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Crafty ladies lay on Christmas with all the trimmings

Flagstaff Team

Christmas angels… Jackie Brewer, Marilyn Allard, Viv Dykes and Paddy Stafford-Bush with a sampling of some of their cleverly crafted items for sale for charity

Christmas cheer will be dispensed for charity fundraising from a pop-up shop inside the former Ikes Emporium store on Clarence St next week.

“We’re going to set it up like a Christmas market,” said one of the organisers, Paddy Stafford-Bush. Tents will be erected inside the building for atmosphere, with decorations, gifts and food items for sale.

Proceeds will go towards Rotary’s work providing a brighter Christmas for families in need. A similar event last year raised several thousand dollars, which the group is keen to match or better this year.

A group of nine Devonport crafters has been preparing goods for sale, using donated items, including fabric. “We want to make it all handmade and recycled,” explained one of the volunteers, Marilyn Allard.

Stafford-Bush said several themes underpinned the approach to what was on offer, including upcycling, Kiwi Christmas and traditional Christmas. Among the items on offer are jeans remade into bags, shell-decorated door wreaths and candle-holders and book angels created from pleated pages to sit on a mantlepiece or table.

Wooden trees and Father Christmas decorations have been made from old timber and cards repurposed into gift tags.

Raffles will be another feature of the fundraising, including one for a strikingly lit metal globe donated by a creative local woman, Carol Anderson.

A meat raffle will appeal to barbecue fans and a large knitted gnome will be offered for tender. Rotary’s own plum puddings will be for sale, along with homemade glazed Christmas cakes.

The event will be held from 9am to 4pm on Friday 26 November, and again Saturday, possibly ending earlier, depending on sales.

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