Greetings you fine grant giving folks! My Name is Sheila Williams and let me tell you about my summer.
2025 was the birthing of “Color by the Creek” in Fruitvale BC. This was set at my private resident backyard that happens to border the Fruitvale Creek. After years of clearing the mess left there, I created a beautiful access and chairs below the art zone to the shallow creek that flows all summer. this is the coolest place to be in the heat of summer for sure.
My home art studio is called Whirled Wide Designs and I have collected so many art supplies of all sorts that I thought I would share them up and invite folks to drop in between 1-5pm 2 days a week, the same 2 days as the thrift store is open just down the road., Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I was amazed at how many folks tuned in and showed up. Women and kids were the main demographic but the few 7-year-old neighbor boys did well to represent the male factor – 2 boys came regularly on their own for their “play dates”, so adorable. The age range was from 3 to a woman who celebrated her 78th birthday playing at the creek. Many repeat Grandmas and their littles came and all who came partook.
I provided table long hand drawn posters and handmade single sheets to color as well as a variety of donated and dollar store type items to apply paint to. The 3Ditems were a huge favorite as they were more than a piece of paper to take home. Many kids in the 5-7 range wanted to just draw, so I pulled out the blank paper for them to rip. We had felts, acrylic paints, watercolor paints, and lots of pencil crayons to work with.
Approximately 135 visitors came over the summer. I began May 1st and went to September 1st but will cut that back to June – to Sept next year as May was too windy and unpredictable weather wise. We only had to cancel about 3 times for weather, it was great. There were attendees every time except on Canada day, understandably. I kept a guest book so as to keep track of who came – we had visitors all the way from Dawson City, Burnaby and Alberta partake.
To say it was a hit would be appropriate as my regular advertising on local Facebook pages had many eyes see what was going on and to this date folks know what Color by the Creek is, so I am pleased to say this will continue on next year and for years to follow. I have opened up for folks to unload old art supplies or items to color and had very nice items show up to play with as a group.
I certainly appreciate the support from the Neighborhood Small Grant group as it helped to provide 3D items from the dollar store that the kids loved. Many proud artists took fun items home, small windchimes, birdhouses, garden gnomes, hanging wood items, figurines etc.
I will definitely apply again next year for this grant if it is still available as I survive on a disability pension and don’t have a lot of extra cash flow for supplies. It’s clear folks really love that is a free drop in. Nothing better than a cheap play date with grandma!
I thank all who may be involved in providing such grants. You have made over 100 visitors happy from getting to go freestyle with colors in this outdoor space. There is so much inherit talent seeping out of these kids and to see elders pick up a brush for the first time in decades was an absolute joy for me. A casual Thursday night watercolor group has formed since the summer, inside the studio, and up to 5 of us practice our watercolor. I was amazed at the interest in water coloring especially with the 7-year-old boys!
Once again Thanks to all and keep up the amazing work – together we have upped the collective joy factor just a little more, my basic goal of all this – Art therapy for the masses I say!
Sending light and warmth for your holiday season.
Love and Respect
Sheila at the Whirled Wide Design studio
