Asha McDonald says she has always done the DIY thing – she would rather make something herself than have to go out and buy it.
Recently though, she decided to take a booth at the Duntroon One-Stop Christmas Shop, where she sold her homemade goods.
The 11-year-old Dunedin resident, along with her 13-year old sister Roxy, makes cups and candles out of wine and beer bottles. McDonald also makes lip balm, cards, wood coasters, jewellery and Christmas ornaments and she will be selling her products once again at this weekend’s Handmade in the Valley event at Dunedin Hall.
The sisters are donating a portion of proceeds to the Maddie Project, in memory of 14-year-old Madeline Grace German Coulter, who suffered from depression and to whom the family has a personal connection. The Maddie Project, started by her parents earlier this year after she took her own life, aims to raise awareness about child and adolescent mental health and raise $1 million to create a therapeutic garden at Phillips House, the future home of North York General’s outpatient mental health programs for children and youth.
Handmade in the Valley will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Dunedin Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, organized by Jennifer Jansen of From the Blue House, will also feature more than 20 local vendors selling wood carvings, crochet, knitting, home décor, photography, pottery, tea, greeting cards, jewellery, metalwork, aprons, scarves, artwork, greenery, sock-monkeys, screen-printed maps, tarts and clothing.
There will also be food and drink for sale – Iron Butterfly will be grilling kabobs and a kids’ market will be serving hot drinks and baked goods.