CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR AND OUR CREATIVE GEMLIFE HOMEOWNERS ARE BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT AS THEY GET THEIR CRAFT ON LEADING UP TO THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.
GemLife Woodend is celebrating the season with its very own Christmas craft stall which will be set up at the resort’s country club on Saturday, 3 December, to give homeowners the opportunity to buy some lovely handmade gifts for their friends and families.
Mosaic artist and Gemlife Woodend homeowner Susan Lawson is organising the event with her fellow residents and students.
“I run a mosaic class at the resort where we make jewellery dishes, wall clocks and lots of pots out of recycled materials,” said Susan.
“And because we now have quite a few ladies attending, we decided to do a Christmas crafts market to sell our extra items.”
Sewing enthusiast Marion Borlase is part of the resort’s sewing group which will also have their custom pieces on display at the stall.
“The Christmas table will feature handcrafted Christmas cards, quilts and cushions, mosaic items, as well as festive cookies”, she added.
Sugar and spice make Christmas so nice, and no event is complete without some sweet treats, which is why GemLife Woodend resident and cookie decorating wizard Barbara Spry will be bringing some whimsical festive cookies to the table.
“I’ll be making Christmas-themed gingerbread and vanilla sugar cookies decorated to look like Christmas trees, candy canes, reindeers, stars and more,” she revealed.
Susan also stated that the money raised from the sales will go to the Woodend Foodbank Christmas Appeal which will help feed vulnerable local families during the holiday season.
Over at GemLife Highfields, resident and avid painter, Mary Watts, is celebrating her first Christmas in her brand-new home and has already booked a table at the resort’s annual Christmas market – also taking place on Saturday, 3 December – where she will be selling painted saws and blades.
“People like us paint just about anything we can put our hands on!” she chuckled.
Mary follows a disciplined process prior to painting on the tools to ensure that the surface is prepped and primed.
“I buy the saws and blades from the markets, take the rust off them and then seal them before I start painting – I have been doing it for years,” she shared.