Circus creations

By Bridget Brady
LORNA Bock’s fireplace comes to life each Christmas with her intricate hand-made festive display.
The Pearcedale mother of three uses her creative flare to set up a themed Christmas display in her lounge room each year- and she makes most of it herself.
It was by no means a last-minute job, as Mrs Bock started work on this year’s theme, Cirque Du Noel, in January.
Each elf took about eight hours to make, and some of the other creations in the display include a juggler and acrobats.
“It’s something I always have to do. It’s got a bit more elaborate each year,” she said.
“It’s a bit of fun and a bit of Christmas spirit. Everyone knows I do it.”
Mrs Bock’s family and friends know to steer clear of the lounge room on the weekend before December when she puts it all together, except for her 13-year-old son, Corey, who is allowed to help.
“I don’t go anywhere on decoration weekend.”
Mrs Bock said she enjoyed the pleasure other people got out of her work when they visited her home.
Her ideas for each year’s theme arose from what she spotted at post-Christmas sales.
She improvised with bits and pieces and said nothing went to waste. Mrs Bock even used her niece’s old tricycle wheel that was on the junk heap for her circus theme this year.
Mrs Bock, for whom craft had always been a hobby, said items she made and sold at markets years ago earned her some cash.
“They paid for the furniture when we got married.”
Mrs Bock said she could not see the day when she stopped her decorating tradition. Previous themes have been Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Workshop, and next year’s theme was already in the pipeline-Mrs Bock has not yet decided on Aussie Beach or Aussie Bush.