WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — For those in need of gift ideas with a personal touch to them, the Consolidated Hobby Complex, in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s Kittyhawk Area, may be just the place they are looking for.
The frame shop can help individuals design the perfect frame, or the framing classes offered by the hobby complex can add a personal touch. Meanwhile, the wood shop offers classes that also offer engraving services and offer a host of gift ideas to choose from such as: shadow boxes, flag cases, pen boxes, plaques, etc.
The auto hobby shop offers classes from learning how to change oil to how to use the tire balance machine. The shop also has A.S.E. certified mechanics to help you with all of your car care needs.
A very popular offering at the complex has been the stained glass classes. On Tuesday evenings, individuals can learn everything about the art from: project design, to cutting and grinding glass, to assembly prep, to soldiering skills, to project finishes.
A special holiday project themed class is slated for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Class participants will be able to choose from a plethora of projects, such as making an ornament or tackling a 3-D manger scene, or a 3-D Christmas tree.
“It’s the best therapy ever,” said Rhonda Bade during a recent stained glass class. “I’ve been coming to these classes for three years now, and you can’t buy better therapy than this.”
She reflected that she could probably do everything at home, but she really enjoys the social aspect of the classes, and learning new skills from other students in the room.
Laura Rittenhouser and her husband Christopher took one of the stained glass holiday themed classes last year. They are both civilians working for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, where Laura is in contracting and Christopher is a program manager.
“We had such a good time last year that we wanted to come back again this year,” said Laura. “This year we even invited Christopher’s parents [Tom and Theresa Rittenhouser] to join us.”
The family team tackled a host of projects during the class from making Cardinal and candle ornaments to crafting several 3-D Christmas trees.
Jamie Morley, whose day job is serving as the Village of Waynesville clerk to council, has been teaching the stained glass classes at the complex for the past 15 years.
“I basically inherited the classes from my dad,” she said. “He taught the classes for about eight years before I took them over. I was a stay-at-home mom at the time, while my husband was on active duty working as an engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory, and it was a great way to have some time away from the home and to meet and work with some talented and motivated people.”
She added that the complex is a great place to come to learn all kinds of new skills. The craft room is available 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The complex also offers services such as: laser engraving, standard (scratch) engraving and sublimation for printing onto materials like metal or mugs.
For more information on what the Consolidated Hobby Complex has to offer, or to get signed up for classes, give the staff a call at 937-257-7025.
