Crafty goods for handy people

From buttons and cushions to crystals and scents, the expo’s Craft Pavilion has pretty much everything creative types could hope for.

Buttons ‘n’ More co-owners Shirley Coldwell and Anne Daniel have helped co-ordinate the exhibitors in the pavilion for almost a decade and said interest in arts and crafts continued to grow.

“Year on year we see more interest,” Shirley said.

“The majority of the goods are handmade and great quality.” She said this year there were lots of knitted goods, ranging from yarns to children’s and adult’s clothing.

Pets are also catered for with one stall offering dog jackets for sale and others selling ironing board covers, tote bags, honey products, mugs, candles and a range of other knick-knacks.

“There are a couple of ladies who make old-fashioned hoops, someone else selling Indigenous artwork, a woodworker who sells platters and other goods as well as lavender products and jewellery,” Shirley said.

Handy types will love the paper craft, which includes items such as stamps as well as products they can use to make their own creations.

Shirley said most exhibitors were more than happy to offer advice and tips on the products they sold and explain how they made them.

football club rooms at the south side of the oval and will be open all three days of the expo.

Always a popular attraction at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo is Avenel Ridge Alpacas.

The stud’s display encompasses the animals and their products.

“Part of that popularity is the interaction with people,” stud owner Daniel Boote said.

“We’ll discuss the farming process from husbandry, health care and nutritional needs, to the overall setup required to care for alpacas,” he said.

“We find that alpacas interacting with visitors plays a big part in helping to explain that.

“It is a hands-on experience; we like to allow people to be upand-close with the alpacas.

“It’s a good way to show the normally good temperament of them.”

Daniel said he had a range of alpacas within his stud, including white, fawn and brown right through to grey and other colours, and wants to continue improving that.

“Our focus moving forward will be a multi-coloured herd and appaloosa fleece.”

Avenel Ridge Alpacas is based in Avenel, in north-central Victoria.

The stud started 14 years ago and is a multi-generational enterprise with Daniel, his mother and his three children all involved.

“My daughter Lilybeth has all but taken over the showing duties, making me redundant — almost!”

Daniel said they were all attending the expo and encouraged everyone to drop by and say hello.