometimes it’s nature and other times it’s my niece and nephew.
5. Would you be kind enough to share a tutorial on one of your easier DIY craft projects for Eid for our readers?
Here’s Hafsa’s exclusive Eid card tutorial: Eid Cards Tutorial_Naureen_BFIW. Showcase your creativity and craft your own Eid cards this year!
6. How has the feedback been with your products? Is there any product in particular that is very popular?
The feedback has been overwhelming. Handmade cards were very well appreciated because it’s hard to find some special occasion, as well as religious holiday, cards at Hallmark. Also, store-bought cards generally lack a personal, handmade feel to them.
The card making kits are very popular with parents because they allow children to be creative in their own way:
“I am a HUGE fan of open ended opportunities for the kids so I just couldn’t resist having them make the cards themselves! Working on one card each kept them occupied for almost an hour!”
– Saira Siddiqui, former teacher, currently homeschooler and blogger at confessions of a muslim mommaholic
7. What is your website? Our readers (myself included) would love to buy one of your beautiful pieces (mA)?
You can find my creations and craft projects at HafsaCreates.etsy.com
Thank you Hafsa for sharing your beautiful work with us! We hope our readers have had a wonderful and blessed month this Ramadan. Make the last night special with one of our Ramadan recipes a la Date Shake, Eggplant Fritters, and Fruit Chaat.
If anyone would like to mail me some Eid presents, just comment below. Just kidding! But, please do share your thoughts and attempts at the card tutorials in our comments section. Eid Mubarak to all our lovely readers!