Sonjia engraves her way into locals hearts

Sonjia Fuhri has been engraving her way into people’s hearts for 23 years now and has no plans of stopping yet.

Born in East London, Sonjia has traversed South Africa, living in Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg and even Cape Town, before moving to Glencoe. The constant in all the changes has been her love for engraving.

What makes the art more special is that it’s all free hand, adding that personal touch to every job she does. Her journey into the engraving world started as a way to put food on the table for her family, but soon turned into a passion. Her employee at that stage taught her everything he knew and coupled with her talent, made her a natural for the profession.

Learning calligraphy from the age of five, a skill taught to her by her mum, has also added to her arsenal as an engraver. Sonjia can engrave on glass, as well as gold and silver, but prefers working with stainless steel. Branded as Sonjia’s Creations, she sells her own jewelry that people can have engravings done upon, or they can bring in their own items.

Sonjia doesn’t charge for the engraving if people buy the jewelry from her. Currently, Sonjia can be found outside the Glencoe Spar Centre every Friday and Saturday, where she sets up her stall.

Her husband Terence, who is her support structure, added that they hoped to set up a stall somewhere in Dundee at least one day a week.

As much as it is way of earning extra income, it has also become a way for Sonjia to make a difference in people’s lives.
“I love the interaction with people and getting to know them better. I also give them something unique through my work to make someone else life special,” she said.

“It’s not stuff you can buy in the shops, it’s a personal gift,” her husband, Terence, added.
Locals have already taken to the personalised jewelry and sometimes show up at her house in the late evening to get a personalised gift.

Sonjia is now so skilled at what she does, that she can fit The Lord’s Prayer on a dog tag. She once fitted 40 names and a proverb on a single dog tag.

Sadly, free hand engraving is a dying art and there are currently only a few people in the country who can do it. Sonjia is considering teaching others the trade but explained that it requires, hard work, dedication and neat hand writing of course.

With 23 years behind her and maybe more to come, Sonjia is sure to be writing her name down in the history books of local talent.

If you would like one of Sonjia’s amazing creations, you can contact her on 079 934 5839.