GALLERY: Residents support first crafters market in Randpark

Residents from Randpark and surrounding areas came in numbers to support local crafters at Cherry Park on 66 Cherry Drive on 21 November.

The crafters market gave 40 crafters the opportunity to sell their creative items along with different charity organisations for their first community market in the Randpark area.

Organiser and crafter Sheelagh Bates, who sells ceramic pieces and also teaches people how to create them, said the point of the day was getting the community together before Christmas as a way to interact with one another and support crafters.

“The turnout at the crafters market has been amazing. I wanted to give crafters a platform to sell their items since I’m so passionate about crafting,” she said.

Residents along with their families had the opportunity to purchase goods such as hand-painted stained glass and ceramics, plants, paintings, handbags and jewellery.

Bates, who is a member of the Randpark Resident’s Association said that all the items sold at the crafters market are 99 per cent hand-made goods, excluding the charities that were present with their own stalls. These included charities such as Blessed Hands, Seeds of Africa and Border Collie Rescue.

“I normally donate ceramic pieces to Border Collie Rescue for them to sell, that goes toward raising funds for their organisation,” Bates said.

Border Collie Rescue volunteer Dina-Vera Schmittknecht said that they rescue Border collies and assist in finding permanent homes for them all over the country.

Bates said secretary treasurer of the Randpark Resident’s Association Neil Gove also played a vital role in making the day a success by organising security for the event while helping with other tasks.

“I would like to make the crafters market an annual event we host around the same time each year,” Bates said.

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