Hi, my name is René and I am a 49 year young avid crafter since I can remember.  

My mother taught me sewing basics when I was little and helped me make my doll’s clothes with scraps while she sewed us some really nice things. She also taught me to knit and my gran taught me to crochet. All the other craft things just happened as I grew older and wanted to, and did, learn more. For instance, how many different things can you make from an old baked beans can? It can be so much more than just a pencil holder and there are so many different ways to cover it!! 

 During the week I still play secretary. A hectic business day with lots of being professional and arranging, scheduling, communications between different levels of people at different mines, computer work and all that paperwork stuff! (Thinking of dunking all that as well and becoming a VA!!) 

I am always interested in new techniques and ways of doing things as I get bored easily.   There’s just so many things to paint and embellish and……and .… and.  

Crafts I do are: fabric painting, furniture painting, playing with clay, beads, making jewellery, sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, candlewicking, paper maché, magnets, collages, clocks, plaster of paris casting, soaps and bath treats, gel candles, fabric art, computer scrapping, woodwork and ‘frugal crafting’ (when you take an old thing and make it new or take an old thing and make it into something new).

I have no formal craft or art education and am mostly self-taught. Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t know what I’m doing because God had blessed me with the ability to craft and He is the Master Crafter! God loves to play at Renzo’s!! 

 During the last 20 years I have won some awards at craft shows for sewing, knitting, crochet and candlewicking and also worked for a South African dress designer, where I learnt pattern designing and cutting as well as insider secrets to making anything from underwear to a stunning wedding gown.

I have finally grown tired of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances berating me for keeping my gifts and talents to myself. So, I made a website on which to showcase all the things I enjoy making.  

The thing I most enjoy is teaching people how to do things. When someone comes to my house and says: “I wish I could that!” I haul out some fabric or paints or clay or beads and show them how to do it.   People always think something is so complicated when at first they see the final object. It is so rewarding seeing them leave with a sense of I DID THAT! and to see their confidence grow and watch the pride they have in what they just made, knowing that they too can do that!  

 We don’t have craft lessons – we have playtime at Renzo’s!