Sugarcraft lessons onboard Saga’s Easter Cruise to the Adriatic

I love teaching and inspiring people so when Saga approached me to run sugarcraft lessons onboard their Spirit of Discovery ship I couldn’t say no. I did have a few concerns before we embarked, due to the passengers being older than people I am used to teaching. I needn’t of worried. Classes were fun with lots of laughter. They also proved very popular with those who came, so much so that one delightful lady even wrote me a poem – you’ll find it at the end of this post!

“I found sugarcraft really fun and lovely to do. Always made me smile and Lindy is very patient and positive both with newcomers and more experienced craft people”

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Sugarcraft – an unknown entity!

The most surprising discovery we made, during this our first Saga cruise, was that many passengers had no idea what sugarcraft is. We heard all sorts of fascinating but incorrect theories! I’ve never encountered this before, whilst teaching on cruise ships. It’s intriguing and I assume may be due to the age of many of the passengers. Sugarcraft came to the UK from Australia in the late 1970s and gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, before peaking in the 2010s. The average age of the passengers on this particular cruise was 79. A 79-year-old would have been born in 1945 so perhaps this is why sugarcraft may be new to them, they never came across it while growing up! 

“You could tell how much we all enjoyed the classes. Just right for a first time solo passenger – elderly but still able to attempt the impossible”

Joan Williams

Sugarcrafts transferable skills

Another interesting comment we kept hearing was along the lines of; I’m diabetic so I can’t come to class. This, of course, is not the case. All are welcome, as using sugarpaste to learn new skills is very therapeutic and fun. Yes, it can be eaten (not a good idea if you are diabetic) but we find most people like to keep what they have created and are very proud of their masterpieces. The skills learnt can also easily be transferred to more permanent mediums. Mediums such as oven-baked clay (FIMO) or air-drying clay (Artista Soft) – it’s, however, easier to learn with sugarpaste.

“I have really enjoyed your classes. Leant new skills, excellent teaching and fun”

Debbi

Sugarcraft lessons

The Saga of the Easter Bunny

By the time we reached the Adriatic, passengers had made friends and were thoroughly enjoying learning a new craft and new skills. So much so that when one poor Easter bunny had a mishap after class, another classmate wrote a short poem. Thank you Joan for allowing me to share this with everyone.

” My previous attempts at sugarcraft were not very successful. Lindy has been a great teacher and very encouraging. I’ve learnt a lot and I am pleased with my efforts”

Sue from Worcester

Favourite sugarcraft lessons

Towards the last day, we started asking everyone which were their favourite sugarcraft lesson topics. There were 4 top favourites. The bunch of grapes, the fish, the piano (although for some this was their least favourite) and the whale, which I’ve found is always popular.

“Absolutely great. Lindy is a gifted teacher who makes everyone feel that they can do it. Thoroughly enjoyable”

The Exhibition

An exhibition of our passenger’s work wasn’t on the original programme but our lovely enthusiastic students requested one. It was therefore decided, by the powers that be, to run one alongside the last sugarcraft lesson. This not only enabled passengers to see our completed projects but also learn what a lesson entailed. A concept that proved highly successful. Our students were very proud to show off their projects and explain what they had been doing. We even had two new people join the last lesson with our regulars.

“This was my first try at Sugarcraft and with your help and encouragement, Lindy, I really enjoyed it and produced some lovely pieces. Especially the whale”

Judith

Poem for Lindy

Never before has anyone ever written me a poem. I was absolutely delighted to receive the following from Joan Williams after our sugarcraft lessons had all finished. Thank you so much, Joan, I hope our paths cross again.

“Sugarcraft has been a great way to learn a new craft on the sea days. Lindy has been excellent, highly skilled and patient. Its also been useful to be part of a medium size group and learn from others too”

Margaret

Sweet wishes

Lindy