Mother’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to get crafty, as if you needed an excuse.

I can’t tell you how many handmade gifts I gave to my mom as a kid. Most of it is junk to an objective outsider, of course, but it’s junk she probably still has stowed away somewhere.

To moms, it really is the thought that counts.

But you don’t have to be a kid to put some effort into making something on Mother’s Day. Pinterest is a great resource if you need some ideas or if you don’t have a go-to craft.

I think I’ll send my mom one of my masterpieces from my pottery class at the Carbondale Clay Center.

You can also buy your mom something and hand-make a card, if she’s dropped hints about a particular gift she’d like.

The point is, moms are amazing. Just thinking of the amount of time and energy mine took to raise me makes me want to take a nap.

So you and I can surely take some time to make a gift from the heart this Mother’s Day.

Friday

From 6 to 8 p.m. at the CMC ArtShare Gallery in Glenwood Springs, nationally recognized sculptor Joel Allen will host an opening reception for his exhibit, “Hooked on Svelte.” Allen displayed five hanging sculptures at the recent national exhibit, “State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now,” at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. His work consists of long, twine sculptures mixed with other media that hang from the ceiling. His sculptures were also shown on a “CBS Sunday Morning” news segment about the “State of the Art” exhibit. His opening at the ArtShare Gallery is free and open to the public, and his work will be on display there through June 25. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Saturday

The first Glenwood Rail Fair, sponsored by the Glenwood Railroad Museum, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature exhibits on various aspects of modern and historic railroads, the history of railroads in the Glenwood Springs area, model and toy trains, railroad safety and operations and rail travel. Visitors to the Rail Fair will be able to enter into a drawing to win two round trip train tickets to Denver provided by Amtrak. There is a $1 admission fee to the museum for anyone 12 and older. Members of area Boy and Girl Scout groups in uniform will receive free admission.

Sunday

Symphony in the Valley has a fantastic Mother’s Day concert planned, featuring top-notch guest musicians. “Winds of Spring” takes place at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Rifle High School Auditorium and at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Glenwood Springs High School Auditorium. The program includes a wind ensemble performing “Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo” by Malcolm Arnold, themes from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas, the finale from “Pines of Rome” by Ottorino Respighi, selections from “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart with special guests Stephanie Askew and Frank Breslin and “Piano Concerto No. 3” by Beethoven featuring pianist Amanda Gessler, who will take part in the 2015 Dublin International Piano Competition in Ireland. Tickets for the Mother’s Day concerts are available at the door and cost $15 for adults, $10 for children and seniors and $40 for families.

Jessica Cabe also thinks it’s a great idea to bring your mom to the Symphony in the Valley concert on Saturday or Sunday, where she’ll be playing in the wind ensemble at the beginning of the program. She can be reached at jcabe@postindependent.com.