Sugared Easter bunnies, miniature trains, bonsai trees and remote controlled cars are some of the traditional hobbies taking centre-stage at the Buffalo City Hobby and Craft Expo at the Gonubie Farmers Hall today and tomorrow.
Organisers Wayne Naylor, Fiona Eveleigh and Kevin Bleach said they decided to revive the expo to get younger people interested in hobbies.
“The average age of the East London Model Engineering Society is 70 and other clubs also say there are not enough younger people taking up hobbies,” said Naylor.
“We heard there used to be hobby expos in the city in the 1960s and 70s, which were very popular, but then they fizzled out, so we are trying to revive the idea. We want to show everyone how much fun we all have.”
East London Cake Decorators Guild chairwoman Rose Schonknecht said she signed up for the expo as soon as she heard about it.
“We want to promote the art of sugar. We are having an Easter theme and have many bunnies in production,” said Schonknecht, who is passionate about sugar art and has created delicately lifelike moth orchids and other blooms, including succulents.
“We are working late into the night to make edible Easter figurines from fondant and modelling paste which will be on sale. People will also be able to watch us in action as we decorate Easter eggs at the expo.”
The guild, which is part of a national organisation, has about 30 members and meets once a month to learn about new techniques like lacing, royal icing and bas relief sculpture from each other and visiting speakers.
“We wish younger people would join – students even have a reduced fee,” said Schonknecht.
She said patience, good eyesight and a fun-loving personaltiy were handy requirements for the craft.
Fellow guild member Iwona Signorile gave Saturday Dispatch a preview of her sugary miniature creations this week.
Affixed to an edible platform or “plaque” were edible mini scenes like woodland bunnies, nestled among little Easter eggs, toadstools and carrots.
Other exhibiting clubs will be the Border Radio Flyers, Buffs Radio Control Car Club, Border Radio Club, the East London Model Engineering Society, the Border Carting Club, the Wood Turning Guild and the Border Bonsai Society, as well as scrap-booking, photography, jewellery making, embroidery, crochet, and temporary henna tattoos.
The Buffalo City Hobby and Craft Expo is on today between 10am and 4pm and tomorrow between 10am and 3pm. Entrance is free. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Hobby expo to inspire crafty kids
Organisers Wayne Naylor, Fiona Eveleigh and Kevin Bleach said they decided to revive the expo to get younger people interested in hobbies.
“The average age of the East London Model Engineering Society is 70 and other clubs also say there are not enough younger people taking up hobbies,” said Naylor.
“We heard there used to be hobby expos in the city in the 1960s and 70s, which were very popular, but then they fizzled out, so we are trying to revive the idea. We want to show everyone how much fun we all have.”
East London Cake Decorators Guild chairwoman Rose Schonknecht said she signed up for the expo as soon as she heard about it.
“We want to promote the art of sugar. We are having an Easter theme and have many bunnies in production,” said Schonknecht, who is passionate about sugar art and has created delicately lifelike moth orchids and other blooms, including succulents.
“We are working late into the night to make edible Easter figurines from fondant and modelling paste which will be on sale. People will also be able to watch us in action as we decorate Easter eggs at the expo.”
The guild, which is part of a national organisation, has about 30 members and meets once a month to learn about new techniques like lacing, royal icing and bas relief sculpture from each other and visiting speakers.
“We wish younger people would join – students even have a reduced fee,” said Schonknecht.
She said patience, good eyesight and a fun-loving personaltiy were handy requirements for the craft.
Fellow guild member Iwona Signorile gave Saturday Dispatch a preview of her sugary miniature creations this week.
Affixed to an edible platform or “plaque” were edible mini scenes like woodland bunnies, nestled among little Easter eggs, toadstools and carrots.
Other exhibiting clubs will be the Border Radio Flyers, Buffs Radio Control Car Club, Border Radio Club, the East London Model Engineering Society, the Border Carting Club, the Wood Turning Guild and the Border Bonsai Society, as well as scrap-booking, photography, jewellery making, embroidery, crochet, and temporary henna tattoos.
The Buffalo City Hobby and Craft Expo is on today between 10am and 4pm and tomorrow between 10am and 3pm. Entrance is free. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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