Olwyn McDonagh is a familiar face around Summerset Richmond Ranges because she is involved in just about everything and, at 97, her creative talents will line up beside other residents’ crafts at its market day and white elephant stall on Saturday.
Her paintings grace the walls of her villa in the retirement home, but these days it’s cards, bookmarks, booklets, often using printing techniques, and her “enchanted gardens” mirrors that take up much of her time.
Many of her cards are given to residents for special birthdays, to express sympathy or welcome newcomers, and can be handcrafted at home or printed with marbling or some other special effect.
“It keeps me out of mischief!” she says. “Sometimes I’ll do a whole day of it.”
She admits she had no intention of learning about printing when she moved into the village four years ago but is now hooked on it and still learning.
Market organiser Bev Head says Olwyn is always joining something new and there isn’t anything she doesn’t love.
“I haven’t got time for everything,” Olwyn insists. “And haven’t got time to die.”
“She has too much to achieve,” adds Bev.
Olwyn will be one of nine residents taking crafts to the market, with others taking knitting, and crochet, turned wood and even seedlings. The market and elephant stall runs between 10am and 3pm on Saturday inside the village centre.
