Residents snap up local craft for Christmas

PLAYING with fidget toys has paid off for a young local with his first stall at the Quercus Beechworth annual community Christmas market drawing significant business. Beechworth Secondary College student Brayden Schilling's passion for design and 3D printing saw him create a range of colourful gadgets to sell on Friday afternoon. The young innovator had no trouble in drawing interest from all ages at his first market. “I’ve made a whole bunch of these for myself and friends at school,” he said. “I decided that maybe other people would like some of these and sure enough they have attracted a great crowd of all age groups.” Brayden said he made fidget toys for the kids as well as useful products for anyone older. “The fidget toys have been selling faster than I expected,” he said. Among them were flexi T-Rexes, gyroscopes, planetary gears to spin around fingers, clickers, and replacement clips for zippers. It is no surprise the inventor will be studying Systems Engineering in Year 12 at school next year where he said 3D printing can tie into the subject. Brayden is also studying business management adding to his skills to run his new-found business. For watercolour artist Jessica Foster, the market had been a first-time event as well. “I love zooming in on the little details of nature where I paint tiny flowers in a bit more detail or tiny frogs or just little scenes and make them bigger and more vibrant,” she said. "It was nice that people were very interested in looking at my artwork and quite a few were happy to buy it as well.” Beechworth’s Fran Waterman and her family have visited the market every year. She said the community-minded and local event could be enjoyed after school hours. “We always find things that local people have made that we can purchase,” she said. “My daughter Violet and her friend Larni are starting year seven next year and we jumped at the chance to see Brayden from the local secondary school,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to support him and get the girls excited by what the high school has to offer.” Beechworth’s Tina Barlow said visiting the community market is a family tradition. “We spend time as a family enjoying all the local craft, products and produce,” she said. Quercus Beechworth manager Paivi Watson said people visiting the market wanted to see what locals offered. “It’s also about connecting, having fun and a good opportunity to buy Christmas presents made by local people,” she said. “We've had a lot of youth and kids’ stalls this year too. "I think people like to support the kids and encourage them to make their own little business and earn some pocket money.” Among other activities available were dance performances from Quercus Beechworth's kids dance classes, games, hula hoops, and face painting drew interest too. Quercus volunteers had helped to organise and run the market.

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