One of the nicest things about kite flying is that it's fun for kids of all ages. Jon Burkhardt, recently voted Kiteflier of the Year by the American Kitefliers Association, joined Martha to show her how to make a kite. He has been a kite-maker since 1980, is the recipient of numerous awards, and has been a lead officer of the American Kitefliers Association and the Maryland Kite Society for many years. Jon first became intrigued with kites because of their graphic-design possibilities, and has written several books and articles about them.
Jon is an urban designer by training and holds two degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is president and cofounder of Ecosometrics, Inc., a company that designs transportation services for people with special needs.
At first, a project like this may seem daunting; the materials sound unfamiliar. But constructing this particular kite is not very different from creating an applique, or designing a quilt block. If either of these crafts sound familiar to you, this task will be an easy addition to your creative repertoire. And even if you haven't appliqued before, Jon's method is as simple to learn as it is intriguing. The word applique means "to apply one material to another to ornament, or decorate."
But the kite Jon shows Martha how to make is so beautiful, and the effects of the layered fabrics are so astounding, we think you'll agree with Martha: This kite looks like stained glass.